[bike] lighting essentials

[Manton R. Frierson]

Tim, I would have to agree as a new convert to the hub-based lighting 
systems. On my new Trek Soho, I retro-fitted it with a Shimano dynamo 
hub (6V, 3W) and a B-M Lumotec Cyo NR Plus headlight (it is a LED system 
with a reflector system to shape the beam so that I DO actually see the 
road in poor lighting situations (such as I encounter on my daily 
commute from downtown to Middletown at a number of points). Caught in a 
downpour recently, it also performed without a hitch. I was surprised at 
how good it actually is, I was used to and expecting something like old 
bottle type dynamos with an incandescent bulb. I think this system is 
actually competitive with the much more expensive rechargeable battery 
systems (all but perhaps the dual headlight ones). I also got the 
Lumotec D-Top light plus for the rear as part of the system. This is a 
single LED (but a VERY bright LED with close to 180 degree visibilty - 
it sticks out in it's own in a clear housing away from the body of the 
taillight). Both lights have a capacitor built-in so that they remain 
lit after you stop for up to five-to-seven minutes ("standlight") ... 
for the rear, though, I do have the bright, flashing Planet Bike blinkie 
as adjunct and backup .... when I get back home from a business trip to 
China, I'll try to remember to post some pictures ...

I do still have to complain about the industry (in the US) treating 
lighting as not very important. I had to order my dynamo hub from 
England - St. Johns Street Cycles (SJS Cycles) and, of course, the 
lights we both bought came from a German company (B-M) ..... Manton


Tim wrote:
> As a semi-regular commuter for several years now, concerning lights I have a real bias towards generator hub lights.  In my case, I have a SON hub paired with a B&M Lumotec Oval Plus on my commuter.  I love the efficiency, simplicity, and ease of using a generator light.  SON and Shimano both make top-notch hubs that don't create too much drag.  My halogen light is very basic, and now there are better LED products out on the market now, something I'll check out in the near future.
>
> I don't think generator lights, or the ones I've seen, are quite as bright as the fancy new rechargeable systems, but for in-town commuting you can't beat the benefits of just hopping on and riding, lights or not.
>
> Tim S
> LHT commuter
>
>
>
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