SuperGalactian
Regular
My 1985 Claud Butler Panache audax bike came (when new) with a Sanyo dynamo that mounted behind the bottom bracket, and lightweight front and rear lights. The front light attached to a boss on the offside front fork, and actually produced a very good beam for night rides on rural roads. The rear light was fine, but nothing exceptional. The dynamo was useless: poor output when climbing hills or stopped, slipped in the wet, quickly got full of dirt and died. I soon replaced it with a 12V battery in a small saddle bag, which was very effective but actually a clumsy solution.
Having put up with that for 40 years, I feel it's time to embrace LED technology. I need a system powerful enough for night rides on rural roads (ie very dark, with potholes and wildlife). The rear light is easily sorted with a USB-chargeable flashing LED light, which should last all night. The front light is more difficult, and I'd appreciate recommendations. Ideally, it would be LED, I'd mount it on the front fork boss again (because I use a handlebar bag), and I'd power it from a re-chargeable battery pack in the bottle cage, something like this one. The wiring would then be short and neat. Does anyone know of a decent-quality retro-looking front light that would pair with such a battery pack? (The actual lights made by Fourth4th are too modern to suit the bike, and very pricey.)
Having put up with that for 40 years, I feel it's time to embrace LED technology. I need a system powerful enough for night rides on rural roads (ie very dark, with potholes and wildlife). The rear light is easily sorted with a USB-chargeable flashing LED light, which should last all night. The front light is more difficult, and I'd appreciate recommendations. Ideally, it would be LED, I'd mount it on the front fork boss again (because I use a handlebar bag), and I'd power it from a re-chargeable battery pack in the bottle cage, something like this one. The wiring would then be short and neat. Does anyone know of a decent-quality retro-looking front light that would pair with such a battery pack? (The actual lights made by Fourth4th are too modern to suit the bike, and very pricey.)