Exposure Race bike light review: The ultimate companion for night time gravel riding

Gravel riding is always a compromise, whether it’s tyre size and tread, the bike geometry, suspension or rigid; everything is designed to be a middle ground between road and off-road, and lighting is no different. The best bike lights for road riding offer shaped beams and auto-dimming to not dazzle cars, but don’t necessarily have the beam throw that mountain bike lights do in order that you see the big tree coming at you at warp speed out of the darkness. 

On the other hand, most MTB lights are overkill for road riding. They can dazzle cars and other cyclists, they’re heavy – often requiring a separate battery pack, something which I hate – and they’re just… big. In the Exposure Race, however, in the course of testing numerous lights, I think I’ve found a real gravelly Goldilocks. Not too big, bright enough to descend at full speed, extremely well made, and useful enough on the road too that it doesn’t have to be a purely gravel-specific product. I’ve been running it on and off-road in recent weeks now that it’s dark so early once again. I’ve commuted with it, and smashed about after work on totally unlit gravel tracks. It is great, and while it is a premium light with a price tag of £285 I think it does well to justify itself.