Now the nights are actually drawing in noticeably faster, many people are turning their attention towards lighting systems which allow them to ride longer.

Though there are a stack of light sets on the market, it's possible to build up your own bike-light kit from readily available parts, saving a stack of cash. Several sites and mailing lists are around to help you do this.

Cyber Cyclery run a mailing list, exclusively about bike lighting, located at http://www.cyclery.com/lists/bikecurrent/. It also covers info on cycle computers and other wierd, wired gadgets.
uk.rec.cycling regular Myra Van Inwengen has an excellent set of articles on her homepage, located at http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mvi20/bike/tips.html, and particularly these articles How to make your own high-powered lightset (Technical) http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mvi20/bike/lights.html How to make your own high-powered lightset (Easier) http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mvi20/bike/home-brew.html
Then there are a couple of manufacturer sites for looking at batterys. High capacity, hi-tech Nickel-metal-hydride batteries are available mail order http://www.cpc.co.uk. Lighter but more expensive than regular Ni-Cads, NiMh batteries are what the new and funky mobile phones use to give week-long standby times.
Chargers and Ni-cad batteries plus other stuff are available on line at http://www.maxim-ic.com, though we had trouble with their secure server connection.
A bloke called "Fat Hippy" has a website in Australia with lights on it, amongst other things. Check it out at http://www.hawkesbury.uws.edu.au/~fathersa/mtb.htm
BIKEmagic member Neil Hardiman writes "I use a Mag Light for lights you can buy a special aluminum mount and the Mag Light has a wide beam and spot so you don't need two The whole set-up costs about £20."

If you've anything to add to this feature, drop me a line.

Brant

brant@bikemagic.com