As motorists become more and more distracted while driving, cyclists have to become more and more visible at all times of day.
Annoyingly visible. That's my goal with bike lights. Because if people are asking, "WTF?" when they drive past me, I know I'm being seen. And that's at least half the battle in not getting run over. Below are the latest and greatest bike lights aka "Weapons of Sight" for 2016.
Specialized Flux Expert ($275): The Flux is the double-barrel shotgun of bike lights. It provides maximum coverage with a bright, 180-degree beam that is visible from 1/3 of a mile away. With an output range of 400 to 1,200 lumens, it can be blindingly effective. What I like most, though, is the mounting mechanism. It provides huge vertical range, such that you can position the light below a computer mount or just below the bar for a superior aesthetic. And it detaches with a single button for recharging. Designers of bike lights should be thinking about seamless integrations like this. It feels like it's part of the bike. This is my light of choice for bike commuting.
NiteRider Lumina OLED 800 ($170): This is the assault rifle of bike lights. It provides a powerful 800 lumen beam in a very tight package. New for this year is an interface that lets you know which of the various modes you're in -- steady, flash, pulse, SOS -- with corresponding battery life. The way I use this light is to mount it under a Garmin computer with an aftermarket adapter. It's not ideal, as I have to feel around for the controls to change modes, but it's something you get used to. So this is the light I use for everyday road riding.
Light & Motion Urban 800 FC Barfly SLI Combo ($180): This is the sidearm of bike lights. It's powerful yet light and maneuverable. The killer features are found more in the mounts. This combo includes a Garmin computer mount with a GoPro-style attachment. It just makes it so simple and easy to attach. I use this as a helmet-mounted mountain bike light, since I already have the GoPro mounts installed on my helmets. It's like a universal adapter.
Cycliq Fly 6 ($169): This is the surveillance system of bike lights. With 30 lumens, it has all the brightness and flashing modes you need to be annoyingly visible. But it also features a 720p video camera that records the whole time you're riding. If it detects an impact, it will lock in the last 30 minutes of footage onto the micro-SD card. If you're struck from behind in a hit-and-run, which are all too common, you'll have some video evidence. Plus, the mounting package gives you all the straps and shims you'll need to frame up the camera just right.
Blackburn 2'Fer 2 Pack ($45): These are the Tasers of bike lights. With a simple strap, these micro lights can be mounted pretty much anywhere and dismounted just as easily for recharging. They offer multiple modes of both white and red light, depending on whether you position them to the front or rear respectively. I use one on my commuting helmet and another on the seat post of my mountain bike when I have long road stretches between trails.