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night riding and the bike I've wanted since I was 10



 
 
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  #1  
Old November 24th 03, 04:39 AM
Jack Murphy
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Default night riding and the bike I've wanted since I was 10

OK, I finally have the bike I've wanted since I was 10...

I realized that yesterday evening while riding. I had the "I don't want to
go home yet" feeling after an afternoon of errands and a nice swim at the
Y -- the same feeling I used to get tooling around the neighborhood at night
with my cool lights. Well, I thought they were cool, everyone else thought
they were totally nerdy. Too bad, I've always had fun riding at night. So
after checking in on the schedule with my wife I went back out for another
45 minutes of cruising. I was listening to Prairie Home Companion so I might
as well keep going, right? Perfect!

So I finally got this bike back from the shop. Its a great bike, a Gunnar
Sport. I bought it late summer but brought it back and left it there (for a
month it turns out) while the shop guy searched and destroyed the annoying
drive train noise, as well as finally ordered and got the right stem, etc.
Meanwhile I'd been back on my 20+ year old Trek, and still commuting. I'd
started that again regularly late last spring, and really enjoy my 15 mile
round trip, especially now that it gets dark so early. I don't know why, but
I do love riding at night.

I dug out my old generators and lights and got the Trek set up pretty nice
when it started to get dark this fall. But 20 years shows, and I put on a
Union bottom bracket generator that has a relatively heavy drag. I kept my
lighter drag Sanyo (another 25 year old relic) to put on the Gunnar. I do
have a 6 volt rechargeable with a nice clamp on headlight, but the battery
always seems to die out on a ride so I like having a generator for at least
backup.

Anyway, got the Gunnar back and got the generator hooked up to a new BiSy
headlight from PeterWhiteCycles.com. I first turned it upside down in order
to fit it closer to the handlebars, but as dusk hit I couldn't hardly see
the beam. I thought I'd made a bad mistake on the headlamp, it didn't show
much light. I decided to flip it normal to see what difference that made,
and that plus a bit more darkness showed the outstanding beam pattern of
this light. Combined with the nice tight round pattern from my battery
powered clamp on, it made a great view out front. I have a flashy white/blue
LED clip on up front too, so even if/when the 6 v headlight dims I'll have
something showing when stopped. I stopped back where I'd purchased a red
flashy led light and got another one, they fit great on my panniers at the
rear. I also hooked up a small generator powered light back there, at the
bolt that holds the rack. Small and out of the way, but a bit more light. I
have the standard reflectors front and rear as well, so if they hit me it'll
be because they're aiming!

So lets see, 3 front lights, 3 rear lights, 2 reflectors. Yep, I remember
when I was 10 with a c-cell battery light thinking if I just had a little
more... well I think I've got it now! But wait, there's always more... tell
me about that front hub that's a generator...

Jack Murphy



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  #2  
Old November 24th 03, 07:15 AM
Zoot Katz
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Default night riding and the bike I've wanted since I was 10

Sun, 23 Nov 2003 21:39:24 -0600, K3fwb.11521$Gj2.4525@okepread01,
"Jack Murphy" wrote:

But wait, there's always more... tell
me about that front hub that's a generator...

Jack Murphy


Less drag, doesn't slip in the rain, quiet, turn it off or on with a
switch. You need a front hub anyway, might as well make it do tricks.

SON is the deluxe one.
Shimano Nexus is cheaper though with slightly more drag.
--
zk
  #3  
Old November 24th 03, 04:53 PM
Matthew
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Default night riding and the bike I've wanted since I was 10


"Zoot Katz" wrote in message
...
Sun, 23 Nov 2003 21:39:24 -0600, K3fwb.11521$Gj2.4525@okepread01,
"Jack Murphy" wrote:

But wait, there's always more... tell
me about that front hub that's a generator...


Less drag, doesn't slip in the rain, quiet, turn it off or on with a
switch. You need a front hub anyway, might as well make it do tricks.

SON is the deluxe one.
Shimano Nexus is cheaper though with slightly more drag.
--


This sounds perfect but I didn't find any info on the Shimano website. Hope
my LBS can build a wheel with one of these things. How much do they cost?
Are they widely available in the U.S?

Matthew


  #4  
Old November 24th 03, 05:43 PM
mark
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Default night riding and the bike I've wanted since I was 10


"Matthew" wrote ...

"Zoot Katz" wrote ,
"Jack Murphy" wrote:

But wait, there's always more... tell
me about that front hub that's a generator...


Less drag, doesn't slip in the rain, quiet, turn it off or on with a
switch. You need a front hub anyway, might as well make it do tricks.

SON is the deluxe one.
Shimano Nexus is cheaper though with slightly more drag.
--


This sounds perfect but I didn't find any info on the Shimano website.

Hope
my LBS can build a wheel with one of these things. How much do they cost?
Are they widely available in the U.S?

Matthew


The SON is sold by Peter White Cycles, www.peterwhitecycles.com . Also check
out www.nabendynamo.de for more info on the Schmidt.

The Shimano Nexus is sold by Harris Cycles, www.sheldonbrown.com, as well as
by Peter White Cycles. I believe it is a grey market item, not sold or
supported in the US by Shimano USA.
--
mark








  #5  
Old November 24th 03, 10:58 PM
Chalo
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Default night riding and the bike I've wanted since I was 10

"Jack Murphy" wrote:

OK, I finally have the bike I've wanted since I was 10...


A rocket-propelled one with fold-out wings and machine guns and a
cloaking device? Cool!

Chalo Colina
  #6  
Old November 24th 03, 11:23 PM
Rocketman
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Default night riding and the bike I've wanted since I was 10

"Chalo" wrote in message
om...
"Jack Murphy" wrote:

OK, I finally have the bike I've wanted since I was 10...


A rocket-propelled one with fold-out wings and machine guns and a
cloaking device? Cool!


My bike has a cloaking device. I removed all of the reflectors, so I'm
invisible to drivers when riding at night! :-)

Come to think of it, drivers act like they can't see me in the daytime,
either; but I don't think it's my cloaking device that's causing it...

-Barry


  #8  
Old November 27th 03, 11:21 PM
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Default night riding and the bike I've wanted since I was 10

Zoot Katz wrote:

: Full Campy Mag Lev with pulse weapons. uhh, non lethal of course.

Are you talking about ion cannons that can disable electronics
systems that control internal combustion engines?

--
Risto Varanka | http://www.helsinki.fi/~rvaranka/hpv/hpv.html
varis at no spam please iki fi
 




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