While the high-vis debate will forever rage, there’s no doubting the importance of a good set of lights for when the sun goes down.
At £34.99, the Electron Nano 1 and Pico 7 twin pack falls firmly into the commuter category – something to ensure you’re seen on the road, rather than a lamp to light up the road before you.
The front alloy joystick (up to 80 hours run time) is of an excellent build quality. With an output of one watt from a single white LED, the front light, which can be run on constant or flashing, is just about adequate as a safety light when riding at a reasonable speed, but the focused beam doesn’t offer much side-on visibility.
The rear light (up to 150 hours run time) is mounted horizontally and, with seven red LEDs, is super bright, with six modes to cycle through, and, according to Electron, is visible up to 1,000m. And, importantly, both lights – which run off batteries supplied – stood up to riding in the rain.
The toolless front mount is easy to fit and grips the ‘bars impeccably, with the light itself held firmly in place. The rear mount requires a flat-blade screwdriver to secure what is essentially a large cable tie to the seatpost and is, as a result, more time consuming and a little awkward, but, once in place, does the same excellent job at holding the light.
What you get with this set is two lights suitable for urban riding for not much outlay. It’s worth bearing in mind that, while the rear light is excellent, the front light won’t leave you lit up like a Christmas tree and, as ever, careful riding is required.
