Generator Hubs

[SadieKate]

OMG! With bikejournal down, look at the riffraff coming out of the woodwork!

[Geonz]

I love having a generator light because it's just plain always there. However, I like to have a battery light as a backup, so I carry either my Fenix 2-AA flash light and the twofish clamp that would go on the handlebar, or a headlamp.

There's no hill too steep to walk, either :P

[maillotpois]

OMG! With bikejournal down, look at the riffraff coming out of the woodwork!

There goes the neighborhood....

[fidlfreek]

You guys are SO awesome! My dad is getting into cycling and trying to figure out how to not kill himself on a downhill when a deer jumps out at him in the middle of nowhere. Like "you can see the milky way" of nowhere. Given that 35+ is normal for him on these downhills do you think that one of these generator lights is up to the task?

[Blueberry]

With the new LED lights, from what I've heard, he'll be able to see as well as he can in a car. The problem with deer is that you often don't see them - no matter what light you have - because they come bounding out from the side. But yeah, with those, you'll at least be able to see the road. The light really makes more of a difference than the hub as far as how much light output there is.

[fidlfreek]

Do you have a brand suggestion?

[Blueberry]

Do you have a brand suggestion?

The Schmidt E6 (halogen) was the "gold standard" for generator powered lights until the new LED's came out. It would still be a good choice. Otherwise, I'd look at the Schmidt Edelux or the Supernova E3.

Specifically, I'd look here for more info: http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/schmidt-headlights.asp Here's another page with a comparison: http://ncrandonneur.blogspot.com/200...ra-action.html (though I didn't see the follow up - it's probably there and I missed it!)

They aren't cheap, but they are supposed to be great lights! I ride with an Oval Plus on one bike and halogen Fly's on 2 others. I love them. I won't descend fast at night anyway, so they're plenty for me. They certainly do a good job of illuminating up to, I would say, 20-25 miles per hour. The LED's weren't that great when I bought my lights, and the budget hasn't been conducive to replacing them - that's the only reason I don't have the new lights!

[fidlfreek]

Thanks!!