Blackburn Flea rechargable lights

When Kathy and I did the San Jose Bike Party ride last month we wanted to add a little supplemental lighting to both our bikes so we are easier to see in the dark.

I used this as an excuse for a trip to my bike shop where I found a nice Night Rider combo package including both front and rear lights for Kathy's bike. Typical of Night Rider these are solid well-designed lights with an excellent mounting system. I've owned a number of NR lights and really like them.

I was going to get a second set for myself when my trusted mechanic ambled up and suggested instead the Blackburn Design Flea lights. Fleas are tiny -- smaller than a matchbox -- USB rechargeable Li-Ion powered LED lights available in front or rear configurations. They looked too small to be really bright, but I only needed them for the Bike Party ride so I took his advice and got a set for myself.

Wow, what a great product. They are tiny, extremely bright, easy to mount, and last a long time on a charge.

I even use them on my IndyFab which has one of the most expensive bicycle lighting systems available - A Schmidt Dynohub connected via a custom harness to a pair of Schmidt E6 lights. This system, designed for commuters and long-distance cyclists, is great for seeing the road ahead but does little (and if you stop, nothing) to be seen by other traffic.

The front Flea is astonishingly bright, almost blinding if you look directly at the 4 LEDs. It mounts to the bike using a very nice rubberized Velcro strap. The rear is almost as bright and actually appears to be brighter than my much-larger and currently in need of yet another set of batteries -- Planet Bike light I have permanently affixed to the IndyFab's seat post. The rear light has a very strong wire based belt clip and another Velcro strap like the front. I attached the rear light to the back of my helmet a month ago and have used it on every ride since. It's so small and light (17g) that it is easy to forget it's there -- until you turn it on.

I was a little skeptical about the USB charging method. It seemed like a gimmick for a cycling light, but after a month the system has proven both convenient and quick. The included USB adapter attaches to the lights with a little magnet. It's a really nice system.

My only complaint -- and it's a minor one -- is this. In order to charge the lights you must remove them from the bike and remove the Velcro mounting straps from the light. That a lot of on-off and my straps are already showing some wear. Since two straps are included, I do have a spare.

Rarely dose a product so completely exceed my expectations as these little lights have.