bonner1040

Hi everyone, I just bought my first real bike, and I am a total novice. I know a little less than zero about bicycle mechanics.

I am planning on riding to and from work, and to the gym I go to after work. I will be riding at night so I want to get dynamo hub and a set of lights, front and rear.

I dont know alot about wheel sizes, hub holes, etc. Can someone point me in the right direction?

Here are the technical specs on the model I got.
2014 Vaya 2 | Bikes | Salsa Cycles

HELP!

no1mad 

Check out Peter White. He has a bunch of info on his site and will be more than happy to sell you whatever you desire. Here is a link to his page that has most of the beam shots of the various lights- headlight beams from Peter White Cycles

PaulRivers

Yeah, Peter White. Or Home - Harris Cyclery bicycle shop - West Newton, Massachusetts (they were easier to get ahold of than Peter White). Or Calhoun Cycle, they ship stuff to.

Mr IGH

I'd go back to the shop that sold you the bike and have them order a Shimano Alfine or a Nexus DH-3D72 generator hub (both are center lock disc hubs). Then have them build the hub into your existing rim using new spokes (the old ones aren't the correct length). Now you have all the power you'll need at the best price.

Next, choose a headlamp. Some are dedicated front light only, others also drive a rear tail light. Some have a standby feature for when you're stopped at a traffic light. Which is best really depends on your conditions.

When I lived in Chicago, there's lots of ambient light so it's more about being seen. In that case, the Planetbike dyno headlamp worked well. It blinked and wasn't too bright (pedestrians don't like bright lights). It didn't have provisions for a tailight, I just used a battery powered blinky.

I've since moved from the big city to small town Colorado, not many street lights and there's bike paths. I changed to a Phillips Saferide dyno light, it's the best dyno light I've ever used. I did have to source it from Europe (I doubt your LBS wants to deal with it). It has a standby feature that keeps the lights lit when stopped at a traffic light and comes with a matching tailight. Other good brands are Supernova, Schmidt and "Busch and Müller":
Universal Cycles -- Lighting Systems > Generator Lights

There are some other choices for dynohub, I've tried them all except the SON hubs. IMO, the SON is really overpriced. There's a better option, the new SP dynohubs, lower drag, higher power, lower price. Unfortunately they're not really available to an LBS, I bought mine off of ebay. I'd stay away from the SRAM dynohub, it's got lots of vibration and just seems cheap.

Here's a website with way to much info on dyno powered bike lights (I bought my Phillips dyno light kit from him):
Bicycle lighting, mostly powered via dynamo, and USB power from dynamo

bonner1040

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I am going to the shop tomorrow to pick up the bike. I talked to Peter White today, and he was super helpful. I think I am going to go with the Schmidt hub and one of the light sets he recommends, but I will talk to the guys at the shop tomorrow.

I really like the idea of being self sufficient without rechargeable lights.

mstraus

I have debated doing the same thing - upgrading to a dyanmo. I have done some research but always get more caught up on what rims to buy then what dynamo or light. I have also debated how to neatly run the wires around. Sadly most shops around me don't really sell dynamos so you typically need to buy remote.

Curious what light set he recommended to you.

zacster

I'm surprised you are spending the extra money on the Schmidt. You can get the Shimano hub for about $80 on eBay, and a rim is pretty cheap too. The lights OTOH are not cheap. I have the B&M Cyo Premium and that cost me $110, but is now more. I couldn't be happier with it. I didn't get a rear light for this setup, but I have a Magnic Light on a very delayed order for the rear. This uses different technology than other dynamo lights and is completely self-contained. I had a prior model and it was great, but the latest is supposed to be even better.

PaulRivers

Good luck.

Fyi though, the Schmidt hubs seem like their are better products out there.

The cheapest is the Sanyo h27, though other hubs and wheels are nicer for around $135 (both hub and wheel) -
Custom Dynamo Front Wheel

Not sure if it's disc compatible, it's main drawback is that if you turn off the light it still draws the same power.

In the middle is the Shimano hub for around $220 -
Shimano Dynamo Wheel w/ Busch & Muller Lumotec Lyt N Plus

It's more refined, and turning off the light means the hub uses less power. It's what I use. It's definitely disc-compatible.

People have been saying that the top end is not Schmidt any more, but Shutter Precision ($400) -
E7 Ignite XL Dynamo | Volagi

It should be disc compatible since Volagi only makes road-disc bikes, but I can't be 100% sure without calling and asking.

That's what I know. Might be possible to find better prices. The Schmidt hub is very nice, but it's expensive and I passed on it because I didn't want to pay twice as much money for a slightly better hub vs Shimano. It's kinda like buying a Lexus. They'll all work though - good luck!

unterhausen

Shutter Precision makes disc compatible hubs. I have one on my gravel bike. Nice hub. Can't really compare it to a Schmidt, but I can't tell the difference between it and any of the Shimano hubs I use.

Mr IGH

The LBS I hangout at tells me he didn't want to deal with Peter White (he didn't elaborate). He has his customers buy the SP hub from the ebay vender and bring it in. Or he'll order a Shimano hub. OP already has a relationship with an LBS (where he bought his Vaya). Why not use them? With Peter he'll have to ship his wheel to have the SON built in or order an extra, non-matching wheel. And who's going to wire the light up?

fietsbob

Your better bike shops should be able to order a wheel for your bike

I have rebuilt using the existing rim and different spokes , myself. thats OK too
then the rims match. (obviously )

Shimano Alfine Dynohubs have the Disc brake fittings as do the pricier German Schmidt .

The LED lights are many as well .. NB Peter White is a Importing Distributor for the German Schmidt,
In US & Canada ( yea he has an Attitude .. keep it to just saying what you want
item and part number , and be succinct)

They will open an account with your local shop then you pay retail
(dealer margin is including shipping ),

you can buy direct from Peter , then He adds shipping onto retail prices.

Others skip US sources entirely and use European sellers .. then again shipping is additional to cost of parts.

[ I have a older 6 bolt Schmidt & a newer Centerlock disc mount.. Black anodized shells . ]

LucF

I'm in Canada. I got my 2 SP hubs directly from them in Taiwan. Easy to order and very fast shipping (faster than lots of stuff I get shipped from the US). I got the lights from Peter White. Brought my hubs to my LBS to have new wheels built around them.

Mr IGH

It looks as if his well known obtuseness final caught up with him, you can order the Schmidt SON dynohubs from Universal, use VIP10 or VIP15 for a discount:
Universal Cycles -- Hubs & Parts > Dynamo/Generator Hubs

All the lights he sells are also on Universal's website:
Universal Cycles -- Lighting Systems > Generator Lights

As far as the hubs go, the Schmidt SON in 9mm axle is very expensive. I bought a better performing SP dynohub with 15mm thru-axle for $210, comes with a 9mm adapter. Many industry experts claim the 9mm is going away for safety reason, to be replaced by the 15mm thru-axle. $330 for a 9mm Schmidt just didn't make sense to me (they want over $400 for the SON 15mm thru-axle version, doesn't include adapter).

unterhausen

from the universal cycles prices, it almost looks like they are getting them through Peter White. He is a distributor for a lot of stuff. My LBS orders from him for me, I have to bring them beer occasionally so they get over the pain

I keep hoping that some of these brands, B&M in particular, get some other distributor like Supernova did, I am not a big fan.

fietsbob

It's how it works
Peter ships to dealers @ wholesale, Universal sells, Retail.. they get theirs from him.

sometimes I think Universal shows things they have in a MN branch ,
I think that is actually the QBP warehouse .

Mr IGH

At least with Universal you can get a discount now (use VIP15 for a 15% discount on orders over $300). In any case, my LBS refuses to deal with Pete and that's that. For $130 you can have the better performing SP compared to $330 for a Schmidt. I bought mine from this ebay vender:

items in Intelligent Design Cycles store on eBay!

Here's the 15mm thru-axle version, it's the one I bought:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SP-hub-dynam...item3f3858f6c4

Here's the performance measurements from the Germans Use google translate if yer German's a little rusty):
These tests show clearly the SP-8 out performs the Schmidt:
Neue und exotische Nabendynamos im Test | Fahrradzukunft - Ausgabe 14

Here's another Euro engineer's conclusions, he likes the 15mm thru-axle version of the SP hub best:
https://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tes...tml#dynamo%27s

unterhausen

I don't think they had introduced the 15mm option when I bought mine, that's a good idea. I think QBP offers the Supernova version of the hub, but I take it that's got a big markup over the SP direct price.

bonner1040

I went with the SON 28 ISO Disc, a Luxos U, and a Toplight Line Plus w/ Pulse. Unfortunately (/fortunately) I am on vacation with the wife in India and my new wheel is sitting at work waiting for me.

I got it all through a new friend that owns a LBS in a different state, lucky for me his other hobbies lined up perfectly with my business so we were able to make a little goods for goods trade which resulted in discounts all around! In lieu of sending him my wheel we just went ahead and built up a new matching wheel. Ill keep the other in case anything happens to either my or my buddies wheels (we both have Vayas).



Thanks for all the advice and sorry for not responding but I plan on being a more active participant in the future!

noglider 

The Sanyo doesn't draw the same power when the lights are off. The drag is reduced. But it is reduced by less than with other hubs. The Sanyo hub is not disc-compatible.

I recently learned to put the wiring in heat shrink tubing and glue that to the frame or fork with silicone glue. It makes for a neat installation.

I think going with Peter White's recommendations is smart. After all the help he's given you, he deserves your business.

You will love your dynamo lights. I love mine. I no longer want to ride a bike that doesn't have a dynamo hub.

bonner1040

Thanks for the tip!