The first thing a cyclist should pay attention to if travelling in winter are the lights. As soon as the days shorten and the darkness comes from mid-afternoon, it's very important not to be caught off guard and choose the best bike lights that guarantee safety on two wheels under any condition. In winter, there is not only the darkness issue but also fog, rain, and thus poor visibility. If you choose to skimp on your vehicle's lighting, you can expose yourself to some risks.

Features of bike lights

There are numerous variants of bike lights on the market, but when it comes to making a choice it's important to consider certain specific features. First and foremost: lights serve both to see and to be seen, so from this you can understand well that cyclists need powerful and durable lights. In more technical terms, it's worth choosing a light that emits over 400 lumens to get a wide view within 10-15 meters. LEDs might be a good solution which allow you to light up with a certain power and consistency. Indeed, LEDs have a high output, they last between 10,000 and 50,000 hours, they are resistant to cold, moisture and vibrations. It is easy to see that the features to consider when you choose bike lights are:

1. luminosity index
2. battery life
3. sensitivity to weather conditions and temperatures
4. ease of installation

It's not just about front lights, which illuminate the journey allowing the cyclist to be seen, but also rear ones, just as important to be highly visible from every angle where you intersect with cars.

The best bike lights to buy

When it comes to safety, it's very important to choose the best bike light kit not based on price, but quality. There's an endless array of brands and options in this sector, so it's always important to keep in mind the features we indicated previously.

Blackburn 700

It's small but very powerful, and lights up to 700 lumens. It can be installed on the helmet or on the handlebar and it's rechargeable via USB cable.

Lezyne 900XL

This is a light that's also loved by those who go off-road as it offers wide and deep LED illumination, reaching up to 900 lumens.

Cygolite Dash Pro 600

This light is designed for road cyclists and has two rows of LEDs, one to illuminate the road in the short radius, one to illuminate more in-depth. It illuminates up to 600 lumens and has a battery life of 10 hours.

Kingtop 2000 lumen

This is a kit that reaches 1200 lumens and essentially illuminates like a car's headlights. It has two lighting modes: central or diffused, and it's also perfect in case of rain. It's not sensitive to temperatures and weather conditions.

Cateye Volt 800

It has 5 lighting modes and a battery life ranging from 2 to 80 hours. This light is rechargeable via USB and is one of the most appreciated by cyclists all over the world.

The Shimano and Bike Italia campaign for cyclist safety

It's called Be Visible and it's the campaign launched by Shimano and Bike Italia to spread awareness about cyclist safety on the roads. Many think lights are unnecessary if you travel short dark stretches, or that installing a small light in only one spot on the bike is enough to be visible. In reality, illumination of your vehicle is very important and should not be underestimated. In addition to a suitable choice of front and rear lights, it's also good to wear a reflective jacket, a high visibility helmet and side bags with large central lights. This way you can guarantee maximum visibility for the cyclist traveling dark stretches or in unfavorable weather conditions. Be Visible is a social campaign made up of three animated GIFs showing the difference between being seen and not being seen.If you want to find out more about bike safety, here are some tips on things you should and shouldn't do when biking!

Looking to go on a bike weekend or vacation? On Cyclando you'll find plenty of ideas and inspirations for your couple's trips in Italy and Europe! Choose the destination, the difficulty level, and the type of journey: book your next adventure with just one click!