The "what bike bits have you just bought" thread Vol 2
Discussion
Halfords 1600 lumen lights - update No 3:
Last night I got the chance to ride in proper darkness (started riding at 2145 hrs). So I set about testing the lights off road.
The set up? I was running the light as shown above. Silicon rubber strap, no stabiliser block, no 'out front mount'. This worked very well, the lamp was stable, didn't flicker around, nor did it slip forward or backward around the handlebar. So a good start, and better than I'd expected.
I also got the £5 remote control lever out of the box and fitted.
With the light fitted above the handlebar, the connection for the remote switch was under the tail-end of the lamp. It wasn't raining, so no worries about a puddle forming around the plug connector slot, but I was wary of splashing getting up and under the light. This was an unfounded fear, at least last night, and it was quite muddy out, with puddles in places. The remote switch worked as it should, but felt flimsy. The switch also migrated around the bars when operated which was less than ideal. It may be possible to pull the band tighter, and when first fitted the silicon rubber strap separated from the switch itself. It went back on OK, but seems like poor design. Combined with the lack of a water resistant plug to connect it to the light, it makes the remote switch feel like an after-thought, a cheaply lashed together last minute addition. It's a great idea, but executed poorly.
In use, the remote functioned well, though. It changed the settings on the light first time every time. So long as you can count to 8 and remember a number, you soon get used to having to cycle through all of the settings to get to the one you want. Verdict so far? It's good, but it could be a whole lot better if the strap and connector plug were properly designed for the rigours of winter MTBing in the UK.
And so it leads me on to the light itself. Summed up in one word? "Overkill". The output on full power, that is. Don't get me wrong, it was great to be able to turn night into day in single track sections, but having managed quite well on the 700 lumens from my Moon Meteor recently, and having previously pootled around the woods with a couple of these...
...to see by, you'll understand why I'd say I could manage quite well without needing the full 1600 lumens this unit provides (or claims to, anyhow).
To say it was bright is an understatement. To get to the off road trails I dropped the output to level 2 or 3, and pushed the light to point downward a lot more to avoid dazzling car drivers. It spreads it's light both far (down the trail) and wide (across the width) with no apparent 'hot' or 'dead' spots. When I reached the trails I experimented with different settings, and found that although at it's brightest it's "nice to have", more often than not levels 2 or 3 were "more than adequate, thanks". But I used the brightest setting a lot, simply to see how long it might last. In the end it was 1 hr 49 min into my ride that it dropped itself into "power save" mode. This was annoying in so far as it wasn't really bright enough to see by, and also because the "fuel gauge" display LEDs on the top of the lamp were flashing away quite urgently, and were almost as bright as the light from the front end, and really rather distracting. So the power estimate when I started was sub 2 hours (on full) and that's about what I got. Bearing in mind it wasn't at full charge when I started (it had been used while testing a few nights ago, and also to search for a lost fixing on the garage floor) I was quite impressed. The estimate is around 3 hours on level 2, and more on 3 and 4, but the gauge only goes up to 3 hours.
I was using it in conjunction with my 700 lumen Moon Meteor as a helmet lamp. This has a much narrower beam, but even so, it was lost in the pool of light from the Halfords unit. Only really of any use in the twisty sections to see where the trail was going, and absolutely no use on fire road and tarmac sections unless looking for a side exit onto a trail. The Moon lamp died first too, based on the same sort of usage since charging as the Halfords light had been subjected to. So it's all good. A super-bright lamp for £35 that should easily last 3 hours while providing more than enough light to ride local trails by. On my return home, fears about mud/water getting into the remote switch/charging socket were unfounded, and the lamp and it's accessory remote switch had survived in working order. And while I still maintain it is "overkill", I did enjoy the experience more than in the past, with a noticeable lack of having to squint to work out what was coming up along the trail.
Last of all, charging? I plugged it in this morning, into a 5V wall mounted usb charger socket. The Moon Meteor was plugged in at the same time. Within 3½ hours the Halfords lamp had gone from "limp home" mode to fully charged. The smaller capacity battery in the Moon took 40 minutes more to completely recharge.
Recommendation (based on just the one ride)? Buy one. Seriously, it's very good. No separate battery pack, with the associated cables and battery packs to manage. Swiftly transferable to almost any other bike. Bright light, decent run time. What's not to like, really? So long as it continues to work like this, I think I'm sorted for lights now. I bought 2 of these, and with half an eye on 'Chase The Sun 2019' or possibly DunRun, I think I've got enough to see me through an all-nighter (on the road at least).
My biggest bugbear? The fact that you have the brightest setting "at the top". So hitting the button to cycle settings only takes you down the list. If you drop the output from the brightest, you have to go through all 5 "solid" settings then the 3 various "flashing/pulsing" settings to get back to the brightest one again. It'd be nice if the control board had a push & hold feature to swap between solid and flashing. But it's not the end of the world.
I'll update with any new/extra observations if/when I have them...
Popped into Aldi today and their rechargeable Cree front and rear light set had been reduced to half their original price so bought a set for £7.50. I'd already bought a set a few weeks ago and they're decent for the money, so I've now got 2 sets to have one on flashing and one on constant
My usual three month order for chamois cream.
Lost the pump on my Brompton at some point. I know it was getting very dirty and I think it just couldn't generate enough tension in the spring and therefor it fell out the slots
Can't complain. Its been on there for 3 years.
Ordered some new winter/commuting bib tights . My old Altura Night Vision ones were 8 years old and the pad was falling apart, zip broke and several holes. They were £50 new, so done pretty well for 8 years old. Went with DHB Flash Light. They turned up and they were quite thin and felt likie the cheapest bib tights with flash light logos on the calves. I like something a bit warmer for commuting so they have gone back and I've ordered the thermal version which will hopefully be thicker and therefor a bit warmer.
Lost the pump on my Brompton at some point. I know it was getting very dirty and I think it just couldn't generate enough tension in the spring and therefor it fell out the slots
Can't complain. Its been on there for 3 years. Ordered some new winter/commuting bib tights . My old Altura Night Vision ones were 8 years old and the pad was falling apart, zip broke and several holes. They were £50 new, so done pretty well for 8 years old. Went with DHB Flash Light. They turned up and they were quite thin and felt likie the cheapest bib tights with flash light logos on the calves. I like something a bit warmer for commuting so they have gone back and I've ordered the thermal version which will hopefully be thicker and therefor a bit warmer.
My China bought front light no longer works so bought a 1000 lumen light from Halfords. Would have bought the 1600 one but none in stock and I’m desperate as I had a medium Maglight cable tied to the bars on Friday!
Meant to be £28 minus 5% through Quidco, 10% British Cycling and 6% off from Zeek vouchers. Also bought a remote switch that does seem flimsy but it’s £5rrp The light seems well built but yet to try it out.
Also ordered my son a 24 inch Wiggins bike that seems like a good compromise of price/weight and spec. Figured he doesn’t need suspension at this point in time. Worked out around £240 by doing the BC/Zeek/Quidco thing.
Got out for a quick 20k in the new Le Col thermal bib tights yesterday. Bloody lovely things, super warm. Great pad. Very happy with them.
My Spatz arrived today, typically on a rare day when I didn’t ride in
First impressions say in the office - comfy and toasty AF. Looking forward to getting them out and about.
My Spatz arrived today, typically on a rare day when I didn’t ride in
First impressions say in the office - comfy and toasty AF. Looking forward to getting them out and about.
DE1975 said:
Popped into Aldi today and their rechargeable Cree front and rear light set had been reduced to half their original price so bought a set for £7.50. I'd already bought a set a few weeks ago and they're decent for the money, so I've now got 2 sets to have one on flashing and one on constant
that's just mad. I wonder what the front beam pattern would look like if you had them both on full constant brightness? because if you don't tighten the allen key screw too much you could adjust which way you want it to point. would look rather interesting. I'm loving my set because it just lights up an area of the road both infront and behind the bike.the only thing i dont get is that i've charged the front one afew times so far.. yet I have not touched the rear ones at all for a charge, despite me having it on constant at max brightness, being used as much as the front ones.
Johnny said:
Got out for a quick 20k in the new Le Col thermal bib tights yesterday. Bloody lovely things, super warm. Great pad. Very happy with them.
My Spatz arrived today, typically on a rare day when I didn’t ride in
First impressions say in the office - comfy and toasty AF. Looking forward to getting them out and about.
Does anyone know if these fit over a size 13 road shoe? I have real trouble finding anything that fits over my shoes. My Spatz arrived today, typically on a rare day when I didn’t ride in
First impressions say in the office - comfy and toasty AF. Looking forward to getting them out and about.
I have some Aldi overshoes and they just about fit, but the bit at the top where is straps around my leg isn't the best and lets water in.
Thanks.
Should do.
L is EU 46-49
EU 49 is size 14...
FYI - Mine is small, 38-42.
I'm a 42, and they stretch fine.
Also I used them in the wet at the weekend, 50km, and they were spot on. Took them off and shoes were bone dry.
Little bit of condensation, as they're neoprene. But overall, very impressive.
L is EU 46-49
EU 49 is size 14...
FYI - Mine is small, 38-42.
I'm a 42, and they stretch fine.
Also I used them in the wet at the weekend, 50km, and they were spot on. Took them off and shoes were bone dry.
Little bit of condensation, as they're neoprene. But overall, very impressive.
Johnny said:
Should do.
L is EU 46-49
EU 49 is size 14...
FYI - Mine is small, 38-42.
I'm a 42, and they stretch fine.
Also I used them in the wet at the weekend, 50km, and they were spot on. Took them off and shoes were bone dry.
Little bit of condensation, as they're neoprene. But overall, very impressive.
L is EU 46-49
EU 49 is size 14...
FYI - Mine is small, 38-42.
I'm a 42, and they stretch fine.
Also I used them in the wet at the weekend, 50km, and they were spot on. Took them off and shoes were bone dry.
Little bit of condensation, as they're neoprene. But overall, very impressive.
dai1983 said:
My China bought front light no longer works so bought a 1000 lumen light from Halfords. Would have bought the 1600 one but none? in stock and I’m desperate as I had a medium? Maglight cable tied to the bars on Friday!
Meant to be £28 minus 5% through Quidco, 10% British Cycling and 6% off from Zeek vouchers. Also bought a remote switc?h that does seem flimsy but it’s £5rrp The light seems well built but yet to try it out.
?Also ordered my son a 24 inch Wiggins bike that seems like a good? compromise of price/weight and spec. Figured he doesn’t need suspension at this point in time.? Worked out around £240 by doing the BC/Zeek/Quidco thing.
Having ridden a few times now with my 1600 lumen version, I'd say you're probably not missing much by getting the 1,000 lumen light. Apart from some extension of the battery life, maybe (I think the 1,000 lm light has two cells/two LEDs, whereas my 1600 lm light has three cells/three LEDs).Meant to be £28 minus 5% through Quidco, 10% British Cycling and 6% off from Zeek vouchers. Also bought a remote switc?h that does seem flimsy but it’s £5rrp The light seems well built but yet to try it out.
?Also ordered my son a 24 inch Wiggins bike that seems like a good? compromise of price/weight and spec. Figured he doesn’t need suspension at this point in time.? Worked out around £240 by doing the BC/Zeek/Quidco thing.
On the road the full 1600 lumens isn't really usable at all. Quite frankly, it's anti-socially bright, and not particularly easy to aim down to avoid dazzling other road users. Even off road, I don't find I need the full 1600 lumens. Last night I was sniffing around my local MTB trails trying to find a race lap used earlier in the day. I rode all of it without issue with the light set two levels down from "full blast", which was great because it meant that instead of the around two hours on "full" from when I first tested it, I got three hours fifteen minutes of decent light from it, and even when it stopped down to "emergency get-you-home" output, it still lasted for another 30 minutes and was enough to be seen by. They do seem to be very good lights, and excellent value for the money. But that remote switch really is flimsy. Just make sure you've got the rubber strap firmly fixed to the two posts on the plastic bracket, and pay close attention to whether it's still fitted properly every time you get the bike out, and if you stack it at all. Mine was flapping loose last night after I got caught out in too high a gear crossing a ditch/bund combo and fell off.
I have a set of rollers - which I HATE but have lusted after a smart trainer for quite some time to help me do the hours in TT position (it's too mountainous here).
Last night I bit the bullet on this 'too tempting not to' offer on CRC - with free delivery to HK.Thanks No-VAT
Should be waiting for me when I get back from the UK at Christmas which will give me chance to have a few goes on it before it is inevitably forgotten when my 2019 Oltre XR4 arrives at the end of Jan
Not that I have any room for any of this stuff of course. I have a 500sq ft 32nd floor apartment with a small balcony. The current bike lives behind the front door. God knows where the new one will go (I'm operating a one in none out policy).
Last night I bit the bullet on this 'too tempting not to' offer on CRC - with free delivery to HK.Thanks No-VAT
Should be waiting for me when I get back from the UK at Christmas which will give me chance to have a few goes on it before it is inevitably forgotten when my 2019 Oltre XR4 arrives at the end of Jan
Not that I have any room for any of this stuff of course. I have a 500sq ft 32nd floor apartment with a small balcony. The current bike lives behind the front door. God knows where the new one will go (I'm operating a one in none out policy).
Another Planet X London Road frame and forks - reduced to 200 quid. This time a medium as my son has outgrown the small I bought for him. I'll rebuild the bike exchanging the new frame for the old, and pass the small frame onto my daughter with all new parts (including the new forks).
Wife was out the other night so finally got these out the boot of the car where they had been for 2 months and put tyres on them and a 105 cassette:
Kinlin xr31t/Miche primate/sapim from Spokesman wheels
Apologies for ripped wallpaper and awful old lady carpet courtesy of the previous owner of our house
Needed some new brake pads, noticed that Ribble had Ultegra 6800 dual pivot brake calipers (including pads) for just £50/pair... man maths means I only paid £30 for a nice brake upgrade
Kinlin xr31t/Miche primate/sapim from Spokesman wheels
Apologies for ripped wallpaper and awful old lady carpet courtesy of the previous owner of our house
Needed some new brake pads, noticed that Ribble had Ultegra 6800 dual pivot brake calipers (including pads) for just £50/pair... man maths means I only paid £30 for a nice brake upgrade
1 x Fox Metah Flow MTB helmet, at Bournemouth Cycleworks ( https://www.bournemouthcycleworks.co.uk/ ). Paid £55 for it. Lovely helmet, first time I've had a "proper" MTB lid, rather than an old MET road helmet with a clip-on peak that I've been using up until now.
Fit was great, first ride with it on was nearly two hours, and I didn't have to adjust it's fit or position on my head once. My old hat was a right pain, always pushing my glasses down my nose, needing to be pushed back repeatedly, and occasional attention to the ratchet adjuster required.
My only complaint with this Fox Metah was that it wasn't as well vented as the reviews suggest. Even at barely a few degrees above freezing I caught a few drips of sweat on the inside of my glasses after a single lap of the most recent Brass Monkeys race lap.
Purchased without any research/planning too. One of the retaining straps on my old helmet had snapped, and it was pretty old, quite battered, and probably needed replacing anyway. I was down in Bournemouth taking my wife to a job interview (which she got, which was a bonus), so the only reason I'd gone into the shop was to kill some time browsing while she was grilled by the interview panel. Shop claimed it was half price, and the cheapest I can find it for online is £59.99 so it seems like a bit of a billy-bargain.
ETA: They have one left, blue in colour, in size M/L for £60 on the website... http://www.flcuk.com/helmets/mountain/p14626s124/f...
Edited by yellowjack on Saturday 15th December 17:38
ukbabz said:
I'll be collecting my new bike tonight, figured I'd make the step up from my 4 year old Allez Sport to something a bit lighter and faster. I've managed to find a 2018 TCR Advanced Pro 1 for £1800, so couldn't say no at that price...
Very nice, my friend rides one, loves it too. Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff