Lighting?

[newfsmith]

After 8 years of riding with battery powered lights I finally adapted to the reality of my work. I often get caught staying late at work in the summer months, when I'm not always charging my batteries every night and having my main light die on the way home. This summer I decided it was time to go to a generator/dynamo so there is always a full powered lighting system. I have a Shimano hub generator with a BM Lumotec IQ Cyo N Plus LED headlight and a BM D toplight taillight. These are always there, and both have capacitors that keep them running at stoplights.

I'm a strong believer in redundant systems, so I also have Petzl Myo RXP mounted on my helmet, in flashing mode usually, as well as a Planet Bike Superflash, also in flashing mode on the back of my helmet. This gives me both a steady and a flashing light front and rear, plus all of the reflectors & safety triangle. For side lighting I have Pedal Lites that shine white to the front, yellow to the side, and red to the rear. These are also magnetic generators and require no batteries.

My investment in my dynamo & it's lights was $330. I am quite satisfied. My light would not do for singletrack or technical riding, but it is at least as good as my old 30W halogen system, and almost as good as my Princeton Tec Switchback 2. Admittedly, the tail light doesn't put out nearly as much light as my old home-built 56 LED taillight, but it weighs 10 pounds less.