How to choose bike lights: dynamo or battery powered?

Cyclists who like to ride in the evening or early in the morning know it well: you can't do without bike lights. Dynamo or battery powered, which one to choose? This is the most important question to address!

The choice certainly depends on your riding habits and also on your thirst for competition.

Randonnée fans like the Paris Brest Paris have no doubt about the answer: dynamo bike lights!

Those who don't want performance, but just want the convenience of riding a bike even in the dark, certainly prefer battery-powered bike lights.

So let's see what the pros and cons of the two types of bike lights are. After all, the choice is not so obvious!

Bike lights: what the law says in Italy

Bike lights are a safety device in every respect, because they ensure that the cyclist sees the route well and, above all, is clearly visible to other road users. It is precisely for this reason that the Traffic Code requires that each bike be equipped with a white front light and a red back light.

The regulations are not very detailed and leave the cyclist free to choose the type of lights he prefers. The law does not even specify how many lumens are needed at night or in case of poor visibility. Also in this case, therefore, the legislator has relied on the common sense of those who travel on the bike.

Obviously, powerful bike lights are the ones that ensure greater visibility and more safety. With good quality lights, the bike is often much more visible at night than during the day, although we often tend to think the opposite.

How to choose bike lights?

It happens very often that the bikes for sale are not equipped with lights and it is precisely in these cases that the cyclist can indulge in the choice of the solution that he likes. Basically, there are only 3 choices:

• Battery powered bike lights;
• Dynamo bike lights;
• Induction bike lights.

Each of these technologies has advantages and disadvantages and is more suitable for some disciplines than for others. Here we will only deal with the first two types, because induction lights are not enough to adequately illuminate the road and can fit are like bike backlights.

Dynamo bike lights: when and why to choose them

Dynamo bike lights have evolved over time and from noisy and inefficient accessories they have become the best bicycle lighting system. The leap in quality came when the dynamo was placed in the hub of the wheel. The cyclist does not feel the slightest friction and the energy produced can also be used to charge cycle computers, smartphones and other electronic devices.

The dynamo lights are increasingly efficient thanks to the use of LEDs, which consume little energy but can illuminate the darkest road. One of the best products available is the bike front light Edelux II by Nabendynamo, which has a power of 90 lux and a deep and homogeneous light beam.

When you enter the tunnel you can switch it on with a simple switch and if the bike stops, the light stays on for another 5 minutes. This dynamo light is fitted with the supplied bracket and comes complete with power cord and connectors.

The Edelux dynamo lights are ideal for cycling and for tackling long distances, without the worry of batteries that run out. Because they are as robust as any other, they are also perfect for off-road use.

The same dynamo can also power the bike backlight, so that the cyclist can be seen without problems and safely move even in the dark.

Battery-powered bike lights: features and benefits

Among the different options, the battery lights are the least powerful, but still provide more than enough visibility to ride out of town, where the street lighting may sometimes be a little better.

In the past, battery lights had to be charged very often and were not at all efficient. Now the technology is much improved, also thanks to the use of LEDs, powerful but with reduced energy consumption.

To give you an idea, let's take an example of high efficiency led bike lights: the AXA Green Line 50 led lights set. They are among the best battery powered bike lights and now we'll find out why.

First of all, they allow you to keep track of battery consumption, with the indication of levels 25, 50 and 75%. It sounds like a small detail, but being without a battery in the dark is one of the worst nightmares of cyclists and can be very dangerous.

While riding your bike you can set the brightness as you like. The maximum power is up to 50 lux and is perfect for poorly lit trails, where you can have a visibility of 75 meters. On city streets you can reduce the brightness, so you can save on battery consumption. The maximum battery life is 12 hours, but it drops when the brightness is set to maximum.

The battery can be recharged using the USB cable and the charging time is 2-4 hours. The lifespan of the batteries easily reaches 1000 recharges.

The batteries are fastened to the bike using the practical silicone fastening tape, which guarantees good stability. In the presence of very rough terrain or dirt road, the light will be a bit flickering. In fact, the best lights for mtb are those with dynamo, which are fixed with a special mounting bracket and ensure greater stability.

Bike lights: Dynamo or battery-powered?

Here we are with the question we asked ourselves from the beginning: is it better to choose dynamo or battery lights? Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of the two types of lighting, you won't find it difficult to answer this question.

Dynamo bike lights are certainly preferable for long-distance, cycle-tourism, walking tours and dirt tracks. Battery-powered lights will be perfect for short trips or city bike rides on urban routes.

Are you going to mount the lights on your bike? If you still have any doubts or need advice on how to buy, please contact me and I will put my experience at your disposal!