With the hot weather lately, I’ve been doing a lot of riding after dark. It’s always a hassle to remember to charge up my battery powered headlights. So, I finally decided to get a dynohub setup.
The UPS man delivered it today. I got a Shimano DH-3N71 laced to a Sun CR18 and a Shimano LP-R6000. I would have preferred the fancier Schmidt setup, but I have poverty issues, so the Shimano will have to suffice for the time being.
I just got back from a quick spin around the neighborhood, and I think this is going to work out nicely.
The Good:
- I don’t really notice much (any?) drag from the hub. I did one fast descent on an unlit road, and I could see pretty well.
- I like it that I can be out all night and not have to worry about getting stuck in the dark with a dead battery.
- Moderately cheap. The Schmidt version of this setup would have cost about twice as much.
The Bad:
- On slow climbs, the light really gets dim. That sucked.
- The lamp has an LED blinkie that you can’t turn off, even in the daytime. I don’t like that.
- The lamp looks all modern and plasticy, and really doesn’t jive with the retro groove I have going on with the Trek.
Overall:
I think it’s worth the money to be able to stay out as long as I want, and to not have to dick around trying to find battery chargers and junk every time I want to ride my bike after dark.
Today: 5 miles
August: 5 miles
2007: 747 miles
I actually have the same set-up with a BM Lomotec LED light. Pretty bright and stays lit down to about 5 mph. Worked well last winter. Saw a used one in the spares parts bin at a local shop for $35. That’s about half what I paid for it. Drop me a line if you want it.