headlight for MTB

[ticklechicken]

With the days getting shorter, I'm not able to get in some trail riding after work. I need a light. I ride tight trails with a lot of steep drops and jumps. I would like to have lights on both my handlebars and my helmet.

Anyone have any suggestions? I've done some initial reading, and anything decent seems to be over $300. Can I make my own for cheaper? Maybe using some of the Hobbyking LiFePO4 packs?

[BrianG]

Get several of the 3W LEDs, wire up the appropriate current-limiting resistors (better yet, use transistors configured as a constant current source), and run it on your battery. The voltage/capacity of the battery needed will depend on if the LEDs are run in series or parallel.

Regular high brightness LEDs probably wouldn't be a good option because they aren't bright enough for decent distance and their light dispersion pattern is too narrow.

[_paralyzed_]

some of those add on bullet driving lights like you see at an auto parts store, a little homemade bracket, and a 4s lifepo would light up the country side.

I used to have a pair on my wheelchair and it was like car headlights. I think the lights were $20-30.

They're 12v lights, you wouldn't need any resistors/transistors/thermal couplers/flux capacitors or anything out of the ordinary.

[MTBikerTim]

They are expensive but I use the Ay-ups lights. They are very small and tidy which you don't get when you make your own. I was considering making my own for a long time but eventually just went with the ayups as I couldn't make anything any where near as simple.

The Ay-ups aren't perfect though. They could be a bit brighter and I have seen issues with the bulbs drooping on their own. Their size though is awesome. They don't get hung up on branches and the gecko mounting systems works really well. I have an old halogen head lamp which used to stick up about 2.5" from the top of my helmet and I was always catching it on branches.