[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

[Stat Brother]

Sorry to dig up a discussion that happened only 6 weeks ago (which I was part of!).....but front lights, suitable for illuminating a pitch black country lane, or off road darkness...

What were the recommendations? [MENTION=435]Stat Brother[/MENTION], what did you end up getting? Any good?

I was looking at the Cree SolarStorm for only £15 but not sure a) battery life, and b) battery pack.

I got a set of Busch & Mueller (sp) lights from Germany, I think they're great.

Being German they have to comply with their road laws, so they aren't stupidly blinding bright.
Loads of runtime on 'full beam', and a very wide arch of 'clear' light.

As you can tell I love them, and have been in pitch black with them.
But I don't know how they'd handle off road as they are basically a car headlight.

 

[Stat Brother]

Sorry to dig up a discussion that happened only 6 weeks ago (which I was part of!).....but front lights, suitable for illuminating a pitch black country lane, or off road darkness...

What were the recommendations? [MENTION=435]Stat Brother[/MENTION], what did you end up getting? Any good?

I was looking at the Cree SolarStorm for only £15 but not sure a) battery life, and b) battery pack.

This is what I got and who I got it from:-

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/...remium-led-ix-back-senso-set-139557/wg_id-291

 

[Bold Seagull]

This is what I got and who I got it from:-

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/...remium-led-ix-back-senso-set-139557/wg_id-291

Well, the tax avoiders have a £10 off a £50 spend today only (code BIGTHANKS) so the other half had £40 worth of stuff and so I added these: Brite-R Duo Headlight.

I'll see how they go, effectively cost me £8 using the offer.

 

[Hamilton]

All I'll say is...

 

[perseus]

Sorry to dig up a discussion that happened only 6 weeks ago (which I was part of!).....but front lights, suitable for illuminating a pitch black country lane, or off road darkness...

What were the recommendations? [MENTION=435]Stat Brother[/MENTION], what did you end up getting? Any good?

I was looking at the Cree SolarStorm for only £15 but not sure a) battery life, and b) battery pack.

They are best value for money. Not so convenient though with the battery pack. Do the business on a moonless country lane.

For short trips I use the head lamps from the pound shop. I can leave them on the bike and not worry.

 

[Motogull]

Fella at work got a couple of Halfords front Bikehuts on a 2 for 1 deal and said he got flashed by cars because they were so bright.

I might have some cash to spend following a sale of the 200 to NE. Gave him a discount cos he's sound like. If I buy new lights, they'll break after a week...

 

[perseus]

Fella at work got a couple of Halfords front Bikehuts on a 2 for 1 deal and said he got flashed by cars because they were so bright.

I might have some cash to spend following a sale of the 200 to NE. Gave him a discount cos he's sound like. If I buy new lights, they'll break after a week...

Not a patch on the Cree for power (needed on a bumpy surface with potholes and no street lights). I have both, (bought a secondhand bike with Bikehut lights). Cree do other less poweful torch like lights with a simple bracket, rather than an elastic band (elastic band works better than any other mount).

I don't know about back lights. I can't seem to find a reliable one.

 

[1066familyman]

Two puncture related questions:

1) Do mudguards cause more punctures? - It's a crazy theory as surely a puncture occurs at the bottom of the tyre where it meets the road, so surely mudguards have bugger all to do with it. However, this winter with far far less miles than last winter, I've now had three punctures compared to none the previous two winters. Same tyres, in fact tonight's puncture is on a new tyre I put on about 100 miles ago. Only difference to this winter and the previous ones is that I now have close fitting clip on mudguards. have I juts been unlucky or are the mudguards to blame by somehow not allowing debris to flick clear of the tyre so to speak?

2) What does a pinch puncture look like? - Is it something like this ___ ? Rather than this . ?

Hit a pothole on the club run tonight and got a puncture as result. Had a good feel all through the tyre and couldn't find anything sharp in there at all. This is the first time I've not found an offending article in the tyre and inspection of the tube once I got home shows a split as illustrated above rather than a hole. It's near the shoulder of the tube too. I did check carefully for pinches as always the last time I changed that tube. Also odd how it was rear wheel puncture and not front as both wheels hit the pothole.

Anyone got an ideas?

 

[perseus]

Two puncture related questions:

1) Do mudguards cause more punctures? - It's a crazy theory as surely a puncture occurs at the bottom of the tyre where it meets the road, so surely mudguards have bugger all to do with it. However, this winter with far far less miles than last winter, I've now had three punctures compared to none the previous two winters. Same tyres, in fact tonight's puncture is on a new tyre I put on about 100 miles ago. Only difference to this winter and the previous ones is that I now have close fitting clip on mudguards. have I juts been unlucky or are the mudguards to blame by somehow not allowing debris to flick clear of the tyre so to speak?

2) What does a pinch puncture look like? - Is it something like this ___ ? Rather than this . ?

Hit a pothole on the club run tonight and got a puncture as result. Had a good feel all through the tyre and couldn't find anything sharp in there at all. This is the first time I've not found an offending article in the tyre and inspection of the tube once I got home shows a split as illustrated above rather than a hole. It's near the shoulder of the tube too. I did check carefully for pinches as always the last time I changed that tube. Also odd how it was rear wheel puncture and not front as both wheels hit the pothole.

Anyone got an ideas?

I used to get a puncture once a week (more when wet) 50% thorns 50% metal slivers. Then I paid £26 each for a [URL="http://www.schwalbe.com/gb/unplattbar.html]Schwalbe Marathon Tyre[/URL] and no puncture for 2 years back, 3 + years front. Tyres wear twice or more as good as well.

I replace the inner tube nowadays, although I don't get punctures any more.

 

[Stat Brother]

Two puncture related questions:

1) Do mudguards cause more punctures? - It's a crazy theory as surely a puncture occurs at the bottom of the tyre where it meets the road, so surely mudguards have bugger all to do with it. However, this winter with far far less miles than last winter, I've now had three punctures compared to none the previous two winters. Same tyres, in fact tonight's puncture is on a new tyre I put on about 100 miles ago. Only difference to this winter and the previous ones is that I now have close fitting clip on mudguards. have I juts been unlucky or are the mudguards to blame by somehow not allowing debris to flick clear of the tyre so to speak?

2) What does a pinch puncture look like? - Is it something like this ___ ? Rather than this . ?

Hit a pothole on the club run tonight and got a puncture as result. Had a good feel all through the tyre and couldn't find anything sharp in there at all. This is the first time I've not found an offending article in the tyre and inspection of the tube once I got home shows a split as illustrated above rather than a hole. It's near the shoulder of the tube too. I did check carefully for pinches as always the last time I changed that tube. Also odd how it was rear wheel puncture and not front as both wheels hit the pothole.

Anyone got an ideas?

Let me get this straight:-

You have a tyre that's on it's THIRD winter.
3 years of riding in the very worst conditions.
On the very worst road surface.
Containing the maximum amount of debris.

It's now started to puncture...

...and you think it's the mudguards!


As for the other one, that's just bad luck.
A combination of the nature of the pothole, your wheel, the strength of the tube and tyre pressure split the tube on impact, c'est la vie.
On impact if you didn't instantly think 'ouch that's going to puncture', you probably will from now on.
Which does mean in the future you'll get that feeling of relief 9 times out of 10 when you've 'dodged one'.


I don't get the need to be so bright as to get flashed by cars.
Esp when the compromise for the brightness is usually time.
'It's brighter than the sun, but only for 50 minutes, then it'll automatically switch down to one of the other 8 dimmer settings'.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Two puncture related questions:

1) Do mudguards cause more punctures? - It's a crazy theory as surely a puncture occurs at the bottom of the tyre where it meets the road, so surely mudguards have bugger all to do with it. However, this winter with far far less miles than last winter, I've now had three punctures compared to none the previous two winters. Same tyres, in fact tonight's puncture is on a new tyre I put on about 100 miles ago. Only difference to this winter and the previous ones is that I now have close fitting clip on mudguards. have I juts been unlucky or are the mudguards to blame by somehow not allowing debris to flick clear of the tyre so to speak?

2) What does a pinch puncture look like? - Is it something like this ___ ? Rather than this . ?

Hit a pothole on the club run tonight and got a puncture as result. Had a good feel all through the tyre and couldn't find anything sharp in there at all. This is the first time I've not found an offending article in the tyre and inspection of the tube once I got home shows a split as illustrated above rather than a hole. It's near the shoulder of the tube too. I did check carefully for pinches as always the last time I changed that tube. Also odd how it was rear wheel puncture and not front as both wheels hit the pothole.

Anyone got an ideas?

I'd say it was nothing to do with the mud guards, just bad luck. We've had more rain this year, so more debris and more potholes.

And Stat, he said the last puncture was on a tyre that was 100 miles old. I suspect 1066 means same BRAND of tyres, not the exact same ones...

 

[1066familyman]

I used to get a puncture once a week (more when wet) 50% thorns 50% metal slivers. Then I paid £26 each for a I'd say it was nothing to do with the mud guards, just bad luck. We've had more rain this year, so more debris and more potholes.

And Stat, he said the last puncture was on a tyre that was 100 miles old. I suspect 1066 means same BRAND of tyres, not the exact same ones...

All sounds reasonable. The road has been wet each time I've punctured, and it's been a very wet winter.
Last night I was momentarily distracted and off the back of the group when I hit the pothole
Oh and yes, silly old Stat, same brand not same tyres. He was probably too busy counting his fantasy figures to see the 100 figure I put in my original post

Thanks all. At least it's shown my mudguard theory up for the nonsense it always was

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Funnily enough someone else recommended Marathons to me only this week. He's an old hand and said they were almost as good as puncture proof. Up until this winter though the Vredestein fortezza tricomps I use have been superb.



All sounds reasonable. The road has been wet each time I've punctured, and it's been a very wet winter.
Last night I was momentarily distracted and off the back of the group when I hit the pothole
Oh and yes, silly old Stat, same brand not same tyres. He was probably too busy counting his fantasy figures to see the 100 figure I put in my original post

Thanks all. At least it's shown my mudguard theory up for the nonsense it always was

You have absolutely killed it in the Fantasy League. Chapeau.

Third place should be pleasing, but being behind Stat is a new experience, so I feel a little deflated...

 

[kip]

Sorry to dig up a discussion that happened only 6 weeks ago (which I was part of!).....but front lights, suitable for illuminating a pitch black country lane, or off road darkness...

What were the recommendations? [MENTION=435]Stat Brother[/MENTION], what did you end up getting? Any good?

I was looking at the Cree SolarStorm for only £15 but not sure a) battery life, and b) battery pack.

I've got some of those cree solarstorm lights. The light unit themselves are very good and very bright, I use them off road in the woods at night and people can't believe I only paid £15 for them. Unfortunately the batteries are not that great, you won't get more than an hour on full power, although that would be far to bright for the road, even on minimum I find I have to point them down at the road otherwise oncoming traffic gets blinded. I tend to use 2 sets, one on the bars and one on the helmet, I keep them on minimum for most of the ride apart from when I'm on the fast technical bits through the woods and I find I can get about 3 hours out of them. If you keep them on minimum for the whole ride which is more than enough for the road I'm sure you will get about 4hours out of them. Some people I know have replaced the batteries with better quality ones and get a lot more time on full power, that's probably what I'll do when my batteries give up.
Also the battery packs aren't very water proof, I always seal mine in plastic bags if it rains.
Also if you order some, make sure you get the ones with the UK charger.

 

[1066familyman]

You have absolutely killed it in the Fantasy League. Chapeau.

Third place should be pleasing, but being behind Stat is a new experience, so I feel a little deflated...

It was more of a nod to the close call between me and SB to be honest. Having already seen last night's stage, and knowing SB has a much better
sprint team than me, he has every chance of nicking this one on the line.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

It was more of a nod to the close call between me and SB to be honest. Having already seen last night's stage, and knowing SB has a much better
sprint team than me, he has every chance of nicking this one on the line.

I don't think that I could bear that...

 

[1066familyman]

I don't think that I could bear that...

To be fair we'll be entering uncharted waters if he actually wins a game. Who knows what his response will be

 

[Motogull]

I must admit, I can't seem to stop my 'guards rubbing and I wonder how much they are bringing forward new tyres. Its a fair thought 10, but I reckon you'd easily find 'guard related tyre damage.

I'm expecting to venture out soon, but stone me not a drop of rain but it looks like we've been monsooned out there on the ground.

 

[banjo]

Any Geeks know about the TV channel called Bike on Virgin 552 ?? Just noticed it.

Cycling with Pilippa. :lov

 

[Stat Brother]

You know I am in the room

I was 5th overall after stage 1


If you're repeatedly getting the odd puncture on the same brand, I'd seriously look to changing the brand.
New tyres each winter should be able to cope with general road debris.
Sure you're going to get the odd arrowhead or rough edged crater, but all else shouldn't cause a problem..