Fenix BC21R Bike Light Review

Over the past year or so I’ve had the pleasure of seeing more and more friends discover the joys associated with bicycling. One friend in particular now commutes regularly to and from work and before he began commuting by bike we made sure he had the proper safety equipment – and we’re talking more than just his helmet. Having, and using, a bike light during the day improves a cyclist’s visibility to vehicles much more than bright/reflective clothing. We’re a big fan of the Fenix BC21R Bike Light for a variety of reasons, but most notably is the “flash” or flare mode.

A bike light at night is a no brainer, you need it so you don’t think twice about turning it on. But using a light during the day is not something most cyclists think about; the next time you’re driving (or biking) around and see a cyclists running their lights during the day you’ll notice how much more visible they are…and being visible is the key to staying safe. The Fenix BC21R is one of the simplest, yet most effective bike lights I’ve ever used.

It’s basically a plug and play light. Unpack it from its box, charge it with the USB charger, and attach it to your bike handlebars in under five seconds, press the only button on the light, and you’re in operation. The light has four different brightness levels (100 to 880 lumens) and on a single battery charge will last anywhere from 15 hours at 100 lumens to a little over an hour at 880 lumens. Basically the higher the lumens you run the light the shorter the battery life, but the folks at Fenix are pretty smart and built in a safeguard feature that basically regulates the brightness level based on the battery life. When the battery level is lower than 20% the Intelligent Output Downshift feature kicks in and the light will downshift to a lower output level to extend runtime. When it downshifts to the flashing mode, the bike light will go out soon. This helps ensure you don’t get caught out on a ride with no light.

Fenix BC21R Bike Light Details

• Cost: $75 (regularly $96)
• Up to 880 lumens
• Four brightness levels plus the flashing flare mode which we recommend you use during daytime riding.
• Rechargeable battery (via included USB cable)
• Low battery indicator to let you know the battery needs charging.
• Quick release/attachment to handlebars
• Complete specs and operating instructions

There’s a strong correlations between time spent outside and overall happiness and I truly believe this happiness is compounded when you’re on a bike. Everything is better on a bike.

May is National Bike Month and there are lots of ways to celebrate life on two wheels. If you’re local to Roanoke, VA check out our list of Bike Month events. If you live elsewhere contact your local bike shop…they’ll know how to get you connected.