little light
Mike Robinson
On 3/31/06, Nicholas Bull wrote:
>given that we all have to have some sort of little light for our cuesheet
Hi-
I'm thinking of something to occasionally light my computer in the
dark so that I can see it. And now that's mentioned, yea, lighting
the cuesheet from time to time, like at a turn would be nice.
Sometimes there's a streetlight and sometimes no. It can be pretty
dark in the countryside.
Does anyone have any suggestions on a little light? Handlebar mounted
over the computer? Or should I just strap a high beam headlight on my
head?
Thanks for all the inputs on computer cadence. Interesting.
Mike Robinson
Paul Harris
Cat Eye makes a nice little light that will mount just about anywhere.
I mount mine to my helmet - knowing that in a crash my helmet may not
work as designed. The only complaint is that it uses 3 AAA batteries &
my charger charges batteries in pairs. The retail is about $35.
Going at a slow speed the light could be used a back up for your main
light but if it's really dark, this would be scary. The model - Cat Eye
Compact Opticube EL-400 Headlight. I have not had any trouble with mine
after a couple of years with almost daily use, even in the severe
thunderstorms I frequently get caught in during the summer months.
I don't condone buying online & feel you should support your LBS, but
here is a link to the light at Performance:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17623&subcategory_ID
=4320
Paul W. Harris,
Apopka, FL
"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride." - John F.
Kennedy
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Robinson [mailto:peas...@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 2:53 PM
To: ran...@topica.com
Subject: little light
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>cuesheet
Hi-
Mike Robinson
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Dean Zimmer
Hi Mike
I use the following light which is sold in Canada at MEC. I am sure REI
would have a similar light. I have it zip tied to my helmet. It throws
enough general lighting to read the computer, change a flat etc. It is very
lightweight and since I only have it on for very short periods of time the
batteries last forever.
http://tinyurl.com/qqff2
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Robinson [mailto:peas...@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 1:53 PM
To: ran...@topica.com
Subject: little light
Joe Gross
On Fri, Mar 31, 2006 at 02:53:15PM -0500, Mike Robinson wrote:
>
> I'm thinking of something to occasionally light my computer in the
> dark so that I can see it. And now that's mentioned, yea, lighting
> the cuesheet from time to time, like at a turn would be nice.
> Sometimes there's a streetlight and sometimes no. It can be pretty
> dark in the countryside.
I've had great success with a Photon Micro 3 light attached with
sticky-back velcro on my helmet. It's lightweight, cheap, somewhat
waterproof, the batteries are inexpensive if you buy them in bulk, and
most importantly, it doesn't compromise the safety of your helmet by
attaching a large protruding object to the outside of it. I just leave
mine attached all the time.
There are lots of different colors available. I like red as it lasts
much longer than white doesn't interfere with my night vision.
http://www.photonlight.com/products/photon_3.html
Joe
Mike Robinson
Thanks to everyone for all the good tips on little lights for
computer and cuesheet viewing, handlebar and helmet mounted. I've got
a lot of great things to check out now. I'll probably try just about
all the tips I've received, the way I do things. I'll post the lights
and methods I eventually decide upon.
This is a great list, full of ideas and help for those interested in
the wonderful world of randonneuring.
Mike Robinson
rw...@cox.net
I have a couple Sigma Computer Nite Lights. See:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=82&subcategory=1036&brand=&sku=1197&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=
(It's Nashbar item # BC-0339)
I use one at a time, keeping the other as a spare. They work OK for lighting the computer in complete darkness, and use the same battery type (IIRC) as my Sigma computer.
I use a Petzl Duo velcro'd to my helmet for reading Route Slips (and street signs).
Randy Graves
> From: Mike Robinson <peas...@comcast.net>
> Date: 2006/03/31 Fri PM 02:53:15 EST
> To: ran...@topica.com
> Subject: little light
>
>
> On 3/31/06, Nicholas Bull wrote:
> >given that we all have to have some sort of little light for our cuesheet
>
> Hi-
>
> I'm thinking of something to occasionally light my computer in the
> dark so that I can see it. And now that's mentioned, yea, lighting
> the cuesheet from time to time, like at a turn would be nice.
> Sometimes there's a streetlight and sometimes no. It can be pretty
> dark in the countryside.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions on a little light? Handlebar mounted
> over the computer? Or should I just strap a high beam headlight on my
> head?
>
> Thanks for all the inputs on computer cadence. Interesting.
>
> Mike Robinson
>
> Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Is your computer freezing up or slowing down?
> Repair corrupt files and harmful errors - protect your PC
> Take a 2-minute PC health check-up at no charge!
> http://click.topica.com/caaexd8aVxiDKa7SrmFf/PC Powerscan
Nicholas Bull
Through last year's series, I used a little clip-on low-powered LED that
I bought at Sears; two of 'em cost twenty bucks:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=03493942000
I clip it onto my helmet strap. It's a little fiddly to get it aimed
right, but once aimed it stays aimed all night, unless you bump it. It
has two little LED's, each with its own switch. I always use just one
LED, since two ruin my night vision, while one is just bright enough to
let you see the cue sheet and computer with ease, without ruining your
night vision. It's so light you don't even know it's there (Sears
webpage says .2 lbs, but I'd guess that 1/32 lb would be more accurate).
After the last brevet, I forgot to take it off my helmet, and didn't
notice it was there until Thursday. I don't know how long the batteries
last, since mine haven't given out after using it for the night portions
of a fleche, 300k, 400k, 600k, as well as night-training rides--I'd
estimate a total of 50 hours so far. I carry a spare in my spare parts
bag, but I really should replace the batteries in the spare before the
fleche.
I've kind of looked for an alternative, because I don't like the
fiddly-aim aspect, and I worry a bit that I'll knock it off my helmet.
So I've kind of searched a bit for an alternative, but the things I've
seen count as either "too heavy" or "too bright". The Petzl that some
have mentioned looks like it has a nice low-power setting. But my
shoulders and neck already get sore enough, so I don't want to add any
more weight to my helmet, which already has a NiteHawk Emitter,
Luxeon-LED-based headlamp, and the Petzl or the little CatEye weigh
nearly three ounces. (Since the NiteHawk is aimed down the road, it's
hard to aim it down at the cue sheet, and it's so bright that when you
do, you can't see anything else, even though the Schmidt+E6 is putting a
lot of light on the road.) The CatEye seems like it'd be too bright and
ruin night vision. I had one of those little Sigma computer lights, and
maybe mine was defective or an older model, but it was so dim that I
could barely see the computer with it under the best conditions, and not
at all in drizzle or snow (I put a new battery in, but that didn't
help); and of course it isn't useful for a cue sheet.
So I'm thinking I could just velcro the little Sears LED to my helmet
and get rid of some of the fiddliness.
BTW, Sears sells a 3-AAA powered, 1 watt Luxeon headlamp for $25 and I
might get one or two for backpacking/camping.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=03493672000&tab=spe#tab
Bill Gobie
On Mar 31, 2006, at 11:53 AM, Mike Robinson wrote:
> I'm thinking of something to occasionally light my computer in the
> dark so that I can see it. And now that's mentioned, yea, lighting
> the cuesheet from time to time, like at a turn would be nice
I've been pleased with a Petzl Tikka. I forget which model I have.
A nice thing about the Tikkas is that you can unfasten the headband
and weave it through your helmet vents. If you do it right you can
still wear a helmet cover under the light. I figure in a crash the
elastic headband is more likely to let the light move than if I
ziptied the light on the helmet.
Bill Gobie
Seattle, helmet cover central
John McClellan
Bill Gobie wrote:
> I've been pleased with a Petzl Tikka. I forget which model I have.
> A nice thing about the Tikkas is that you can unfasten the headband
> and weave it through your helmet vents. If you do it right you can
> still wear a helmet cover under the light. I figure in a crash the
> elastic headband is more likely to let the light move than if I
> ziptied the light on the helmet.
>
> Bill Gobie
> Seattle, helmet cover central
I strongly endorse Bill's view of the Tikka - I've tried about 6
different lighting configs, and the Tikka Plus is the winner for me.
Super light weight, no cords, enough battery life for a 1200k and then
some. I know the issues of putting something on your helmet, but there
are a lot of benefits of having a light that goes with you and leaves
your hands free if you need to get off your bike at night. My second
place vote goes to the Petzl Myo 5 - has LEDs and a bright halogen which
can do back-up if your main source goes out, the battery cable is long
enough so that you can stash the battery in your jersey. But you've got
the extra battery weight to carry, and the cord to deal with if you need
to get off your bike at night, etc.
John McClellan