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The HL-EL530 combines a small, bright, central spot with a much weaker large circular beam. Cateye claim it’s 50 percent brighter for 2011 and we found it bright enough to ride at slow to moderate speeds on unlit roads.
We’d want something brighter for technical descents or fast rides, but this is the cheapest light we’ve tested recently that we’d consider a ‘to see by’ headlight.
For your money you only get one continuous light mode, which is easily turned on and off by a sprung sliding switch at the back (easily turned on in your bag too). It uses four AA batteries for a claimed run time of 90 hours, although the intensity does reduce over this time.
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Product Specifications
Product
| Name | Name, 0, 10, Name, EL530 |
| Brand | Brand, 0, 20, Brand, Cateye |
| Weight (g) | Weight (g), 2, 0, Weight (g), 207 |
| Features | Features, 2, 0, Features, Single LED |
| No Of Batteries Required | No Of Batteries Required, 2, 0, No Of Batteries Required, 4 |
| Type of Battery Required | Type of Battery Required, 2, 0, Type of Battery Required, AA Alkaline |
| Battery Life | Battery Life, 2, 0, Battery Life, 10 |
Authors
Simon Withers is a freelance cycling writer and bike tester. He has been cycling for as long as he can remember, and more seriously since his time at university in the 1980s. Simon has ridden and raced almost every type of bike over the years and has toured extensively in Asia and Australasia, including riding solo 2,900km from Cairns to Melbourne. He’s been testing bikes and working for BikeRadar and Cycling Plus in various capacities for two decades. Simon has ridden and reviewed countless bikes and products, and specialises in affordable road bikes, gravel bikes and cycling kit, helping riders understand what’s really worth their hard-earned money.
