Commuting by bike?

Oh! I can't resist a cycling thread! I've worked from home for years, so my commute is more like bed--coffee pot--office, but I ride a bike for all my daily errands, and have bike commuted in one form or another for 15 years. Two weeks ago I bought a unicycle, and as of this weekend can actually say I can ride it. Now my twice daily, one-block trip to the mailbox will be a uni-commute. BTW, we night-ride local singletrack throughout the year. Any light will do when you ride in a group. It's rather zen-like when your juice runs out and you ride by the light of your leading and trailing friends.

I have the Nite Rider helmit mounted version, I believe it is called the Storm.

<br><br>Doesn't really qualify as "cheap" but I just ordered an '05 Storm HID system from Colorado Cyclist - normally $429, now $299. There's no such thing as having too much light when you're riding at night.<br><br> www.coloradocyclist.com/common/products/...1,226,665&TextMode=0

I started riding the bike to work everyday about 2 years ago, and never stopped. A great release and pre-winter workout, and lets not forget a great city to do it in. So many beautiful routes to avoid traffic and catch some views. <br><br>As Lowell said<br><br>"I enjoyed biking in the dark or in foul weather because it felt like elemental nature--sort of like a trip to the mountains. But I drew the line when it rained so hard that the water obscured the cracks in the city streets"<br><br>Without a rear wheel tire-flap, I also have a problem with 'water' and 'cracks' during the hard rains. Without a change of clothes, you're reminded of your ride/turns-all-day!<br><br>-Jim

I don't know if I can really justify getting a light that costs twice as much as my bike <br>What exactly are the benefits of a HID light? It sounds like it's just brighter?<br><br>But here's a HID that costs $500:<br> www.rei.com/product/47661327.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CYCLING_TOC
And a regular one that costs $125, that claims to be the "brightest light around", and puts out about the same power:
www.rei.com/product/47964684.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CYCLING_TOC

I'll be riding the Burke Gilman at night... how bright does it really need to be?

I've been using the previous incarnation of the NiteRider Evolution -<br><br> www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=8&descr...RIDE&major=3&minor=6

for a couple of years now, but with a 15 watt bulb (they now use a 10 watt, I believe) and an after-market battery from Radar Electric that gives me about 4.5 hours of run time. It seems perfectly adequate at speeds around 18-19 mph, but I've ridden alongside people with the NiteRider HID systems and the beams appear to be at least 2-3 times brighter. BTW, the Light & Motion HID light is $100 cheaper at Colorado Cyclist

www.coloradocyclist.com/common/products/...1,226,665&TextMode=0

Edited to add:

I'll be riding the Burke Gilman at night... how bright does it really need to be?<br>

<br><br>I'm sure a good Halogen light would be fine, but a rough parallel would be the guy on Fritschis and Adrenalins asking if a lightweight Dynafit outfit is really necessary . . . once you tour on the Dynafits you don't want to go back. I've worked my way up from a puny Cateye unit with AA batteries through two Vistalight systems and two NiteRider halogen lights to this, my first HID system. $299 sounds outrageous, but my friend who reps Niterider says the '06 version will be $499 retail and $300 is about his "team" price for this year's model . . .<br>

<br>I'll be riding the Burke Gilman at night... how bright does it really need to be?<br>

<br>I ride the Burke (between the UW stadium and Blakely) in the dark both in the morning and at night. I've used a Cateye halogen for at least the last year. There is only one curve that is pretty dark. The rest of this trail section is not too bad, especially in winter when the illumination from streetlights on campus and the road along the IMA comes through bare tree limbs.