night riding and the bike I've wanted since I was 10
Jack Murphy
I realized that yesterday evening while riding. I had the "I don't want to
go home yet" feeling after an afternoon of errands and a nice swim at the
Y -- the same feeling I used to get tooling around the neighborhood at night
with my cool lights. Well, I thought they were cool, everyone else thought
they were totally nerdy. Too bad, I've always had fun riding at night. So
after checking in on the schedule with my wife I went back out for another
45 minutes of cruising. I was listening to Prairie Home Companion so I might
as well keep going, right? Perfect!
So I finally got this bike back from the shop. Its a great bike, a Gunnar
Sport. I bought it late summer but brought it back and left it there (for a
month it turns out) while the shop guy searched and destroyed the annoying
drive train noise, as well as finally ordered and got the right stem, etc.
Meanwhile I'd been back on my 20+ year old Trek, and still commuting. I'd
started that again regularly late last spring, and really enjoy my 15 mile
round trip, especially now that it gets dark so early. I don't know why, but
I do love riding at night.
I dug out my old generators and lights and got the Trek set up pretty nice
when it started to get dark this fall. But 20 years shows, and I put on a
Union bottom bracket generator that has a relatively heavy drag. I kept my
lighter drag Sanyo (another 25 year old relic) to put on the Gunnar. I do
have a 6 volt rechargeable with a nice clamp on headlight, but the battery
always seems to die out on a ride so I like having a generator for at least
backup.
Anyway, got the Gunnar back and got the generator hooked up to a new BiSy
headlight from PeterWhiteCycles.com. I first turned it upside down in order
to fit it closer to the handlebars, but as dusk hit I couldn't hardly see
the beam. I thought I'd made a bad mistake on the headlamp, it didn't show
much light. I decided to flip it normal to see what difference that made,
and that plus a bit more darkness showed the outstanding beam pattern of
this light. Combined with the nice tight round pattern from my battery
powered clamp on, it made a great view out front. I have a flashy white/blue
LED clip on up front too, so even if/when the 6 v headlight dims I'll have
something showing when stopped. I stopped back where I'd purchased a red
flashy led light and got another one, they fit great on my panniers at the
rear. I also hooked up a small generator powered light back there, at the
bolt that holds the rack. Small and out of the way, but a bit more light. I
have the standard reflectors front and rear as well, so if they hit me it'll
be because they're aiming!
So lets see, 3 front lights, 3 rear lights, 2 reflectors. Yep, I remember
when I was 10 with a c-cell battery light thinking if I just had a little
more... well I think I've got it now! But wait, there's always more... tell
me about that front hub that's a generator...
Jack Murphy
Chalo
> OK, I finally have the bike I've wanted since I was 10...
A rocket-propelled one with fold-out wings and machine guns and a
cloaking device? Cool!
Chalo Colina
Rocketman
news:8b4b7de4.03112...@posting.google.com...
My bike has a cloaking device. I removed all of the reflectors, so I'm
invisible to drivers when riding at night! :-)
Come to think of it, drivers act like they can't see me in the daytime,
either; but I don't think it's my cloaking device that's causing it...
-Barry
Sarah Clatterbuck
> So lets see, 3 front lights, 3 rear lights, 2 reflectors. Yep, I remember
> when I was 10 with a c-cell battery light thinking if I just had a little
> more... well I think I've got it now! But wait, there's always more... tell
> me about that front hub that's a generator...
>
> Jack Murphy
Ahhh, the beautiful SON generator hub! I just got one fresh from Peter
White myself. It's on my commuting/touring bike. I commute 4 times a
week - 20-30 miles round trip, which means I'm riding in the dark -
most work days between October and March.
The hub is wonderful. I get a brilliant light on the road when I'm
riding, and a wonderful, secondary ambient light (my 'be seen' light
when I'm not moving). And, I never have to worry about losing my light
on an extended ride home. And, there is very little drag on the
device. I mostly notice it on high RPM downhill sections. I can feel a
slight vibration from the hub. I highly recommend trying one if you
have a little cash to burn.
With my Disneyland light parade set-up, I am noticing the only time I
feel the cloaking device is during the day when the drivers have so
many beautiful colors and shapes to distract them.
Sarah
Michel Gagnon
> Ahhh, the beautiful SON generator hub! I just got one fresh from Peter
> White myself. It's on my commuting/touring bike. I commute 4 times a
> week - 20-30 miles round trip, which means I'm riding in the dark -
> most work days between October and March.
>
> The hub is wonderful. I get a brilliant light on the road when I'm
> riding, and a wonderful, secondary ambient light (my 'be seen' light
> when I'm not moving). And, I never have to worry about losing my light
> on an extended ride home. And, there is very little drag on the
> device. I mostly notice it on high RPM downhill sections. I can feel a
> slight vibration from the hub. I highly recommend trying one if you
> have a little cash to burn.
>
It's a great hub indeed! I have one on my long-distance/touring bike
and have the Shimano Nexus on my short-distance commuting bike (the 23
year old bike that's left outside for longer periods). If you compare
the price of a dynohub-based lighting or that of a bottle
generator-based lighting system (a good one such as the Bausch and
Laumb), it can even be cheaper than a system with a rechargeable
battery that will leave you in the middle of nowhere, just because you
have ridden for 2-3 hours.
Regards,
Michel