Light systems for the layman

By Mitch Trujillo, PCI #244T
Boulder PD (CO)
IPMBA Industry Relations Committee

Imagine.... It's dark and you're on bike patrol. You're a long way from the station, with no charge left on your bike light. All you have is your flashlight and no, you don't have duct tape. Chances are, if you don't get to the barn soon, you're just as much of a scofflaw as the last guy you contacted for not having a bike light.

Ok, so imagine that you can pack an extra front and rear back up light in case of times like those. Maybe even a sub-compact front and rear light that runs on the latest light technology and doesn't break the bank. Sound interesting?

I recently had the chance to trial run some commuter-level lights offered by CatEye, a leading manufacturer of lighting systems for the bike industry. The CatEye Research Center just so happens to be here in my own backyard in Boulder, Co.

CatEye is employing the latest LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology, that is, the light source that is commonly used on backlit displays of watches, mobile phones, and computers. LED technology is currently being advanced in the development of emergency overhead light systems, flashlights, and monitors. This same technology is now being enhanced by mating it with CatEye's Opticube lens and reflector technology. In layman's terms, the proprietary bulb that operates at relatively low heat and is protected by a crystal clear lens, is shining its light from a crystal-like reflector. This equates to longer run times, and better performance.

I tested the HL-EL400 Compact Opticube headlight and the "new" HL-EL120 Sport Opticube headlight in San Antonio during the annual IPMBA conference. I mounted the Sport on my helmet while the handlebar donned the Compact. They were extremely easy to operate. The strap mounts were easy to use and kept the lights from shifting. The light housings pivoted left-to-right in order to point the blue-hued light in the correct direction. The light beams produced by the two were only of use in extremely dark conditions. I accidentally dropped the Compact on concrete, with no functional side effects. I really liked the magnetic switch on the Compact, which allows the light to be waterproof to 50 ft. The Sport (80 grams) and Compact (76 grams) display 50+ and 90 candlepower respectively. I don't know if this equates to the IPMBA minimum standard of five watts ("Damnit Jim, I'm not a light engineer!"), but both certainly act well as back-up lights and are tiny enough to tote in your shirt pocket!

The other Opticube headlights I tested were the HL-EL200 and the HL-EL300. Both should be touted as good commuter lights. They mount via a handlebar quick release. During patrol duties in early May, the smaller 85 gram EL200 seemed slightly brighter than the Compact or Sport (probably due to its larger reflector and battery source). Despite the larger size, it fit neatly in a side pocket on my patrol bike bag. The even larger (127 gram), 5 LED, EL 300 model put out enough light on the pavement that it exceeded 400 candlepower. Very bright for commuting indeed. The EL 300 barely fits inside a patrol bike bag side pocket.

The only rear light I tested was the inexpensive Compact Safety Light (model SL-LD100). This little ditty mounts to just about anything via its elastic cord. Because of its ingenious magnetic switch, it is waterproof to 50 ft. The light is as big as a lollypop and visible up to ½ mile! Of course it doesn't rate against the brightest rear light I know, the TL-LD 600, but it serves its purpose as a back-up.

I highly recommend the lights when your primary bike light goes kaput or when all else fails. CatEye LED lights offer the most brightness and safety in a compact size, and are available at a very reasonable price. The lights can be viewed on the CatEye website, www.cateye.com.

CatEye is not yet listed in the IPMBA Product Purchase Program.

Contact: CatEye, 1705 14th St., #115., Boulder, CO 80302; (303) 443-4595, (800) 5-CatEye; fax (303) 473-0006; website: www.cateye.com; email: service@cateye.com.

Mitch is an IPMBA Instructor Trainer, an IMBA National Mountain Bike Patroller, and has a penchant for singlespeeds. He can be reached at trujillom@ci.boulder.co.us.

© 2004 IPMBA. This review first appeared in the Summer 2004 issue of IPMBA News.