There’s a long-time tradition in many European countries of using the bicycle as a daily commuter’s transport. The bicycle is considered an integral part of road traffic. As such, European Community Nations have incorporated the bicycle into their traffic safety laws, and most bicycles are routinely sold with built-in lighting systems to meet these requirements. 

Here in the US, unless you’re buying an e-bike with preinstalled lights, it’s up to the rider to select and install their own lights. With adequate lighting, you can ride your bike to commute safely after dark just as people in European countries have done for years. This article will help you learn how to select the best lighting system to meet your needs.

The Basics: Outfitting Your Bike for Nighttime Riding

The first order of business after dark is to be seen. That means, at a minimum, installing a white light in the front and a red one at the rear and, ideally, adding reflectors and bright reflective materials. 

Surprisingly effective are those yellow reflectors on your pedals. Because of their upward and downward motion, they can be recognized easily from behind. (They’re usually the last reflectors to disappear off an old, run-down bicycle.) Keep in mind, though, that any reflective measure is only as good as the driver’s own light source, so you’ll still need lights that can generate enough light to be seen.  

The “blinkies” that BikeArlington and others give out are basic flashing lights that are adequate in town where streets are illuminated. However, if you venture into total darkness, such as onto local trails, you’ll need something to light your way.

Lighting Options for Every Bike and Budget

When seeking to purchase lights for your bike, there are two types of lighting systems you can consider: 1). clip-on battery lights or 2). dynohubs, which feature an AC generator built into the wheel’s hub.  

Clip-on battery lights, front and rear, are the easiest upgrade. Nearly all of them are rechargeable via the common USB-C port. They are lightweight, portable bike-to-bike, and can be as powerful as other types of bicycle lighting. A tail light using COB (Chip On Board) technology makes an excellent tail light for its wide spread of light.  

The disadvantages of portable lights? They too easily run the risk of theft (unless you take them with you after parking), and sometimes offer only a couple of hours of run time at high power. 

Dynohubs (an AC generator built into the wheel’s hub) are the improved version of the “bottle” generator on the classic European commuting bicycle. Light is always available when needed and there’s never a worry about running down your battery. A tail light can be wired in, as well, and will be motor-vehicle tail light bright, despite its diminutive size. Modern lights include a standlight function, so that they remain lit while you are stopped at a traffic light. For daily commuting or other regular riding after dark, dynohubs offer the reassurance that your lights will always work, and won’t die on you while you’re riding, which can happen with a rechargeable, battery-operated light.  

The downside of a dynohub is the installation process to convert an existing bicycle. It is a permanent installation that requires either a new dynohub hub wheel or building up a wheel around a dynohub. Unless you’re a skilled mechanic, this should be done in a shop. Costs would include labor, the cost of the dynohub, and the cost of the lights themselves. If you like having the “always there” capability, it will be worth it.

Choosing the Right Lights

Once you’ve decided on the kind of lighting system that’s right for you, it’s helpful to first see how bright a set of lights will be. The cost—whether you choose clip-on battery lights or permanently installed dynohubs—depends on the power output of the lights you choose. Neither clip-ons nor dynohubs are inherently better in terms of lighting output. 

There are two different methods of measuring a light’s output, and there’s often confusion between the two. “Lumen” is a measure of the brightness of the lamp’s entire light field. “Lux,” commonly used in the European market, measures the lamp’s beam at its brightest point on the wall—its hot spot—at 10 meters distance. Both are useful for comparison, but neither tells the whole story. If the lamp’s output on the road is critical to you, it’s worth your while to find a “beam-shot” photo or check it out in person at your favorite bicycle shop. 

These photos illustrate the difference between a more expensive, high-powered light and a less expensive, mid-grade option.

Beam shot from the rechargeable Busch + Muller Ixon Core. 50 Lux, estimated 300-400 Lumen in high mode. This light costs about $50 and is considered a mid-range option. 

Beam shot of a high-powered Euro-spec headlight, Busch+Muller IQ-X, 100 Lux, 295 lumen. This light can be found online for $175-$200.  

Whether you choose clip-on or dynohub lighting, another factor you may want to consider is the kind of beam a light emits. Many clip-on LED lights on the market are powerful but produce a conical beam that, if aimed high enough to see downrange, could blind an oncoming rider. This is especially problematic if you plan to ride after dark on multi-use trails. Alternatively, bike lights with a layered beam or a cutoff beam offer an even distribution of light downrange without blinding an oncoming cyclist.  

Headlights with a layered beam are common on bicycles equipped with a dynohub and on e-bikes and e-cargo bikes. They are not common among most clip-on rechargeable lights, though that is changing as more manufacturers adopt this beam pattern. The key to using lighting power most effectively is proper aim, with your lights aimed so they’re pointing slightly down, so you don’t blind oncoming traffic at night. The cutoff (above the beam’s hot spot) should not be any higher than zero degrees horizontal, as projected on a wall.  

Lighting systems expand opportunities to safely use bicycles as viable means of transportation and make biking experiences more meaningful and fun. We hope these tips have proven helpful in deciding on the lighting that’s best for you.