light stuff

Having made the switch to dyno lighting on my Globe (with additional battery flashers), I'm starting on Jenn's Globe next. I was able to find her a silver version of my Shimano Alfine dyno hub, and it conveniently matches Jenn's Alfine 8-speed internal rear hub on her Globe. We now have the headlight and taillight in hand. I'll cut new spokes today so that I can rebuild her wheel with the new hub over the next couple of days at home. I created version one of a bracket that will mount the headlight under the front of her basket (subsequent version(s) will look a little better, but be mechanically similar).

All this is because I've tired of keeping track of battery life on the CygoLite headlights we've been using. One of the three batteries has lost a lot of burn time compared to its rating, and while a replacement battery isn't horrendously expensive, freedom from dealing with the problem is worth something to me. Dyno systems, while still pricey, have gotten more affordable in recent years. That the lights bolt in place makes them a little more secure, especially in low-risk places where Jenn locks her bike most of the time.

The Supernova E3 asymmetric light we got her is available in two colors via my primary source--black or grey/silver. The Supernova web site shows the light in several other colors, including white, which I think would really blend in on her bike. However, she seems pretty stoked about the one she has, and methinks buying the European white one would cost a bunch more.

I think part of that is that dyno lights are still something of a niche market in this country--we are still too wrapped up in automobile-centricism to see utility bikes sell as well as, say, that deformed dog toy called a football. Even so, they make a lot of sense for folks who ride in low-light situations on a regular basis.