Dynamo Lights

That looks pretty effective and a bit more elegant, cheers!

When I had it mounted on the side it feels pretty exposed/fragile though so I'll keep as is for the moment and see how it goes (as much as because it's a faff moving it all again tbh!)

You're gonna have to move it either way as the bag will block the light.

What about mounting on the front of the rack? That's where I'd put it. Can't be rocket surgery to bracket it on somehow.

I love this light so much, went out on grim wet roads yesterday and it was really effective, lighting up retroreflective signage ahead in (albeit dingy) daylight! I couldn't believe it.

Unfortunatly, my supernova gold connectors died after those rainy days. Do I need to buy new ones, or maybe someone has a trick to mount my rear light without those expensive connectors?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2mm-Gold-Bullet-Connectors-10-Pairs-Male-Female-Banana-Plug-Socket-UK-RC-Motor-/200987575496?hash=item2ecbcb04c8

These are ideal replacements. Smaller and neater, but you'll probably have to solder them. I found the crimping method pretty crappy, anyway.

thanks. ordered.
I'll soldering it, you're right. But how do you do to keep them dry?

They come with heat-shrink, which keeps the solder joint dry and if you cover each plug all the way to the end, they make a good job of keeping excess water out. Also, arrange each plug in opposite directions and the joints line up in different places. Failing that, blobs of vaseline?

What's the consensus on the best set up for light & usb charging.

Don't need it to be an all in one set up like the luxos U

At home. But on the road possibly sinewave.

Anyone selling a Sinewave revolution?

& what's the light to go for? Not sure I've got the stomach for one of the £100+ lights.

is there anything cheaper that's worth having?

For for a B&M IQ Cyo Premium 80lux and around 35 quid.

I recently bought one of these, decent paid about 40 quid

http://www.rosebikes.com/article/b--m-lumotec-iq-cyo-premium-t--senso-plus-front-headlamp/aid:709237

Looking at my first dynamo build. Would I be better going for the Spa deluxe bundle which includes the SP PD-8, a Luxos U, rear light and USB for £225, or buying a SP PD-8 and B&M USB werk for ~£150 and getting it built to my current rim?

I don't see myself doing enough riding at night to need the powerful front light (the main reason I'm looking into it is for Iceland next summer which'll be semi-permanent daylight anyway), but if I'm going to be paying almost the same amount to not have a light, should I just get it anyway and keep my spare wheel?

You won't be using it for commuting at all? The convenience of a dynamo light is great for that.

Not in the immediate future, currently living up a mountain and about 200m from my work. But in the future, maybe yes, in which case I wouldn't need the USB, so could just switch out the usb hub for a light.

Wish I lived up a mountain

So undecided on dynamos, can't decide if its overkill for commuting when an ebay special (http://goo.gl/e8uXLe) with periodic recharge has served so well thus far.

I love the idea of fit and forget but no fork crown mount is putting me off a bit too, currently have the light on a Paul Gino mount on my 'guard mount half way up the fork - gives a fair bit of shadow but good enough.

Its going to get darker now though and will be first winter on the new (longer) commute - decisions, decisions. I know if I went for it, I'd probs go all out too.

This is a bit of a beauty (and could mount on bars or the gino mount)
http://www.rosebikes.com/article/supernova-e3-pure-3-front-light-for-installation-on-the-handlebar/aid:783008

For commuting, especially longer ones where you need to be able to see, the only reason not to get a dynamo set up is cost/outlay.

If you have the cash go for it.

I picked up a supernova E3 front and rear set for £65 last weekend and I have just been wiring it up on my commute bike, front light on a bracket under the bars and the tiny tail light on the seatpost but run in parallel with the existing mudguard-mounted seculite. Seems to work ok. My first experiments with heat shrink tubing. Clever stuff that.

Mixed experience with the supernova so far. It is a solid little unit and produces a good light but as I start off, it has a flicker that continues a bit longer than I expect. But that may just be because of the extra load of two rear lights. It seems to put our plenty of power for two rear lights but it doesn't switch off when I press the switch at the end of a ride, so I will probably have meddling colleagues trying to switch it off when they arrive at work.

Saw this through looking at Kilo, a danish design agency. Felt compelled to share. I definitely can't see myself going for this kind of thing, but I wonder whether the fact that people think a dynamo will cause loads of friction etc will push them to back something like this/ create a market for similar products.

I mean I certainly can't see it happening in Scandinavia (do they all already use dynamos?) But maybe in US/UK.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1651132789/neo-worlds-most-powerful-friction-free-bikelight

Hmm, cool design concept but you are just replacing friction for electromagnetic drag

I also wonder how sensitive it is to distance from the rim - I suspect its going to be a square or cube law, someone who did decent level physics will know

I have a SON, one of those E3s and a tiny rear light. I got in the summer for PBP and just love the convenience of it all. No having to remember anything, ever. My only problem with it is I think taht I want a flashing rear.

Same tech as the Magnic light that was made a while ago I think.

http://www.magniclight.com/index.php/en