Has anyone else gone nocturnal?
Discussion
After purchasing my lumicycles and becoming rather busier at weekends I haven't had a chance to ride at all in the hours of daylight since the clocks went back! Yet I've managed a steady 1 or 2 rides a week in the dark.
Think I'd find it a little strange riding in the daylight now. Anyone else gone nocturnal?
Think I'd find it a little strange riding in the daylight now. Anyone else gone nocturnal?
Mine have all been off road (barring a 5 minute road slog until I get to the woods). Great fun - it has been incredibly muddy though - enough to make my tame training ride quite technical in places, especially in the dark!
The only problem was the battery packs don't last quite as long as they're said to and 2/3rds of the way round one of the rides I lost all my lights. Think I might be investing in a spare battery atleast before next winter. On the upside I recently adjusted the beam positioning on mine and with a tiny difference in the angle they seem to put much more light where you actually want it. The spot lens seems to be narrow enough that aiming it at a tree a half decent distance away still leaves the floor of the trail quite poorly illuminated - there is light on it, but it's not the intense part of the beam.
The only problem was the battery packs don't last quite as long as they're said to and 2/3rds of the way round one of the rides I lost all my lights. Think I might be investing in a spare battery atleast before next winter. On the upside I recently adjusted the beam positioning on mine and with a tiny difference in the angle they seem to put much more light where you actually want it. The spot lens seems to be narrow enough that aiming it at a tree a half decent distance away still leaves the floor of the trail quite poorly illuminated - there is light on it, but it's not the intense part of the beam.
Chris71 said:
Mine have all been off road (barring a 5 minute road slog until I get to the woods). Great fun - it has been incredibly muddy though - enough to make my tame training ride quite technical in places, especially in the dark!
The only problem was the battery packs don't last quite as long as they're said to and 2/3rds of the way round one of the rides I lost all my lights. Think I might be investing in a spare battery atleast before next winter. On the upside I recently adjusted the beam positioning on mine and with a tiny difference in the angle they seem to put much more light where you actually want it. The spot lens seems to be narrow enough that aiming it at a tree a half decent distance away still leaves the floor of the trail quite poorly illuminated - there is light on it, but it's not the intense part of the beam.
How long is your training ride then? And what lights have you got?The only problem was the battery packs don't last quite as long as they're said to and 2/3rds of the way round one of the rides I lost all my lights. Think I might be investing in a spare battery atleast before next winter. On the upside I recently adjusted the beam positioning on mine and with a tiny difference in the angle they seem to put much more light where you actually want it. The spot lens seems to be narrow enough that aiming it at a tree a half decent distance away still leaves the floor of the trail quite poorly illuminated - there is light on it, but it's not the intense part of the beam.
WildCards said:
Chris71 said:
Mine have all been off road (barring a 5 minute road slog until I get to the woods). Great fun - it has been incredibly muddy though - enough to make my tame training ride quite technical in places, especially in the dark!
The only problem was the battery packs don't last quite as long as they're said to and 2/3rds of the way round one of the rides I lost all my lights. Think I might be investing in a spare battery atleast before next winter. On the upside I recently adjusted the beam positioning on mine and with a tiny difference in the angle they seem to put much more light where you actually want it. The spot lens seems to be narrow enough that aiming it at a tree a half decent distance away still leaves the floor of the trail quite poorly illuminated - there is light on it, but it's not the intense part of the beam.
How long is your training ride then? And what lights have you got?The only problem was the battery packs don't last quite as long as they're said to and 2/3rds of the way round one of the rides I lost all my lights. Think I might be investing in a spare battery atleast before next winter. On the upside I recently adjusted the beam positioning on mine and with a tiny difference in the angle they seem to put much more light where you actually want it. The spot lens seems to be narrow enough that aiming it at a tree a half decent distance away still leaves the floor of the trail quite poorly illuminated - there is light on it, but it's not the intense part of the beam.
I borrowed some nite flux led, from my local bike shop 2 weeks ago and did my first night ride in around 15 years. Couldnt belive how far lights have come on and reaily enjoyed it. I am now trying to save the money up to get a set. Only thing is i think i wont need light by the time i have got the cash. But will have some lights by the time next summer finishes if i dont get them before winter is out.
Chris71 said:
WildCards said:
There are tracks that criss cross the local woods, so I don't have a rigid route. I think I was doing about 2 hours around the time they ran out. It's a 12w spot and a 20w flood (both halogen) running off a 4.4 amp/h battery. To be fair that was with both lights on for a majority of the time. After that - and now it's too boggy to get that much speed up - I try and use one lamp at a time!
Ahh, like a home made set type of thing? Sounds like you need either a long lasting battery or a second to carry with you.WildCards said:
Chris71 said:
WildCards said:
There are tracks that criss cross the local woods, so I don't have a rigid route. I think I was doing about 2 hours around the time they ran out. It's a 12w spot and a 20w flood (both halogen) running off a 4.4 amp/h battery. To be fair that was with both lights on for a majority of the time. After that - and now it's too boggy to get that much speed up - I try and use one lamp at a time!
Ahh, like a home made set type of thing? Sounds like you need either a long lasting battery or a second to carry with you.Really good now I've readjusted them actually, just didn't factor into account how much extra drain two lamps has I guess. I think a spare battery is the answer and maybe a head torch to swap them over! Was the darkest part of the woods where it went off and it was quite extreme trying to follow the trail, fortunately it was quite wide at that point.
Chris71 said:
Nope, they're Lumicycles.
Really good now I've readjusted them actually, just didn't factor into account how much extra drain two lamps has I guess. I think a spare battery is the answer and maybe a head torch to swap them over! Was the darkest part of the woods where it went off and it was quite extreme trying to follow the trail, fortunately it was quite wide at that point.
You do surprise me. I ride with a chap who has a Lumicycle jobby and they are brilliant, far greater spead then the Exposure Maxx which I have, but the light production is about the same. He's never mentioned issues with the run times.Really good now I've readjusted them actually, just didn't factor into account how much extra drain two lamps has I guess. I think a spare battery is the answer and maybe a head torch to swap them over! Was the darkest part of the woods where it went off and it was quite extreme trying to follow the trail, fortunately it was quite wide at that point.
ETA, blimey, i've just had a butchers at the Lumicycle fuel gauge on their website. They draw some power don't they?
http://www.lumicycle.com/systemselector2.aspx
Edited by WildCards on Friday 1st February 15:40
CAB said:
it was def' brighter this morning than it has been for the last few months!!
Yesterday morning I left the house at 7am and it was pretty much daylight. I think if you have a period of dull weather and then the first sunny day that week or something you suddenly realise how much longer the days have got over the course of a few days.
I do quite like night riding though - mostly because I live in a very crowded part of the country and night rides mean I don't have to dodge walkers left, right and centre...
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