[bowler1]

Just wondering what you guys think about this subject. I have recently started riding a bit at night off road (have done a lot of it on my road bike but offroad is much different).

I rode once with a headlamp and once with a handlebar light. It seemed the handlebar light had obvious disadvantages of being fixed in postion and could not see around the bend on tight singletrack..........but the headlamp seemed annoying to me as it moved around a lot and just did not feel natural when moving fast over rough terrain.

What do you use?

I guess the optimum is to have both. I am thinking about sticking with the handlebar light and then getting a cheaper LED light for my helmet to supplement.


thanks

Matt

 

[29erchico]

Both.

29erchico

 

[shiggy]

Both. A cheap LED helmet light will be useless though.

 

[imjps]

Do a search on this site and then report back to us what you found out

 

[mateoway]

both

although when I'am just cruising around mellow are bar mount is more than enough.sometimes when it's a full moon sans light and I go commando

 

[bowler1]

I think.............

I think I am going to go and get a better quality bar mount light (JET) which I will use for road and trail, and then will supplement with my current helmet light (Niterider Evolution).

I think I prefer the handlebar mount a bit more and it is definitely better for my road bike. The headlamp should supplement well for tight turns, etc.

Thoughts?????

Matt

 

[norm]

Headlamp is way better than the Handlebar lights

I find the best is both, but if I had to choose one, I'd take the headlamp.

 

[Blue Shorts]

As others have mentioned, using both types is preferred.

Handlebar mount - Is better for technical terrain. It casts shadows that allow you to see terrain features better than a helmet light. It's also better in very dusty or foggy areas. The downside is that it doesn't always point where you need it, especially in twisty singletrack.

Helmet lights are better twisty singletrack, but tend to wash out terrain features.....and are a problem in dusty / foggy areas because it lights up the dust / fog right in front of your eyes.

Bottom line. There is no one mounting position that is better for everyone. You should decide based on your riding conditions / budget.

 

[whoda*huck]

As others have mentioned, using both types is preferred.

Handlebar mount - Is better for technical terrain. It casts shadows that allow you to see terrain features better than a helmet light. It's also better in very dusty or foggy areas. The downside is that it doesn't always point where you need it, especially in twisty singletrack.

Helmet lights are better twisty singletrack, but tend to wash out terrain features.....and are a problem in dusty / foggy areas because it lights up the dust / fog right in front of your eyes.

Bottom line. There is no one mounting position that is better for everyone. You should decide based on your riding conditions / budget.

Couldn't have said it better but I'd emphasize the fog/mist blindness you get with a headlamp. I have a L&M hid which attaches both places. I keep it on the bars most of the time and it's got a wide enough beam that even in singletrack it's good enough.
Can't beat headlamps for trailside repairs, though. My backup/emerg. light is a backpacker style led headlamp.

 

[dogonfr]

Have only used handlebar mount. I feel that i ride better sometimes because it forces you to look ahead the way you'r supposted to. After riding with sunlight get kinda lazy with the eyes.
Both definatly would be the best as long as you can afford.

 

[Blue Shorts]

I think I am going to go and get a better quality bar mount light (JET) which I will use for road and trail, and then will supplement with my current helmet light (Niterider Evolution).

I think I prefer the handlebar mount a bit more and it is definitely better for my road bike. The headlamp should supplement well for tight turns, etc.

Thoughts?????

Matt

I think that your plan is good. Having both will allow you to evaluate what works for yo uin different conditions.

Good Luck.

 

[Brihombre]

Both, but..

Get a bar mount with different light levels. When climbing, a low light level saves your batteries as you don't need a bright light going up. This allows for longer night rides.