“Headlight”: OLIGHT WM 2 Tactical Torch 1750 Lumens Rechargeable LED Torch

I cycle a lot when thhe nights draw-in during autumn & winter, so having a good light matters to me. I tried many lights sold specifically for bicycles on Amazon and they were total crap and had short useful battery lives. You can’t risk your light failing before you get home. The Olight flashlight however is not only *VERY* bright, but gets around the issue of limited battery life with a very practical feature not found in other lights: it be powered directly from a USB power brick. It has a USB cable you plug into the brick and join the other end’s magnetic cap to the back of the flashlight. There’s a button on the bottom where you can not only turn it on, but toggle the light intensity modes. For cycles, very helpfully it has a fast-blink mode too. So very bright and has a bottomless battery capability, but a bit on the pricey side. An alternative is to just carry a few flashlights with you if battery life is a problem cycling in the winter months. Notwithstanding the price, I’ve come to love this flashlight and would highly recommend it

OLIGHT FB-1 Universal Bike Mount for Flashlight

I bought this to mount my Olight flashlight to my Penny-Farthing’s handle bars. Fits other small, intense LCD flashlights. The device is two halves allowing you to change the direction the flashlight points to 90 degrees. It’s perfect; full marks for this thingy. It must be said though I tend to hold the flashlight in my hand mostly as it allows me to more precisely signal other road users.

Blinxi Electronic Helmet Turn Signals:

Some clever French folks created adjunct electronic turn signals that can be added to a standard cycling helmet. Setup: Just stick the metal base plate to your helmet and the Blinxi magnetically mates to it. Next attach the Bluetooth controller to your handlebars and Voila! You now have a helmet with bright electronic turn signals activated by a button on the handlebars. Key Features: 1) Enhanced Visibility: In addition to providing electronic turn signals, the Blinxi also flashes red intermittently to enhance visibility when cycling on dark, ugly winter evenings. 2) Audible Feedback: The Blinxi beeps so you know it’s working. With the Livall helmet with integrated signals, the battery in the helmet can be flat and you’ll be blissfully ignorant of this fact. Also, the beeping is captured on CycleCam video evidencing that you signalled if there is an incident 3) Waterproof: I’ve used it several times this 2022-23 winter in freezing rain pissing down sideways; it continues to work fine 4) Signal Cancelling: If you’re turning right in a roundabout, you can issue a left turn signal at your exit. This is not currently possible with signals on Livall helmets which signal for a fixed period and no new signal can be issued. Downsides: Only one small niggle to report: the potential for inadvertent loss of the Blinxi. In order to fit the magnetic plate to my helmet, I had to slightly bend it. So the Blixi still magnetically mates to the plate, but it’s more subject to loss if the helmet is knocked or bumped. So check it’s still attached before moving out again after a rest stop. But if you don’t hear the Blinxi beep when signalling a turn, you should be aware something might just be wrong… 😉. I mount my Blinxi on a Specialized “Mode” model helmet.

Here’s a link to a 30% discounted Blinxi that Overade- the manufacturer- sent me: But note that the discount is passed via a cookie so you need to accept cookies or the discounted price will not show: Blinxi

Spoke Lights:

If you’re cycling in early evening or dark- which is most likely when you cycle during winter– a few of these when combined with a High-Vis jacket will significantly improve your safety. They have (4) modes from quick flashing to continuously on. Fitting: Ensure that the thicker part faces towards the inside of the wheel (see pic) and use (2) small ratchet ties, attaching each to a different spoke in opposite directions to create tension forcing the flanges or “wings” of the device against the spokes to prevent them from poking out and catching on the forks. (2) Spoke Lights are positioned on opposite sides of the wheel hub are optimal, but you could just use a single one. I bought mine from Mountain Warehouse, but they discontinued this item.

Red Flashing Rear Lights:

Avoid USB charged lights: it’s a common complaint that after charging them numerous times the charge doesn’t last longer than 30 minutes. Having lights that you believe are working but aren’t is probably more dangerous than having no lights at all.

Buy signal lights that use standard AA or AAA batteries: they last for ages before the batteries require changing. I have used the ones pictured on the right on countless cycles in pouring rain and the rubber gasket protects them from water damage.

I fasten one to the spine of my Penny-Farthing using a silicone band. I bought the “Sport Direct” model lights- which have a rubber gasket to keep water out in even torrential rain- pictured at right from HERE

Silicone Bands:

I bought silicone bands to mount the above red AAA battery flashing signal lights to my PF. Since they’re infinitely flexible, there is no worries about them snapping off as I read many complaints from cyclists losing their signal lights with rigid plastic mounts which shear cycling over bumpy terrain.

One note on these: When removing the signal light to change the batteries, CHANGE THE BAND ALSO! Over time the bands are subjected to extreme weather and stretching and will snap at some point. I reused a band several times after removing the light to change batteries and it eventually snapped and I lost the signal light at some point in the ride. The lights aren’t terribly expensive, but if you wouldn’t toos £4 down a sewer grating, then change the silicone bands periodically before they snap 😉

PLEASE NOTE: They are sold in different lengths- get the longer ones as the short ones don’t have sufficient slack to secure the signal light.

You can buy them HERE