Originally Posted by
rifraf
I havnt had a bike without a dynamo hub for many years....... Probably 25 years now. I started with old Sturmey Archer GH6's and then went for Son dynamos.
Current bike has a Son28/E-werk combo which powers my lights (front and rear), Edge 800 gps and my phone.
I"m in the process of building up a trailer with a second Son28 to hopefully charge my laptop and camera.
I wouldn't be without one.
If I was doing a tour of a overseas third world country like the above, I'd make sure my front wheel was new to minimise failure.
I dont use the lights much on tour, but nothing could be worse than sitting in the campground bathroom or kitchen waiting for things to charge being too scared to leave in case they are stolen.
Even bigger a deal over here in Australia is the distance between towns can be many days so relying on campgrounds would see you doing without.
No need to do without in this day and age.
.
Should have added, one of my touring toys I wouldn't want to be without is my usb rechargeable Petzl Tikka XP2 headlamp with Core battery option.
It comes with the option of utilising, 3 AAA batteries or the Petzl Core USB rechargeable battery.
No mucking around with the AAA's for me.
I just keep it topped up via the dynamo hub and E-werk with cache battery set up and I don't have to buy and dispose of alkaline batteries.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/petzl-tikka-xp-2-head-torch/ (Core battery is an extra purchase)
http://www.petzl.com/us/outdoor/head...ersal/tikka-xp
In my experience "most" people who've ridden without a dynamo hub wonder what the hell took them so long to get one, after experiencing the no drag convenience of battery free lighting and ability to charge their phone (without all the other options like gps, ipad etc).
I've been chuckling at all my friends being now converts despite vowing "never" due to thinking there would be drag and noticeable weight penalty.
I went dynamo hub as a commuter way before the advent of led lighting, mobile phones, gps's etc.
Their improvements have been astonishing in the last few years and continue to amaze me.
My original Sturmey Archer GH6 weighed I think 1.1kg for the hub alone whilst my Son28 is less than half at 460 grams.