Super Power Front Light for £16.99 - Is it any good?

I have to blame my friend and fellow Bromptonian David for this purchase! We have been on a number of night rides this year and will almost certainly be going on many more before the year is out, so in addition to my Hope Vision front light - which is brilliant - I decided to take the plunge and buy a second light that offers quite a lot for the princely sum of £16.99.

The light in question is the Cree XM-L T6 light. These can be easily bought on eBay and for the price you cannot really go wrong. The light itself boasts that it is 1800 lumens. I am not sure whether it really does give off that immense power but I can say that compared to my Hope Vision's 300 (on full power setting) it is a great deal brighter!

The Cree XM-L T6 light with standard lens

The light seems very well made and if I had of inspected it and not know it cost £16.99 I would have thought it cost a great deal more. It appears to be solid and of good construction. The Cree has a very simple mounting system which consists of a rubber O ring (two are supplied) that attaches to two points on the light. On the handlebars it is quite secure and easy enough to take on and off.

Simple mount works well 

When the light is connected to the battery the light emits a green light and interestingly the supplied battery pack comes partly charged - a nice touch.

Connected to the battery and ready to go

Also included in the pack is a charger and adapter socket for British plugs. It works well as far as I can tell.

Charging plugs

The battery pack comes in its own case which you can attached to the frame of your bike. The light is billed as being waterproof. I am not sure about the battery pack though?

Battery pack 8.4v 6400mAh

A headset is also included. I can't say that I would immediately use this but it is nice to have and you never know?

Headset

O rings to attach to handlebars or headset

As an optional extra you can buy a wide angle conversion lens. This makes the light better for night riding as it coverts the light to a floodlight with some 30 degrees spread rather than just a spotlight. Changing it was simple a case of unscrewing the cap, taking out the supplied glass lens and putting in the new one. The wide angle lens cost £4.99 including postage and packing.

Conversion wide angle lens

With wide angle lens fitted

The Cree XM-L T6 will come in very handy as a backup to my excellent Hope Vision light. The Hope Vision is a light that I expect to have in my possession working away in five years, after hard use. I say this as it is that good. 

I cannot say how long this light will last? What I can say is that I am very impressed with the performance and even more impressed with the price. At £16.99 it is a bargain. I would be happy if it lasts until this time next year. Longer would be a bonus. 

I had to go to Richmond last night briefly and could not resist a quick ride up Nightingale Lane. I tested the light out although it wasn't fully charged. First impressions were favourable. The flashing mode was outrageous! Bright is not a good enough word. The low mode was about as bright as my Hope Vision on its highest setting. The high mode was much brighter. Again I can't say it is a full 1800 lumen but my goodness is it bright!

The first of the pictures below is the Cree on full. The second the Hope Vision on full. 

I am going for a mini night ride this evening and I will take this and let you know how I get on with it. So far though, VERY impressed!

Your New Brompton - Expectations vs Reality!

So, you finally did it. You stumped up the necessary moula to purchase your gleaming new Brompton folding bicycle. I can tell you from experience that you are going to be a happy soul as owning one is rather special. However, there can be a considerable gulf in terms of expectations and reality. Here follows some advice that you may wish to consider.

Expectation #1 

I am going to take my new Brompton everywhere! I have the ultimate in personal transport and can quite literally go anywhere!!

Reality #1 

I don't believe it! It's raining. There is no way I am going to cycle in that weather and get my new bike dirty! I use it another time.




Expectation #2 

When my friends and family see my new Brompton, they are going to be captivated and want to know all about it!!

Reality #2

Your friends and family are incredulous that you spent that much on a bicycle that isn't something Sir Bradley Wiggins would use! You try to explain your Brompton bicycles many merits and even resort to folding and unfolding but to no avail!




Expectation #3 

You are going to instantly be faster than your work colleague who has been commuting to work on his/her road bike for the last five years!

Reality #3

Keep up the cycling and you will become fitter, stronger and faster but your sweaty red face and general shortness of breath indicates that you are not going to be instantly faster by virtue of owning a Brompton.




Expectation #4 

I will instantly become hipper, trendier and cooler as the Brompton is THE thing to have at the moment for the gentleman/lady in town!!

Reality #4

Your confidence takes a slight knock as you pass a group of spotty adolescents at the bus stop when they shout out various observations such as:

'Clown bike.'

'Shrunk in the wash.'

'Why are you riding that kids bike?'




Expectation #5

You have a Brompton and can now enter the fabled. Brompton World Championships. You're going to get on the podium or win the thing, right!!

Reality #5

Oh my days! That was harder than I expected. I didn't come last but perhaps I need to do a little more training in the next 12 months!



Buying a Brompton and owning one is going to be nothing but fun. They are build to last, great to use and put a smile on your face. As long as your expectations match the realities of ownership you'll be fine and part of an ever growing club of Bromptonians who sing the praises of their folding wonders.

Top 8 Brompton Noob Fails

You have a new Brompton! That is great but there are a new things you need to know if you are to avoid looking like a Brompton noob. Of course you might have had a Brompton bicycle for years so keep reading as you might need this too!

#1 The Fold

If you are to avoid looking like a total Brompton noob, mastering the fold is essential. The person in the shop may well ahem demonstrated this to you, but you were probably too excited in getting a new Brompton to listen or care.

Take the time to master the fold and unfold. There is an order and soon you will have it down to under 12 seconds - maybe even quicker. If all hope if lost, consult the handbook that came with your new bike  or have a look at YouTube.

Failure to do this may result in slight embarrassment as you haplessly try and fold/unfold with the general public looking on.


#2 What sort of Brompton?

When meeting other Bromptonians, conversation may turn to what sort of Brompton you have, they have, your work colleague or perhaps a friend. Do not betray your lack of knowledge and brush up on all the different types of Brompton. Know your M from your P...your H from your S. Be able engage in polite conversation about gearing and chainrings. It won't take long to brush up but failure to do this will make the more knowledgeable regard you as a Brompton noob.


#3 Locking it up

The joy of owning a Brompton is the fact you can fold and take it with you. You can of course lock it up to some inanimate object and there may be times when you feel that there is no other option. Be ready for shakings of the head, tutting, and mild wailing or combinations of all of these from hardened Brompton owners.


#4 Punctures

Brompton tyres are pretty tough but there will at some point be a time when you might have succumb to a puncture 'in the field.' You are therefore going to have to know how to do this. If you don't you might suffer the shame of carrying your Brompton on to a bus, train, taxi etc.., with a flat tyre. Worse still, wheeling it along in public with a flat!

When I first owned a Brompton I knew nothing of repairing a puncture. When it did happen 'in the field' I was like a faint lady from a Jane Austen novel, about to go if someone...anyone didn't come to my rescue there and then. Do you want that to happen to you?!


#5 It's just a bicycle

When you buy a Brompton strange and mystifying forces are at work that are best left unexplained. You will have fun when riding it. You might even take the long way home, just because. You might buy an item of clothing to colour coordinate with that of your Brompton. Uttering the phrase, 'it's just a bicycle' betrays that you are a Brompton noob. It's not just a bicycle, it is THE bicycle...your bicycle. At this point you might want to consider providing your new pride and joy with a name. This will instil in you the notion that it is, not, just a bicycle.


#6 Brompton World Championships...what is that?

Oh my days!!! If you actually said this you really are treading into Brompton noob territory. It is an event all Brompton owners need to take part in at least once. With World Championships in various countries around the world you will hopefully find one where you live.


#7 Photographs of landmarks

If you haven't got copious photos of your Brompton strategically positioned in front of a well known landmark you are straying into Brompton noob territory. You may well have visited St Paul's Cathedral for example but it is your Brompton that is more photogenic!

#8 Not making your Brompton your own

My view is that the Brompton is all but perfect as it is and requires little in the way of customisation. However, this has not stopped me from making small additions that provide a nob to my colour preference or where performance is enhanced. For example:

• Orange dust caps to replace the standard black ones
• Brooks saddle to replace the standard one

There is no rule that says you have to change your Brompton in any way but not to do nothing leaves you open to the noob label.


There you have it. Eight Brompton noob fails you can avoid if you wish. If you choose to ignore all or some of these it is perfectly okay! The fact you are a Brompton owner and riding it for fun or as a commuter hack is more than enough. Whatever you decide...just enjoy it!!