Decent bicycle light cost

On Fri, 10 Mar 2017 10:39:43 -0500, Frank Krygowski
wrote:

On 3/10/2017 1:11 AM, John B. wrote:
On Thu, 9 Mar 2017 22:26:20 -0500, Frank Krygowski
wrote:

On 3/9/2017 9:09 PM, sms wrote:
On 3/9/2017 3:04 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 3/9/2017 4:05 PM, sms wrote:
On 3/9/2017 12:16 PM, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 10:56:40 AM UTC-5, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 3/8/2017 8:45 PM, Sir Ridesalot wrote:


I can tell after one short nightime ride whether the light meets my
needs. It's nothing like buying a bicycle. Besides, many shops do
let you take a bicycle out for a decent length test ride.

I wonder: If a guy buys a Campy carbon fiber crankset, installs it,
tests it, and says "Heck, I still can't beat my buddy up that big
hill,"
does he qualify for a refund? ;-)


--
- Frank Krygowski

Now you're simply trolling by comparing lights to bicycles. Like I
said before and you should know; it's very easy to tell if a light
will light the road or trail the way you need it to. I took the bike
outside the store onto a dark street and withing one block I KNEW the
light was NOT suitable for my needs. What's so hard to understand
about that? What's so hard to understand that someone does NOT want to
spend hundreds of dollars experimenting with hub dynamose before
finding something that meets THEIR needs not yours? Besides, I can
tell within a few blocks if a different bicycle will be faster than
the one I'm riding.

There are extensive evaluations of lights available, plus you can get an
idea of suitability based on technical specifications. You can also ask
fellow cyclists. In my area probably you want to ride the Caltrain bike
car on the Baby Bullet at night and get off at one of the stations and
see a wide variety of lights. Or hang out on Palo Alto's Bicycle
Boulevard at night, by a stop sign or traffic light, and get an idea of
the differences between lights, and ask the owners about them.

The reality is that it's pretty easy to narrow down light choices before
you go into a store. Choose integrated or separate battery. Eliminate
any sub-800 lumen lights. Look at beam patterns online and eliminate any
models that don't provide sufficient spill. Eliminate all StVZO models.
Ensure that there is flashing DRL functionality. Check the quality of
the handlebar mount. Check the runtime. Determine the level of
waterproofness level you need.

I know that Jay rants on and on about how poor his dynamo light purchase
worked out, but it's because he had already become accustomed to battery
powered lights which were of course much more powerful. Most people that
tout the suitability of dynamo lights have not experienced the level of
illumination and safety that are provided by a good battery light.

Of course, you've now said that you and your family do use dynamo
powered lights.

We use both. We use dynamo lights when appropriate, and battery powered
lights when appropriate.

Why do you assume that dynamo users do differently?

You said "Most people that tout the suitability of dynamo lights have
not experienced the level of illumination and safety that are provided
by a good battery light." That's your snarky way of saying "Dynamo users
don't know any better."

I've got a box containing probably 10 different battery lights -
all-in-one, separate battery pack, headlamp, halogen, LED - and I've
given other battery lights to other people. I'm positive some of them
meet your definition of "good," and I can use them any time I care to.
But I, like many others, find that modern dynamo lights don't need any
supplement.

Unfortunately bicyclists are all equipped with rather anemic lights so
all the arguing and bragging about "MY LIGHT" is very much a matter of
the old sand box argument about who's toys are better.

For those who are truly serious about having decent battery powered
lighting See:
http://argoasecurity.com/index.php?r...product_id=176

Not a miserable little light with power measured in hundreds or
thousands this is a truly superior lamp with 12-Million Candlepower.

Darn. Now nothing less bright can qualify as "safe enough." At least,
according to some.

You are absolutely correct.

I find it strange that I've been able to ride a bicycle since I was
about 12 years old without a light. I can only assume that it is the
St. Christopher medal that has kept me safe all these years.

I assume that our resident markateers (rhymes with Mouseketeer) don't
sell such things or they would likely be telling us of the safety
merits of "this genuine stainless steel medal".

--
Cheers,

John B.