Illumination for shifters
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ok, I see there are more negative than positive comments on my little light show. first of all I've never said illuminating the shifers is of any practical use or matter of safety while riding a bike. second, I just wanted to present an idea for those who'd like to have something original as an addon to their bike. I just had some free time, two extra LED lights and crazy idea.
yesterday I've just managed to connect my back flashlight to brake bars and transform flashlight into stop-light. is it particularly useful? not really, but it's cool to see. anyway, my post was not intended for those who'd like to have the best bike, or the most expensive bike, but for those who'd like to have something other than what you can get in shops.
p.s.
@unterhausen
thanx for posting the pics
yesterday I've just managed to connect my back flashlight to brake bars and transform flashlight into stop-light. is it particularly useful? not really, but it's cool to see. anyway, my post was not intended for those who'd like to have the best bike, or the most expensive bike, but for those who'd like to have something other than what you can get in shops.
p.s.
@unterhausen
thanx for posting the pics
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A brake light? Now, that's one I like. A regular tail light LED setup for night time riding, plus a brighter brake light. I like the idea, actually. For the guy who's running out of nice things to add to his ride.
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Exactly what I (and many like me) need...
Hi,
I can appreciate the many comments by younger cyclists for whom cycling is a hobby/sport. However, for people like me, older commuters, this kind of thing is perfect. I have been searching for something like this for over 2 months.
Please share how you did this, I would be most interested.
Regards
Maurice Sharp
Manager Mobile Engineering, Couchsurfing
I can appreciate the many comments by younger cyclists for whom cycling is a hobby/sport. However, for people like me, older commuters, this kind of thing is perfect. I have been searching for something like this for over 2 months.
Please share how you did this, I would be most interested.
Regards
Maurice Sharp
Manager Mobile Engineering, Couchsurfing
#29
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Well, let me start by welcoming you to BF and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful (perhaps even twoderful¹) time here, as there's so much expertise and fun to be had for all. …but as for your "Illumination for shifters" idea, well perhaps it's an invention waiting for its time to arrive; a bit like the little light which tells you when to shift gears in some manual-shift autos! I can't honestly think of a time when I've ever needed a visual clue as to which gear I'm in when riding a bike - I find it's all about the "feel". Sorry if I appear to be less than enthusiastic, but good luck with your invention!
- Wil
¹ - see V. Borge "Inflationary Language" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Borge
- Wil
¹ - see V. Borge "Inflationary Language" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Borge
#30
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Judging from these posts, the markings on the shifters indicating gears are pointless. However, curiously somehow the manufacturers find that there is some market for those. Otherwise, they could have lowered the cost of their products getting rid of those digits, pointer windows etc.
But speaking of things that are practical - why isn't there backlighting on bicycle computers?
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I'd gladly carry the weight of a bigger battery to get the feature of pushing a button to get 30 secs of backlit computer readout
#32
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Cateye makes their Commuter and Micro Wireless computers with a backlight. Also think their upcoming Stealth line will too. Not sure who else.
#33
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I remember when ten speed bikes had their friction shifters on the downtube.
First bike I actuall owned had ... No wait a minute...
My first THREE speed bike had a thumb-shifter, with the numerals 1, 2, 3, marked on it.
My first TEN speed bike had friction shifters on the handlebar stem.
My first mountain bike was an EIGHTEEN speed, and it had Shimano Deore thumbshifters, but they were the Friction type , not indexed.
We've come a long way.
Currently, I am using 21 speed indexed shifting, with Grip Shifters, and they do indeed have a little window to show the numerals 1, 2, 3, on the left, and 1, 2, thru 7, on the right.
WE get used to those indicator numerals real fast. We no longer have to stand on our left foot and crane our necks to see what gear we are in (remember that?).
But, as I mentioned a couple of days ago, lately I have been using my helmet light to see the grip-shifters indicator.
First bike I actuall owned had ... No wait a minute...
My first THREE speed bike had a thumb-shifter, with the numerals 1, 2, 3, marked on it.
My first TEN speed bike had friction shifters on the handlebar stem.
My first mountain bike was an EIGHTEEN speed, and it had Shimano Deore thumbshifters, but they were the Friction type , not indexed.
We've come a long way.
Currently, I am using 21 speed indexed shifting, with Grip Shifters, and they do indeed have a little window to show the numerals 1, 2, 3, on the left, and 1, 2, thru 7, on the right.
WE get used to those indicator numerals real fast. We no longer have to stand on our left foot and crane our necks to see what gear we are in (remember that?).
But, as I mentioned a couple of days ago, lately I have been using my helmet light to see the grip-shifters indicator.
#34
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As to a practical reason why it is good to know what gear you are in:
If you don't use a speedometer (I don't) but you do know your gear ratios and can judge your pedal cadence. Knowing what gear you are in combined with your pedal cadence tells you how fast you are going and you can use your gears to judge your speed. Also, I tend to be less of a slacker when I know what gear I'm in. More then once when I've gotten home after a night commute I've realized I was a gear or two lower then I though I was and that I knew I could have been using from past experience and thus I knew I was slacking off accordingly. Being able to see what gear I'm in over known commuting routes keeps me from slacking off and dropping a gear or two that I don't need to drop if I would just hold strong in a higher gear instead of slacking off. It also tells me my approximate speed since I know what my gear ratios are and how fast I should be going in each gear at what cadence.
I wouldn't mind having a set-up like this on a couple of my night commuter bikes although currently I just slip a hand forward to reflect back some of the light from the handlebar mounted headlights in order to get enough illumination to check what gear I'm in but something like this would tell me at a glance instantly. I think the brake light set-up is an even better idea though. You using a 501 or 502 type red 18650 LED flashlight for that (you did mention your were using a flashlight for the rear brake light and those are one of the few good bright red LED ones I know of)?
If you don't use a speedometer (I don't) but you do know your gear ratios and can judge your pedal cadence. Knowing what gear you are in combined with your pedal cadence tells you how fast you are going and you can use your gears to judge your speed. Also, I tend to be less of a slacker when I know what gear I'm in. More then once when I've gotten home after a night commute I've realized I was a gear or two lower then I though I was and that I knew I could have been using from past experience and thus I knew I was slacking off accordingly. Being able to see what gear I'm in over known commuting routes keeps me from slacking off and dropping a gear or two that I don't need to drop if I would just hold strong in a higher gear instead of slacking off. It also tells me my approximate speed since I know what my gear ratios are and how fast I should be going in each gear at what cadence.
I wouldn't mind having a set-up like this on a couple of my night commuter bikes although currently I just slip a hand forward to reflect back some of the light from the handlebar mounted headlights in order to get enough illumination to check what gear I'm in but something like this would tell me at a glance instantly. I think the brake light set-up is an even better idea though. You using a 501 or 502 type red 18650 LED flashlight for that (you did mention your were using a flashlight for the rear brake light and those are one of the few good bright red LED ones I know of)?
#35
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Cool, Grgast!
The wiring is pretty "chop" though, and would look a lot nicer if streamlined and tidied up a bit, as in routed along the bar rather than dangling.
Have you considered posting a full writeup for others who might like to see how you did it or follow in your footsteps?
The wiring is pretty "chop" though, and would look a lot nicer if streamlined and tidied up a bit, as in routed along the bar rather than dangling.
Have you considered posting a full writeup for others who might like to see how you did it or follow in your footsteps?
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I like the idea, especially the idea of having a backlit bike computer. Everything I've ever read discourages putting strain on the chain by running in extreme opposite gear cogs. For example do not run on the rightmost chainring and the leftmost rear sprocket. Seeing the shifters helps me avoid this.
I also like to know what gear I'm in because I will occasionally trouble shoot based on how I'm feeling and how I "think" I should be feeling. In other words if it feels like I'm in a higher gear, but I'm really struggling in a lower gear, and there's no obvious reason such as a hill or headwind, I may inspect my bike at the next stop sign for a stuck brake or untrue wheel.
However like someone else on this thread, I have a helmet light aimed such that, when I glance down, my handlebar and computer is lit. So I solved both the computer and the gear shifter "problem" with one fix.
I also like to know what gear I'm in because I will occasionally trouble shoot based on how I'm feeling and how I "think" I should be feeling. In other words if it feels like I'm in a higher gear, but I'm really struggling in a lower gear, and there's no obvious reason such as a hill or headwind, I may inspect my bike at the next stop sign for a stuck brake or untrue wheel.
However like someone else on this thread, I have a helmet light aimed such that, when I glance down, my handlebar and computer is lit. So I solved both the computer and the gear shifter "problem" with one fix.
#37
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I only buy computers w/backlight. For about half of a year half of my riding is in the darkness, so a computer w/o illumination would be somewhat pointless. The constraint reduces the choice of models but there are still quite a few left. On the main bike I also have a dedicated light for illuminating the handlebar area. The fact that provisions overlap does not hurt - I use one under some circumstances and another under other.
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