Munga Light and bag Recommendations

[TyronLab]

On 9/15/2022 at 8:23 AM, dave303e said:

There are also really lekker small bar bags called Mango bags. Also made in the cape, I used them for EA just to simplify life. I had 2 extremelights batteries in there and then during daylight hours I popped the light in there as well to keep it a bit more protected. Easy way to keep bars a little less cluttered esp if you trying to mount a few batteries.

 

Ordered one of these (the large black one). Should be receiving it tomorrow. Really excited to get my paws on it and see how much I can cram into it.

On 9/13/2022 at 3:56 PM, RookieSports.co.za said:

We have the Fluir Elite 1000lm front light - can charge (USB) while using and also features a long battery life from the built in 4800mah battery. Currently only available on Takealot (last few units) - new stock arriving late October. You will not be disappointed by this light.

https://www.takealot.com/fluir-elite-1000lm-front-bicycle-light-usb-c-rechargeable/PLID90364081

Picked this up yesterday, and (so far) I'm really impressed. Way higher quality than the price would indicate. The beam has a sharp cut-off at the horizon, which is ideal for not blinding oncoming traffic/pedestrians/gazelles, and has quite a wide distributed throw below that. For its quoted lumen output of 1000lm it's not far off my "2200lm" Marvel Blast, which I now realize has a very vague round blorb of light. 

Fit and finish seems really good too. The fact that it has an aluminium mount that's split and bolts together is a big bonus. I was trying to knock it out of place on purpose this morning (hucking a rigid bike to flat on rock hard tyres is the best I could do) and it didn't move a micron. 

Did a battery test (rode alternating between the brightest and dimmest setting) and left it in the sun and the cupboard on the dimmest setting, which would be more than adequate for Grit type riding, got about ~7 hours total out of it. Charged up to 100% capacity from the powerbank in ~3.5 hours, so with running it off the powerbank and charging in the day I should have more than enough juice for two full nights.

As an aside, I've mounted a 3rd bottle below the downtube, threw on my bodged innerbarends, and building excitement with every hour that passes. Doing a full gear test later this week, and this weekend, then it's off to the "races" so to speak!

[ChrisF]

Tyron consider undoing those bolts just a bit .... in a fall you want the light to move on the bar, not snap the bracket ...

[TyronLab]

First test ride with the new kit. Taking it on a proper long test tomorrow. I'm really surprised by what this handlebar bag can swallow. I've got a multitool, pump, tyre repair kit, and 20,000mah powerbank in it, and looks like there's enough space to stow my jacket and arm warmers in there too. Might do that, then I can lose the rucksack completely.

[cjpaul007]

Hi Tyron, where did you get those short bar ends, and did it add more comfort to your ride?

[TyronLab]

I got 'em from Decathlon. They're just standard bar ends that have a hole straight through, allowing you to install them anywhere on the bar.

They definitely worked as an alternative hand position. Are they as comfy as proper brifter hoods? Not by a long shot. But they do give you an additional hand position that, most importantly, doesn't need to use your palm. I spent a lot of time riding with my thumb over the bars with the nook of my thumb on the bar end. Getting away from resting on the same spot on your palms the whole time is the aim here.

They're a little too short to hold as a grip for a long time, and because they aren't curved you can't relax your grip too much. Still, better than nothing.

[Tandemuis]

@TyronLab I cannot seem to find your Munga ride story on here. Would love to read about your experience and see photos and videos of it. I am new here, so it is most likely that I just don't know where to look for it. 

 

Thanks!

[TyronLab]

Here are some ramblings from '21 and '22. I haven't written further to the '22 story (it wasn't that eventful to be honest).