A little-known company called MagicShine has shimmied its way into the mountain bike world ninja-style, earning support one converted night rider at a time.
The company offers light systems for cheapskates. The price tags are small, but the quality is good enough for 24-hour racing. MagicShine offers two main models - one throwing out 900 lumens, and a newer three-lamp version producing 1,400 lumens.
The lights are available on GeoManGear.com, which is the driving force behind MagicShine’s rise. They have little if any advertising, relying instead on satisfied riders to spread the word. The lights surprised even some longtime industry geeks.
Judging from the overwhelming majority of NiteRider and similar premium systems at the 2010 Kona 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo race, MagicShine is still just a blip on the radar. Still, its wallet-friendly offerings might entice more people to try night riding. Their products are about half the price of competitors. The lights provide enough confidence to handle tough off-road terrain. The systems are also easy to operate.
Maybe a little too easy. It’s GMG 900 system - starting at $89.99 - don’t have a battery life indicator. And riders have to cycle through different modes by repeatedly pushing the power button. They are low-frills, but functional.
The lights mount to handlebars using o-rings. This is surprisingly stable. Still, the o-rings are likely to stretch over time. It would be a good idea to have some handy replacements.
Riders who want a lot for their money and care less about brands will see the appeal in MagicShine’s light. They’re not perfect, but they’re an excellent value that can hang with light systems that will do a lot more damage to the bank account.
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