Lighting

Bicycle lighting is an important issue for cyclists all year round, especially when cycling in the evenings and at night. In autumn and winter, functioning bicycle lights are essential, whether in the city or in the country. What should you pay attention to when lighting your bike and what penalties await you if you ride without lighting?

In Germany, bicycle lighting in road traffic is regulated by Section 67 StVZO (lighting devices on bicycles). The following lighting must be attached to the bike before it can be rolled over the asphalt?

Headlights
White front reflector that can also be integrated into the headlight
Reflectors in the spokes of the front and rear wheels (reflective strips on the tires are also possible)
Reflectors acting forward and backward on both pedals
Rear light (e.g. LED) with an integrated large reflector that is mounted at least 25 centimeters above the ground.
In order to make your bicycle or mountain bike completely safe for traffic, all you need is a bright-sounding bicycle bell so that you can make yourself noticeable to other road users and pedestrians.

Dynamo duty is a thing of the past
Until now, a bicycle required lighting that was powered by a dynamo - a decades-old regulation that was often no longer used in practice. However, anyone caught by the police with the battery-operated clip-on lamps had to pay a fine of 15 euros. However, at the beginning of July 2013, the legislature overturned the dynamo requirement. Since then, rechargeable and battery-operated lights that have STVzO approval have also been permitted on bicycles.

Catalog of fines for cyclists
Anyone who cycles without proper lighting not only risks their own health, but also fines. In addition, cyclists who are involved in an accident without lights must expect deductions from their compensation. Here is an excerpt from the current catalog of fines:

– Driving without lights despite poor visibility: 20 euros

– Broken light or no lighting at all: 20 euros

By the way: If you regularly cycle in the dark, you should also pay attention to bright colors, reflective seams or applications on jackets and trousers when choosing clothing.

With the change to Section 67 of the StVZO in 2013, all cyclists can now enjoy bright lighting - and this is completely legal if the lamp is approved by the StVZO! Up to this point, it was mandatory to be equipped with a dynamo or, with a battery-operated lighting system, the weight of the bicycle (racing bike) could not exceed 11 kilograms. Since the change in the law, all cyclists can rely on a very extensive range of different lights. In our shop we offer the perfect lighting for every type of bike: from city bikes to racing bikes to freeriders, with our front lights and rear lights you are safe and confident on all roads.

Depending on the individual requirements, but also on the structural conditions of the bicycle, a few points must be taken into account when purchasing bicycle lighting. Most important question: front light or rear light? If you need both, we offer inexpensive complete sets from well-known manufacturers such as Sigma. Bicycle lighting is available both for fixed installation and with sophisticated click fasteners. The latter can be attached to the bike in seconds and easily removed again if necessary. Thieves therefore have no chance of gaining unauthorized access to the lighting.

In our online shop you will find front lights with both internal and external power supplies. The particularly compact lamps contain the batteries or accumulators necessary for the energy supply in the lamp housing. Batteries have the advantage that they are available everywhere. Special batteries integrated into the lamp housing offer maximum light output and can often even be charged via the USB port on the computer. Particularly bright front lights have an external battery. Special control displays inform you at all times about the status of your lighting system - this is the only way you are prepared for all eventualities. With the different light levels you can adapt the lighting to the path and weather conditions and save energy if necessary.

Tip: Trail riders need extra light due to the very demanding trail conditions. In addition to the front light on the handlebars, a helmet lamp is also available. With special helmet holders, often included in the scope of delivery, mounting on the helmet is extremely easy. The additional light cone does not follow the steering direction like the front light, but rather the head movement. The illumination improves enormously and therefore offers even more fun and safety on the trail. A nice side effect: the shadows behind edges appear less threatening.