I did a naughty on the way home tonight

[Trumpettom001]

Well, it's the Chrismas hols, so i decided to take the GT into the workshop and give it a good service - replaced a couple cables, dissasembled the suspention and re-greased, and replaced the casette. Then went to a friends house to say hi.

left said friends house as it was getting dark, reached for my lights, and found they werent there - dammit - not comfortable riding on roads without lights at all - but don't want to ride on the pavement. ended up doubling my journey home so that i could stick to cycle paths, and avoid 95% of the ice...

conclusion of story - will find some way of moulding my lights onto the bike to make them un-stealable, so that I can fit and forget....

 

[thomas]

conclusion of story - will find some way of moulding my lights onto the bike to make them un-stealable, so that I can fit and forget....

Or get a new brain?

 

[Trumpettom001]

Ahh i've been told that one before - it's not as easy as moulding 106 LEDs to my bike - I'll take the first option thanks!! :-)

 

[thomas]

Ahh i've been told that one before - it's not as easy as moulding 106 LEDs to my bike - I'll take the first option thanks!! :-)

You just reminded me of something I saw in London yesterday. A chap had stuck lights ALL OVER his helmet...no inch wasn't covered with red/white lights (depending on the end). It was really naff, but probably trying to make a point...either way. I saw him...shame he wasn't actually cycling and just unlocking his bike at the time.

My friend had a camera with him but wouldn't let me ask him for a photograph

Wish I had now!!

You mistake sounds like one I was almost going to make Monday coming (a future mistake!!). Bike is in the shop, new cassette coming in on Monday so going to have to use the mountain bike. I left the brackets on the other bike so will have to go collect the mounts as I need to cycle in the evening.

 

[Trumpettom001]

glad to hear it's not just me - i thought i would be about an hour in the workshop - then i decided to dissasemble the susp... took a bit longer than i thought it would...

 

[661-Pete]

I leave a cheap LED rear on my bike all the time - and a spare in my pocket. It's cheap enough, it wouldn't matter much if it was nicked - but don't tell anyone! So at least I always have a rear, which will probably get me home if just cycling well-lit streets in town (illegal not to have a front but - in an emergency....)

Don't forget too - that for all you've taken care of your lights, batteries can run out. I had a high-power rechargeable front set, where the wiring had got chafed and short-circuited, totally draining the battery. Luckily I noticed this in daytime. At night, with a long unlit rural ride ahead of me, I'd have been stranded...

 

[lukesdad]

Think I ll take atrip down to West Sussex and pinch that light

 

[Arch]

Don't forget too - that for all you've taken care of your lights, batteries can run out. I had a high-power rechargeable front set, where the wiring had got chafed and short-circuited, totally draining the battery. Luckily I noticed this in daytime. At night, with a long unlit rural ride ahead of me, I'd have been stranded...

Wind up lights. I got a front one for a tenner in the local hardware shop, and you can get front and rear sets on Amazon. Wouldn't be great for unlit roads, admittedly, but it's a permanent source of light, no batteries to run out. I use mine as a flashing back up to my battery front light on my urban commute, and if I ever found my batteries were flat, it would do to get me home.

About a minute of winding gives about 20 mins of steady light, much more on the flashing setting. It's on a quick release bracket, so it's easy to hoik off and sling in my bag/pocket. (it also came with a headtorch mount too).

 

[SoloRider]

I notice lots of cyclists go down the 'light on the back, forget about the front' route. I wonder what the logic is behind this?

 

[Trumpettom001]

Solo - I think it's because they all make the assumption that cars are not going to be driving on the wrong side of the road - even so though - i agree, a simple white light is great if you want to be seen from the front - as it's more visible than what i normally wear - (black trousers, black hoodie, black shoes, and a navy blue backpack)...

 

[ufkacbln]

Wind up lights. I got a front one for a tenner in the local hardware shop, and you can get front and rear sets on Amazon. Wouldn't be great for unlit roads, admittedly, but it's a permanent source of light, no batteries to run out. I use mine as a flashing back up to my battery front light on my urban commute, and if I ever found my batteries were flat, it would do to get me home.

About a minute of winding gives about 20 mins of steady light, much more on the flashing setting. It's on a quick release bracket, so it's easy to hoik off and sling in my bag/pocket. (it also came with a headtorch mount too).

This is a new noise on my commute..... I will get on the Gosport Ferry at about 06:00 tomorrow and there will be about 1 dozen people whirring away as they boost the lights for the next leg of their ride.