Comments on Kent's Bike Blog: One Watt Planet Bike Blaze (and some other lights)...

Hi use the three LED and the 'new ' 5 LED lite an...

2008-06-09T01:27:00.000-07:00

Hi use the three LED and the 'new ' 5 LED lite and its brilliant..great with 'AA's ' seem to last a bit longer than 'AAA's '.

The Cam actuated quick release is a good idea for swapping between the roadie, commuter and Mt Bike..just don't screw it up too hard or the ratchet will stuff up and pull thru losing grip ( happened to mates also)

The rear RED Flashing lite is AMAZING to, with extra centre HIGH power Red LED..blinding for my mt bike nite ridin mates and motorists hahaha

Very good lights - long time dirty ol' Cateye fan and converted now to Planet Bike..

Jeff - New Zealand

Planet bike lights look pretty good. I wonder if ...

2008-02-15T09:54:00.000-08:00

Planet bike lights look pretty good. I wonder if they are ever going to figure out how to make better optics for the road like the overpriced (and hard to find) European lights. It looks like all the lights in your review have a symmetrical beam. A better design uses optics to make the beam brighter at the top and dimmer at the bottom to give more even illumination on the road.

Good review...those new generation lights sure loo...

2008-02-15T08:35:00.000-08:00

Good review...those new generation lights sure look brighter than my old Beamer 5!

My only gripe with Planet Bike's headlights is the cam-actuated handlebar clamp. I have a heck of a time getting the clamp tight enough to hold fast...and usually resort to cloth friction tape under the clamp.

I like Planet Bike lights. They work, and they're ...

2008-02-15T08:03:00.000-08:00

I like Planet Bike lights. They work, and they're pretty darned fuss-free. The fact that they donate a chunk of their profits to bicycle advocacy doesn't hurt, either. I also appreciate that they keep the "schwag" side of the operation to a minimum: A shirt, a cap, a banner for shop displays.

As for the guy who thinks 50 bucks for a light is expensive: Actually, compared to other systems (like DiNotte/Inox which start at 170 bucks for a basic set-up), it's not so much. And if it keeps a car from smacking me, worth every penny.

Hey Dr. Codfish...I had that same issue too of eve...

2008-02-14T23:37:00.000-08:00

Hey Dr. Codfish...

I had that same issue too of everything being black, until I discovered electrical tape in multitudes of colors! Wrap all your tool handles with neon colored electrical tape and presto chango! Easy to find tools, easy to identify flashlights (mini mags).

Just my 3c. :)
- MrsGrace

Woooohoooo.... Bike lights for safety. This is goo...

2008-02-14T23:16:00.000-08:00

Woooohoooo....

Bike lights for safety. This is good. Like Obama, don't matter the color is.

BTW, $50 bucks only expensive when you can't afford (or, Kent afford?).

Besides, what can you afford when you git hit by big brother bus?

B safe out there.

noc sez...

"What's your conscious choice?"

As usual, good review. Wonder how the new Blaze co...

2008-02-14T19:01:00.000-08:00

As usual, good review. Wonder how the new Blaze compares to the Super Spot? Probably brighter with the new Cree.

I, too, am a fan of the SuperFlash. Instead of electrical tape, I just cut a 1/4" wide piece off an old inner tube and stretched it around the light seam. Works like a charm. Thanks for the idea.

Kent--First let me say, I always appreciate the di...

2008-02-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

Kent--

First let me say, I always appreciate the disclaimer. Biases are only problematic if they're kept hidden and can't be factored into our conclusions.

I am primarily interested in throwing in a comment about my own experience with the helmet-mounted light. The one I had fit easily on one of my helmets, but due to vent arrangements on another helmet, would never fit properly.

I also spent a lot of time searching frantically for the source of a very loud, alarming-sounding creaking from my bike that I eventually figured out what actually the light creaking against it' little helmet mount bracket. This wasn't present right away, but emerged over time. The sound was apparently resonating through my helmet and was not only being amplified as a result, but was also sounding like it was coming from everywhere at once. So if anyone gets this light, just be forewarned, you may find yourself needing to suppress a growing desire to overhaul your bottom bracket!

Hi Kent;White is fine by me. In fact I would appr...

2008-02-14T07:53:00.000-08:00

Hi Kent;

White is fine by me. In fact I would appreciate if more bike bits were white or lighter, any color other than black. It is so frustrating to be fishing through the carradice in the middle of the night, or groping for tools laying about the side of the road after a middle of the night fix. and of course, all these things are black.

So, for me the white is a selling poitn thigh, it is pless probably that one might have trouble locating a light, at least while it is turned on and working.

Yr Pal Dr(looking for a bottle of radium watch dial paint)Codfish

Dear Mr. Peterson: Hello! I don't know if the p...

2008-02-14T02:01:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. Peterson:
Hello! I don't know if the pricing is less than the Planet Bike Blinky-3s you've been using for give=away programs, or if the quality is adequaate, or if the quantity purchase requirement is a killer (perhaps for a statewide program?) but
http://www.4imprint.com/Flashing-LED-Light/EXEC/DETAIL/SEARCH/~SKU004135/~CA4135.htm
seems to be superior to most of the promotional givelaway product grade LED blinkers I've seen in the past. Multiple batteries, commonly available batteries (AAAs), multiple LEDs, don't know about the flash patters, not that you need that many. Don't know about seatpost/rack mounting options either.
The more you know, the harder the decisions.....
Robert Leone

Love planet bike. donating 25% to bike causes is ...

2008-02-13T17:18:00.000-08:00

Love planet bike. donating 25% to bike causes is so anti-corportate in these days of million dollar ceo perks and big layoffs only to boost profits even more. thats why i try to buy pb stuff anytime i can get. i love there plastic fenders. they work great. ive always been bored with bike lites for some reason which is why i still run some old incadescent headlite and tailite. must be 20years old. looks like time to upgrade and send pb some $$ (a company I dont mind sending $$ to). what should i do with my old lites? bat life is short so giving to some unlit rider doesnt seem like it will do any good. i hate throwing something away that works good.

Very curious about this new PB 1w Cree XRE-based L...

2008-02-13T16:54:00.000-08:00

Very curious about this new PB 1w Cree XRE-based LED headlight. You say it's driven by only 2AA cells? Two AAs only put out around 3 volts, while the required voltage to drive a Cree XRE is around 3.5 volts. That means that there HAS to be some sort of voltage boosting circuit inside the light. That's fine, but the inherent problem with boost drivers (vs. voltage-dropping "buck" circuits) is that as the battery voltage drops, the light is apt to go off suddenly. Buck circuits are generally better recommended for bike lights, because as the battery voltage decreases below the LED-required threshold and the driver circuit drops out of current regulation, the light goes into "direct-drive" mode and often yields enough light to get you home on. I am curious to see a future report from you with more info on battery life on this light.

A final comment, directed at any Planet Bike employees who may be reading this: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make us some lights with engineered European-style focused optics! (e.g. the Schmidt E6)

Thanks,
-Jim G

Hey Anonymous,You don't have to sit through a comm...

2008-02-13T16:39:00.000-08:00

Hey Anonymous,

You don't have to sit through a commercial at all. Last I checked, you're totally free to surf away!

Kent

Kent, just because you receive free stuff, does th...

2008-02-13T16:31:00.000-08:00

Kent, just because you receive free stuff, does that mean we have to sit through a long commercial?

White plastic is a very good base for using colore...

2008-02-13T14:52:00.000-08:00

White plastic is a very good base for using colored Sharpies or similar permanent markers upon. Go nuts!

Whoo-hoo! Bike lighting shootout!I hope Planet bi...

2008-02-13T14:40:00.000-08:00

Whoo-hoo! Bike lighting shootout!

I hope Planet bike stuff gets better.
It looks like it. I get it but it doesn't last with me except for the Freddy Fenders Hardcore.

Then again, I like CatEye stuff and their products break too.

I got these (in white) two years ago:
LED X-mas lights and get many positive comments, both for visibility and festiveness and fun.

They last a long time and can be wrapped around bag straps or looped bandolier style around your chest.

Adds lighted AREA to approaching traffic. Bad thing is they take THREE AA batteries, and my charger likes four.

Keep up the good work, Kent!

Hey Kent.I use a couple fairly old 5 LED Vista Lit...

2008-02-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

Hey Kent.

I use a couple fairly old 5 LED Vista Lites on my workday commute, one on my messenger bag and one on my bike. I set one to flash and the other to constant. Dumb question time. I get one or two new lights, apparently much better overall so that is great. What do I do with my oldies? Throw them away? Let them add to the clutter in my bike den? Give them to some poor schmo who is then sub-optimally lit?

Thanks, Doug

Another Planet Bike supporter here. I don't always...

2008-02-13T13:25:00.000-08:00

Another Planet Bike supporter here. I don't always have the opportunity to support good companies when I buy stuff, so I take advantage when I can.

while i'm all for supporting planet bike and all t...

2008-02-13T13:17:00.000-08:00

while i'm all for supporting planet bike and all the things they do, i recently purchased a cree xr-e based flashlight from dealextreme for $16. i'm about to upgrade to the p5-based model, which comes to about $20, and is not only a newer generation of LED, but also can take two (instead of one, on the flashlight i got) AA batteries, or alternately the 3.6v nimh rechargables they sell.

$50 is pretty expensive for a bike light, and i'm betting that the supply chain is pretty much the same for the cree LEDs, obviating any concerns about, say, the marginal harm inflicted on the earth from either purchase.