Dynamo hubs - have you ever considered using one?

[dirtypot]

Contact Graham from CycleC for the setup that I was mentioning with the cockpit controller - graham@cyclec.co.za

[dirtrider]

Also had a look at this type of setup 2 years ago . But cost put an end to it . Like already been mentioned , without a battery pack you better be sure you will be cycling all the time else it will get dark very suddenly

[Jewbacca]

I have one.

 

I have used it on Freedom and various adventure races. 

 

It is not really bright enough for single track night riding in and around the city where there is a lot of ambient light, but out in the sticks it is more than adequate.

 

The plug top cap is also handy as it charges anything with a USB plug. 

 

When people look at resistance and effort I look at it like this;

 

1. On a race where you need a dynamo you are probably wearing a backpack and have an extra 12kg of kit/food so your speed is down and your effort is already up.

 

2. When I am dying of sleep deprivation and my motor functions have depleted to that of a drunken fool I don't have to worry about changing batteries and fiddling in my pack.

 

I use it on my commuter now so I have a 'make me visible' light no matter what time I commute which is awesome. It will get a proper tire on and be transferred to my MTB in May for EA. 

[slippery666jesus]

An expensive venture, but I had a son 28 installed on velocity rims with a sinewaves usb charger and an edelux lighting system. Have yet to take it out because Montana is covered in snow. I have a trip planned for this spring from Montana to South Dakota and then on to Oregon. I will have to keep you posted, but all test show no issues so far.

 

 

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[slippery666jesus]

 

 

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[greatwhite]

An expensive venture, but I had a son 28 installed on velocity rims with a sinewaves usb charger and an edelux lighting system. Have yet to take it out because Montana is covered in snow. I have a trip planned for this spring from Montana to South Dakota and then on to Oregon. I will have to keep you posted, but all test show no issues so far.

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Thanks for the pics. Nice setup. Getting support in the US for the Son hub, will be a lot easier than south Africa I guess?

[slippery666jesus]

I would imagine so, but they do have great customer service.

 

 

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[greatwhite]

Some info here:

http://ridefar.info/bike/components/wheels/

http://ridefar.info/bike/components/lights/

 

Some things to consider: that info is intended for ultra distance riding.

 

1. I'm not sure that the cost of a new wheel is warranted for morning training rides.

2. Going directly from dynamo to light without a battery works well on open roads when you are not stopping. However for city riding where you are stopping often, you need a battery to keep the light on when you stopped.

Suggestion: have the chargers where you leave your bike. That way, it's easy to plug the lights in to charge when you get home.

Thanks for the links and the thoughts

1.was intending to build a new wheelset for training anyway.

2.good idea. Sort of what I had in mind.

RE suggestion: the problem is that i currently only have one lamp to use on mtb and road bike and it gets moved around. My intention is to use the battery lamp for mtb and go with Dynamo/battery/lamp on the road bike as permanent fixture. It is a bit of an investment, but it would hopefully eliminate flat batteries and messing around moving/fitting lights all the time

[greatwhite]

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This little USB gadget is a 'Sinewave Reactor', correct? Smart little gadget, but insanely expensive, aren't they?

[slippery666jesus]

This little USB gadget is a 'Sinewave Reactor', correct? Smart little gadget, but insanely expensive, aren't they?

That is the model, and yep they run about 200 bucks. I got it mostly because I intend on touring this summer and I'm going to be using my phone non stop for music and gps. So far, it works just as advertised and its weather proof

 

 

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[Sepia]

That is the model, and yep they run about 200 bucks. I got it mostly because I intend on touring this summer and I'm going to be using my phone non stop for music and gps. So far, it works just as advertised and its weather proof

 

 

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200USD maybe but about R2500 local here!  Expensive piece of kit.

[Dicky DQ]

OK so why not use normal lights on dim setting with extra battery pack or 2, this together with a headlamp and charging battery packs each time you stop day or night and you should be good to go for 4 to 5 days.

[Sepia]

OK so why not use normal lights on dim setting with extra battery pack or 2, this together with a headlamp and charging battery packs each time you stop day or night and you should be good to go for 4 to 5 days.

Ok, my reply would be:

 

Extra batteries are heavy and take space

Sometimes bright is not bright enough

Charging stations not always available

No electricity

Riding for longer hours than what the battery can last

Riding at night

Charger and batteries stolen at power points (Backpackers!)

Wild camping 

Guaranteed power availability

Not having to look for power points etc when it is late at night and you are tired and standing guard while charging

Convenience.......

 

Would be interesting to hear other opinions.....