Commuter lights

Still in ‘be seen’ territory, commuter lights are designed for riding on well-lit roads – and unless you ride to and from work on deserted country lanes or are planning any night rides through winter, there’s not a great need for anything else.

With an increased lumen output, ranging anywhere from approximately 50 Lumens to 300 Lumens and above, good commuter lights will be waterproof and easy to attach to the bike. Many will be charged via a USB port. Commuter lights needn’t be only for riding to and from work; they’re also useful for training rides at dawn or dusk, or on overcast winter days.

Side-on illumination is important when riding on busy roads, so you can be seen by cars joining the road at a junction or roundabout. Some lamps, like the RSP RX480, have small windows on either side of the unit through which light is emitted to help attract a driver’s attention. The Lezyne Macro Drive and Knog Blinder 4 are other examples.