One feature of riding with a head torch can also be a bug, depending on use and aim: Blinding car drivers.

It can be very helpful for reading maps and (unlighted) computer screens while underway, but if aimed too high, can become problematic to car drivers, especially at intersections when the rider may be stopped/partially dismounted and looking up at traffic signals.

OTOH, I was once able to catch the eye of a driver about to turn across my path who apparently had not noticed me before seeing (being blinded by) my head torch as I swiveled my head to look at him so I could avoid a collision.

A COB LED (Chip-On-Board LED) like Ian's new light commonly uses an array of LEDs behind a diffuser screen for a shorter, wider-angled beam compared to a focused LED with, say, a collumating lens or side/angled reflector. The COB light is likely to appear very "bright" but "diffuse" and so less blinding to others compared to a focused beam. I love COB LEDs for those times when I want even shadowless lighting at relatively close range. I've found them ideally suited for working on plumbing under sinks, changing the oil in the car, setting up camp and cooking, etc and not so good for hiking and cycling where I needed a more focused beam at a distance. I have some inexpensive (eBay-sourced) COB LED "be seen" auxiliary head- and taillights that attach to my bikes quickly with a rubber strap and I like them very much for the intended purpose.

Just something to keep in mind.

As for me, I *love* my LED head torches and couldn't imagine being without for a huge variety of daily tasks, though I rarely wear one while cycling. After testing and buying a number of LED headlights over the years, I've settled on the Black Diamond Storm as my all-'round favorite. It has a white focused beam, a separate wide-angle beam (the two can be combined), each separately dimmable. The diffuse beam can be switched between white, green, blue, and red. I prefer the latter set to low for reading at night to preserve my night vision. Black Diamond also offer their USB rechargeable Revolt line. My older model uses their proprietary rechargeable AAA cells which had a terrible service/recharge cycle life, so I substituted Eneloops with the last centimeter of outer insulation removed from the case wrapping so they would recharge in the light housing like the originals. Problem solved, though I still prefer the four AAA cells used in the Storm and I charge the Eneloops for that in a separate small charger attached to my Cycle2Charge unit while cycling.

Black Diamond has some terrible problems with earlier Storm models, but I found their warranty service to be exceptionally good and they replaced my faulty units quickly and without a quibble and the replacements have worked flawlessly.

Best, Dan.

EDIT: A closer look at the Amazon description for Ian's Smiling Shark headlamp shows a separate, focused white LED facing forward and a red one to the rear, along with hand-wave actuation. Looks nice! I'm tempted!

I rode with a headtorch a few days ago, never tried before, and it worked really well on a slow ride.

aye. up the west coast and down through the interior. Fully loaded Sherpa with a weeks supplies. Including box of wine and litre of duty free single malt . Just in case I met anyone :-)

Box of wine???  Bike touring, you are supposed to carry the dehydrated stuff.

Been there, done that.

Thanks for your swift comments
To answer. Yep. I have done a few tracks in Scotland.Green routes in Europe and across Iceland. All mostly on the Sherpa....

If you have been across Iceland, I assume you rode on the interior 4X4 roads when you say "across", then you should not have any difficulty riding the Divide.

I took a small shuttle bus from the Halifax airport to the Hostel.  The shuttle driver said he was not supposed to stop there, but he did anyway.  For the return, the shuttle would have been maybe (I am guessing) a one km walk from the hostel.  I carried my luggage in two trips, but my two larger checked bags were backpacks.  If you did that trip, not sure if you would need to rent a vehicle for a day at the start and end or not.

There is a high sales tax, but I do not know what it is right now.  Point being that if you budget without factoring the sales tax, you could be surprised.

A few photos attached.

First, my luggage at the airport.  The big black box as my S&S Backpack case with my bike in it.  One pannier was a carry on and one pannier was my "personal item"

Second, this was on Cape Breton Island.

A foggy day on Cape Breton Island.

And a nice day on Cape Breton Island.