Oct 14, 2021 Canyon.com
Oct 14, 2021 Canyon.com

Which bike lights do you need for winter?

Short days and low light conditions mean lights are necessary to get around safely. Here, we take a look at some of the options.

Which bike lights do you need for winter? Winter Bike Lights

Once you’ve got your bike, one of the first accessories you need are bike lights. Riding in winter often means riding in gloomy conditions or in the dark. Shorter daylight hours over the winter months can catch you off-guard if you nip out for a little ride and end up taking longer than you thought.

The laws in most countries dictate that you must have lights mounted to your bike between sunset and sunrise. You should check your government’s website for the rules in your country.

If you’re not sure where to start, then we’re here to help.

Front Bike Lights

Front Bike Lights

There are two reasons for using bike lights particularly in winter: to see and to be seen. A bike light that you use to see should be bright (see the section on lumens below) and have a focused beam to light the road or trail ahead. A bike light to be seen by other road users should have various modes and brightness settings.

Most front bike lights are mounted to the handlebar with a plastic or metal mount. The mount is then secured with heavy duty rubber bands or are secured with bolts.

In Germany, bicycle lights with an StVZO certification have a flattened beam to avoid blinding oncoming vehicles. It’s important that road bike lights must adhere to these standards.

Rear Bike Lights

Rear Bike Lights

Unlike front lights, rear bike lights have just one purpose and that’s to be seen by other road users. Rear lights are typically mounted to the seatpost with some opting to add supplementary lights on the seat stays too.

The rear light will glow red just light the rear lights on other vehicles. These lights have various modes including flashing, pulsing and static, and some even have variable brightness.

Mountain Bike Lights Make sure you can see all the obstacles on your mountain bike ride with a powerful front light.

Mountain Bike Lights

When riding your mountain bike on trails, you’re often sheltered by trees with no light pollution spilling out from the towns and cities nearby. It’s therefore super important to have very bright lights so that you can identify obstacles as fast as possible.

Another great option is a helmet mounted light. Occasionally, you will look around you while you’re riding particularly if you spot something in the bushes. Helmet lights are also useful if you have a mechanical on the trail side.

Which bike lights do you need for winter? Ensure you can see when riding on dark streets at night.

How many lumens do I need?

Lumens is the unit of measure given to the amount of light emitted from a source. The higher the number, the brighter the light.

If you’re riding in towns and cities where streetlights guide you around, you won’t need as many lumens as someone taking a back road in the middle of nowhere.

Around 200 lumens is sufficient for urban riding and commuting. If your route takes you on unlit roads, look for a light with 400 lumens or more. Mountain bikers will need around 1500 lumens for proper off-road mountain biking in the woods.

You will need to look at the lumens alongside battery life. If a light can only project 200 lumens for half an hour and your commute is 45 minutes, the light won’t be very useful to you.

Battery life of bike lights

How long the battery can power your light is important. It’s no good charging the light only for it to be dead before you’ve reached your destination.

The longer the battery life, the bigger and heavier the light is likely to be. Some lights use external battery packs which can be mounted to the top tube, while others have internal batteries.

The vast majority of bike lights are rechargeable these days. Simply take the light off the bike and charge via USB. This is a particularly useful feature if you’re commuting – charge your light via your laptop while you work.

Other useful features for bike lights

Some bike lights are waterproof, which is important if you cycle in all weather conditions. If your light isn’t water-resistant, consider mounting mudguards to reduce the spray from the road.

Some also bike lights have smart features integrated such as traffic detection. When a car approaches from behind, the rear light glows brighter to ensure you’re seen. It might seem superfluous but if road cycling is your jam, features like these are appealing.

Which is the best bike light for me?

If you’re riding through winter, get a rechargeable bike light that can be used time and time again. Brands like Knog offer sleek looking lights with powerful beams and good battery life. If you want a light that will cope with the most demanding conditions, turn to Lupine who specialise in high-end bike lights with neat mounting systems developed in partnership with Canyon.

Once you’ve got your new bike lights, you can hop in the saddle no matter the time of day.

Best Bike Lights

Content is loading
By subscribing to our newsletter, you are agreeing to our Data Protection Statement .

Did this article help?

Thank you for your feedback

Related Stories

Oct 11, 2021
What is the best clothing for winter cycling? Check out our detailed winter cycling clothing guide to know how to dress best for cold temperatures!
Nov 23, 2020
The nights are drawing in, the mercury is dipping but your appetite for gravel riding is on the up. So what do you need?
Oct 8, 2021
What is a cycling jersey and which style is best for you? Find out here!
Sep 10, 2021
Arguably the most important piece of cycling kit are shorts, so what do you need to know about getting the best pair?
Content is loading
Loading animation image