Great things, Cyclo are often told, come in small packages. This is certainly a truism that can be applied to the remarkably small and truly great NiteRider Lightning Bug – something of a miracle in micro-lighting for bikes. There was a time, not so long ago, that a bike light was the size and weight of a brick and if you were lucky, under just the right circumstances, you could illuminate the far end of the garage. Now, thanks in large part to LED development (though sometimes to HID systems and battery evolution) things are very different indeed. The Lightning Bug is available in three flavours – the 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 – meaning, fundamentally, with either 1, 2 or 3 LEDs. Each can also be bought in 6 different colours (including black or white for less exuberant cyclists), they weigh in at between 22g (1.0 and 2.0) and 36g for 3.0, and have a battery life in excess of 100 hours. Crucially they also kick out an incredible amount of light, and although they can’t replace the legally required main front light they are an indispensable and highly recommended bonus aid to safety.
Battery replacement and fitting to the bike couldn’t be quicker or easier and these tiny silicone-bodied beauties are versatile enough to attach to seat-posts, handlebars, forks, seat stays or even, depending on the style of you brain-protector, your helmet. A single button switches thing on and off, or through a variety of brightness or flash-mode which vary with model.
NiteRider Lightning Bugs are widely available – prices vary but expect to pay in the region of £9.99 for the 1.0, £12.99 for the 2.0 and £14.99 for the 3.0