Renea, California - "I love to support local companies. Thanks for being the best and American made."

Todd, Michigan -
"Two and a half miles from completing our ride, rain coming down, 30 degrees, and my poor brother's "#!?$" lights started to yellow.

Consequently, he rode in my beam wash all the way back. It looks like one of us made the right choice."

John, Connecticut - "The ultimate in lights."

Ed, Georgia - "The power from that little sucker is fantastic, and it has opened up a whole new world of riding for me. I found that it hurts just as much to crash at night though. The good part is you can't see blood in the dark; twisted but true."

John, Pennsylvania "I wanted the best of the lighting systems, and after picking it up today, I know I got it!!!"

Raymond A, California - "Your customer service is probably the best I've seen in the bike biz - thanks!"

Tim, Wyoming - "I'm the first guy in town who now has a decent pair of riding lights. Not those erector set Nightsuns!"

John, Pennsylvania "I wanted the best of the lighting systems, and after picking it up today, I know I got it!!!"

Melissa, Pennsylvania - "Very sleek, impressive looks. Great remote switch!"

Bob, Connecticut - "And on the first night God said, 'Let there be light.' And the woods lit up."

Shannon, Iowa - "I bought it because I had heard nothing but praises for TurboCats!"

Darrin, Iowa - "This system rocks!! An awesome way to add more hours of riding."

Rob, Arizona - "I'm so happy to finally get rid of my ------ system. Now I can ride in the desert when it's cool outside and the UFO's rule the sky!"

Jon, Tennessee - "Excellent product and your sales and service department is top notch. Thank you."

Alan, Massachusetts - "I'm impressed. Thus far everything that you have claimed is true."

Adam, APO, Europe - "Bitchin system, dudes!"

Mike, Oklahoma - "Best lite on the market period!!!  Have tried higher wattage systems - but see better with yours. Thanks."

Tandem Magazine
Spring 1998

"LIGHT UP THE NIGHT"
By David Morgan

THE TESTS

To get you pointed in the right direction, we evaluated a selection of high-powered rechargeable bike light systems. We started with the premise that a good bicycle light system must be bright, reliable, rugged and easy to use. It must provide adequate beam pattern and burn time at a reasonable weight and cost. That's the starting point.

Our tests evaluated each light for design and performance. Key points included: run-times, beam pattern, light quality, light output, weight and overall functionality. Some of this is objective - watt and amp hour ratings of batteries and bulb consumption in watts - while other tests are subjective opinions. For instance, our beam rating (1 - 10) is based on how much we liked the beam(s) in terms of color of the light, the beam pattern, intensity and how well it compares to others.

To compare actual light output, we used a Sektonic L-308 B lightmeter to get an exposure value (EV). Each light was focused at the same point and readings were taken at 3 meters directly in the beam, and then at 35° off the beam at 3 meters. While not perfect, this does give an objective rating and a verifiable comparison of output.

A change of one EV is equivalent of one full f-stop. This means the light of an EV-11 is double the intensity of EV-10; conversely EV-10 is half the intensity of EV-11. The EV values are divided into units of ten.

A change of one full EV value is not a huge difference at 3 meters, but changes of more than that begin to add up with distance. An EV differential from EV-7 to EV-10 represents 3 f-stops Ð the difference between 100 speed (ISO) film and ISO 800 film. That means that the TurboCat 471s 12-watt low beam (EV 10.5) is more than 8 times as bright as the Nightsun XC 10-watt low beam (EV 7.3).

SINGLE-BEAM HELMET MOUNTED SYSTEMS
It makes sense to mount a light on your head. Look where you are going and voila! Ðyou can see. On a trail or a city street, you often need light other than were your handlebars are pointed. I know a 20-mile corkscrew descent in the Cascades much too risky to bomb in the daytime. But at night, under cover of darkness, traffic disappears and you can poach an exhilaratingly free ride all the way to the McKenzie River. A handlebar light would spend way too much time shining out over drop-offs where you don't want to go. A headlamp beam is your only choice to keep the curving road illuminated enough to enjoy yourself.

DUAL-BEAM BAR MOUNTED SYSTEMS
This is the realm of brightness. Typically bar-mounted and not adjustable, these dual beamers provide better shadows than a helmet mount only, and offer two or three beams to ride by. Some lights run an individual highbeam and a lowbeam, and then combine for a true high. Some only run the low (one) and high (both). From methods of mounting to beam patterns, variety is the rule. For the most part, these systems are all capable of lighting up your night.

Bicycle Headlights Reviewed -Comparison Chart

TURBOCAT TRAILGUIDE 15: Editor's Selection

UPS: Superb, white, bright coverage. Elegant design.

DOWNS: Multi-sport challenged. On-off switch takes a good effort.

For a helmet-only light, with limited multi-sport use, this is the light. The 15-watt medium spot (12°) beam is very smooth edge-to-edge and is one of the finest single (trail and commuting) beams for all-around use we have found. The run-time is comparable to a low beam of most dual systems, but provides better coverage and distance illumination. The weight is significantly less than the NiteRider Premium, the beam superior and run-time only marginally less. Use it alone as a commuter light and then add a bar-mount to get the most versatility and coverage for a commuter/singletrack rider. Combined with a thumbswitched single or dual-beam system, the TrailGuide would be superb. The mount has a foam pad that, once snugged down, is rock solid and works well on the rim or the top of a helmet. The in-line D-cell nicads are simple to stow away.

BOTTOM LINE: You're a cyclist looking for a helmet light for cycling. You found it.

UPS: Extraordinarily white, bright, extended coverage. Excellent construction. Lightweight, ni-mh.

DOWNS: Up/down adjustments fixed with tiny hex bolts. Expensive.

This is the brightest light with the best coverage of any tested. The 12-watt low is great for any general, low-power consumption riding and when you hit the 35-watt high beam you are nearly riding under the sun. CNC'd aluminum housings and quick-release clamps are clean and well-thought out. The lights are independently adjustable up and down, but not on the fly, and the adjustments are locked in with tiny hex bolts (1.5 mm). But, once the lights are where you want them, they are SOLID. The battery we tested is a ni-mh that makes for an incredible weight to output ratio. A slightly longer burning ni-cad is available. It weights quite a bit more but is less expensive. Everything about the construction is first rate, from silicone 0-rings to 18 gauge wiring. It is hard to find fault with this system.

BOTTOM LINE: An ultimate no-bells-and-whistles light system. Expensive, but well worth it for serious nocturnal cycling.

Bicycle Headlights Reviewed -Comparison Chart

Reprinted with permission from TANDEM & FAMILY CYCLING, Spring 1998