Bike Lights for Night Riding

Now that the sun has been setting early, it's time to dig out the bike lights for night riding. If you are new to bicycling in the dark, here's a run-down of essential night cycling gear that I use.

Check your local laws to find out what the statues are regarding riding your bicycle at night because everyone's is different.

Front headlight and helmet light for cycling after dark

The front light on you bike illuminates where you are going.

For whatever reason, I see a lot of people not using one. They (wrongly) think that only a rear tail light is needed. You need a front light.

The best front light is the one that fits your needs and budget. For me, that's an old 12-volt (over-volted to 14.4 volts) 20-watt halogen NiteRider on my handlebars. It's a Franken-light.

But I have also had good luck using the best Fenix light for cycling -- the TK11. It's a small, lightweight flashlight that's really inexpensive and well-made. I really like using one on my helmet, which illuminates everything in my sight when I turn my head. The flashlight can be strapped to the helmet (or handlebars) with a piece of velcro -- who said you need to spend $200 bucks on cycling night gear?

Don't-flatten-me-yellow jacket for riding at night

When I ride at night, I wear a high visibility outer shell. This jacket has reflective material on it that shines back when car lights illuminate it.

The reflective material is in the shape of my upper body, so it allows drivers to make out my body and not just wonder that that red light they are closing on is.

The brightest rear bike light for cycling in the dark: Planet Bike SuperFlash

Under no circumstances will I use any other rear blinkie than the Planet Bike SuperFlash.

This is the brightest rear bicycle light -- no ifs, ands, or buts. I use two of them -- both attached to the chain-stays on my bicycle. I have one set to the blinking mode, which seems to be an attention drawer. But because that blinking can confuse drivers and doesn't help them gauge distance, I also use another SuperFlash set to steady mode.

Your local laws may require additional lighting devices, such as reflectors on the pedals. Mine do not. It's best to check the laws before taking anything for granted.

That said, I hope my list of essential cycling night gear will help you get started cycling in the dark or provide you with the motivation to dig out your bike lights for night riding.

DZ more professional in interviews?

I haven't seen many Dave Zabriskie interviews in the last year, but the ones I've seen in the past capture the cyclist in a awkward-stand-offish-who-the-hell-cares-kind-of way.

But I never expected a boiler-plate review interview out of him.