Simviation Forum - Suggestions for bicycle lights

Feb 11^th, 2011 at 12:54pm

machineman9 Offline
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Nantwich, England

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So I'm getting a mountain bike this week so that I can cycle to and from work. However, it is still rather dark at this time in the evening and I will need something to light up my path, and myself (for legal and obvious safety reasons).

I've always been a fan of dynamo lights for bikes as they don't require batteries, which means less maintenance. However, I've never actually owned a bike which has them, I've only rented them whilst on holidays.

So I'm wondering if anyone could reccomend any complete kits for dynamo lights, suitable for an MTB (should be pretty much standardised stuff), or if anyone has any other solutions then those would be nice to hear too.

...I'm just having a hard time finding them Undecided

Cheers!

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Reply #1 - Feb 11^th, 2011 at 2:56pm

ozzy72 Offline
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Halfords do a quite good selection of lights and fittings for bikes, don't forget I did 2 years of upwards of 20 miles a day in all weathers from sunshine to snow!

There are two types of aeroplane, Spitfires and everything else that wishes it was a Spitfire!

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Reply #2 - Feb 11^th, 2011 at 5:19pm

H Offline
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2003: the year NH couldn't
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I opted for a 12v Lithium battery pack but I was a little more ambitious (originally had a 5-mile back road late-night trip over hill, dale and two small rivers). I installed directionals, running lights as well as a 20W head lamp (like those in many add-on car driving lamps; I had two 35 watters and brake lights on my previous bike). They're more expensive but lithiums take and hold a charge much longer than standard dry cells or wet cell batteries. My current pack sat out in last winter's snow and spring melt; they were completely dead but, after a short moment, there was a jump on the charger meter which settled to a steady charge, full charge in a couple hours. I doubt my old motorcyle-intended wet cells would have survived the ordeal.
Since then, the lithium batteries have lasted a month or two before wearing their charge down (the wet cells wouldn't last a week).

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Reply #3 - Feb 11^th, 2011 at 8:52pm

BigTruck Offline
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Tuscaloosa, AL

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I use a landing light off of a 757. I have yet to get run over.

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Reply #4 - Feb 12^th, 2011 at 2:18pm

H Offline
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2003: the year NH couldn't
save face...
NH, USA

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BigTruck wrote on Feb 11^th, 2011 at 8:52pm:

I use a landing light off of a 757. I have yet to get run over.

"Yet." With what and on what are you powering it; be careful of stepping into the open -- I received an unhappy complaint after my little 20 watt shone into someone's automobile.

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Reply #5 - Feb 12^th, 2011 at 8:36pm

TacitBlue Offline
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BigTruck wrote on Feb 11^th, 2011 at 8:52pm:

I use a landing light off of a 757. I have yet to get run over.

I don't know if that was a joke or not, but one of my trade school instructors did the same thing on his motorcycle. He only used his for a few seconds at a time to get people to turn off their high beams. He said it got pretty hot too. Shocked

A&P Mechanic, Rankin Aircraft 78Y

Aircraft are naturally beautiful because form follows function. -TB

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Reply #6 - Feb 12^th, 2011 at 9:07pm

ozzy72 Offline
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Pretty scary huh?
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For twats with an addiction to main beam plus fog lights might I suggest an old fashioned camera flash with test attachment. I used mine on a few occassions to give morons a near-hedge-experience as they discovered what it is like to be blinded at close range in the face Smiley

There are two types of aeroplane, Spitfires and everything else that wishes it was a Spitfire!

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Reply #7 - Feb 12^th, 2011 at 11:33pm

1olehippy Offline
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I'll try it once for sure
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I tried dynamo lights when I was 27, found out you have to peddle harder. Now that I'm 63 they're totally out of the question do the lithium thing.

Dave Wink

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Reply #8 - Feb 16^th, 2011 at 6:37pm

EVVFCX Offline
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Been there done it-well
most of it.
Pontefract, West Yorkshire

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use two flash guns with test lead just a second apart when you set them off - it gets them to test their brakes Grin

( says he having just got his first ever points on his licence for un authorised speeding ) Embarrassed

May the Mynd be with you.
So far my number of landings either passenger or pilot equal my number of takeoffs, but that is due to change

13/07/11 Passed BMFA Fixed Wing 'A' test.
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Reply #9 - Feb 21^st, 2011 at 6:53am

machineman9 Offline
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Nantwich, England

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EVVFCX wrote on Feb 16^th, 2011 at 6:37pm:

use two flash guns with test lead just a second apart when you set them off - it gets them to test their brakes Grin

Hmm, maybe I should put red and blue flash gels on my Speedlites Grin

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