Mojoman Posted February 27, 2019 Posted February 27, 2019 So with Eskom on and off I thought I would double up and buy a couple of bike lights I could around the house if needed as well as catch the odd ride at night....and now I'm hooked! Found a couple of lights on special at CWC and dug my old reflective running anklets out...I have done couple of slow and short 10km rides on my own where I live (no-one to ride with me unfortunately but sod it! We live dangerously each and every day in South Africa anyway..I do let people know my ETA and where I am going etc..!)ts a whole new world of riding. Peaceful, no brutal sun beating you down...lots of wild life you would generally never see..clean nightime smells in the air...and riding slowly seems fast! It is a little weird and a bit creepy on your own but you soon forget all that and enjoy the new experience.It also means I don't have to rush my limited time now, I can get home from work or go and visit my mom or do some studying and still manage to get a ride in at some stage. Especially as the days are now slowly edging inwards....If you haven't tried it give it a go! I wish I had done it sooner!Crap pic but I'm not upgrading my phone next....!
ChrisF Posted February 27, 2019 Posted February 27, 2019 With winter coming FAST my morning commute is already turning dark .... At the moment my front lights are on "strobe", but in the next week or two I will NEED one on "shine" to actually see the road ahead of me. Sublime to ride in darkness, and listen to the music of the fast rolling knoblies on tar .... and the gradual increase in sounds of the birds as the day breaks. Stay safe out there and ENJOY it !
Albatross Posted February 27, 2019 Posted February 27, 2019 Keep a look out for the runners though, they are like ninja's appearing suddenly out of nowhere .
crasher Posted February 28, 2019 Posted February 28, 2019 I loved riding at night havnt done any night time riding for a couple of years now though. Avianto was especially good at night if you had good lights
RocknRolla Posted March 1, 2019 Posted March 1, 2019 I really enjoy night riding as well. Proper rechargeable lights are one of the best cycling purchases one can make. The missus got some Bontrager lights (compatible with their helmet systems) that are smaller and less cumbersome than the Magicshine system I have. These are great for dusk into night rides, where you wouldn't need hours of battery life. So I use these later afternoons or early mornings. Happy Riding Mojoman! @Crasher, good to see you around again. Gimme a shout if you want to ride Avianto one evening, I'm always keen.
crasher Posted March 1, 2019 Posted March 1, 2019 I really enjoy night riding as well. Proper rechargeable lights are one of the best cycling purchases one can make. The missus got some Bontrager lights (compatible with their helmet systems) that are smaller and less cumbersome than the Magicshine system I have. These are great for dusk into night rides, where you wouldn't need hours of battery life. So I use these later afternoons or early mornings. Happy Riding Mojoman! @Crasher, good to see you around again. Gimme a shout if you want to ride Avianto one evening, I'm always keen.Thanks had to stop due to a heart issue but its improved now so can run and ride a bit but cant do any long stuff or high intensity anymore have a 2 hour limit set by the cardiologist but at least its better than nothing.Been riding road a bit in cradle with my daughter as she prepares for Triathlon but the mountain bike is up and running as well just got to get my arse back into gear
RocknRolla Posted March 1, 2019 Posted March 1, 2019 Sorry to hear about your heart. Glad you are on the bike tho.
Milosh Posted March 1, 2019 Posted March 1, 2019 A headlamp on Helmut, something like below, also helps, especially with a mechanical and seeing where you are looking not where the bike is pointing. https://www.takealot.com/energizer-vision-headlight-100-lumens/PLID46874406?gclid=Cj0KCQiAzePjBRCRARIsAGkrSm4_I8FNa4M_9FSr1GM5f-btpVWVAuoEYWVuG6V2zcRfvKUCcnfQ9_waApDSEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
crasher Posted March 1, 2019 Posted March 1, 2019 A headlamp on Helmut, something like below, also helps, especially with a mechanical and seeing where you are looking not where the bike is pointing. https://www.takealot.com/energizer-vision-headlight-100-lumens/PLID46874406?gclid=Cj0KCQiAzePjBRCRARIsAGkrSm4_I8FNa4M_9FSr1GM5f-btpVWVAuoEYWVuG6V2zcRfvKUCcnfQ9_waApDSEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds I prefer a 2 light set up with a mickey mouse on the bars and another main light on the helmet.My lights are magishine if I remember correctly and light the trail up brilliantly.I expect they have progressed a bit now in the last few years from when I got mine.
Mojoman Posted March 1, 2019 Author Posted March 1, 2019 I bought this one for my bar:https://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/marvel-indicator-600-lumen-light And this for my head:https://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/marvel-knight-rider-1800-lumen-light The 600 Lumen light is OK but I think that will end up either living in my car/house or I'll give it to my mom for a torch....the handle bar mounting is a bit crap so I cant see that lasting too long (although the mount does rotate which is a good idea)...I may also make a mount if I can get our tool and die guy to help me with this...just means extra coffee for him in the mornings....!Pretty impressed with the 1800 lumen light....good shining distance and 4hrs on full beam...Not happy with the height it sticks up above my helmet though so again I may make something better for a mount.But ja, its a whole new ball game...got to within a couple of metres of an owl that was lurking on the road last night...What I do have to watch for though are those daft birds that just sit on the trail and wait till you just about upon them....nightjars or something, got a ring around the eyes? Not a birdy person!
Mojoman Posted March 1, 2019 Author Posted March 1, 2019 Table Mountain at night, you'll thank me later If it wasn't 1200 odd kms away I would be there!
crasher Posted March 1, 2019 Posted March 1, 2019 I bought this one for my bar:https://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/marvel-indicator-600-lumen-light And this for my head:https://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/marvel-knight-rider-1800-lumen-light The 600 Lumen light is OK but I think that will end up either living in my car/house or I'll give it to my mom for a torch....the handle bar mounting is a bit crap so I cant see that lasting too long (although the mount does rotate which is a good idea)...I may also make a mount if I can get our tool and die guy to help me with this...just means extra coffee for him in the mornings....! Pretty impressed with the 1800 lumen light....good shining distance and 4hrs on full beam...Not happy with the height it sticks up above my helmet though so again I may make something better for a mount. But ja, its a whole new ball game...got to within a couple of metres of an owl that was lurking on the road last night...What I do have to watch for though are those daft birds that just sit on the trail and wait till you just about upon them....nightjars or something, got a ring around the eyes? Not a birdy person!That 1800 looks like it will throw some proper light and design wise is a more powerfull version of my head light. I Like the mickey mouse for the bars because of the additional light spread from the 2 smaller units and it works well on the bars. If you ran something like that it would be a bigg diff as I think that little 600 unit you have is probably not up to the job especially with that 1800 light on the helmet. I think the Micky Mouse was rated at about 1600 or 1800 lumens and the normal helmet light 900 or a 1000
JohanDiv Posted March 1, 2019 Posted March 1, 2019 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/WasaFire-40000-Lumen-16-T6-LEDs-Bicycle-Lamp-front-Headlight-Riding-Cycling-Bike-Front-Light-for/32956389058.html?tt=sns_none&aff_platform=default&cpt=1551450115401&sk=bwbY7kLI&aff_trace_key=4f8b227f8fe04d5082d36ba1dde424e0-1551450115401-02221-bwbY7kLI&terminal_id=346742dfa504489b88dabdb38bea5180 Got this light from Alieexpress.. took two months to get here, but so worth R400!!! Battery lasts 4hours on medium and around 2hours on high. Been doing its job for the last two winters. Only downside, cars flash their brights at me even on the medium setting with light tilted slightly downward because I'm blinding them.
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