Cyclist's electronics

Front lighting: being seen in the city or seeing the road

A headlight to be seen and a headlight to see serve different purposes. In the city, under street lighting, a few hundred lumens are enough to signal your presence, like with the Cateye Orb, compact, or the Beryl Laserlight Core, which adds to its four hundred lumens the projection of a bike pictogram on the road, in front of the wheel, noticeable from blind spots. On a country road without streetlights, a powerful and wide beam is needed: the NiteRider Lumina family, from the Micro to the Dual model, exceeds a thousand lumens depending on the version, just like the most powerful Moon Meteor lights.

Rear lights, radar and electric bike lighting

At the back, the red light must be visible from far away and from the side. The Cateye Omni, with its wrap-around casing, distributes its light over a wide angle, while the NiteRider Sentinel also projects two laser lines onto the ground, on either side of the bike, creating a safety corridor. The radar Bryton Gardia goes further: it detects approaching vehicles from behind and alerts you on a compatible display. On an electric bike, the Herrmans lights and the Axa light mounted on the rack connect to the bike's battery or to a dynamo: they turn on without ever needing to be recharged.

Bottle battery, GPS tracker and derailleur battery

The external battery shaped like a bottle extends the range of an electric bike equipped with the Mahle system: it fits into the bottle cage using its support and silicone straps, and complements the battery integrated into the frame for long days in the mountains. The GPS tracker Powunity Bike Trax, hidden in the motor compartment and powered by the bike’s battery, sends an alert to your smartphone as soon as the bike moves, allowing you to locate it in case of theft. For wireless SRAM eTap AXS transmissions, a spare battery prevents you from getting stuck on a single gear the day you forget to recharge.

The selection

Electronics are organized by type:

• Lighting.
• Sensors and Radars.
• GPS.
• Home Trainer.
• Smartwatches and Fitness Bands.
• Batteries.
• Drones and Cameras.
• Smartphones and Accessories.

Other equipment, road, MTB, BMX, urban, nutrition, protection, accessories, can be found on the equipment page.

Cycling cadence sensor and heart rate monitor for training

To improve, you measure. The cadence sensor Garmin attaches to the crank with a simple elastic strap, without a magnet, and transmits the number of pedal revolutions per minute to the display or smartphone, in ANT+ and Bluetooth. The heart rate monitor Magene, worn against the chest under the jersey, measures pulse more reliably than a watch on the wrist, which can be disturbed by handlebar vibrations. Crossing cadence and heart rate allows you to adjust the effort by zones, learn to spin on climbs, and identify fatigue from day to day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What lighting is required for bicycles in France?

A white or yellow front light and a red rear light are mandatory at night, and during the day when visibility is insufficient. The bike must also have reflectors: white at the front, red at the back, and orange on the sides and on the pedals.

Can a rechargeable light last for an entire night ride?

It all depends on the mode chosen: a powerful light at full intensity often lasts one to two hours, much longer in economy mode. Check the advertised battery life for each mode and set off with a full battery, as cold weather reduces its capacity.

Can you connect a light to an electric bike's battery?

Yes, if the motor has a lighting output, which is the case for most recent systems. Choose a light designed for this voltage, like the Herrmans models for electric bikes, and the connection is often done by a bike shop.

How do you avoid dazzling other road users with a powerful light?

Angle the beam down toward the road a few meters in front of the wheel, rather than horizontally. In the city or when passing another user, switch to the low mode, and keep full power for roads without street lighting.

How do you protect a bike light from the rain?

Check the IP protection rating stated by the brand: the higher it is, the better the casing resists splashes. Always close the cover of the port USB, let the light dry in the air after a wet ride, and never recharge it while wet.