rechargeable lights - do they exist?

[brittmix]

i want a bike light that recharges while i pedal. do they make them? i have seen bike lights that say they are rechargeable, but you have to plug them in. i'm thinking of something kind of like those flashlights that you crank and then they work? does someone make something like that that will crank from my wheel? i can't find anything on the internet, but surely someone has thought of this before me...

[mimitabby]

I have a wheel with a schmidt hub. There are no batteries involved at all; my legs provide the power to the generator hub which then powers the lights. The invention of LED's makes this whole generator hub thing even better because they are so bright.
Shimano makes a generator hub too, but I understand the best is the Schmidt hub.

[maillotpois]

mimi +1

I really like the complete independence you have with a generator hub. You can keep going forever. As long as your legs keep working.

[Lucky, Fabulous]

I think it's a great idea, and if they don't make them already, you should invent them! However, it kind of brings to mind other sorts of inventions that you could power off your pedal power

[brittmix]

I have a wheel with a schmidt hub. There are no batteries involved at all; my legs provide the power to the generator hub which then powers the lights. The invention of LED's makes this whole generator hub thing even better because they are so bright.
Shimano makes a generator hub too, but I understand the best is the Schmidt hub.

sweet, thank you! another question - only real difference these articles are saying between the schmidt and the shimano (besides price) is that the schmidt has less drag than the shimano - doe this matter if i'm not racing my bike? i just want it to ride back from work when it's dark.

[mimitabby]

It probably doesn't matter. If you can afford it, it's going to be a lot better than what you have now.

[Blueberry]

I have the schmidt and shimano. I cannot tell a difference in drag - I know there is one - but it's not enough for me to register. I'd probably take the schmidt for a multi hour after dark ride. But 10-20 miles - I can't tell the difference.

I actually rode the bike with the shimano (off) on the MS150 last year. No issues.

CA

[Melalvai]

I have a nexus hub, which supposedly has about the worst drag of any of them. I can feel the drag when it is on. However I still get home no problem, and having the light there, no worries about dead batteries in the middle of winter, is absolutely wonderful.