Let’s talk lights 🔦💡🚴

 Lights! The Highway Code says we should ride with them, they’re hugely beneficial in the dark and in the day (yes, in the day too!). But… there’s so much out there it becomes impossible to navigate. So how do you wade through the mountains of choice, how do you steer clear of poor product, and how do you make sure what you’re getting is right for your riding? This article aims to address that. 

Lights to be seen with and lights to see with 

This is a generalisation and there is crossover, but largely there are lights to be seen and lights to see with on a bicycle, as you might expect brightness does play into this. Beware lumens count however as it’s not the be all and end all of what’s a good lights. There are considerations of lux and lumens, how bright your light is and how wide the beam is. For example a very bright light with a very wide beam won’t do you any favours in seeing the pothole coming up. Equally a very dim light with a narrow beam isn’t going to help. This is where a lot of the market filler exists - shopping on temu, Ali-express, even Amazon may land you with one of these not so great lights. There’s also an upper ceiling to consider - you don’t want too bright lights, or you’ll blind drivers, and if that wasn’t enough there’s also colour temperature (I know, it’s a lot). This is why looking at a cycling specific light is a fantastic idea, and supporting your local bike shop to purchase this is a great idea. 

So lights to see with, this will depend on where you ride, whether or not it’s lit, but 600 to 800 lumens on a cycling specific light may be a good start point for lit roads, moving up to to 1200-1500 lumens for unlit roads. You’ll find great options from brands like Lezyne and my personal favourite, Exposure, but they will come in about the basic light price tag. 




Now lights to BE seen with. This is something a little different, and it focuses on drivers and other road users being able to see you. If your commute is entirely street lit this may be a minimal option. I use lights to be seen all through the day however as they dramatically increase your visibility. Even a small rechargeable set can dramatically increase your likelihood of being seen. These don’t have to be the brightest, but set to flashing they can be great. 


Where to mount the lights 

The Highway Code says to have a white front light and a red rear light, but where to mount them? The best places are fixed and well in the line of sight of drivers. Usually on your handlebars, or under your seat, this will vary bike to bike and you can get lights that mount to pannier racks, underneath front baskets, or even onto your helmet. The crucial thing is that a driver can quickly identify what you are and where you are. 
If your light flashes on and off constantly it may be difficult for drivers to locate where you are or how fast you are moving on the road, so a steady location and an idea of the flash pattern to use (or not to use). based on the time of day will do you wonders. 
Top locations:
- for front light, on your handlebars, or above your front brake/fork crown 
- for rear light, underneath your seat, or positioned on a rear mudguard or rack. 

You’re looking for line of sight with any road use behind, and a clear identification that you are a cyclist. For trikes, side-by-side tandems, or trailers (e.g. kids trailers) i would advise mounting a separate light on either side of the rear of the trailer/back wheels. This will gives cars a really good indication of how wide you are.
For cargo bikes or longer bikes, consider orange reflectors on your cargo sides, again to indicate the length of the whole "vehicle" in other road users minds. 

Reflectors etc

Reflectors are mandatory to be fitted when a bike is sold, a red rear reflector, a white front reflector, and white or orange spoke reflectors, with orange reflectors on the pedals. This doesn’t always work perfectly, they’re a good way to stay visible. You can also get reflective clothing, rucksacks, or rucksack covers. Reflectors are not lights, they will only go so far in keeping you visible, they are not a replacement for good lights. 

Closing thoughts 

Lights are an essential part of riding your bike all year round, make sure the set you buy is suitable for your commute. If you’re riding unlit streets, particularly fast roads, make yourself as visible as possible to other road users, and make sure you can see as much of the road ahead as possible.  



Location: York, UK

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