LIGHT UP THE ROAD
LED technology has advanced so rapidly that blindingly bright lights are cheap and accessible — but not always necessary.
When you’re choosing a front light, first decide whether you need it to actually light your way on unlit lanes or whether it’s primarily to make you visible to other road users.
If you’re riding on lit roads or want to use lights during the day for extra visibility, you may find an ultra-bright constant beam is unnecessary and a flash function at the front is perfectly adequate.
For commuting or training on mostly lit roads, Lezyne’s KTV front light, with an RRP of £21.99, has a daytime flash mode with a 180-lumen output and five-hour battery life as well as a 70-lumen continuous mode. It is available in four different colours and has an integrated USB stick for cable-free charging.
The rear KTV has a 10-lumen output and an eco mode with a seven-hour run time. It also has a Group Ride setting that lowers output to avoid dazzling other riders.
A step up in power and with a compact, low-profile body design, the Lezyne Zecto Drive (£32.99 front and rear or £62.99 pair) has a 250-lumen random flash mode and 80-lumen constant and more body colour options, while the rear gets an 80-lumen daytime flash. There’s also a new Zecto Auto rear light that switches itself on when you start to move and off again once you’ve stopped moving for three minutes, conserving battery life. The Zecto Max rear light has twice the battery size for longer run times of up to 12 hours in daytime flash mode.
Lezyne has just launched the Lite Drive 700XL (£56.99). Its 700-lumen daytime flash is the brightest in Lezyne’s range, and its constant modes are enough to light your way in inky blackness. It offers up to 76 hours’ run time and is helmet mountable.
Meanwhile, new at the back is the Lezyne Laser Drive rear light (£57.99), which includes two side-projected laser lines for better visibility and to help deter close passers. Its four conventional LEDS provide up to 40 lumens of output with 180° visibility and it’s also designed to be compatible with aero seatposts.
For a mega-bright light that will almost turn night into day — and perfect for lighting up the potholes on the darkest lanes — the Lezyne Super Drive XXL (£109.99) has a maximum output of 1,500 lumens.