Lights are a great way to see and be seen on your bike. Bling it up with high viz and other visual impact pieces to be even more visible out there. Think shoes, pants, helmets, fluorescent strips on your chain-stays and front forks to make sure you make an impact and stand out on the road.

That’s what I do anyway. I never want to leave it to chance to the car sees me, or that a dozy driver on the way to work tips me off my bike while they’re mid-text message. I want to be a neon fluorescent superhero on the roads-looking dashing in hi-viz on back roads and byways wherever I go. To be honest I probably look pretty dorky, wearing lycra and day-glow.

But anyway who cares? I want to be really bright and pretty comfortable wherever I go. I’ve always got snacks, tools, and spare clothes packed, and exude a general air of preparedness on the bike.

I usually have little 50 lumen LED flashies on the front and rear of my bike when I’m cycling day or night. Then I also carry a 150 lumen front light that acts as a headlight during dark, overcast, or grey weather. When I can, I also have a head torch mounted to my helmet for extra direct beam especially when cycling at night. I want to see and to be seen. This is a good thing to think about when you’re picking your bike lights: do you want to see or to be seen; or a mix of both?

Try get the best and brightest lights you can and practice using them. USB rechargeable ones are commonly available now, and mean you don’t have to worry about replacing batteries. See you out there, and hopefully see you bright. Lightening up might save your skin.