FNRttC FNRttC to Brighton 8th May 2009

[MacB]

No, guys, standards, there are jokes that should remain untyped, you both know better!!!

 

[tdr1nka]

It's an open and shut quesadilla.
Peri' we're in trouble again!

 

[Sittingduck]

Oooh I'm looking forward to this now - going to go sniffing round Sports Direct tomorrow lunchtime (there's one by my office) and try to hunt down one of them 9 quid torches suggested earlier by Tony
Just been checking out decent lights and they seem very expensive! As I don't do much rural cycling I cannot really justify the outlay

Now all I need to do is decide which bike to take!

 

[Aperitif]

Sittingduck: here is a calculation that may help you. Chose a Cateye EL530 / 1010 combi kit for example. Cost? Dunno £60 let's say.
Cost of a pint? £3 - maybe more but it is an easy divider. Use the light 20 times next Autumn winter and it only costs the price of a pint.
The other way is to keep using it. When I buy stuff I keep dividing the cost by the number of times I use it. My Altura Night Vision jacket is down to about 25p a go now
Using this theory can get you a top bike - but you gotta keep riding. And use a suitable divisor to make it happen -ie: miles into £total. You'll soon have a great value velo!

 

[iLB]

Sittingduck: here is a calculation that may help you. Chose a Cateye EL530 / 1010 combi kit for example. Cost? Dunno £60 let's say.
Cost of a pint? £3 - maybe more but it is an easy divider. Use the light 20 times next Autumn winter and it only costs the price of a pint.
The other way is to keep using it. When I buy stuff I keep dividing the cost by the number of times I use it. My Altura Night Vision jacket is down to about 25p a go now
Using this theory can get you a top bike - but you gotta keep riding. And use a suitable divisor to make it happen -ie: miles into £total. You'll soon have a great value velo!

or you could get 20 pints m8

 

[TimO]

User10571 uses Hope Vision 1 - about £72 at Evans -and he says that they are significantly brighter than EL530s, which can be had for under £40.

The Hope Vision 1 is supposed to be very good value for the money, the cheapest I can find it, from a supplier that I know, is £75 from ChainReaction. There are some other companies advertising it as cheap as £70, possibly even better value if you hunt around. One thing it can apparently suffer from is dying with little or no warning, so carry some spare batteries.

NOW HEAR THIS. Rear lights do not have to be too bright. ...

Mea culpa. In groups I try to only use my Dinotte rear when I'm the TEC, but I did forget to switch it off after the halfway point last ride, and got moaned at by someone (I forget who). In future rides, feel free to tell me off if I do this again. The Dinotte rear is blinding bright, and I wouldn't want to cycle immediately behind it.

In flashing mode however, it is good when stopping to repair a flat, since it's flashin pattern looks surprisingly reminiscent of police car lights. In combination with half a dozen people in hi-viz, it's amazing how many cars suddenly slow down when approaching.

Even moderately bright flashing rear lights aren't really a good idea in groups, as Simon says, they tend to be rather hard on the eyes.

 

[Aperitif]

or you could get 20 pints m8

Light ale is the way to go then!

 

[dellzeqq]

The Hope Vision 1 is supposed to be very good value for the money, the cheapest I can find it, from a supplier that I know, is £75 from ChainReaction. There are some other companies advertising it as cheap as £70, possibly even better value if you hunt around. One thing it can apparently suffer from is dying with little or no warning, so carry some spare batteries.
.

User10571 tells me that the £72 was with 10% CTC discount....proof, if proof were needed that the CTC membership can pay for itself!

Mea culpa. In groups I try to only use my Dinotte rear when I'm the TEC, but I did forget to switch it off after the halfway point last ride, and got moaned at by someone (I forget who). In future rides, feel free to tell me off if I do this again. The Dinotte rear is blinding bright, and I wouldn't want to cycle immediately behind it.

In flashing mode however, it is good when stopping to repair a flat, since it's flashin pattern looks surprisingly reminiscent of police car lights. In combination with half a dozen people in hi-viz, it's amazing how many cars suddenly slow down when approaching.

Even moderately bright flashing rear lights aren't really a good idea in groups, as Simon says, they tend to be rather hard on the eyes.

you have TEC exemption and can do no wrong!

 

[tdr1nka]

OK, OK, I get the message, I'm going to put my DiOnette on the low setting....

 

[dellzeqq]

Where's mysterious Pavel?

yeah, right. Like I'm going to fall for that one.....

 

[Sittingduck]

Sittingduck: here is a calculation that may help you. Chose a Cateye EL530 / 1010 combi kit for example. Cost? Dunno £60 let's say.
Cost of a pint? £3 - maybe more but it is an easy divider. Use the light 20 times next Autumn winter and it only costs the price of a pint.
The other way is to keep using it. When I buy stuff I keep dividing the cost by the number of times I use it. My Altura Night Vision jacket is down to about 25p a go now
Using this theory can get you a top bike - but you gotta keep riding. And use a suitable divisor to make it happen -ie: miles into £total. You'll soon have a great value velo!

I like this theory
Makes me spending waaaay over £500 on components for my road bike seam easier to swallow.

Regarding the light - I will check the torch option tomorrow and get a decent front light if this is a no-go, I think. Back light won't be a problem as I have a Blackburn Mars 4 but reading some of the replies this evening I might leave this at home and bring the weaker budget light I used previously (to avoid annoyance to those behind me... won't be many ppl behind me!)

 

[TimO]

User10571 tells me that the £72 was with 10% CTC discount....proof, if proof were needed that the CTC membership can pay for itself!

Wiggle are the current CTC shop bods, and their list price for the Vision 1 is £90, so if you apply the CTC 10% membership discount or alternatively apply your 10% Wiggle Platinium discount (if like me you've spent enough in the last 12 months!) it'll still cost £81 there.

Maybe User10571 was lucky enought to get his before everything changed.

 

[redjedi]

I've found the Hope vision 1 for £70
http://http://www.bikeoutlet.co.uk/products/Hope_Vision_1_LED_Light_Universal_Mount-489-33.html

That's a bit out of my price range though.

I'm suddenly feeling very inadequate.......with my EL510. I'll also need a new jacket with reflective bits on.
This could get very expensive......how many carrots can I eat before May 8th?

 

[Aperitif]

I couldn't get your link to work redjedi - here's the item again...might be the same for my link?
http://www.bikeoutlet.co.uk/products/Hope_Vision_1_LED_Light_Universal_Mount-489-0.html

 

[redjedi]

That's the one.

I'm going to have a look for a nice bright torch and a handlebar mount

Perhaps something like this