Self-powered Bike Lights/Quality cheap light?
11-25-10, 09:56 PM
#26
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Not sure why your against self contained battery powered lights. With LED's you would only have to recharge once a week and even then, according to your useage, they would be no where near going dead. Cateye makes a couple nice bright LED lights, one is the Cateye Single Shot ($79 at Amazon) which uses a eternal battery and the brightest at this price, and the other is the Cateye HL-EL530 ($45 at REI) which uses 4 AA's which you could use rechargeables for it. If you want something really bright but don't want an external battery but don't mind spending a bit more, the Cygolite ExpiliOn 250 is very bright but cost around $112 on sale at REI right now. The Cygolite uses a self contained rechargeable battery that is user replaceable with a new battery from Cygolite.
Here is a web site that shows the beams of all the above lights for comparison, plus beams of quite a few others: https://www.modernbike.com/light-comp...singleshotplus
Here is a web site that shows the beams of all the above lights for comparison, plus beams of quite a few others: https://www.modernbike.com/light-comp...singleshotplus
When it comes time to get on the bike and ride I expect to have working lights, a dyno hub is IMHO the best way to ensure that. I have upgraded to LED lights so I no longer have to worry about halogen/incandescent bulbs burning out. Over the life expectancy of a dyno powered LED head light and tail light system I would probably spend a couple of times over the cost buying replacement batteries. They do have a limited life cycle, then you have to deal with the left overs. I have dyno hubs that are over 35 years old still cranking out power, show me a battery system that will last that long.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
11-26-10, 06:04 AM
#27
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Bikes: 2020 Masi Giramondo 700c; 2013 Lynskey Peloton; 1992 Giant Rincon; 1989 Dawes needs parts; 1985 Trek 660; 1985 Fuji Club; 1984 Schwinn Voyager; 1984 Miyata 612; 1977 Raleigh Competition GS
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I have had batteries not fully charge or not charge at all. I have had lights short circuit and drain the batteries, I have had lights get switched on accidentally and be completely drained when it was time to leave from work.
When it comes time to get on the bike and ride I expect to have working lights, a dyno hub is IMHO the best way to ensure that. I have upgraded to LED lights so I no longer have to worry about halogen/incandescent bulbs burning out. Over the life expectancy of a dyno powered LED head light and tail light system I would probably spend a couple of times over the cost buying replacement batteries. They do have a limited life cycle, then you have to deal with the left overs. I have dyno hubs that are over 35 years old still cranking out power, show me a battery system that will last that long.
Aaron
When it comes time to get on the bike and ride I expect to have working lights, a dyno hub is IMHO the best way to ensure that. I have upgraded to LED lights so I no longer have to worry about halogen/incandescent bulbs burning out. Over the life expectancy of a dyno powered LED head light and tail light system I would probably spend a couple of times over the cost buying replacement batteries. They do have a limited life cycle, then you have to deal with the left overs. I have dyno hubs that are over 35 years old still cranking out power, show me a battery system that will last that long.
Aaron
BUT, when I retire I'm planning a trip across the US, then I will invest in a dynomo hub to make sure I don't have to worry about batteries.
My current lighting system consist of entirely self contained batteries, the headlight is a Cygolite ExpiliOn 250, the front flasher is an old Vistalite amber Xenon flasher, helmet light is a BLT led light; for the rear I use the BlackBurn Mars 4, barend lights (brand I can't remember) but their bright, and on the helmet I (micky moused but works) zip tied a Cateye LD600. I don't use reflectors extensively but do have reflective tape on the helmet, reflective leg bands, reflective piping on the jacket when I wear it, and there's a reflective band on the seat bag.
11-26-10, 06:22 AM
#28
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I actually agree with you! It's just for me on short trips it doesn't make sense for me. I've never left a light on or had a short circult that drained the bats though. I've had a MagicShine and a Planet Bike Super Flash fail internally though. Even when I tour I only tour for a 2 or 3 days due to time constraints with work, but my batts are all fully charged before I go and they last till I get back, of course I try to avoid riding at night while touring but just in case. I ride to work too and come home in the early spring and late fall when it's dark and still haven't had a need to worry about the batts.
BUT, when I retire I'm planning a trip across the US, then I will invest in a dynomo hub to make sure I don't have to worry about batteries.
My current lighting system consist of entirely self contained batteries, the headlight is a Cygolite ExpiliOn 250, the front flasher is an old Vistalite amber Xenon flasher, helmet light is a BLT led light; for the rear I use the BlackBurn Mars 4, barend lights (brand I can't remember) but their bright, and on the helmet I (micky moused but works) zip tied a Cateye LD600. I don't use reflectors extensively but do have reflective tape on the helmet, reflective leg bands, reflective piping on the jacket when I wear it, and there's a reflective band on the seat bag.
BUT, when I retire I'm planning a trip across the US, then I will invest in a dynomo hub to make sure I don't have to worry about batteries.
My current lighting system consist of entirely self contained batteries, the headlight is a Cygolite ExpiliOn 250, the front flasher is an old Vistalite amber Xenon flasher, helmet light is a BLT led light; for the rear I use the BlackBurn Mars 4, barend lights (brand I can't remember) but their bright, and on the helmet I (micky moused but works) zip tied a Cateye LD600. I don't use reflectors extensively but do have reflective tape on the helmet, reflective leg bands, reflective piping on the jacket when I wear it, and there's a reflective band on the seat bag.
(and that has been over 35 years)I can remember my first bike light was a Wald flash light bracket with an Eveready Commander flashlight. From there it was Wonder Lights, then some of the new fangled Cateye incandescent that used 2 C cells, and the occasional anemic generator set. IIRC I was buying new Cateye lights about every other year as the technology improved. I also remember when the H3 halogens from Union first hit the market, we didn't know how to behave, those had a bright white light and excellent optics.
For touring I have two bikes one has a bottom bracket mount generator with permanent lights, the other I use Planet Bike 1/2 watt Blaze and a couple of the Super Flashes. I run Super Flashes on all of my bikes including the ones with the dyno hubs.
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Last edited by wahoonc; 11-26-10 at 06:38 AM.
11-26-10, 12:20 PM
#29
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I have been riding nights ever since mom and dad let me stay out after dark (and that has been over 35 years)
I can remember my first bike light was a Wald flash light bracket with an Eveready Commander flashlight. From there it was Wonder Lights, then some of the new fangled Cateye incandescent that used 2 C cells, and the occasional anemic generator set. IIRC I was buying new Cateye lights about every other year as the technology improved. I also remember when the H3 halogens from Union first hit the market, we didn't know how to behave, those had a bright white light and excellent optics.
For touring I have two bikes one has a bottom bracket mount generator with permanent lights, the other I use Planet Bike 1/2 watt Blaze and a couple of the Super Flashes. I run Super Flashes on all of my bikes including the ones with the dyno hubs.
Aaron
(and that has been over 35 years)I can remember my first bike light was a Wald flash light bracket with an Eveready Commander flashlight. From there it was Wonder Lights, then some of the new fangled Cateye incandescent that used 2 C cells, and the occasional anemic generator set. IIRC I was buying new Cateye lights about every other year as the technology improved. I also remember when the H3 halogens from Union first hit the market, we didn't know how to behave, those had a bright white light and excellent optics.
For touring I have two bikes one has a bottom bracket mount generator with permanent lights, the other I use Planet Bike 1/2 watt Blaze and a couple of the Super Flashes. I run Super Flashes on all of my bikes including the ones with the dyno hubs.
Aaron
11-26-10, 01:30 PM
#30
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Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
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Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
11-30-10, 03:17 PM
#31
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Rechargeable batteries make any battery-powered bike light much cheaper to own.
Generator lighting, however, especially with a dynohub and decent German-market lights, is the shiznit. My dynohub bike gets ridden more often than any other bike I've owned simply because I know it's always got working lights.
Generator lighting, however, especially with a dynohub and decent German-market lights, is the shiznit. My dynohub bike gets ridden more often than any other bike I've owned simply because I know it's always got working lights.
11-30-10, 03:31 PM
#32
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
I've got some Dinotte AA-powered lights that I haven't recharged in probably a year. They worked great when the batteries had juice, but I had to continually keep a fresh set of batteries on hand for when they went into low-power mode. I even carried an extra pack when I went on night rides (which start really early in the winter) just to ensure I had lighting on the way home.
Screw that. A dynohub is so much nicer to live with that I've decided I will never own a commuter/city/utility bike without one.
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