Direction of the light is so important too. The number of riders I see that point the light straight on, not only are you blinding whoever is coming towards you but the light has to travel so far to bounce off anything. it will seem a lot dimmer than it actually is. It only needs to be pointed a few meters in front of the wheel.
Night-riding is the absolute best, almost therapeutic I'd say. It's almost hypnotic just following the 'light disc', anything you can't see doesn't exist. Love it. With modern lights visibility is brilliant, unlike the distant past where steering was accomplished by 'listening' for the gravel! I also have a helmet mounted light that illuminates where I'm looking. It's within easy reach to switch off and on as needed. (Beware of kamikaze moths). Must get me one of them there Proviz gilets. Loving the series Katie, Thank You for persevering in the 'summer' weather.
Delighted you are getting noticed by top class sponsors at last ,in one video you have sorted the best night lighting systems available to day ,keep safe.
Nice lights and hub. Good point to carry backups too. Always carry a back up. Makes me feel better. Like the vest. Never heard of the brand. Take care and stay safe, Al
Great vid :) enjoying solo night rides is definitely a state of mind. Changing a tube on an unlit roadside isn't that fun; but with much fewer cars, absolute peace and quiet and that feeling of solitude, it can be great. No fear, be over prepared and ready for anything and night rides are a great way to improve cycling skills and enjoy the roads in a different way :) Thanks for the vid
Really enjoy watching the new endurance series. Such helpful tips. Brought already 2 sets of lights, haven't really been happy with them but those seem promising.
Just got in from a lovely night ride. Its just great the things you see at night. Owls, deer, little eyes peering through hedgerows. Also, the shadows you create off trees are fantastic. I like a good light on the bar, but also have one on the helmet , good for seeing around corners or anything else around you. I`d just be a bit wary about badgers, which can get a bit nasty, and potholes......
Just joined Audax Uk but never ridden one. Can you help explain how you go about doing one and explain the differences e.g. Permanent rides and non permanent? You probably have done this in the past but I am pretty new to your channel and you give solid down to earth, real life advice which is sound. Thank you.
Good to see you pair up with exposure. I really like their front lights having purchased one a couple of years back. They seem well made and I like the features, attachment method, runtime and the lumens. I can't see past my dinotte rear lights though. Have ridden them for years and they are fantastic.
Thanks so much, they are bloody great lights aren't they! So happy with mine and they really did give me the confidence to get out and ride all night! :)
Mountain Mayhem 2017 I hired an Exposure Strada, the following week I went and bought one! Awesome lights and highly recommended. Great vid by the way. Thanks. 😄
Agree with all the positive comments about exposure lights. Key safety feature lighting. Love the rear React light that I have that comes on under breaking - works. Helps other people around. We are part of an ecosystem on the road. Well worth the pennies. 2021 gravel bike will have one of the mega lights on it. Would like to try one with the tappable dimmer function :-)
Hi glowworm 😂, another great piece of content Katie, congratulations with yet again another sponsor specially exposure lights , one word to say 100% Quality, I’ve got the the same blaze rear light now , great setting functions , which gives excellent visibility day and night and and a braking light and senses different lighting conditions , and a great battery life yeah your right Katie they are expensive, but worth every penny , since I’ve had this light motorists seem to give me a more wider berth when passing ,these lights will give you the confidence to ride at night ,
Just a suggestion that the rear lights should point horizontally backwards. I see many folk putting them on the seat stays which angles them upwards 45 degrees from horizontal. Which is great for helicopters approaching but not for cars from the rear. Great videos, lots to learn for me in endurance setups.
Hey, Katie, thanks for the info. I really like the Strada Mk10, its strong and looks durable. I always get a bit of a sinking feeling when I ride at night because at that hour, it's less about your riding skill and more about the lights.
Can you do a video comparing the Strada to the Cateye Volt 1300 and Blackburn DayBlazer 1100? Can you also do a bit on lights attached to your helmet? I think been at a different height means drivers can see that over hedge rows.
Yeah, the exposure stuff is really good. For overnight mtb riding I tend to use lights with a separate battery. At the mo I am using a cheap cree t6 set up. 3 he burn time, but i just carry the extra batteries. Lupine are nice, as is the light and motion seca. So compared to some lights the exposure are quite reasonably priced. Thinking about getting a set. Well done on the sponsorship though
I am old enough to have had the infamous NeverReady lights with the flat 4 1/2 volt disposable batteries with the blue cardboard casing which might last a few evenings if you are lucky. No hi-vis or helmets either in those days so it's a wonder that there are any cyclists still alive from back then. Either a pothole in the road or a ditch at the side of the road would get you or a drunken driver. Now I have 700 lumens of rechargeables which is a lot less than your 1500 lumens but it is still a lot brighter than my first 1970s cars on dipped beam. The last time I saw a NeverReady light it was on an old black policemen's bike at a country show so even PC Plod had to pedal along in the darkness and hope that there was nothing in the way! I live in the country so it is great to be able to go along in perfect safety, and see foxes, badgers and owls on their night-time patrol. What has happened to the weather in the last couple of weeks? I was in the Yorkshire Dales last week and it was like mid-October, almost as though September never happened. Just looked at my computer so unless it is lying it is really 09/09/2020!
Got a set of the later NEVERREADY lights in my garage the white plastic kind that turned nicotine stain yellow 10 seconds after you put them on your bike. They take 2x D each, but i know there was a version that took 4! . The dumbest thing was the way the lights were angled upwards so to position them correctly you had to tilt the massive brackets down and the lights would fall out on the slightest bump, and when they hit the floor the battery door would fly open and the massive terminal springs would immediately eject the batteries at force 20 feet down the road. Thank the cycling Gods for LED's and lithium ion.
yep had them plus a big chrome headlamp that you could switch between dynamo and battery...dynamo you had to pull a lever and it then ran on the edge of the tire :D
I'm also from the Never Ready era and used to cycle to work every day in the mid 1980s. I dumped them. I finished up making my own lamps, alloy cases, motor cycle 6 volt lead acid batteries (4 amp front, 2 amp rear), Union front beam with 10 watt halogen bulb for the front, Union front beam with Ever Ready rear lens glued to it and 3 watt bulb for rear. They were recharged every night. You could see a pot hold before you hit it. The modern lamps only just superceed them. Much much lighter and above 800 lumen a better light. I have a 1700 lumen Cateye front and a 10 diode Cateye rear now. Very bright, no one would fail to see me from miles away with them.
@Steve T The cardboard casing was printed with Ever Ready but everybody used to call them Never Ready because the lights were badly designed, fell off the bike if you went through a pothole and the batteries only lasted a few hours. I had a couple of dynamo sets where the dynamo wheel ran on the edge of the tyre. These were not much better and didn't last a winter. Then I got a Sanyo dynamo which fitted under the bottom bracket. As long as you kept it clean and liberally spread the dynamo wheel with Bostik every now and then so it could get a bit of purchase on the tyre this worked quite well, although the light was still very feeble by modern standards.
I've been riding for 4 years now with the Strada / Blaze combo and I'm very happy with that setup. The Blaze is so damn bright I only need to take a peek in the direction of my heels and can see the glow and know it's on. However I am considering switching to a dynamo setup in the future. Every multi day event I've done so far had a decent opportunity to charge the lights and the Strada takes a bit of time to charge up.
Thinking about it, I have not been confident at night since my Cateye R3 died. The Cree are fine, but I am not that confident of the mount or level of illumination. Sort of limits what I can do off road. Anyway, I had a plastic moment. My mid life crisis is jogging along nicely. I thought about the Strada, but that would limit my off road riding. Also, a full on mtb light, like the MaxxD, is a bit too much. I have gone for the Race 15. It sits in the middle nicely, offering viable road and off road performance, primarily XC, which is what I do. So anyway, I hope to do longer night rides and will use the Cree T6 as a back up helmet light.
Brilliant presentation Katie, happy to know you've been selected for sponsorship yet another time, well deserved!🔝 I would just indicate also reflective straps on your ankles, especially the one exposed to the road, it makes for added security and it is quite a cheap piece of equipment to boot 🔦🌌
ALWAYS bring a small backup light when heading into darkness, be it caving, night biking, tunnel exploring etc. Friend of mine had his aliexpress light shit the bed mid ride, leaving him stranded in the middle of the woods….not nice. He managed to find his way out as it’s a relatively small forrest and he knows it like the back of his hand but it could have been disastrous when further away from civilisation.
Hi Katie, an excellent video as usual ! Could you tell me please if the Strada can be charged with a powerpack if the charge runs down while you are riding? If this is practicable what spec' powerpack would be needed?... Cheers !!
Dynamo - the faster one rides the brighter the light. So at my speed I’ll be riding in darkness 🙂 Sorry you were so cold and wet. The filming of this series is beautifully produced.
No doubt that good bike light will boost your night riding experience. I use to do night xc when i was younger in the days of halogen, where i took tons of spare batteries for long night rides.
The Revo is a lovely light. The problem with them is the lack of a charging property for USB devices and a lack of an on/off switch. As for dynamos, while the Shutter Precision externally resembles the SON, and while it rolls well, the hub tolerances and sealing are vastly inferior to SON's (check for lateral wobble by pushing the rim from side to side, then do the same to a SON hub-laced wheel - there's a lot more play in the SP). Another issue with SP hubs is efficiency: it's the least efficient of all modern hub dynamos. For instance, when climbing, especially off-saddle, the lights will flicker. That's not the case with the SON. The SON is also properly sealed (vacuum-sealed) against the elements; the SP - not so much. The weights are very close and they both roll very well (the SP might take the edge by a iota).
I also like night riding. It has a certain vibes. But for me, it's more fun with people. Another way to feel more confident during night riding is to use a headlight. You lose some comfort but you can see around you. And you can catch some nocturnal animals sometimes.
i like to do my rides at like 4am (well... working nightshifts so i like the dark anyways) noticed i would like to have some good light on my helmet additional to the bike light (my usual tour is part woods and non-lantern sea road) still didnt find the perfect one though...
The front exposure lights are incredible, but the mount for the Blaze on the rear isn't so great. I once lost the light whilst in the middle of a ride as it had fallen off out of the mount (Costly mistake at £80 a light). I probably hit a pothole and BAM, gone. Went back to look for it and couldn't see it anywhere so someone must have nabbed it! Been through many rear lights (Damaged mainly by weather by getting wet!) and the one that has lasted the longest is Lezyne Strip 300
I'm looking for a new front light for commuting. I've had cheap eBay chinesium ones over the last few years. They are pretty bright but only last on maybe 2 years (normally battery pack fails) been looking at exposure, like the made in UK thing. Wonder if the sponsorship comes with special prices for subscribers ?? 😜
Haha I will ask for ya! :) For commuting the Trace and TraceR set are good! Will do a commute lighting video when we get into the darker months for sure!
so do you run auxiliary lights if your main set up is dynamo run... what i mean is if you have to stop. traffic lights or a puncture or whatever .. or does the dynamo store power so your light is always on even when stopped ?
Hi Katie, have been following you from Denmark for some time now, a BIG thumbs up 👍 from me, I love your videos, especially the amazing scenarie on some of your tours 😀. What was the name of the jacket, Maybe if you also have a link.
I love riding at night - peace and quite, a lot less traffic and lots of wildlife (have to watch out for deer and rabits running into the road though). Half decent lights help A LOT - definitely worth spending a bit of money on them (and a back up light for longer rides - but im only out for 1-2 hours)
Hi Katie, those light look brilliant. Just curious if the dynamo generates any noticeable resistance, like they used to in the old days. I don't think you mentioned that in the video.
I've always been terrified of the thought of riding in the dark and plan my rides accordingly (especially in winter). After work rides are not a thing for me in winter, but now I might just give it a try. I have that Pro Vis gilet and its great. My light is 2000 lumens (moon meteor storm pro) and I'm always worried it's too bright haha. But it does have different modes. Thanks Katie, I'm deffo going to give it a go 👍
Well done on the sponsorship. Usual great info. Use exposure lights on mtb. Not sure if it's the same on the road but I found it useful to have both handlebar light and helmet mounted too. Being dim(unintentional pun!); the dyno hub, is that built into the wheel? Thanks Katie.
Hey Katie, I'm looking at a dynamo + light setup, but i wanted to know how much minimum speed did you had to do to be able to see correctly with the Revo, for exemple if i'm climbing at ~10km/h for multiple hours, would it be enough to see something or should i invest in usb port and charge the Srada for example ? And another thing, i recently switched to an 11-40 cassette but i have some chain slack when i'm in the 50 11 and it's actually quite concerning when i'm back pedaling in descents to put my foot in the opposite way of the turn, do you have clutch derailleur, would it take the slack away or do you deal with it ?
Not Katie here but I have a Revo, it gets to it's brightest at around 20km/h but even at walking pace it maintains a good brightness. 11-40 ain't that big, a non clutch rear mech' should handle it especially in the big ring, try turning in the B screw in if that doesn't fix it turn it back out and remove a link.
ZeBen84 I've taken a link out to remove the chain slack as I use my top gear. I can't now, however, use the big rear cog with the big front ring, it won't go but that is a ring combination you never use anyway so it works for me.
@@afreeman1980 if you have two chainrings up front (e.g. 50&34) and are running an 11-40 cassette on the back that is quite unusual in my eyes. I would imagine the rear derailleur is struggling to take in all the slack. I wouldn't be surprised if whatever company made your gears (Shimano?) don't officially support that setup. Their website will tell you. If you are running a single chainring up front then things are different.
Depends on the dynamo just as much as on the light. Go SON for the best output efficiency, rolling, weight and sealing combination. The Shutter Precision scores very well on the rolling and weight spectrum, but poorly on output efficiency and reliability. The tolerances are way too wide, the sealing is mediocre. It has a terrible lateral wobble, compared to the SON.
@@LeoInterHyenaem i was thinking to get a SON hub, but more because of the compatiblity and the fact that you can have the same hub for thru axle and quick release with an adaptater to use on my gravel bikeand road bike and put a 32 holes Mavic Open Pro UST, no sure yet on the spokes, Sapim will most likely be my choice but idk what model yet
Been looking for a Helmet Light for sometime, but never really taken the plunge. The Link DayBright MK2 looks like a suitable candidate; not looking for something mega-expensive just something to help with changing a tube or more increasingly like this Autumn/Winter a bivvy spot in a forest or beside the road. Do you use a helmet light at all Katie?
A rechargeable light has the advantage that it can double up as a torch when you need to fix a puncture by the roadside at night. For longer rides have two or more cheap rechargeable lights.
Well done with real world experience. I have been looking at dynamo hub for my gravel road touring, Rockies- Northern Plains US and Canada, where the day time temps can be crushing. I want to safely get in a few hours of road in before dusk thinking it would be would be a real advantage. I grew up trekking (backpacking US) in the desert Southwest with a lot of night hiking.
Not done a night ride this year. You can never have to many lights on your bike. Someone at work bought light to cycle to and from work ......wasted his £££££ could not see a thing on unlit roads so I helped him out and he was a happy cyclist and he could see
Excellent tips, I recommend hivis clothing and lights on for during the day also. Maybe do a video about that dynamo - do you need to replace the axle ?
Wow 800 lumens! I run 250 but yeah there’s always the fear of not seeing a pot hole or a 2x4 on the road many of times I’ve found myself kissing the ground because of it. But riding at night there’s something cool about riding at night there’s a secret energy in me. That safety vest is awesome! Yeah vest aren’t cool but they save lives. Good video kook. Jc
I’ve had an Exposure Diablo for 7-8 years now and it’s still going strong. Also recently bought a couple of the new Daybright lights too - the Sirius and the new Blaze Reakt. Absolutely bombproof lights, super reliable and as bright as the sun. Love the digital display on the back of the Strada. I presume that’s a Mk10 model, Katie?
2020 - the year I forgot how to cycle through the night - thanks to lockdown. Hopefully normal service to resume soon. Lights are just one small part of solo riding overnight, the other is fear of a mechanical in the dark and possibly colder weather. Also the learning to understand that you generally ride slower at night.
I got their Strada. Awesome! You forgot to mention the Exposure 8.7 amp Support cells as back up for the Strada. They don't have a bracket in their range to attach their lights to your fork crown mount. Exposure advice via e-mail can be a little vague @ times!
No problem, modern dynamo's are based in the front hub, so as long as the wheel is turning it will generate energy. Its not related to the geartrain of the bike, so pedalling isn't directly necessary. Some of the current light systems also have a small capacitor built-in that will give a few minutes grace in operation after you stop moving too, so a quick stop to check directions, etc will keep them lit until you ride on. HTH
I do like night rides. You follow your light tunnel on your bike. No one in your proximity, only a few animals. Single trails are pretty awesome in the dark.
Hey Katie, thanks for the video! I have a fear of night riding because I am worried that I’ll be hit. Having dynamo lights and high vis jacket certain help! Side question: did you bring a tripod or was someone holding the camera for you? I also saw in some videos where you were shooting yourself while cycling. Were they on the Sony with 16mm lens? That’s a beast to hold on one hand while cycling!
I try to avoid riding late at night when there are likely to be drunk drivers on the roads or on friday/saturday evenings when drivers with attitude and in a hurry to get to the pub they are going to, to get plastered, are out on the roads. If I am out late and I see a car approaching from behind that is being driven aggressively, erratically or fast I often pull off the road and let them go by. Peace, quiet and darkness again riding into the night.
I find more poor driving on commutes at peak times rather than at night. More likely to have something happen when it loads of traffic sadly. Do whatever makes you comfortable though :)
@@KatieKookaburra Very much these times of day as well. You have to have your wits about you the whole time. Prefer to find off road routes if have to ride at traditional car commuting times as I am not comfortable with fast close passes with the distinct possibility of being hit. Been hit 3 times already. Don't want to be killed.
I always worry that I might have an accident and the lights could fail or lose there charge. You could just be left there with no help whatsoever. I always go out with someone else for that reason. Unless I go in a well lit area
Hi Katie, just wondering about the hub for the dynamo. Does it attach to the wheel hub, or is is actually part of the wheel, i e. you have to buy a new front wheel with an integral dynamo?
@@markrushton1516 thanks Mark, that's how I remember it from when I was a kid....was hoping after half a century things might have moved on (LEDs notwithstanding ) 😂
Over here in the netherlands we have pretty much everywhere separate cycle lanes beside the roads. Cycling alone in the dark sharing the road with the fast cars around you seem very dangerous to me.
My Exposure lights Max D failed several times and wouldn't switch on or change modes. Then the cables for the rear lights and piggy back external batteries failed by becoming brittle in cold weather which meant they easily cracked exposing the wiring beneath which then also cracked meaning they stopped working. The external casing of the battery packs, I bought x2 at £90 each, also cracked and came away easily meaning the actually battery inside is now exposed. The plastic casing enclosing the battery is not strong at all. I only got one season's use out of them. Bright lights, but a total waste of money as the quality and durability is so poor. The Max D lights had to go back to Exposure on several occasions to be fixed in the first couple of years, but they been ok since. Bright. But Exposure refused to re-imburse me for my postage despite their products being faulty. Not good. I now have Son dynamo lights with Edelux 2 front light which is very good. Always have lights so don't need to worry about forgetting to carry lights.
There has never been a case or a cougar attacking a bike rider at night. Likely good lights like Katie is talking about would give a good indication to a cougar that it is not something to attack.
Would be good if people with very bright lights set them correctly instead of blinding motorist and give a hand sign when you put your extra bright main beam on ! Enough said .
That's because they all use them wrong and point them too high up or straight out, bike lights should be set to illuminate the road in front of you (pointed down).
If the bike lights are positioned correctly they should be ok for oncomming cars. An undipped 200 watt set of modern car headlamps is far more dangerous for the cyclist as once dazzled you can see nothing for quite a number of seconds and have to resort to shutting one eye when encountering them or into the centre of the road or verge you may go. A peaked hat is useful here as you just dip your head before their beams blind you.
Direction of the light is so important too. The number of riders I see that point the light straight on, not only are you blinding whoever is coming towards you but the light has to travel so far to bounce off anything. it will seem a lot dimmer than it actually is. It only needs to be pointed a few meters in front of the wheel.
The point is to light the road anyway, so it's useless to point it straight.
Night-riding is the absolute best, almost therapeutic I'd say. It's almost hypnotic just following the 'light disc', anything you can't see doesn't exist. Love it.
With modern lights visibility is brilliant, unlike the distant past where steering was accomplished by 'listening' for the gravel! I also have a helmet mounted light that illuminates where I'm looking. It's within easy reach to switch off and on as needed. (Beware of kamikaze moths). Must get me one of them there Proviz gilets.
Loving the series Katie, Thank You for persevering in the 'summer' weather.
I know what you mean, and less traffic. The only problem, descents and hitting stuff, animals.
Best lights in the world , congratulations on the sponsorship.
Agree
Best lights, stupidest mounts.
Delighted you are getting noticed by top class sponsors at last ,in one video you have sorted the best night lighting systems available to day ,keep safe.
Great to have you on board!
Very good info. I haven't ridden in c the dark much because of the fear. Ill have to give to start now
Totally with you on being scared riding at night... Exposure lights have never let me down!
Nice lights and hub. Good point to carry backups too. Always carry a back up. Makes me feel better. Like the vest. Never heard of the brand. Take care and stay safe, Al
Great vid :) enjoying solo night rides is definitely a state of mind. Changing a tube on an unlit roadside isn't that fun; but with much fewer cars, absolute peace and quiet and that feeling of solitude, it can be great. No fear, be over prepared and ready for anything and night rides are a great way to improve cycling skills and enjoy the roads in a different way :) Thanks for the vid
Really enjoy watching the new endurance series. Such helpful tips. Brought already 2 sets of lights, haven't really been happy with them but those seem promising.
That light mount benefits from a small addition of grease to the button/pin. Cold, wet hands struggle if the mechanism is stuck
Just got in from a lovely night ride. Its just great the things you see at night. Owls, deer, little eyes peering through hedgerows.
Also, the shadows you create off trees are fantastic.
I like a good light on the bar, but also have one on the helmet , good for seeing around corners or anything else around you.
I`d just be a bit wary about badgers, which can get a bit nasty, and potholes......
Just joined Audax Uk but never ridden one. Can you help explain how you go about doing one and explain the differences e.g. Permanent rides and non permanent?
You probably have done this in the past but I am pretty new to your channel and you give solid down to earth, real life advice which is sound. Thank you.
Good to see you pair up with exposure. I really like their front lights having purchased one a couple of years back. They seem well made and I like the features, attachment method, runtime and the lumens. I can't see past my dinotte rear lights though. Have ridden them for years and they are fantastic.
Thanks so much, they are bloody great lights aren't they! So happy with mine and they really did give me the confidence to get out and ride all night! :)
Mountain Mayhem 2017 I hired an Exposure Strada, the following week I went and bought one! Awesome lights and highly recommended. Great vid by the way. Thanks. 😄
Thanks Andy, best lights out there!! Absolute top!!
Agree with all the positive comments about exposure lights. Key safety feature lighting. Love the rear React light that I have that comes on under breaking - works. Helps other people around. We are part of an ecosystem on the road. Well worth the pennies. 2021 gravel bike will have one of the mega lights on it. Would like to try one with the tappable dimmer function :-)
Hi glowworm 😂, another great piece of content Katie, congratulations with yet again another sponsor specially exposure lights , one word to say 100% Quality, I’ve got the the same blaze rear light now , great setting functions , which gives excellent visibility day and night and and a braking light and senses different lighting conditions , and a great battery life yeah your right Katie they are expensive, but worth every penny , since I’ve had this light motorists seem to give me a more wider berth when passing ,these lights will give you the confidence to ride at night ,
Just a suggestion that the rear lights should point horizontally backwards. I see many folk putting them on the seat stays which angles them upwards 45 degrees from horizontal. Which is great for helicopters approaching but not for cars from the rear. Great videos, lots to learn for me in endurance setups.
Hey, Katie, thanks for the info. I really like the Strada Mk10, its strong and looks durable. I always get a bit of a sinking feeling when I ride at night because at that hour, it's less about your riding skill and more about the lights.
Can you do a video comparing the Strada to the Cateye Volt 1300 and Blackburn DayBlazer 1100? Can you also do a bit on lights attached to your helmet? I think been at a different height means drivers can see that over hedge rows.
Great vlog Katie thank u for doing a vlog on light sorry u got cold poor skinny K x
I never thought that I could start a bike ride at just past over 2.00am. Kudos Kay Kay. 👍👍
Great job was looking for a new light with the winter coming in 😎🍀👍
Yeah, the exposure stuff is really good. For overnight mtb riding I tend to use lights with a separate battery. At the mo I am using a cheap cree t6 set up. 3 he burn time, but i just carry the extra batteries. Lupine are nice, as is the light and motion seca. So compared to some lights the exposure are quite reasonably priced. Thinking about getting a set. Well done on the sponsorship though
Cheers Alex, yeah I’ve been using Exposure for around 18 months and love them! Mega stoked on the sponsorship!!!! 🥳🥳🥳
I am old enough to have had the infamous NeverReady lights with the flat 4 1/2 volt disposable batteries with the blue cardboard casing which might last a few evenings if you are lucky. No hi-vis or helmets either in those days so it's a wonder that there are any cyclists still alive from back then. Either a pothole in the road or a ditch at the side of the road would get you or a drunken driver. Now I have 700 lumens of rechargeables which is a lot less than your 1500 lumens but it is still a lot brighter than my first 1970s cars on dipped beam.
The last time I saw a NeverReady light it was on an old black policemen's bike at a country show so even PC Plod had to pedal along in the darkness and hope that there was nothing in the way!
I live in the country so it is great to be able to go along in perfect safety, and see foxes, badgers and owls on their night-time patrol.
What has happened to the weather in the last couple of weeks? I was in the Yorkshire Dales last week and it was like mid-October, almost as though September never happened. Just looked at my computer so unless it is lying it is really 09/09/2020!
Got a set of the later NEVERREADY lights in my garage the white plastic kind that turned nicotine stain yellow 10 seconds after you put them on your bike. They take 2x D each, but i know there was a version that took 4! . The dumbest thing was the way the lights were angled upwards so to position them correctly you had to tilt the massive brackets down and the lights would fall out on the slightest bump, and when they hit the floor the battery door would fly open and the massive terminal springs would immediately eject the batteries at force 20 feet down the road. Thank the cycling Gods for LED's and lithium ion.
yep had them plus a big chrome headlamp that you could switch between dynamo and battery...dynamo you had to pull a lever and it then ran on the edge of the tire :D
@Steve T yes
I'm also from the Never Ready era and used to cycle to work every day in the mid 1980s. I dumped them.
I finished up making my own lamps, alloy cases, motor cycle 6 volt lead acid batteries (4 amp front, 2 amp rear), Union front beam with 10 watt halogen bulb for the front, Union front beam with Ever Ready rear lens glued to it and 3 watt bulb for rear. They were recharged every night. You could see a pot hold before you hit it.
The modern lamps only just superceed them. Much much lighter and above 800 lumen a better light.
I have a 1700 lumen Cateye front and a 10 diode Cateye rear now. Very bright, no one would fail to see me from miles away with them.
@Steve T The cardboard casing was printed with Ever Ready but everybody used to call them Never Ready because the lights were badly designed, fell off the bike if you went through a pothole and the batteries only lasted a few hours.
I had a couple of dynamo sets where the dynamo wheel ran on the edge of the tyre. These were not much better and didn't last a winter. Then I got a Sanyo dynamo which fitted under the bottom bracket. As long as you kept it clean and liberally spread the dynamo wheel with Bostik every now and then so it could get a bit of purchase on the tyre this worked quite well, although the light was still very feeble by modern standards.
Thank you so much for the video. Can you let me know what is the name of the gillet and where it can be purchased from?
Thank you
Yep it’s the ProViz switch gilet :)
Well done, Katie!
If I'm not mistaken Ribble has forks with "holes" for extra cables from dynamo , but on gravel bikes maybe they essentially same as on endurance?
I've been riding for 4 years now with the Strada / Blaze combo and I'm very happy with that setup. The Blaze is so damn bright I only need to take a peek in the direction of my heels and can see the glow and know it's on. However I am considering switching to a dynamo setup in the future. Every multi day event I've done so far had a decent opportunity to charge the lights and the Strada takes a bit of time to charge up.
Thinking about it, I have not been confident at night since my Cateye R3 died. The Cree are fine, but I am not that confident of the mount or level of illumination. Sort of limits what I can do off road. Anyway, I had a plastic moment. My mid life crisis is jogging along nicely. I thought about the Strada, but that would limit my off road riding. Also, a full on mtb light, like the MaxxD, is a bit too much. I have gone for the Race 15. It sits in the middle nicely, offering viable road and off road performance, primarily XC, which is what I do. So anyway, I hope to do longer night rides and will use the Cree T6 as a back up helmet light.
Brilliant presentation Katie, happy to know you've been selected for sponsorship yet another time, well deserved!🔝 I would just indicate also reflective straps on your ankles, especially the one exposed to the road, it makes for added security and it is quite a cheap piece of equipment to boot 🔦🌌
Katie, great vid as usual. Do you have a link to the hi viz gilet please? Many thanks 👍
Great video....thanks.....love the new bike 🚲
where did you get jack from
ALWAYS bring a small backup light when heading into darkness, be it caving, night biking, tunnel exploring etc. Friend of mine had his aliexpress light shit the bed mid ride, leaving him stranded in the middle of the woods….not nice. He managed to find his way out as it’s a relatively small forrest and he knows it like the back of his hand but it could have been disastrous when further away from civilisation.
Hi Katie, an excellent video as usual ! Could you tell me please if the Strada can be charged with a powerpack if the charge runs down while you are riding? If this is practicable what spec' powerpack would be needed?... Cheers !!
Yeah pretty sure it can. It charges via USB but I haven’t needed to on the road. Check with Exposure but can’t see why it wouldn’t :)
@@KatieKookaburra Ah thank you for such a prompt reply -will follow it up as you suggest !
Congrats on the sponsor, have been needing to find new lights to replace my existing set up for winter commute.
Dynamo - the faster one rides the brighter the light. So at my speed I’ll be riding in darkness 🙂
Sorry you were so cold and wet. The filming of this series is beautifully produced.
No doubt that good bike light will boost your night riding experience. I use to do night xc when i was younger in the days of halogen, where i took tons of spare batteries for long night rides.
Great video Katie and congratulations on your new sponsor
The Revo is a lovely light. The problem with them is the lack of a charging property for USB devices and a lack of an on/off switch.
As for dynamos, while the Shutter Precision externally resembles the SON, and while it rolls well, the hub tolerances and sealing are vastly inferior to SON's (check for lateral wobble by pushing the rim from side to side, then do the same to a SON hub-laced wheel - there's a lot more play in the SP). Another issue with SP hubs is efficiency: it's the least efficient of all modern hub dynamos. For instance, when climbing, especially off-saddle, the lights will flicker. That's not the case with the SON. The SON is also properly sealed (vacuum-sealed) against the elements; the SP - not so much. The weights are very close and they both roll very well (the SP might take the edge by a iota).
I also like night riding. It has a certain vibes. But for me, it's more fun with people.
Another way to feel more confident during night riding is to use a headlight. You lose some comfort but you can see around you. And you can catch some nocturnal animals sometimes.
That Proviz fabric is amazing
Great video Katie and congrats on the sponsor 🥳
i like to do my rides at like 4am (well... working nightshifts so i like the dark anyways) noticed i would like to have some good light on my helmet additional to the bike light (my usual tour is part woods and non-lantern sea road) still didnt find the perfect one though...
The front exposure lights are incredible, but the mount for the Blaze on the rear isn't so great. I once lost the light whilst in the middle of a ride as it had fallen off out of the mount (Costly mistake at £80 a light). I probably hit a pothole and BAM, gone. Went back to look for it and couldn't see it anywhere so someone must have nabbed it!
Been through many rear lights (Damaged mainly by weather by getting wet!) and the one that has lasted the longest is Lezyne Strip 300
As an old man with a daughter and a granddaughter I would still worry about you riding solo in the middle of the night!
Hi Katie, your Revo light has a output port, can it be used with the Sinewave USB convertor to charge a phone?
Exposure cannot answer the question
I don’t think so as I have the Sinewave and I have to unplug the light and use one of the other. Hope that helps.
I'm looking for a new front light for commuting. I've had cheap eBay chinesium ones over the last few years. They are pretty bright but only last on maybe 2 years (normally battery pack fails) been looking at exposure, like the made in UK thing. Wonder if the sponsorship comes with special prices for subscribers ?? 😜
Haha I will ask for ya! :) For commuting the Trace and TraceR set are good! Will do a commute lighting video when we get into the darker months for sure!
Congrats on the sponsor. Love your vids!!
Thank you!!!
so do you run auxiliary lights if your main set up is dynamo run... what i mean is if you have to stop. traffic lights or a puncture or whatever .. or does the dynamo store power so your light is always on even when stopped ?
Hi Katie, have been following you from Denmark for some time now, a BIG thumbs up 👍 from me, I love your videos, especially the amazing scenarie on some of your tours 😀. What was the name of the jacket, Maybe if you also have a link.
It's called ProViz Switch :) Love to Denmark x
I love riding at night - peace and quite, a lot less traffic and lots of wildlife (have to watch out for deer and rabits running into the road though). Half decent lights help A LOT - definitely worth spending a bit of money on them (and a back up light for longer rides - but im only out for 1-2 hours)
Hi Katie, those light look brilliant. Just curious if the dynamo generates any noticeable resistance, like they used to in the old days. I don't think you mentioned that in the video.
I've always been terrified of the thought of riding in the dark and plan my rides accordingly (especially in winter). After work rides are not a thing for me in winter, but now I might just give it a try. I have that Pro Vis gilet and its great. My light is 2000 lumens (moon meteor storm pro) and I'm always worried it's too bright haha. But it does have different modes. Thanks Katie, I'm deffo going to give it a go 👍
Well done on the sponsorship. Usual great info. Use exposure lights on mtb. Not sure if it's the same on the road but I found it useful to have both handlebar light and helmet mounted too. Being dim(unintentional pun!); the dyno hub, is that built into the wheel? Thanks Katie.
Hey Katie,
I'm looking at a dynamo + light setup, but i wanted to know how much minimum speed did you had to do to be able to see correctly with the Revo, for exemple if i'm climbing at ~10km/h for multiple hours, would it be enough to see something or should i invest in usb port and charge the Srada for example ?
And another thing, i recently switched to an 11-40 cassette but i have some chain slack when i'm in the 50 11 and it's actually quite concerning when i'm back pedaling in descents to put my foot in the opposite way of the turn, do you have clutch derailleur, would it take the slack away or do you deal with it ?
Not Katie here but I have a Revo, it gets to it's brightest at around 20km/h but even at walking pace it maintains a good brightness.
11-40 ain't that big, a non clutch rear mech' should handle it especially in the big ring, try turning in the B screw in if that doesn't fix it turn it back out and remove a link.
ZeBen84
I've taken a link out to remove the chain slack as I use my top gear. I can't now, however, use the big rear cog with the big front ring, it won't go but that is a ring combination you never use anyway so it works for me.
@@afreeman1980 if you have two chainrings up front (e.g. 50&34) and are running an 11-40 cassette on the back that is quite unusual in my eyes. I would imagine the rear derailleur is struggling to take in all the slack. I wouldn't be surprised if whatever company made your gears (Shimano?) don't officially support that setup. Their website will tell you. If you are running a single chainring up front then things are different.
Depends on the dynamo just as much as on the light. Go SON for the best output efficiency, rolling, weight and sealing combination. The Shutter Precision scores very well on the rolling and weight spectrum, but poorly on output efficiency and reliability. The tolerances are way too wide, the sealing is mediocre. It has a terrible lateral wobble, compared to the SON.
@@LeoInterHyenaem i was thinking to get a SON hub, but more because of the compatiblity and the fact that you can have the same hub for thru axle and quick release with an adaptater to use on my gravel bikeand road bike and put a 32 holes Mavic Open Pro UST, no sure yet on the spokes, Sapim will most likely be my choice but idk what model yet
Been looking for a Helmet Light for sometime, but never really taken the plunge. The Link DayBright MK2 looks like a suitable candidate; not looking for something mega-expensive just something to help with changing a tube or more increasingly like this Autumn/Winter a bivvy spot in a forest or beside the road. Do you use a helmet light at all Katie?
interested in the dynamo hub .. could be very useful
A rechargeable light has the advantage that it can double up as a torch when you need to fix a puncture by the roadside at night. For longer rides have two or more cheap rechargeable lights.
Well done with real world experience. I have been looking at dynamo hub for my gravel road touring, Rockies- Northern Plains US and Canada, where the day time temps can be crushing. I want to safely get in a few hours of road in before dusk thinking it would be would be a real advantage. I grew up trekking (backpacking US) in the desert Southwest with a lot of night hiking.
Not done a night ride this year. You can never have to many lights on your bike. Someone at work bought light to cycle to and from work ......wasted his £££££ could not see a thing on unlit roads so I helped him out and he was a happy cyclist and he could see
Is it possible to use a normal usb charging light and a battery pack like and Anker?
Thank you for this video 👍
By watching this, I am thinking about Tour de france at night 😁
Excellent tips, I recommend hivis clothing and lights on for during the day also. Maybe do a video about that dynamo - do you need to replace the axle ?
Wow 800 lumens! I run 250 but yeah there’s always the fear of not seeing a pot hole or a 2x4 on the road many of times I’ve found myself kissing the ground because of it. But riding at night there’s something cool about riding at night there’s a secret energy in me. That safety vest is awesome! Yeah vest aren’t cool but they save lives. Good video kook. Jc
Really wondered about you riding alone at night. Got me thinking.
I’ve had an Exposure Diablo for 7-8 years now and it’s still going strong. Also recently bought a couple of the new Daybright lights too - the Sirius and the new Blaze Reakt. Absolutely bombproof lights, super reliable and as bright as the sun. Love the digital display on the back of the Strada. I presume that’s a Mk10 model, Katie?
Exposure rear light cannot be fitted 'vertically' to a rear rack, only a angled seat post.
I use the Bontrager flare R on my rack.
Mega light.
Do you have a link for the gilet?
I use Bontrager Ion daytime running lights all the time, even on sunny days
2020 - the year I forgot how to cycle through the night - thanks to lockdown. Hopefully normal service to resume soon. Lights are just one small part of solo riding overnight, the other is fear of a mechanical in the dark and possibly colder weather. Also the learning to understand that you generally ride slower at night.
I got their Strada. Awesome!
You forgot to mention the Exposure 8.7 amp Support cells as back up for the Strada.
They don't have a bracket in their range to attach their lights to your fork crown mount.
Exposure advice via e-mail can be a little vague @ times!
I’m loving this little series 😁. Quick question - what happens with dynamo lights if you are freewheeling on a long downhill ?
No problem, modern dynamo's are based in the front hub, so as long as the wheel is turning it will generate energy. Its not related to the geartrain of the bike, so pedalling isn't directly necessary. Some of the current light systems also have a small capacitor built-in that will give a few minutes grace in operation after you stop moving too, so a quick stop to check directions, etc will keep them lit until you ride on. HTH
Craig Morgan thanks so much for that 👍
I do like night rides. You follow your light tunnel on your bike. No one in your proximity, only a few animals. Single trails are pretty awesome in the dark.
Hey Katie, thanks for the video! I have a fear of night riding because I am worried that I’ll be hit. Having dynamo lights and high vis jacket certain help! Side question: did you bring a tripod or was someone holding the camera for you? I also saw in some videos where you were shooting yourself while cycling. Were they on the Sony with 16mm lens? That’s a beast to hold on one hand while cycling!
I try to avoid riding late at night when there are likely to be drunk drivers on the roads or on friday/saturday evenings when drivers with attitude and in a hurry to get to the pub they are going to, to get plastered, are out on the roads. If I am out late and I see a car approaching from behind that is being driven aggressively, erratically or fast I often pull off the road and let them go by. Peace, quiet and darkness again riding into the night.
I find more poor driving on commutes at peak times rather than at night. More likely to have something happen when it loads of traffic sadly. Do whatever makes you comfortable though :)
@@KatieKookaburra Very much these times of day as well. You have to have your wits about you the whole time. Prefer to find off road routes if have to ride at traditional car commuting times as I am not comfortable with fast close passes with the distinct possibility of being hit. Been hit 3 times already. Don't want to be killed.
I always worry that I might have an accident and the lights could fail or lose there charge. You could just be left there with no help whatsoever.
I always go out with someone else for that reason. Unless I go in a well lit area
That's why you ALWAYS take back up lights :)
Hi Katie, just wondering about the hub for the dynamo. Does it attach to the wheel hub, or is is actually part of the wheel, i e. you have to buy a new front wheel with an integral dynamo?
It is a hub. You have the wheel built around it. Shimano, SON and Shutter (Exposure ) are the main brands. Other brands available
@@markrushton1516 thanks Mark, that's how I remember it from when I was a kid....was hoping after half a century things might have moved on (LEDs notwithstanding ) 😂
They are better in terms of output, reliability and connections. We still get punctures so something's don't change
Is that a new bike ?
My light on my bike is better then all the lights on my car. 22w of led. Had to add a low beam because of how much light it puts off.
I'll watch this after work.
Gotta go..
Love from India 🇮🇳
I prefer night riding for sure :) no people no cars just me and the road
Quote of the day "I GLOW LIKE A GLOW WORM" haha
Over here in the netherlands we have pretty much everywhere separate cycle lanes beside the roads. Cycling alone in the dark sharing the road with the fast cars around you seem very dangerous to me.
Im sure I’ll get hate for asking this but seriously, £300 for the Strada?
Get what you pay for but buy them in a sale.
Exposure lights $$$😲😲😲
Nice video & congrats on the sponsorship! Sadly the price point of these lights is much too high for the average consumer.
I'll come there to ride with you katie even nighttime❤️
20 spoke rear wheel.
36 spoke front wheel.
Quite an unusual setup?
You have answered that, dynamo in front.
Why didn’t you just do your video inside out or the cold?
My Exposure lights Max D failed several times and wouldn't switch on or change modes. Then the cables for the rear lights and piggy back external batteries failed by becoming brittle in cold weather which meant they easily cracked exposing the wiring beneath which then also cracked meaning they stopped working. The external casing of the battery packs, I bought x2 at £90 each, also cracked and came away easily meaning the actually battery inside is now exposed. The plastic casing enclosing the battery is not strong at all. I only got one season's use out of them. Bright lights, but a total waste of money as the quality and durability is so poor. The Max D lights had to go back to Exposure on several occasions to be fixed in the first couple of years, but they been ok since. Bright. But Exposure refused to re-imburse me for my postage despite their products being faulty. Not good. I now have Son dynamo lights with Edelux 2 front light which is very good. Always have lights so don't need to worry about forgetting to carry lights.
Did you ever go for a cycling at night when the full moon is out. Its like a new life
All through the night some times... magical!
Certainly magical. Cleared the mind completely and so good for the soul . It so easy to be happy and free
In the Western US, my biggest fear with night riding is mountain lions. 😬
Bloody hell!!! 😬😬😬
There has never been a case or a cougar attacking a bike rider at night. Likely good lights like Katie is talking about would give a good indication to a cougar that it is not something to attack.
Jim Thode ah. Fair point.
Would be good if people with very bright lights set them correctly instead of blinding motorist and give a hand sign when you put your extra bright main beam on ! Enough said .
I just don't want to get hit by a car but yeah this looks fun.
$300 lights! I’ll ride during the day lol
I don’t like paying for lights either that’s why I use candles at home in the dark.
cycle lights are now too bright making them dangerous for car drivers, i am a cyclist but Wont use more than 450 lumens
That's because they all use them wrong and point them too high up or straight out, bike lights should be set to illuminate the road in front of you (pointed down).
If the bike lights are positioned correctly they should be ok for oncomming cars. An undipped 200 watt set of modern car headlamps is far more dangerous for the cyclist as once dazzled you can see nothing for quite a number of seconds and have to resort to shutting one eye when encountering them or into the centre of the road or verge you may go.
A peaked hat is useful here as you just dip your head before their beams blind you.
Lots of cyclists using mtb lights
Instead of lights designed for road us
test comment. i just typed a very long comment but it vanished. great work in summary