Light Theft (solutions — small pocket lights, or heavy duty well secured lights?)

On Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:16:06 +0100, David Johnson wrote:

You know the story. You want to go for a pint in town and its light
when you set out but will be dark by the time you've finished your
"pint". Now I already have a wallet, phone and house keys in my Jeans,
so where am I going to stuff my lights?? I went to the shop and asked
to have Dynamo lights fitted just because I — either rightly or wrongly
— assume they're less attractive to thieves for a number of reasons (one
being they're harder to steal). The shop keeper doesn't seem to think
they're all that good or reliable. So are there any *good* and very
*small* lights suitable for pockets? Yes I can wear a coat, or take a
ruck sack with me etc etc but I'm looking for something a bit more
practical. Alternatively I will just have to find some that secure
better to the bike rather than quick release types. I live in Cambridge
and bikes and parts on bikes disappear within seconds so suggestions
welcome.

I have the front one of these
http://www.cycleways.com/store/produ...-F+R-LightSet/

and the rear one of these
http://www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk/publi...agcuesb5a es1

they're both pocket sized and the front one's even usable when there are
no streetlights around.

--
Stephen Patterson :: :: http://patter.mine.nu/
GPG: B416F0DE :: Jabber:
"Don't be silly, Minnie. Who'd be walking round these cliffs with a gas oven?"

* John Hearns wrote:
David Johnson wrote:

they're all that good or reliable. So are there any *good* and very
*small* lights suitable for pockets?

Cateye EL410
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetai...0Front%20Light


Easily pocketable, completely waterproof (it uses a magnetic reed switch
to switch on and off) and the rubber strap is uses fits in seconds to
handlebars or a helmet. About the size of a big lipstick.

Is the 510 any good? I can get the Cateye EL510 And TL-LD1000 as a set,
thus saving some pennies. It's certainly a good size.

I have the Cateye HL500 Halogen Front Light currently, for a point of
reference. Bit heavy and bulky in the pocket.

* Clive George wrote:
Which shop? I'm guessing it isn't Ben Haywards.

It wasn't Ben Haywards. Is Ben Haywards one of the better bike shops in
town? I've only really used Mikes Bikes and Howes, but there are very
many so it's hard to know which ones are good.

Dynamo lights are great, esp. hub dynamo ones, and the reasons you
mention are one of them.

I'll have to look into Hub Dynamos. Will Haywards be able to fit them
for me? I can give them a ring tomorrow.

* bookieb wrote:
Hub dynamos are, by general concensus, the best type of dynamo, but
you need to get a wheel built up around them - requires a bit of
thought.

But does it also require a bit of money? ;-)

* Peter Fox wrote:
Don't worry about /carrying your lights in the daylight/. Why would you?
Simply clip them to the bike.

But leaving them on a bike in broad daylight in the centre of town means
they'll inevitably end up getting half-inched. Or am I missing something?

"David Johnson" wrote in message
...
* Clive George wrote:
Which shop? I'm guessing it isn't Ben Haywards.

It wasn't Ben Haywards. Is Ben Haywards one of the better bike shops in
town? I've only really used Mikes Bikes and Howes, but there are very
many so it's hard to know which ones are good.

IME Haywards were the best - nice people, knew their stuff. 'course this was
a few years ago, but I've not heard any different from people I know still
in the area.

Dynamo lights are great, esp. hub dynamo ones, and the reasons you
mention are one of them.

I'll have to look into Hub Dynamos. Will Haywards be able to fit them
for me? I can give them a ring tomorrow.

I reckon so, yes.

In another post you mention the money. There's quite a large range of cost
for hub 'mos. At the top end, a SON (110 quid) and SON E6 front lamp (50
quid) will set you back 160 quid before you even start on the wheel build
and back lamp. However you don't need to spend nearly that much. Here's some
places to save:

Shimano hub 'mos are good enough, and a lot cheaper - 50 quid or less.
Building the wheel yourself could save you a tenner.
Shopping around for the bits is worthwhile - buying mail order from Germany
is traditionally the cheapest way to do it all.

If you're mechanically/electrically ept, there's no problem in fitting it
all yourself. OTOH if you feel you need assistance, you're probably going to
be wanting to buy all the stuff from people who fit it (or rather they will
want you to :-) ), meaning scope for savings is lower.

cheers,
clive

* Clive George wrote:
In another post you mention the money. There's quite a large range of
cost for hub 'mos. At the top end, a SON (110 quid) and SON E6 front
lamp (50 quid) will set you back 160 quid before you even start on the
wheel build and back lamp. However you don't need to spend nearly that
much. Here's some places to save:

Shimano hub 'mos are good enough, and a lot cheaper - 50 quid or less.
Building the wheel yourself could save you a tenner.
Shopping around for the bits is worthwhile - buying mail order from
Germany is traditionally the cheapest way to do it all.

If you're mechanically/electrically ept, there's no problem in fitting
it all yourself. OTOH if you feel you need assistance, you're probably
going to be wanting to buy all the stuff from people who fit it (or
rather they will want you to :-) ), meaning scope for savings is lower.

Thanks for the advice. The reason I mention money is that if I'm going
to save £100+ by getting LED lights then I can put up with the agro of
lugging them about with me. I'll have a look into the Germany option
and speak to Haywards tomorrow.

Ta.

wrote in message
oups.com...
On 28 Aug, 16:27, John Hearns wrote:
David Johnson wrote:
they're all that good or reliable. So are there any *good* and very
*small* lights suitable for pockets?

Cateye
EL410http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=536002576...

Seconded. I've used one of these for a couple of years now. Don't
expect it to light the road for you, but for such a small light it's
phenomenally bright.

I use a Cateye TL-LD1000 as my rear light - small and VERY bright. I
wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. My sole gripe is that in flashing
mode the top and bottom lines of LEDs flash slightly out of sync and
therefore don't have quite the all-on/all-off effect I'd like.


I find I can set them in sync as long as I switch them on before mounting
the light. It just takes a little practice.

'Course you don want to be looking at them too closely while doing it.

Jc

David Johnson wrote:
* Peter Fox wrote:
Don't worry about /carrying your lights in the daylight/. Why would you?
Simply clip them to the bike.

But leaving them on a bike in broad daylight in the centre of town means
they'll inevitably end up getting half-inched. Or am I missing something?

If the bike is parked carry them. Most people have somewhere they can carry their cycling
stuff when not on it. But when going along (the op was going to the pub in daylight then
returning after dusk) let the bike do the carrying.


--
Peter Fox
Beer, dancing, cycling and lots more at www.eminent.demon.co.uk

Paul Boyd wrote:
bookieb said the following on 28/08/2007 17:10:

The best compromise (IMO), is a good quality bottle dynamo setup,
preferably complete with standlight.

Just curious, and I suppose I could look it up, but are those bottom
bracket roller dynamos still available? Or did everyone finally realise
that they really are crap?

They still are, and they still are...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/