" On Business Trip" Episode 5: Time Change

t’s that time of year again: for the past few weeks, you simply cannot get on roads or bike paths unlit with a clear conscience. See and be seen starts, in my mind, first and foremost with excellent lighting on the bike, and secondly with reflective elements on clothing and the bike itself.

Let me say this upfront: I’m absolutely not a fan of riding around looking like a lit-up Christmas tree, even though every autumn public safety campaigns seem to suggest we should. But when it comes to bike lights, for me there’s no discussion. The best time is as early as possible — or at the latest when dusk sets in or even during the day if it’s grey outside. You owe this to yourself and others, because only then does the shared use of bike paths and roads become truly courteous and safe. So yes — I start getting uneasy when people dressed in dark clothing ride toward me on unlit e-scooters and bikes.


Technology that excites

It’s absolutely incredible what modern bike lighting technology can do today. In the early 2000s we still did night rides with halogen headlights, bulked with huge batteries and still fading after 45 minutes. We hunted “China-flashlights” in internet forums — imported with wait times and customs hassles. Of course they had no approval for road use and you were advised to charge the battery in a fire-proof container.
But those dark times are thankfully over. Today you can get very bright, durable lighting sets for a modest price that are totally adequate for everyday commuting — and if you want more performance, you can look up to premium brands like Supernova.

Self-sufficient system

Personally, for my commute I rely on a hub dynamo system. The built-in lighting setup works reliably in all seasons. I don’t have to worry about the battery level — I just leave my lights on permanently. I’m currently not even using the highest beam: a Supernova E3 Pro 2 has served me faithfully for over 10 years together with the taillight. Sure, I have an M99 DY PRO whose high-beam is simply insane, but I have to admit I prefer the even beam of the E3 PRO 2. It’s so uniformly smooth that it’s perfect for the commute. If I had long unlit country roads or steep fast descents, I’d probably pick the M99 DY PRO — it really turns night into day.
By the way, one of the rare points I envy about many e-bikes is their integrated lighting systems. They just draw power from the battery. And if you see what even an MINI 3 can do on 12 V … wow. But to do that with a hub dynamo you’d have to lose the outdated German road-traffic regulation (StVZO) foot-shackle of 6 V/3 W.



Measured against the past, though, this is really complaining at a high level. There is simply no excuse anymore to ride unlit and thereby put yourself and others at risk. Even a €9.99 LED set from a discount store is better than nothing. (Sorry, Supernova! ;-) )
So in this sense: Light is mandatory!