General Bike Thread (Desiderata, Questions, Pics)

[emptym]

Great recommendations from Venessian, and I like otc's thread rec.

Until recently, I used a Busch and Mueller Eyro battery headlight. But I wish I'd sprung for a dynamo. (I really wanted a Schmidt/SON one, which Peter White also carries, but it's very expensive, imo.) My B&M headlight failed after only about 4 months, and their customer service hasn't replied after a few weeks. So I went back to my old setup: a Maratac AAA flashlight zip-tied to my helmet.

I have this taillight, tucked under my seat. Looks good, is bright, has motion sensing, and even an alarm, which I don't use. Tough to steal too, since it's wedged tightly between the seat rails and is also secured with a tiny hex screw. Battery lasts about six weeks between charging.

Btw, I'm thinking about moving this thread to the "Fine Living" subforum, where it may get more views. Anyone think that's a bad idea?

 

[Jr Mouse]

Which Busch and Mueller battery light did you have? I was considering one of those as c compromise between a dynomo set up and your typical bike light. They are supposed to spread light a superior pattern and not cause any blinding issues for oncoming traffic.

Thanks for the taillight rec. I'm running some inexpensive blinkers for now. Always in solid light mode at night so I don't attract drunk drivers.

I'd be cool if you moved the thread. Anything to help get some activity going.

 

[Jr Mouse]

Purchased an Outershell 137 Basket Bag while they were on sale a couple weeks back. Sits perfectly in a Wald 137 on the front of my bike. Been pretty happy with the setup so far. Storage space in the bag seems plenty for my needs at the moment and I like the flexibility of being able to quickly remove the bag of I need the basket for more general needs.

Only thing I don't like is the attachment hardware that came with the Wald basket, but I knew that going in. It all looks a little janky. I plan to get a real front rack down the road and attach the basket to it.

Link to the bag I got:

https://www.outershelladventure.com/shop/137-basket-bag

 

[otc]

Spotted this recently which I think is starting to look like Jr's ultimate desire

Got the Dynamo lights, rack with the low pannier bar, full lenders, and really tall bars.

 

[Jr Mouse]

Missing the front rack, but otherwise not a bad build.

Here's an example along the lines of what i'm thinking. Front rack with Wald basket strapped to it. Some kind of light in the front attached to the rack. Seems like a versatile setup. Basket would be easy to remove when needed.

Edit 2 more examples:

 

[otc]

Is it upside-down for you? Looked fine on my phone... But not it looks wrong

 

[Alexidb]

Maybe also check Harris Cyclery to see if Sheldon Brown ever wrote about them (he must have) and or ask on a place like Paceline Forum? Or, randonneuring bicycle sites, there must be some out there.

Anything Sheldon wrote about dynamo lighting is going to be dated at this point. Technology has improved, and its improved fast. Also Sheldon wasn’t a great mechanic, Harris made a name with Elton Pope Lance as a mechanic. Sheldon was a great aggregator of info but you need to take what he said with a grain of salt.

Interesting. I don’t have the link, but I’ve read that studies have shown racks/bags don’t actually cause that much resistance

That would be BQ, and honestly it’s BS. A big bag is going to create as much drag as your an equal frontage as your body. Fenders and water bottles however can create a more aerodynamic shape.

 

[Alexidb]

@Jr Mouse
What’s important to you, being seen or lighting up the road?

 

[Jr Mouse]

Is it upside-down for you? Looked fine on my phone... But not it looks wrong

Yes it's upside down.

 

[Jr Mouse]

@Jr Mouse
What’s important to you, being seen or lighting up the road?

Both. I do want to have a reliable way to light up the road when things get dark. For example there are park trails near where I live that are not lit well for example. Not talking riding in the woods when it's pitch black, but dark enough that having the added light is useful.

 

[Alexidb]

Both. I do want to have a reliable way to light up the road when things get dark. For example there are park trails near where I live that are not lit well for example. Not talking riding in the woods when it's pitch black, but dark enough that having the added light is useful.

For general city riding and dark bike paths the B&M EYC is fine. For actual touring I’ve been a fan of the Supernovas for years. I’ve moved on to SineWave Beacons on my touring and my mountain bikes. I like the two settings of the Beacon and the fact you can run it out and back in from a battery pack.

 

[emptym]

@Jr Mouse, I have the B&M Eyro. I wouldn't recommend it though. I liked how it had a light + reflector and mounted on the fork. It's fine for an urban commute but not good for dark trails.

I like that green machine. This Nua seems like your style too:

More here.

 

[Alexidb]

@Jr Mouse, I liked how... mounted on the fork.
View attachment 1094474
More here.

You can mount any light to a fork. The width of the mounting point is fairly standardized and the B&M mounts are available aftermarket if needed.

 

[otc]

@Jr Mouse, I have the B&M Eyro. I wouldn't recommend it though. I liked how it had a light + reflector and mounted on the fork. It's fine for an urban commute but not good for dark trails.

I like that green machine. This Nua seems like your style too:
View attachment 1094474
More here.

I still don't like the erection look of the sram hydros... But I love reworking them to function as rolloff shifters

 

[venessian]

Btw, I'm thinking about moving this thread to the "Fine Living" subforum, where it may get more views. Anyone think that's a bad idea?

Might be a good idea. You surely know much more about site traffic than I do, but this thread is pretty moribund here.