Good news: Goods received in less than 24 hours of ordering.
Bad news: One of the two lamps is broken!!!! The front glass must have shattered in transit as it knocked against the other lamp. They were just packed loose in a box full of little polystyrene spongy block thingies. The lamps should have been individually wrapped or boxed.
Anyway, everything else seems ok and the over-volted 12W spot halogen looks fantastic -- and that's just from trying it at home in daylight! Of course I'll send the broken lamp back for a replacement but won't stop me having some fun with the other one in the meantime. I'm heading out into the sticks tonight even if it's pissing down... well, maybe tomorrow then :-)
Good news: Goods received in less than 24 hours of ordering.
Quoted message said:
Bad news: One of the two lamps is broken!!!!
Clarification: It's just the bulb that's broken. The "bulb" is encased in a sort of bulb holder complete with reflector and lens (for those who don't know MR11 type bulbs).
Anyway, everything else seems ok and the over-volted 12W spot halogen looks fantastic -- and that's just from trying it at home in daylight! Of course I'll send the broken lamp back for a replacement but won't stop me having some fun with the other one in the meantime. I'm heading out into the sticks tonight even if it's pissing down... well, maybe tomorrow then :-)
~PB
So what is the runtime for the system, and what did it cost?
So what is the runtime for the system, and what did it cost?
There are lots of options, with prices from £127. Details: www.lumicycle.co.uk
Li-Ion + 5W + 12W (halogens) + postage = £232.
The Li-Ion and NiMh batteries provide the same run times. 5W: 8.5 hours, 10W: 5 hours, 12W: 3.8 hours, 5 + 12W: ~2.6 hours, 20W: 2.2 hours, 35W: 1.2 hours.
I went for a spin tonight: found some unlit lanes and I'm well pleased with the performance so far, except a 20W bulb would have been more fun (I'll get one sometime). More details another time
So what is the runtime for the system, and what did it cost?
There are lots of options, with prices from £127. Details: www.lumicycle.co.uk
Li-Ion + 5W + 12W (halogens) + postage = £232.
The Li-Ion and NiMh batteries provide the same run times. 5W: 8.5 hours, 10W: 5 hours, 12W: 3.8 hours, 5 + 12W: ~2.6 hours, 20W: 2.2 hours, 35W: 1.2 hours.
I went for a spin tonight: found some unlit lanes and I'm well pleased with the performance so far, except a 20W bulb would have been more fun (I'll get one sometime). More details another time
~PB
I find the 20W flood fairly disappointing as the light is spread a bit thin. I'm going to try a second spot. Cheers Graham
I find the 20W flood fairly disappointing as the light is spread a bit thin. I'm going to try a second spot.
Before ordering my Lumicycles a couple of years ago, I searched usenet and www for opinions. I found 2 or 3 people (including Myra, which made me sit and and take notice) saying that the 20W flood lights up the trees a bit too much, while the 20W spot puts out enough light to work as a perfectly good flood.
I compromised and ordered the 20W mid. I think the spot would probably have been better, and I shall probably order one this year (I'm waiting for a quote for a recumbent loom before placing the order).
-- Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address) <URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/> "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine
I find the 20W flood fairly disappointing as the light is spread a bit thin. I'm going to try a second spot.
Me too.
I now have a 12W 7 degree with gow-ring as the 'default' light that's on all the time, and a 35 W 10 degree (not from lumicycle) that's off most of the time, but available if I want a bit more light. I quite like this combination.
I find the 20W flood fairly disappointing as the light is spread a bit thin. I'm going to try a second spot.
Before ordering my Lumicycles a couple of years ago, I searched usenet and www for opinions. I found 2 or 3 people (including Myra, which made me sit and and take notice) saying that the 20W flood lights up the trees a bit too much, while the 20W spot puts out enough light to work as a perfectly good flood.
I compromised and ordered the 20W mid. I think the spot would probably have been better, and I shall probably order one this year (I'm waiting for a quote for a recumbent loom before placing the order).
It's got different power modes, as well as an adjustable focus. I'm thinking about something I could use both on my road bike and for some off-roading (my commuting bike already has SON + B&M lamps).
You really need a 20W spot for fast riding probably combined with a weaker flood pointed down for off-roading unless you buy arc lamp which is powerful enough to do both jobs. "Brian" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Pete Biggs said:
Brian said:
So what is the runtime for the system, and what did it cost?
There are lots of options, with prices from £127. Details: www.lumicycle.co.uk
You really need a 20W spot for fast riding probably combined with a weaker flood pointed down for off-roading unless you buy arc lamp which is powerful enough to do both jobs.
My old 10W halogen used to be fine for 30-35mph descents of the local hills. To get enough light to be happy about going faster would have involved some _serious_ equipment. Maybe some floods and a gennie by the side of the road!
Perhaps bike lighting industry is somewhat like the mineral water industry Convince people they need extra high power lights, so people will buy extra high power lights, thus making a bigger market for extra high powered lights (like the mineral water industry convinces people they must drink 6litres of mineral water a day to be healthy etc).
"Mineral water can aid slimming as part of a calorie controlled diet". Seen on the side of a bottle of mineral water once.
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Just my honest opinion, of course, not meant as flame bait!
I think that there is a certain amount of this. I'd rather see efforts concentrated on efficiency and thus burn time rather that attempting to ignite trees from 30 paces!
You really need a 20W spot for fast riding probably combined with a weaker flood pointed down for off-roading unless you buy arc lamp which is powerful enough to do both jobs.
My old 10W halogen used to be fine for 30-35mph descents of the local hills. To get enough light to be happy about going faster would have involved some _serious_ equipment. Maybe some floods and a gennie by the side of the road!
Perhaps bike lighting industry is somewhat like the mineral water industry Convince people they need extra high power lights, so people will buy extra high power lights, thus making a bigger market for extra high powered lights (like the mineral water industry convinces people they must drink 6litres of mineral water a day to be healthy etc).
'Tis true. When we didn't have them, we didn't need them, and I remain convinced a dynamo is better for road use. The only reason it isn't better for off road use is that off-road you tend to need most light when you're going slowest.
Mind you, having been given my Lumicycles for off-road use I have to confess I now also use them on the road.
'Victories are not solutions.' ;; John Hume, Northern Irish politician, on Radio Scotland 1/2/95 ;; Nobel Peace Prize laureate 1998; few have deserved it so much
You really need a 20W spot for fast riding probably combined with a weaker flood pointed down for off-roading unless you buy arc lamp which is powerful enough to do both jobs.
My old 10W halogen used to be fine for 30-35mph descents of the local hills. To get enough light to be happy about going faster would have involved some _serious_ equipment. Maybe some floods and a gennie by the side of the road!
Jon
Perhaps bike lighting industry is somewhat like the mineral water industry Convince people they need extra high power lights, so people will buy extra high power lights, thus making a bigger market for extra high powered lights (like the mineral water industry convinces people they must drink 6litres of mineral water a day to be healthy etc).
Just my honest opinion, of course, not meant as flame bait!
Perhaps bike lighting industry is somewhat like the mineral water industry Convince people they need extra high power lights, so people will buy extra high power lights, thus making a bigger market for extra high powered lights (like the mineral water industry convinces people they must drink 6litres of mineral water a day to be healthy etc).
There may be some truth in that but it's not just about what's "needed". I didn't *need* brighter lights than I had last night, to get from A to B, but it would have been even more enjoyable to have even more power.
IIRC Simon/Juliette commented some time ago on how cars mistook their lumicycles for car/motorcycle lights because they were so bright. Were those "ordinary" lumicycles or HID ones?
in message <[email hidden]>, KakenBetaal ([email hidden]'😉
Quoted message said:
IIRC Simon/Juliette commented some time ago on how cars mistook their lumicycles for car/motorcycle lights because they were so bright. Were those "ordinary" lumicycles or HID ones?
KakenBetaal <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
IIRC Simon/Juliette commented some time ago on how cars mistook their lumicycles for car/motorcycle lights because they were so bright. Were those "ordinary" lumicycles or HID ones?
I frequently find some drivers mistake my 10w light for a motorbike light judging by drivers emerging from give ways sitting where they are when I am still a long way back. Given the number of cyclists - even commuters - who use inadequate lights it is not surprising a bright single light has this effect. Iain
"Ian Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Graham Bowers (Zen) said:
I find the 20W flood fairly disappointing as the light is spread a bit thin. I'm going to try a second spot.
Me too.
I now have a 12W 7 degree with gow-ring as the 'default' light that's on all the time, and a 35 W 10 degree (not from lumicycle) that's off most of the time, but available if I want a bit more light. I quite like this combination.
I always thought that the glow ring would go into your eyes and put you off.
