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I've entered my first solo 24hr mtb race in a few months time and I'm after a little advice on Lights.
I have lights that I normally can do a 2hr night ride with before they run out of battery, they are cateye volt (not sure of model). So what setup works best for solo racing?
•Multiple lights all charged up and ready to swap over every time you come into the pits and then put the used ones on charge?
•One set of light attached to bike and then use a power bank to keep lights charged? (that's assuming it is possible to charge them and use them at same time, I'd have to try this with my lights).
•Or is it possible to get a set of lights that have a massive runtime that can last the 12+ hours? (Don't really think this is viable as I can't afford new lights and probably won't get much more use out of them after this race)
I won't have a pit crew, so really need the easiest solution that I can do with minimal stoppage time in the pits.
Cheers for any advice.
Whilst you could buy an Exposure Max D with a massive duration, you could get away with a Magic Shine head unit and a couple of battery packs from the likes of MTB Batteries.
I'd go with the multiple battery pack option. Have one attached to the light and one spare in your pocket, swap out the one on the light after each lap or two. In your pit stop have two boxes of different colours, say green and red. Fully charged batteries are in the green box, get to the stop, put current battery in red, pick one up from green and you are good to go. Only use the carried spare if you mess up.
Mark at MTB Batteries would make you up packs with connectors to fit your system - he did some Enduro packs for us to use in the Arctic with Hope lights for instance. Extra long cables so we could have the packs inside our jackets.
I wouldn't bother trying to charge things if you are solo, it's another faff that just adds to your stress during the event. KISS!!
Dynamo light on the bars multiple batteries for the helmet light.
Which 24hr race?
If Exposure Lights are a sponsor they often have a ‘hire a light’ service as part of their support for the event. Way cheaper than buying something you may not use much again. Though you’ll likely not want to hand them back
Maxx-d set to P6 gives you 12 hours at around 1500lumen in middle mode, job done. Any race in a few months in the Northern hemisphere will be in about 12-14 hours of darkness so you'll need it.
Drop to low mode for climbing and back to medium for everything else and you get 16 hours.
I’d go exposure, many of their lights have a 24h setting, so could be left on the same setting for the entire race.
Back it up with a head torch for technical sections, few spare batteries for that. And carry a spare with you.
Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'll need to get saving.
It's the Chiller24 in Kielder forest. There isn't any mention of Exposure as a sponsor, so don't think I could hire any.
Depending on the event, specifically the time of year, you don’t need necessarily twelve hours of light.
Something in June might only need six hours or even less.
Puffer needs 24! Or more.
Sunset 1815 ish
Sunrise 0744 ish
So 12hrs of proper dark or thereabouts and another hour or so of semi dark which might as well be considered proper dark in the woods. Nothing like finding yourself a tricky/expensive lighting issue for your first one then!
Depends a bit on the course and how technical it is but there might be value in getting lights with a usable high/low beam remote - minimal lighting for the easy sections and a punch of light for the tricky bits. Depending on the ratio of fireroad to technical that can make even a modest lighting setup eak out much further whilst not obliterating yourself on the tricky bits. You'll be riding slower than you thought possible (less need for light) but also clumsier than ever too (more need for light). It's a balance.
Also - be realistic about how much of a hardcore hitter you are. Plenty of mid/back of packers will take 5-6hrs off in the night which obviously massively effects the need for lights if you are catching 40winks in your car/tent instead of riding around in dark circles!
If it's like my one solo, then you'll be in a specific pit area with all the other soloists some of who will have a pit crew and if you have a word with them someone will stick a pack back on charge for you. And if very lucky might have an occasional cup of tea or encouraging word as well. Stick a few cans of beer in the car as payment and you'll have your own pit crew lite in no time.
Whoever you are camped next to will be more than to put lights on charge for you. Everyone is really friendly and pit crews for the 'super-solos' seem to just magically appear out of nowhere.