On Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at 3:58:38 PM UTC-8, sms wrote:
On 3/8/2017 2:10 PM, Doug Landau wrote:
On Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at 1:18:47 PM UTC-8, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
One ofthe things that I've noticed about decent bicycle lights whether internal battery, exteranl battery or dynamo is that for the average person the light is expensive. I bought my CygoLite Riover II light nearly ten years ago and I ONLY bought it becausethe bicycle shop gave me a money back guarantee if it did not meet my riding needs. Mountain Equipment Co-op (aka MEC) here in Canada also offers a moneyback guarantee if something doesn't meet the customers needs.

With a dynamo hub system that's pretty hard for a shop to do unless they offer the customer a loaner built up dynamo hub wheel. I KNOW thatthe hub dynamo light I tried otside a shop in another city about 50 kms from me did NOT match the brightness road illumination of my CygoLite Rover II light and especially at low speed.

My questions then are; #1. do you go to the expense of buying a bicycle light without having a money back guarantee if that light doesn't wrok for you the way you need it too? and #2. do any shops you use give such a guarantee if you want it and would they stand behind that gurantee?

Cheers

As you might remember I was hit from behind while riding to work October 2015. Although it was 9AM it changed my spending strategy W.R.T. lights. I felt bewildered by my previous desire to spend $30 on a headlight, went to Performance and put down closer to $100/ea for two identical USB rechargable headlights, $50/ea for two USB rechargeable taillights. One to keep charging on desk at work as I am forgetful.

I am now pricing $300 hubs from Peter White Cycles. For what reason I was trying to save a few tens of $$ on headlights in the bike-commuting years of the past, I know not.

You might want to look at the SP PD-8X hubs. About $180 and as good as
the higher cost dynamo hubs, sometimes better (more efficient).
http://www.sp-dynamo.com/8Xseriesdynamo%20hub.html.

Pair it with a Supernova E3 Triple 2
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/supernova.php.

Okay, I'm reading the sp-dynamo site, but I'll tell ya rite now, all of this is pure sensory overload. Or pure overload, at least. Meaning every dam light on Peter White's site sounds like the greatest thing ever. I don't see how one can possibly go wrong no matter what one buys from Peter except by getting one that's too good and blinding oncoming traffic with it.

That said, I was just thinking that I see no reason not to get the schmidt hub, for its fantastically low drag and wide spacing, and the luxos U for its ability to charge one's phone. Just as soon not have the handlebar switch , but whatever.

(Also, I don't understand the difference between the shimano 3N70, 71, and 72, and 80 for that matter, and also see that the 80 is not available in 36h, and I have a 36h rim I'd like to use.)

I guess I do see the point of going with Sanyo, as they are about 1/4 the price, at $50. Whatever. I'm drooling over the schmidt, so...

Choosing the light is mind-boggling. I was relieved to see the words of praise for the luxos U and its charging ability, cuz until then my head was swimming; as stated, they all look like the headlight-to-end-all-headlights. I guess I need to read the whole dam site over again because - as stated - since I am not shopping for Mtn-biking, and not trying to illuminate the trees up above and the forest on both sides, it seems like any of the lesser lights will be just fine.

Changing the subject slightly how many lumens does it take to blind oncoming traffic? Am I doing so with my $100 Cygolite Pace 850?