Dunwich Dynamo equipment and preparation

i haven't got any proper lights at all.
don't really want to buy them for one off occasion.
would anyone know where I can borrow, rent them for a day or two?

FFS

They will cost you £30 -£40 at most. Go to Decathlon

No, you can't rent them.

FFS

don't think £30-40 will get you anything proper to be used during the night, to see where you actually going. i think you're looking at £100+. and as I said I won't use them for anything else, as I normally use knogs for when it's dark.

don't think £30-40 will get you anything proper to be used during the night, to see where you actually going. i think you're looking at £100+. and as I said I won't use them for anything else, as I normally use knogs for when it's dark.

Not true. This lot bought a bunch of Fenix lights for £40 or something.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread32744.html

http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/

http://www.cyclechat.net/index.php?showtopic=30418

Also, have a read throught the Lights thread for other options:
http://www.lfgss.com/thread10329.html

I normally use knogs for when it's dark.

Great thing about those is that it's still dark when you switch them on

seeing where you are going is much easier than you would imagine. Away from street-lights your eyes adapt to the dark. I rode unlit country lanes at night for years with a weedy halogen light that ran for hours off two C cell batteries. Now i use an old cateye el-510 on low power.

Bright lights are for high-speed descents and getting respect from cars. Most seriously bright battery lights won't last long enough for the Dunwich Dynamo anyway (there's a clue in the name).

It'll be full moon so apart from a couple of wooded sections you'll barely need lights at all.

don't forget to ask your mum.
she will be worried if you don't get home for bed time and doesn't know where you are.

I made that mistake.. mine still doesn't know I'm in England.

You need a rear led or two

For the front use a basic LED but then big 5 diode led or a battery light with a halogen bulb. These give a better beam. I tend to turn the battert light on or off as required.

Halfords, Lidl , or Decathlon will provide them or tape up a Tesco torch to the bars

My lights probaably cost less than £30. BTW, they are investment as you ll be using them in the dark in the winter; won't you?

Most seriously bright battery lights won't last long enough for the Dunwich Dynamo anyway (there's a clue in the name).

It'll be full moon so apart from a couple of wooded sections you'll barely need lights at all.

Cobblers.

Not cobblers. I've done DD several times, and visibility depends a lot on the weather, and how close the ride night is to the actual full moon. On a clear night with a proper full moon, you'll be ok if your front light just throws some sort of a beam. I've seen plenty of people riding by the light of their mate's lights. Not ideal, but people do it...

I agree with moth that not many hi-power lights can last 6 hours on continuous burn, either. On top of that, when they are in full effect, some of them are so powerful that they can actually annoy other riders.

I'm using any old full-size LED rear, and a decent LED front, and packing one set of spare batteries. Most LED rears are plenty bright enough. The most dangerous part is leaving town on a Saturday night in traffic, and that's the lighting I normally use in London night-riding.

Not too sure about being a cyclist and not having any lights you can lay your hands on. Strange philosophy. You can get a (LED) beam front and rear LED from Tescos, or any boot fair for not much more than inner-tube money.

As others have said, a beam is important for map-reading, sign reading, repairs, seeing the ground in the dark, wooded sections. Got to be a beam at the front.

I remember year before last the moon was so bright that I was casting a shadow. Still had two lights on the front though.

I agree with moth that not many hi-power lights can last 6 hours on continuous burn, either. On top of that, when they are in full effect, some of them are so powerful that they can actually annoy other riders.

But why would you need them on the highest setting if the full moon makes it so bright anyway?

I borrowed a reasonable off-road light one time, and only used the high setting when I was on the front of or group through the darkest, wooded parts. The battery easily lasted the distance (and so did everyone else's)

So, I maintain Moth's statement is cobblers.

Get a decent light, use it properly.

just bought this
http://www.thephotonshop.co.uk/page20.htm
and this
http://thephotonshop.co.uk/page64.htm
top combo for £40.

I've generally got on fine on the DD with just a CatEye OptiCube, but I can see quite well in the dark.

i used a cateye doubleshot and a hope twin led, wouldn't want to do it with anything less. mainly because you can see a lot further ahead when going fast or downhill plus you see the potholes sooner.
you can do the DD on a heavy old bike wearing jeans and using an old halogen light.
personally i would rather use better equipment.

Would really like to ride without a bag on my back but can't see how else to squeeze it all in... although a saddle bag and one of those triangular bar bag might just work

how much are you planning to take? I took a carradice saddle bag last year and a small bar bag (mainly for nibbles) and was fine.
saddlebag carried tools, food, and some dry knickers/socks - this year I'll be packing clean t-shirt/shorts as well
I'm planning to take as little as possible, but make it count.

For the DD dont forget

Assos chamois creme... on your boys....

Minty...*mmmm

If it didn't fit in my jersey pockets it didn't go. Spares and food are over rated!

2 water bottles
back pockets: tubes, food
saddlebag: food, tools, socks, batteries
not sure: arm warmers, waterproof, wee towel for the beach

If it didn't fit in my jersey pockets it didn't go. Spares and food are over rated!

are you doing it on the Brompton this year then?

Nope, big wheels n carbon a go go.

Doing the Rapha hill climb on it though.