32°Expired

Bike lights from Halfords - reduced from £9.99 to £3

Found 15th Aug 2013

Was looking for a cheap light set for mountain bike and stumbled across these at Halfords.

All other light sets seemed to be LED based which according to reviews aren't 'road' legal and cost at least £6.

These seem a bargain with 70% off, lot's of stock when I looked and the price includes the batteries and fixing brackets.

Reviews online seem alright as well.

Not for your seasoned bike rider but OK for kids bike and occasional user I would suggest.

Full description below:

Halfords Value Bike Light Set Product Description
The Halfords Value Bike Light Set will light up your path and ensure other road users and pedestrians can see you from a distance. The set includes a front and rear light that can be easily attached to your bikes frame in no time.

Features & Benefits of the Halfords Value Bike Light Set
■Front and rear bike light set for improving visibility
■Brackets are inclusive for quick mounting to your bikes frame
■Filament bulbs
■Batteries included - 2 x AA Batteries

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12 Comments

15th Aug 2013

Since when are LED bike lights not road legal ?

15th Aug 2013

LED lights are perfectly legal and a million times better I'd buy them at £6 if there was a choice between the two...

15th Aug 2013

For a while the law referred to filament bulbs with a BRitish standard (or similar) so LEDs technically weren't legal. Largely overlooked as I guess plod would rather you had any, rather than no lights. I wouldn't bother with these as LEDs will probably be smaller and brighter. You'll make the saving back as for a particular light output LEDs will use your batteries up less.

15th Aug 2013

technically speaking any led car lights aren't legal

Original Poster

15th Aug 2013

Comment on Argos website with their LED lights:

Additional Information

LED cycle lights should only be used for extra visibility in conjunction with a BS approved cycle light. Do not use in flashing mode when attached to your cycle, as this is in contravention of the Road Vehicle and Lighting Regulations

15th Aug 2013

I thought it was just the flashing ones that are illegal.

Speaking of cylists, is it no longer 'cool' to use hand-signals?

I was taught to use them and when I'm riding I still do, but there's a growing number of cyclists who don't and I've seen quite a few 'almost' accidents due to this.

15th Aug 2013

the old legislation referred to incandescent lights ie. hot filament. I assume BS did too and hasn't adapted to the times and Halfords are covering themselves.

I would rather (and do) use brighter, lighter LED lights with batteries that last more than 5 minutes. If LEDs are good enough for the Audi A8 and BMW 6-series theyre good enough for my bicycle. These halfords lights will be cheap, flimsy, dim, heavy, and eat batteries.

And yes flashing mode is strictly contravening RV+LR but I'd rather be seen, and car drivers associate a flashing red light with a bicycle (rather than it disappearing into the light "noise" and being mistaken for a car further away). My local force routinely enforces cycle light use, no one ever got a ticket for having a flashing LED.

Original Poster

15th Aug 2013

Interesting views on this subject - I for one hate the flashing lights on cyclists as a car driver!

Looks like I need to have a look into this further before making my 'cheap' purchase!

15th Aug 2013

It is legal to have a flashing light on a bicycle, the law was amended a few years ago.

You are supposed to use a front and rear light marked with the relevant BS mark, but few companies bother to seek approval. I believe you are legally allowed to mount additional non-approved lights as long as they don't dazzle drivers and are correct colour.

>> ctc.org.uk/cyc…ons

Edited by: "melted" 15th Aug 2013

Original Poster

15th Aug 2013

melted
It is legal to have a flashing light on a bicycle, the law was amended a … It is legal to have a flashing light on a bicycle, the law was amended a few years ago.You are supposed to use a front and rear light marked with the relevant BS mark, but few companies bother to seek approval. I believe you are legally allowed to mount additional non-approved lights as long as they don't dazzle drivers and are correct colour.>> http://www.ctc.org.uk/cyclists-library/regulations/lighting-regulations

Nice one - looks like Argos need to update the comments on their website then. I started looking elsewhere because of the comment on there and that's how I found the Halfords deal.

Edited by: "Mashman1974" 15th Aug 2013

15th Aug 2013

Im sure i had these in the early 90s lol.

Dont think these are even worth £3 to be honest.

One of 2 reviews.

I bought these bike lights very recently, but have only been able to use … I bought these bike lights very recently, but have only been able to use them one week. The front light did not stay on (you had to keep the button at the back pressed - used tape to do that) and both lights dimmed and turned off after 2.5 minutes of being on, after 5 days of use 20 minutes a day (changing batteries did not help). The light emanated was not bright and I have received complaints from colleagues who saw me go home from work saying they couldn't see me at all, even when I bought them brand new.

15th Aug 2013

I use a 3 x AAA torch with a Cree led emitter and zoom, so it can be set to a wide angle, with one of these brackets:- dx.com/p/u…274 - I'd suggest getting a torch with an XM-L cree in it, it will be bright enough to let you easily see the potholes in the road.

And one of these planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q…ght set to flash and also another 0.5 watt on the rear - although the Phaart ones I bought are poorly glued so will let rain in around the lens - I paid a lot less, so I wasn't bothered about having to glue mine.

Edited by: "melted" 15th Aug 2013

Bike lights from Halfords - reduced from £9.99 to £3

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