Last Updated 2021.12.18
VOLT800 is recommended if you want to participate in brevet on a road bike
For those who ride a road bike only in the daytime, I think that the headlights are basically cheap and the brightness is about 100lm. I think that many people who have just bought a road bike are also wearing cheap ones because they are going to put on headlights for the time being.
However, those who drive frequently at night, such as brevets and bicycle commuting, may have encountered danger due to the dark headlights, and some may be aware of the importance of headlights.
Headlights for road bikes come in a variety of brightness from various companies, but I would like to explain why we recommend CATEYE’s VOLT800.
Please refer to the following article for the idea of headlights of road bikes.
Performance of CATEYE VOLT800
| Weight | 140g (including cartridge battery) |
|---|---|
| Light source | 1 high hardness LED light |
| Batteries used | Lithium Ion 3.6V 3100mAh |
| Usage time | Lit: (High) 800lm 2 hours Lighting: (Middle) 400lm 3.5 hours Lit: (low) 200lm 8 hours Hyper Constant: 7 hours Blinking: 80 hours |
| Standard charging time | 5-11 hours |
| Repeated charging count | 300 times |
The feature of VOLT800 is that it uses a battery with a larger capacity than the lower model VOLT400, and it is attractive that it can last for 8 hours with a brightness of 200lm even in low mode.
If you look at the performance of the headlights, you will inevitably compare the brightness.
However, we see different headlight performance in brevets and long-distance cycling.
The point is that the brightness can be maintained for a long time to ensure safety.
Brevet has a peak season from January to June, most of which is held from January to April.
That means running long periods of dark time with late dawn and early sunset.
In that case, it will take a long time to turn on the headlights.
Therefore, people who have experienced brevets and long-distance cycling are looking for headlights that can be lit for a long time with moderate brightness, and as a result, they are choosing high-performance headlights.
Once again, I’m not choosing high-performance headlights because of their brightness.
There are some scenes where brightness is needed temporarily, such as when going down a mountain pass in the middle of the night, but basically I was looking for a headlight that could turn on moderate brightness for a long time, and as a result it became a high-performance headlight. The truth is that it is.
Brightness comparison between CATEYE VOLT800 and VOLT400
On the photo is VOLT 400 middle mode 100lm duration 8 hours
Below the photo is VOLT 800 low mode 200lm duration 8 hours
The duration is 8 hours, but there is such a difference in brightness between VOLT 400 and VOLT 800.
The VOLT 800 has a brightness difference of 100lm compared to the VOLT 400, but there are other differences as well.
The VOLT 400 has a wider light distribution than the VOLT 400 has a spotlight distribution.
The difference can be seen by looking at the lens surface of the main body of VOLT 400 and VOLT 800, but VOLT 800 has a larger lens surface area than VOLT 400 and it seems that light is distributed to the left and right. It is a lens surface.
This wide light distribution allows you to drive safely even when driving on a mountain pass without street lights.
Veteran brevet riders dare to use older models
Some people who drive 1200km brevets emphasize the importance of headlights and have a two-light system of the current VOLT 1200 model, which is one generation before the current VOLT 1200.
This VOLT 1200 is a fairly well-balanced model, and can be lit for a long time of 17.5 hours in low mode 200lm. The current VOLT 1700 has a lighting time of 15 hours in low mode 200lm, so I dare to use the VOLT 1200.
In that case, I think that some people think that the VOLT 1700, which can be lit for 15 hours in low mode, is the best, but the weak point of the VOLT 1700 is that it has 2 LEDs, so if the main body is larger than the VOLT 800 and it has 2 lights, it will be around the handle. There may be no space to attach GPS etc. to.
Therefore, it is necessary to attach an extension bar to the handle and attach a VOLT 1700 to it to secure space around the handle, which makes the hurdle a little higher for brevet beginners.
Advantages of using VOLT 800
Another advantage of the VOLT 800 is that a spare battery is cheap and easy to prepare.
If you prepare this spare battery, even if it runs out of charge, it is a cartridge type, so you can continue to use it by replacing only the battery. This battery is also compatible with the VOLT 400 and can be used even if you have the VOLT 400 as a helmet light or spare light.
For that reason, the VOLT 800 is a headlight that is recommended for those who are just starting out in Brevet or who are cycling long distances.
If you are thinking of participating in touring or brevet on a road bike, please refer to it.
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