[SDCBC] Batteries (was Bike mantra...)

[Stephan Vance]

On the subject of batteries, I long ago gave up on having to be concerned
about the charge in my battery and started purchasing bike dynamos. I
started with the efficient and low-drag Busch & Muller sidewall dynamo, and
now have a Shimano dynohub as well. The drag from the dynohub is
imperceptible, the power is always there when you need it, and you never
have to dispose of toxic batteries. Considering what some people pay for
rechargeable lighting systems the cost is not that high. A complete wheel
with dynohub can be had for about $200, and decent lights run in the $25-$50
range. $115 for the brightest lights. The weight isn't a factor as far as
I'm concerned, especially because you are replacing the battery weight. Of
course you can't easily take the power source off the bike if you aren't
going to need it, but this is my commuter bike, so I'm not counting the
grams. If you flat at night, you can't use the light to illuminate you patch
job, and you will have to order the system. Nobody carries them locally that
I know of, but someone should. Those are the only negatives.

 

Stephan Vance

  _____  

From: sdcbc-bounces at bikesandiego.org [mailto:sdcbc-bounces at bikesandiego.org]
On Behalf Of JonIsaacs at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2007 6:50 AM
To: William at McHargue.Org; sdcbc at bikesandiego.org
Subject: Re: [SDCBC] Bike mantra: If it's night [or there's traffic
thenanytime], use...

 

In a message dated 12/30/07 6:31:27 AM Pacific Standard Time,
William at McHargue.Org writes:




Although there are others, the best example I can give is riding along  
a street with parked cars. If a vehicle enters the street with one or  
more cars between you and them, even bright bike clothes will scarcely  
standout when seen through several panes of auto glass. But a (very)  
bright headlight will produce enough of a twinkle to catch the  
driver's attention. A similar case can be made for those semi-fisheye  
right side rearview mirrors.



========

A couple of thoughts:

- Bright head lamps require batteries.  I need the battery for the ride home
in the evening.  I like to be seen but I am not depending on it.  I think
the key to being seen is road positioning.  

- If I am riding along a street with Park Cars, I position myself in the
roadway so that a car entering the road from the right can clearly see me
and doesn't need to be looking through the windows of the parked cars to see
me.

Jon


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