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Just use rechargeables. A damn sight easier than hand-winding a torch all the time. You can get USB lights if you don't want to take batteries out.
If you want to avoid batteries altogether, get a dynamo hub.
The old Sturmey Archer Dynohub really has no noticeable drag, so I would imagine more modern designs are similarly free-running. It's not like a bottle dynamo. -
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Hello there!
I've been thinking about the same question a lot recently as I'm working on my first conversion/build - a 5 speed constructeur/porteur for my girlfriend. I'm going the hub dynamo route. The reelights are essentially a dynamo as well - they work on the same principle as a hub dynamo - not a particularly efficient one, but have the advantage of being easy to retrofit and creating less drag than a bottle dynamo. I wasn't aware of any wind-up light marketed.
I've decided to go for the hub dynamo for a few reasons. Firstly it's in the middle of the wheel so protected from knocks and the elements better than a bottle dynamo would be. If you're playing around with one in the shop it feels clicky and like there's a fair bit of resistance. However, at speed this disappears (largely) because half the time the magnets are pulling together in the direction of travel and half the time they're pulling together against the direction of travel, so the forces balance out (I may not have explained that very well). There will however be additional drag when the lights are in operation - but not as much as created by bringing a bottle dynamo into contact with the wheel. That said my experience of bottle dynamos is restricted to old ones; they may have been improved.
I know what you mean about the lights being vulnerable. It bothers me too. However I hope that the attractiveness of the lights will be reduced by the fact that the power source would also have to be taken, as opposed to some of the very fancy rechargeable lights which have an easily removed power pack.
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^ are shit. Really unhappy with mine.
I'm buying some of these soon:
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/13229/Reelight-SL500-Flash-Front-Light.html?referrer=froogle&utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid13229 -
I'm buying some of these soon:
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/13229/Reelight-SL500-Flash-Front-Light.html?referrer=froogle&utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid13229I had these on my bike over winter, now transferred to my girlfriend's bike. The light output and flash pattern is pretty good, and they stay flashing for a surprisingly long time after just a few turns of the wheel. Strangely, the rear seems to stay flashing longer than does the front - perhaps the bulb on the front is more powerful. The weight isn't noticeable, but they were always on heavy town bikes to start with.
The negatives are that they're ugly, inelegant and generally a bit flimsy. The plastics aren't particularly good quality, and there aren't any metal threaded inserts on the wheel magnets meaning it's very easy to strip the plastic threads out (I emailed reelight and they sent me a new set of magnets after this happened to me). Every now and then, the magnets need re-positioning, as they migrate outwards due to centrifugal force. The coil units are easy enough to position, but the quality of the grub screws is really poor (very soft metal).
I got a front and rear set for half price. I wouldn't pay full price for them, personally - the idea is good, but the execution is clumsy and the quality is pretty low for the price.
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I had these on my bike over winter, now transferred to my girlfriend's bike. The light output and flash pattern is pretty good, and they stay flashing for a surprisingly long time after just a few turns of the wheel. Strangely, the rear seems to stay flashing longer than does the front - perhaps the bulb on the front is more powerful. The weight isn't noticeable, but they were always on heavy town bikes to start with.
The negatives are that they're ugly, inelegant and generally a bit flimsy. The plastics aren't particularly good quality, and there aren't any metal threaded inserts on the wheel magnets meaning it's very easy to strip the plastic threads out (I emailed reelight and they sent me a new set of magnets after this happened to me). Every now and then, the magnets need re-positioning, as they migrate outwards due to centrifugal force. The coil units are easy enough to position, but the quality of the grub screws is really poor (very soft metal).
I got a front and rear set for half price. I wouldn't pay full price for them, personally - the idea is good, but the execution is clumsy and the quality is pretty low for the price.
Thanks for that. Really good to hear a real world review of them, there is suprisingly little of use on net. You have confirmed my decision to stay away from them, which is a shame because, as you said, the idea is good just poor execution.
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What about acetylene?
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Lumicycle rechargable thing, big battery fits in my bottle cage.
It was very expensive, but I can illuminate the whole width of the road with one front light, blind low flying aircraft with the other and the rear light (which is all I use at this time of year) lasts for 100 hours on a charge.
I haven't bought a battery for more than 2 years, so it's paid for itself.
www.lumicycle.com -
I fitted a alfine hub dynamo to my XC bike and am very pleased , the technology has improved greatly in the latest shimano designs so drag is basically zero when switched off. I use a Supernova E3 Triple front light which can draw 12W when doing 30mph , and even then i cant feel any drag, but thats mainly due to the fact i'm usually on a downhill gradient when doing anything over 20mph
I'd never go back to any battery form of lights now, i was in the forest most evenings over the winter period, the light was just as bright as far as i could tell as the guys with battery lights, and the good thing at night there are not millions of dog walkers getting in the way
bq
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About
Battery free lights
Posted by
Hello
firstly I'd like to officially welcome myself to the SS gang, I had been riding geared but have finally got myself a spech singlecross off ebay!
Anyway down to business. I have been researching a lighting solution for my bike, in particular a battery free solution because I am eco concious and also cannot be arsed to faff about with replacing/charging batteries.
So the way I see it there are 3 viable options.
Hub dynamos. Would be nice but there are numerous disadvantages such as the drag inflicted in when turned off, the cost and also the nickability of the nice busch and muller lights you would end up getting.
Lights powered by magnetic induction. In particular the reelight brand looked like an ideal solution. The one drawback is they way and absolute tonne (in comparison) and are a bit of a cluttered designed.
I have just about settleled on wind up lights. They seem ideal as they are light weight, reasonable power for simple city commuting and the only drawback is the time taken to wind them up, which from what I've read is less than you would imagine especially as I only need lights for the rare occasion that I go home late at night.
However all the different wind up lights I have seen seem to be based on the same blueprint which is cheap quality lights with quick release/quick theft mechanisms. I am tempted to buy a decent quality wind up torch, of which there are some, and gaffa tape it to my handlebars. But before I do this I thought I wpuld post on here as there must be others with the same requirements as myself with better solutions.
Please give any suggestions or thoughts on my logical process.