Bleak, cold, dreary darkness – those words bring two things to mind for me: spelunking, and wintertime in Ohio. Sadly, the long days of summer sunshine have left us with shorter days, early evenings and far less time to squeeze rides into busy schedules. For many, winter forces us down deep into our own dismal trainer caves for the season (hopefully you don’t need a headlamp or climbing gear to get there). There are, however, a few brave souls possessing the sheer determination to continue riding through late fall and winter. I do not consider myself one of these people yet, but I am slowly dabbling in the art of winter and night riding. One of the biggest assets to this little experiment of mine is the Light & Motion Urban 300 headlight.
Typically I will boast to you about how wonderful my Blackburn Flea headlight and taillight set are – and they really are great — but this time of year demands more of a rider and his equipment. It is not enough to just be seen as you narrowly escape dusk on the way home from your local club ride. If you want to keep logging miles, you need a light that will not only boldly declare your presence, but also allow you to dodge potholes with ease at a brisk pace. There are many lights that promise this, but they often come with a high price tag or lack quality. Thankfully, Light & Motion designed a superb light, and at a price that doesn’t break the piggy bank.
At $149.99 the Urban 300 delivers a powerful, nicely focused beam that floods the road in front of you. Unlike some lights on the market, Light & Motion went the extra mile to certify all their lights as “Lumen Tested” – a guarantee of lumen accuracy. You are really getting the 300 lumens advertised, and my experience with the Urban 300 backs that completely.
Speaking of my experience — in our area there is what we call an “Amish Night” club ride every Wednesday that starts up close to when Daylight Savings Time rears its ugly head and the sun suddenly starts disappearing before 6 P.M. With the Urban 300 I was able to ride confidently and comfortably in a pack cruising along at 20 mph through the hills and dales of amish country. At one point I even found myself fearlessly bombing down a nice hill at 40 mph to chase down another rider! I couldn’t have done any of it so comfortably without a trusty headlight.
You’ve heard enough about my thoughts on this fine light. Let’s cut to the chase and lay out all the cards. Here is a shortlist of its features:
[Light & Motion - Urban 300]
– 300 lumen
– 112 grams
– Battery Life Indicator
– USB Charger
– Tool-less mount
– Helmet mount
– Great battery life
– 2 hrs/4 hrs/8 hrs/ and 24 hrs when flashing.
For $149.99 it’s hard to beat the value that Light & Motion is offering consumers. If you are a little more sensitive to the price, I’d urge you to consider the Urban 180 – it packs a similar punch at nearly half the price ($89.99), half the lumens, and without the helmet mount. Either way, if you are anything like me, wanting to stay out of the trainer cave as long as possible, consider Light & Motion. Their products pack a great punch per dollar spent.
If you are curious about the Urban 300 or 180 Ride On carries various Light & Motion products. Stop by to demo any of our products.
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