Dynamo Lights

I'd be using a Halogen. The one drawback to halogen/reason for using LEDs is battery life. This is not a considation with a dynamo, so you might as well use the decent solution. Even crap dynamos put out enough for a decent amount of light from a halogen.

The other disadvantage of halogens is bulb life, especially when being used with a decent dynamo. Using decent bulbs and a reasonable B&M light I've blown bulbs in just a few hours (admittedly that was unlucky) but never got more than a few months - I used to carry two spares as a precaution. LEDs have come on loads - I'd say my Cyo (LED) puts out way more light than my old halogen light.

LEDs don't work as well with AC (which bicycle dynamos put out) at low speeds they flash, and then the light gets more solid, but still flickery at high speeds so you need a bridge rectifier, which reduces voltage.

The halogens flash as well at low speeds. And by low, I mean below walking pace, because that's when the LED stops flashing.

I use a Schmidt hub with a Solidlight that utilises the fact that Schmidt hubs put out 12v over 12mph so the second led comes in.

Because the Solidlights are LED they don't give the pool of light on the road but in dark country lanes they are brilliant giving a good overall flood of light.

Around town a Busch Muller 3watt Halogen might give you a better spot of light for seeing potholes etc

How old is your Solidlights setup? If it's more than a couple of years old I'd compare it to one of the newer LEDs (Cyo, Edelux etc) and see what you think - they're very good in light output. Like I say, I'd rate the Cyo way more than my earlier halogens. I think Solidlights may be able to upgrade the LED emitters in older lights.

The hill equivalence is just to show how little drag there is. It is never going to be a purfect system, even the son has drag.

Aye. But you're never going to notice it - like I said earlier, the comparison I've seen is equivalent to a seven foot climb over a mile - simply not worth bothering about.

I love my schmidt son/edelux combo. The drag is just noticable on the stand spinning the wheel when you switch the light on and off.

Sounds about right ... You can feel the individual magnets if you turn the wheel by hand, but as soon as it's got any speed it's not noticeable.

Pricey, but worth it for a tourer or night bike(hi spec pub bikes for forum drinks this winter, most lighting and booze friendly bike wins?)

Aye, sounds about right: be interesting to see the SON/Edelux combination next to the SON/Cyo I've got, as I'm pretty sure the innards of the light are the same. SON, mudguards and rack are a damn good way to add weight back onto a bike though ...