Lighting specialists in the North?

[SoloRider]

I'm in the process of speccing a bike for all seasons and I want to do it properly this time, with a view to replacing a shed full of bikes that don't really do what I want. I want to spend time like you would if you were buying a car.

Anyhow, I also want to spec a top quality dynamo lighting system so I'd like to spend a few hours with a shop that has this level of knowledge:

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/schmidt-headlights.asp

So, are there any recomendations please?

 

[piedwagtail91]

don't know about shops, but all of those lights on his site are a bit out of date.
have a look at the B and M. you may have to look for front lights in the index.(catalogue/ headlights)
http://www.bumm.de/index-e.html

I have an iq fly which has been updated/replaced by the iq cyo.

 

[Randochap]

don't know about shops, but all of those lights on his site are a bit out of date.

What? The Edelux and Supernova are "a bit out of date?" These are some of the finest, leading dynamo headlights on the market. It would be hard to find something that lights the road better and outperforms these in all conditions.

Peter White is the North American distributor for Schmidt and B&M, but there are plenty of other sources in the UK, such as SJS Cycles.

I discuss dynamo lighting on the lighting page, in the "Randonneuring" subsection of VeloWeb, linked below.

 

[SoloRider]

Cheers Rando, I've read your site as well. Just need someone to demo a few variations and help me choose, preferably North of England

 

[andrew_s]

I don't thing there is anywhere in the north, really.
Your best bet would probably be Spa Cycles in Harrogate, or possibly Kinetics in Glasgow.

The current best dynamo lighting is from B+M, Schmidt and Supernova. As far as I know, the only place in the UK that stocks all 3 is SJS Cycles in Bridgwater (Somerset). However they aren't really a bike shop any more, being pretty much internet/mail order only. I believe it is still possible to make an appointment to visit, but they aren't open weekends or bank holidays.

Summary of the current state of play:
a) Hubs
The SON 28, Shimano 3N70/71 and Shimano 3N80 are all pretty similar in electrical performance. The 3N80 is the lightest, the 3N70/71 is heaviest be a fair margin. The SON is better built, with properly sealed bearings. It would probably stand up to accidentally being ridden through a flood; the Shimano didn't when someone in out club did so.
The SON 20 is lighter then the 3N80, and will give less drag than the others. However it will also give less power at low speed (less than 10-12mph). This doesn't really matter as you don't need so much light, and LED lights don't fade dramatically when underpowered like halogen ones do.
The Shimano hubs are available in 100mm OLN, 36h only. There are more options for the SON, including narrow Brompton hubs and single sided axles for some trikes.

Lights.
Currently all the best lights are using the same LEDs (Seoul P4 or Cree XRE), with a headline figure of about 240 lumens each. This figure is a maximum, and is only attainable if there is enough power and the LED itself is kept from getting too hot. To keep the LEDs as cool as possible, you'd generally want an aluminium light body that could conduct the heat out to the cooling air flow. How good the light seems is also affected by where the light goes. This is somewhat subjective. For off road, you'll want a wider beam than you will for on road. Off road, some upwards light is useful to see where to go out of a sharp dip or to spot overhanging branches, but on road light sent upwards is mostly light wasted.
B+M Cyo
1 LED, shaped reflector that puts almost all of the light into a rectangular area big enough to fill a country lane from about 10m ahead, and with a sharp cut off at the top of the beam to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. Plastic body, waterproofing and robustness may be questionable.
Schmidt Edelux
Like a Cyo put into a properly solid and waterproof aluminium body. Improved cooling means it's brighter at higher speed
Supernova E3
1 LED, solid and waterproof aluminium body, giving either a simple conical beam or an optional shaped beam via a plastic lens. The beam shots I've seen of this had a lot of offputting brighter and darker patches, but I believe the lens has since been changed.
Solidlights 1203D
2 LEDs in an industrial looking aluminium body. Not reliably waterproof (i.e it's meant to be, but some at least aren't). Simple conical beam. 2 LEDs means it can give more light than the above lights at higher speeds.
Supernova E3 Triple
3 LEDs in the same solid and waterproof aluminium body. Simple conical beam. 3 LEDs mean brighter light at speed, but are used to give a wider beam rather than more reach.

The brightness of the road illumination for all will depend on how you aim them. Assuming that the light is aimed far enough up for high speed descending on road, it's probably a toss up whether the Edelux or the E3 Triple gives the best pothole spotting lighting.
(I've got an Edelux and a DIY-upgraded Solidlight).

Upgrades:
There is an increase in LED brightness imminent, with Cree XPG LEDs giving 360 lumens already being used by DIY light makers. I would guess that Supernova will be the first to start using the new LEDs in their lights. In the past they have offered to upgrade the lights of existing owners to the latest LEDs at moderate cost (£50 ish). Solidlights have also (eventually) offered to upgrade owner's lights at £75 ish. They are also simply enough constructed that it isn't difficult to upgrade the LEDs yourself.
I wouldn't expect any upgrade option from either B+M or Schmidt.

 

[SoloRider]

Many thanks for taking the time to write all that Andrew, you're a star!