When riding at night cant see my gears...Any ideas or solutions?
#26
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4821 Post(s)
Liked 1,557 Times
in
1,021 Posts
Don't know.. never tried the various apps out there. If the app is smart though, perhaps it can intelligently guess from gearing you were in previously where there is no overlap. Or it shows both possibilities(?) and hopefully the OP knows which front ring he's in.
#28
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4821 Post(s)
Liked 1,557 Times
in
1,021 Posts
cresting a hill or getting to the bottom of one fast but into an uphill, can lead to wanting to do a 3-4 gear change. It's nice to know if you're out of gears or how many are left in the rear before needing to change the front ring you're in.
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,846
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1956 Post(s)
Liked 2,201 Times
in
1,339 Posts
In reading this and having maybe a somewhat inexperienced rider ask, my first thought was chainring. With a triple maybe even moreso. It is not an issue for me, but I have downtube shifters and will glance down at my shifter to see if I'm in big or middle heading into a change in terrain.
I can see how it could helpful for some at night.
John
I can see how it could helpful for some at night.
John
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicago area
Posts: 2,578
Bikes: Airborne "Carpe Diem", Motobecane "Mirage", Trek 6000, Strida 2, Dahon "Helios XL", Dahon "Mu XL", Tern "Verge S11i"
Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 996 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
407 Posts
![foo](https://www.bikeforums.net/vb/cache/ds.jpg)
In "manage attachments" I see the image in the correct orientation, but I don't see any option to rotate it.
Anyway, you can imagine rotating it...
![Big Grin](https://www.bikeforums.net/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,913
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 536 Post(s)
Liked 701 Times
in
414 Posts
Why do you care what gear you're on? If its too hard to pedal shift down, if it's too easy shift up, if you run out of gears, consider a different cassette, or keep looking down and get doored...
#32
☢
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,846
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1956 Post(s)
Liked 2,201 Times
in
1,339 Posts
#34
I don’t live in Tampa
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 447
Bikes: 2014 Jamis Ventura Race, 2014 Cervelo P2, 2017 Raleigh Tamland 1, 2015 Jamis Trail X
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 151 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 42 Times
in
31 Posts
I will know if I’m in the big or little chain ring. And there aren’t many times I can’t get through a hill on big chain ring. But if I see a bigger hill I make sure I can make sure I’m in little chainring.
#37
Steel is real
I think a lot of people misunderstood the OP
It is just for when testing riding a bike after working on it, not for a full time thing
Most of the time i test ride them at night & one time [the only time mind you] it would have come in handy knowing which gear i was in, after adjusting the gears, i up shifted when it was already up shifted to the largest cog, it caused the shifter to jam a little, it wouldn't down shift while i was mounted, so had to stop get off the bike and click the paddle again to release it.
It is just for when testing riding a bike after working on it, not for a full time thing
Most of the time i test ride them at night & one time [the only time mind you] it would have come in handy knowing which gear i was in, after adjusting the gears, i up shifted when it was already up shifted to the largest cog, it caused the shifter to jam a little, it wouldn't down shift while i was mounted, so had to stop get off the bike and click the paddle again to release it.
Last edited by le mans; 04-22-18 at 10:18 PM.
#38
Non omnino gravis
With only one or two exceptions, there has been nothing in the way of solutions, and just a lot of old-timey, hike-up-the-suspenders-level grumping. If the OP wants to look at their gears, that is their prerogative, and they just want to be able to do it in the dark. The collective zen cycling philosophy of all of you windbags helps absolutely no one. If half of you took the time to put in effort instead of whinging, the OP would have a solution by now.
OP, what kind of shifters? For trigger/grip shifters, I'd lean toward some small LEDs that could be run off of a small coin cell (like a 2032.)
OP, what kind of shifters? For trigger/grip shifters, I'd lean toward some small LEDs that could be run off of a small coin cell (like a 2032.)
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2953 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Camping headlight.
#40
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,806 Times
in
1,802 Posts
There are lots of LED helmet lights. I use this one (under another brand name, but the same light). Works great, cheap, only a little larger and heavier than a Bic lighter, easy to attach/detach and holds securely, and rainproof after more than two years of regular use in all weather.
Strap onto the helmet so it aims where I look. Very handy for nighttime bike adjustments, tire repairs, whatever. And it's reasonably directional so it doesn't spill into the faces of other cyclists. Handy in nighttime group rides when assisting a new rider with a flat or other repair.
Yup, I can see my shifter and gear positions by looking down. With my road bike I don't need to, but that's because the old style downtube shift levers give tactile feedback. When I mostly rode a hybrid with Shimano RevoShift twisty grip shifters I often looked down to see what gear I was in. Otherwise I'd have to listen for unusual drivetrain sounds to indicate I was cross-chained.
Strap onto the helmet so it aims where I look. Very handy for nighttime bike adjustments, tire repairs, whatever. And it's reasonably directional so it doesn't spill into the faces of other cyclists. Handy in nighttime group rides when assisting a new rider with a flat or other repair.
Yup, I can see my shifter and gear positions by looking down. With my road bike I don't need to, but that's because the old style downtube shift levers give tactile feedback. When I mostly rode a hybrid with Shimano RevoShift twisty grip shifters I often looked down to see what gear I was in. Otherwise I'd have to listen for unusual drivetrain sounds to indicate I was cross-chained.
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,998
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 305 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26482 Post(s)
Liked 10,449 Times
in
7,248 Posts
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,998
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 305 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26482 Post(s)
Liked 10,449 Times
in
7,248 Posts
.
...I cried because I could not see my gears at night, until I met a man on a fixie....Helen Keller
...I cried because I could not see my gears at night, until I met a man on a fixie....Helen Keller
#43
☢
With only one or two exceptions, there has been nothing in the way of solutions, and just a lot of old-timey, hike-up-the-suspenders-level grumping. If the OP wants to look at their gears, that is their prerogative, and they just want to be able to do it in the dark. The collective zen cycling philosophy of all of you windbags helps absolutely no one. If half of you took the time to put in effort instead of whinging, the OP would have a solution by now.
OP, what kind of shifters? For trigger/grip shifters, I'd lean toward some small LEDs that could be run off of a small coin cell (like a 2032.)
OP, what kind of shifters? For trigger/grip shifters, I'd lean toward some small LEDs that could be run off of a small coin cell (like a 2032.)
#44
Non omnino gravis
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: North East Tennessee
Posts: 1,616
Bikes: Basso Luguna, Fuji Nevada
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4261 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
1 Post
What shifters are you using? Would some glow in the dark paint on the indicator needle work, provided you can get that part of the shifter apart and back together.
#46
☢
Keep your eyes on the road. 👀
Distractions are dangerous. The same concerns that's going on with reference to the proliferation of electronic displays in cars even as we speak.
#47
Non omnino gravis
#48
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,846
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1956 Post(s)
Liked 2,201 Times
in
1,339 Posts
#49
All Ass No Gas
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Azusa, Ca "Everything from A to Z in the U.S.A."
Posts: 136
Bikes: 1988 Peugeot St. Laurent, 1974 UO18 Peugeot, 1985 P16 Peugeot, Roadmaster Ground Assult Mtn. Sport, Schwinn Traveler, 1986 Iseran Peugeot, Junet Mixte
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 50 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
I wanted to be able to see so I know which gear is messed up and I do most of my bike mechanics at night including test riding. So thats why I want to see the numbers on handlebars.