Looking for bicycle lights? Hollandbikeshop has a wide range of bicycle lights of all kinds

What are the best bicycle lights? 

As a general rule, the best bicycle lights let cyclists see all around them and help them remain clearly visible when it’s dark. In our experience, bicycle lights by Kryptonite, Sigma and Spanninga are the ones people consider to be the best, due to their user-friendly nature, their powerful light beams and the innovative, energy-saving technologies they use. These brands usually use LED lights for their bright, highly-visible lights. They’re also far more economical than traditional light bulbs and halogen lights. 
 

What’s a bicycle dynamo? 

At one point in the past, nearly every bicycle had a dynamo as its power source for bicycle lighting. These so-called “tire dynamos” were usually located on the front fork and had a ribbed drive wheel. The drive wheel would be pressed onto the outer tire in order to generate power once the bicycle wheel started to rotate. Dynamo-powered lights are still around, though modern bicycles increasingly tend to be equipped with lights powered by (rechargeable) batteries, or lights that can be hooked up to an e-bike battery using a USB cable. The latter type can also often be removed and charged separately using an adapter, whether you’re at home or at a hotel during a long cycling trip.
Hub dynamos are also a popular choice. They are low in maintenance, run lighter than tire dynamos and tend to be noiseless. The hub dynamo “switches on” as soon as the wheel starts to turn. This is why bicycles with hub dynamos feature a separate switch for turning the lights on and off. Some headlights have a sensor, so they automatically switch on when it gets dark. A dynamo usually generates around 3 Watts / 6 Volts, as do hub dynamos. 
One disadvantage to hub dynamos is the low frequency of the generated current, which can cause the light to flicker. Most modern bicycles fortunately have an integrated battery that prevents flickering lights, creating a buffer, while also providing light when the bicycle is stationary. 
 

How many lumen are needed for cycling? 

When you’re shopping for bicycle lights, the term “lumen” will often come up. But what does it mean, and how many lumen do you need for safe cycling? Lumen are measured by how bright the light is. The number of lumen you need for your bicycle largely depends on where (or how) you’ll be cycling. You’ll benefit much more from lights with a high number of lumen (in other words, from a bigger, brighter light) when you’re cycling through dark, wooded areas than when you’re riding around a well-lit residential area. If you’re going mountain biking over dark or poorly lit terrain, then a more powerful headlight is also a sensible choice, especially to avoid collisions with trees, low-hanging branches and other obstacles. For any bicycle capable of reaching higher-than-average speeds, like a road bike or electric bicycle, we recommend using headlights that let you see far ahead of you. In any well-lit area, a headlight that generates 50 lumen is usually more than enough. Bicycle lights with a 50 lumen capacity will make you perfectly visible to others. For cycling in unlit areas with a regular bicycle, we recommend bicycle lights with a 500 lumen capacity. Road bikers and mountain bikers that often speed through unlit areas will benefit from lights with a 500 to 1000 lumen capacity. These lights are also suitable for regular cyclists, mountain bikers and bike packers who regularly find themselves on the road when it’s dark. If cycling through the dark is a regular occurrence for you, you might want to go for bicycle lights capable of generating over 1000 lumen - do make sure that your headlight is properly aimed at the road when you use it though, as it’s powerful enough to blind oncoming traffic. 
 

How many lumen for a rear bicycle light? 

Since rear lights are mainly used to make you properly visible to other road users coming from behind, they generate fewer lumen than headlights do. Around 10 to 40 lumen will generally suffice. Wondering about the distance at which you’re visible to others when you’re using a specific rear light? This will partly depend on your surroundings, though some rear lights in our range, like the Spanninga Elips XB, will often offer an indication of your level of visibility. The higher the amount of lumen, the better your visibility is across a greater distance.
 

Are bicycle lights mandatory? 

In the Netherlands, when it’s dark or there are other circumstances causing poor visibility, your bicycle must always be equipped with a headlight and rear light. If your bicycle doesn’t have fixed lights, using removable bicycle lights is also fine. These can usually be fixed to the bicycle using straps made of a flexible material, like silicone. Beside bicycle lights, your bicycle should have rear reflectors, pedal reflectors and reflectors on the wheels or tires. In the Netherlands, you can be fined €55 for cycling without lights. Better to invest your money in a proper set of bicycle lights! 

You’ll find the lights you need for well-lit, safe cycling in the wide and varied range of bicycle lights at Hollandbikeshop.com, regardless of the type of bicycle you own. We offer the best lights for adult bicycles as well as children’s bicycle lights to ensure safe cycling for all ages. Hollandbikeshop.com offers a wide range AND quick delivery.