Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Light systems

I'm looking to get a good front light which will illuminate the road sufficiently for long brevets extending into the dark of evening. I am a bit of a 'speed' guy, so weight is important to me. Also burn time is important as well. I'm not over-excited about the rim-driven light system as it seems like it might slow one down. :p

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What's your price range?

I'm completely sold on my Dinotte 200L. I have one on my bars and one for the helmet. Talk to Rob at www.dinottelighting.com -- he has some amazing deals when you purchase directly from him. I bought my setup for a 24-hour ride, and he had some very good advice on what I would need.

I'm completely sold on my Dinotte 200L. I have one on my bars and one for the helmet. Talk to Rob at www.dinottelighting.com -- he has some amazing deals when you purchase directly from him. I bought my setup for a 24-hour ride, and he had some very good advice on what I would need.

Thanks I will check into that!

I'm completely sold on my Dinotte 200L. I have one on my bars and one for the helmet. Talk to Rob at www.dinottelighting.com -- he has some amazing deals when you purchase directly from him. I bought my setup for a 24-hour ride, and he had some very good advice on what I would need.

What sort of run times do you get with it? I didn't see any listed on the site.

the chart at the bottom of the products page (http://www.dinottelighting.com/Products.htm) says you can get 8 hrs on high for their 4-cell endurance set-up.

Ah thanks, I didn't see that.

Scroll bars are tricky.

My biggest debate with myself was whether to get the 200L that runs on rechargeable AA's, or the Li-on batteries. Two-hour run times for 4 AA's, but with the convenience of buying as many as needed. I ended up with two light engines (one for bars, one for helmet) and went with two of the four-cells (8 hours on high) and one of the two-cells (4 hours on high) so I'm covered all night. If you buy their lights from REI or Nashbar, you only get one battery. If you order directly from Dinotte, you get two (in your choice of configuration and price) batteries. If you talk to Rob, who knows what he'll throw in. I rode last night with the setup, and I'm still quite happy.

the hub is 100% worth it IMO. Call Peter White, get a SON (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/Schmidt-Lumotec.asp), done and done. The hub weighs less than the batteries you'll have to carry.

I've ordered a SON and E6 light. I just don't want to have to deal with batteries.

also a big fan of anything dinotte!!!

I use the BLT ultra doppler dx. It runs on 2 AAs and seems to last a long time (a few nights). It lights up the road pretty well although it's a little hard to see definition (cracks and potholes). I may get a brighter light if I can find one more suitable but so far I haven't really seen anything (I want something that runs on regular batteries in case I'm away for several days and it runs out).

I built lights from two of these, 3-18V CREE LEDs:
http://www.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_6090_1_small.jpg
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6090
I run them from a 14.4v lithium 4800 maH battery. They draw about 250 mA each, so get about 9 hours with both on or 18 hours with only one in use. One is enough if I'm not going too fast, and two will let me ride at a brisk pace. I have mine mounted on my forks; homemade, but plenty bright and long run time and cheap. I can also run them off AA or AAA batteries if I carry a battery holder with me (4xAA), since these lights can run off any input from about 3 to 18 volts DC.

Good info all around here. Lots to think about. That hub-driven system seems quite ingenious.

I built lights from two of these, 3-18V CREE LEDs:
http://www.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_6090_1_small.jpg
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6090
I run them from a 14.4v lithium 4800 maH battery. They draw about 250 mA each, so get about 9 hours with both on or 18 hours with only one in use. One is enough if I'm not going too fast, and two will let me ride at a brisk pace. I have mine mounted on my forks; homemade, but plenty bright and long run time and cheap. I can also run them off AA or AAA batteries if I carry a battery holder with me (4xAA), since these lights can run off any input from about 3 to 18 volts DC.

Hi, sounds like a great system. Could you post instructions how to built it? Thanks.

I use the BLT ultra doppler dx. It runs on 2 AAs and seems to last a long time (a few nights). It lights up the road pretty well although it's a little hard to see definition (cracks and potholes). .


:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

I have a homemade system with 8 AAs and 2 K2 LEDs from luxeon. I have yet to have the light go completely out but it starts to dim between 15-20 hours.

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

I posted that before I decided to upgrade and started that other thread about lighting. Basically my experience with my blt is that in no light situations I can see dark spots but can't tell for sure if they are patches or holes until I am very close, so I just avoid them.

I have a homemade system with 8 AAs and 2 K2 LEDs from luxeon. I have yet to have the light go completely out but it starts to dim between 15-20 hours.

Hello, could you provide more details on how to built such a system. I have heard that those homemade systems are the best as far as performance/price. Thanks.

and if you're on a budget, shimano's dynohub is like $250 less than schmidts - i have one and don't notice the drag at all. the newer dyno's don't use rim-rubbing, so they have less drag, and work better in snow/rain.

i've got the schmidt e6 & the shimano dynohub - lights the road with just about hte strength of a car light! (except that it directs the beam into a box in front of you)

You can get an astonishing amount of light out of a hub dynamo system, if you power LEDs with it. For long distance, 2 or three LEDs will light the road clearly and not slow you significantly. See my build here (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=186066). This replaces a 12AA dual LED setup that ran for around 4 hrs, approximately the same weight(including the hub) and the same light output.

Never used them but http://www.solidlights.co.uk/products/1203d.php are ment to be very good, either the dyno hub or battery ones, expensive though. May work out even more expensive if you are in the US though.

Hello, could you provide more details on how to built such a system. I have heard that those homemade systems are the best as far as performance/price. Thanks.

Here is the beam comparison for a 4 LED model
http://randocommute.blogspot.com/2006/12/mighty-quad-k2-generator-light.html

and here is the schematics, the light shown uses luxeon 3s but substituting k2s gives a far brighter light. My current light only has 2 K2s since it is an adequate amount of light and I am on a battery power until I build my hub into a 700c wheel (it's on a 650c rim now for the recumbent). If you are using batteries then you can leave off the bridge rectifier.

http://randocommute.blogspot.com/2006/12/in-comments-below-there-was-inquiry.html

I curently have the light mounted between my aerobars on a length of pvc. I find the aluminum angle stock gives great heat dissipation and weighs almost nothing.

You do need to make sure you get the buckpuck that is OK with strobe lighting or you will burn it up.