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Hi,
I am starting a cycle commute in September and talking to a few people they suggested getting a hub Dynamo with lights is a better option than relying on battery lights only.
Does anyone use this type of setup and if so, are there any systems that I should go for, and what sort of budget should I expect to get hub/wheel sorted and a front + rear light?
Also is it overkill and will battery lights actually be fine?
OVERKILL? Depends on many factors.
Non disc wheels can be bought cheaply on ebay, £70? Decent lights probably £50 these days.
It all depends on how much you can do yourself. It's quite feasible to set the whole shebang up for £150 if you can build wheels and aren't too choosy with your components
A decent Shimano Dynamo can be had for £50 from Rose Bikes. Decent lights start at about the same.
I've got an Exposure (Made by SP) Dynamo which are about £95 retail but are very small and neat. My light is a Busch and Muller Luxos U which also has USB charging, high beam and a few other toys. They're about £85 from another German site. I've also plumbed in a rear which fits to my rack which also has a brake light in it! (£17 if I recall correctly)
You could get one of their cheaper lights with around the same output but no USB if you like. It's a pure road light though. ALL the beam hits the floor, just like a dipped car headlight. It's got an amazing pool of light to be honest.
Also make you're your Dynamo has a 3 watt output, not 1.5w
Depends if you are going to be a full on commuter warrior,all weathers,all year,Ggrrrrr.
Or
Just giving commuting a try out.
Or
You have plenty cash to spend on a dedicated wheel,so who cares,just get it.
I have had the same front commuter light (rechargeable) for the last 7 years.It also gets used on forest night rides.
It cost me £80 S/H from a mate.It has been excellent.
However.......
I am building up a trendy 'do it all' commuter/adventure/tourer ,and may get the second wheel set built up with a dynamo.
Try this [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/dynamos-talk-to-me-1 ]thread[/url] and somafunk did a great set up on his Tripster thread
sp hub ~ £70 off ebay
spokes £10
rim £ 25 (i used a cxp 22) you can choose anything you like 😉
B&M iq cyo+ £45 from germany. Fantastic for road riding - is difficult off road if you drop onto standlight (but not really what it was for!)
I just use battery LED rear lights - not so much advantage with dynamo rears IMO.
Cheers, lots of useful stuff. I have a couple of rechargeable lights, but one of the people I spoke to said he like the fact he doesn't have to think about his bike lights, it has a light sensor and if he is riding he knows he has lights if using them.
Peter I have no mechanical know how what so ever, so I would have to get the wheel built up, I could try building one, but I reckon a Pringle would be truer 🙂 Could we have a chat when we meet?
Cheers
Phil
I did my own with bits sourced from Rose bikes and YouTube wheel building videos. Cost about £120 as I went for the top shimano hub but can be done much cheaper, the lower end hubs just weigh a bit more. Never having to worry about buying or charging batteries is awesome! It's such a shame about the lack of dynamo equipped bikes in the UK compared to European countries.
I just use battery LED rear lights - not so much advantage with dynamo rears IMO.
If you are running a front Dynamo light, get a rear! They are cheap and majority are very good. A big rear dynamo light provides a VERY visible light (much like a motorbike light) that makes it a lot easier for motorists to judge you location and speed, much more so than small battery lights, especially the flashing variety. It's easy to fit a wire and plenty brackets available to fit any bike setup. I run a 'top-light line' Which is ace as it provides a big line of light which is great for letting cars spot you amongst traffic, supported by a reflector for additional visibility. The dinky supernova ones lose a lot of the advantage IMO.
For fronts, get a CYO premium, the premium versions are superb, so much light and all on the road not into drivers eyes. I've had many cars wait at passing places as they think I must be a motorbike ;0)
Phil, do I know you? So many forum names, so little memory.... 🙂
Rose Bikes can do custom wheelbuilding, just email them with what you want. I got a wheel with Shimano 3D80 hub and Mavic A319 rim, cost about £120. I went for a disc hub to allow for future upgrades. There are plenty of cheaper dynamo hubs available if you want.
The B&M Cyo Premium is good, a decent spread of light across the road. Costs about £40 from Germany.
I think you might as well get a dynamo rear light. If you have a rack, the B&M Toplight View is good, it is pretty wide, only costs about £10. Plus when you switch on the front light, it will also switch on the rear.
Im just waiting on my new bike to be built up I looked at lots of options but in the end went for what i really wanted. A son28 hub edelux2 light and plug3 charger. Not cheap but its for a new bike so i got just what I wanted. Bot decided on a rear light tho as it seems a little pointless tbh given how long led rears last these days but we'll see
Yes, sort of, we have been emailing each other this week 🙂 I am the chap who used to have an Orange P7