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I have as much interest in tinkering with bikes and accessories as I do fettling my beloved guitars – none.
Why would I want to spend time adjusting the truss rod or tweaking the intonation on my Gretsch when I could be playing it? Why would I spend hours cleaning my chain when I could be riding my bike?
I’m interested only in accessories that make my life easier.
Since joining BikeRadar, I’ve owned a few bike lights. Most have irked me in one way or another before inevitably breaking free from my handlebar and cartwheeling down the road to oblivion – or making a one-way journey to the small electricals bin at the tip.
I’m not a fastidious person, dedicated slavishly to routine; therefore, I frequently forget to charge my lights. Because my bike is my primary mode of transport, that’s a problem.
I’m a busy boy with a short attention span, so my lights need to be ready to go whenever I am – lengthy battery life is key. They also need to be able to withstand the life of cruel neglect I subject them to.
I used the See.Sense Icon2 lights set for a while, but emerged from the pub to find the battery brown bread when I needed them once too often. Eventually, water got into the front light and it was game over.
I’ve made other attempts at finding a solution, but either fleeting battery life, aversion to rain or an overly fussy mount cut the relationship short.
I've considered joining Jack Luke’s dynamo lights cult – but I lack the technical nous to make that dream a reality.
- Read more: Best bike lights 2025 rated and reviewed
Light fantastic
However, the Knog Blinder 1300 has changed everything.
It’s been strapped to the bar of my Temple Adventure Disc 2 for the past year and hasn’t let me down.
It’s fully waterproof, and clips in and out of its mount easily, ready to be stuffed into my pocket when I arrive at my watering hole of choice – no one is stealing my Blinder.
The battery is said to last 120 hours in Eco Flash mode – with my commute a 28-minute round trip, I make that roughly 257 days of charge-free cycling to work. Bliss.
With a maximum output of 1,300 lumens, the Blinder is more than sufficiently bright for my commuting needs.
If anything, it’s too good at its job – it’s called the Blinder for a reason. Pedestrians wince and stumble for cover, mouthing insults as they flee its dazzling beam.
My only criticism relates to the mount. Despite appearing to click soundly into place, I’ve seen the Blinder topple from my bar and hit the tarmac more than once.
However, the unit is so robust it’s showing barely a scratch – and still working faultlessly.
I surveyed two other Blinder owners in the office – one had experienced the same issue, the other had no idea what I was talking about.
So the jury is out on that possible negative – and I suspect a new mount or a visit from our old friend Mr cable tie will solve the problem, so I can focus on riding my bike.
- Read more: Knog Blinder 1300 light review
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