Topical winter musings
Discussion
After around 2 months out of the saddle, I'm hoping to get back into it from next week,and build back up to around 30 miles a day as fast as possible.
This has led me to address my winter gear. The biggest issue is my lights which are great for town, but I live out in the country and unlit roads would benefit from some much better lighting. Part of me is swinging towards getting something like the Exposure Strada. It's hideously expensive, but winging your way down pothole ridden Northumberland country lanes at 18-20mph on 23c's is no fun when you can only see a few feet ahead of yourself. That said, does anyone have one, and does it offer much more over a ~£100 range light?
Next up comes clothing. I'll be honest at the risk of sounding stupid, I own 2 bits of lycra, which have been great over the summer. These are padded bib shorts, and a short sleeved top. Last winter I'd literally just got into road cycling as the winter ended, so I simply wore some baggy jogging trousers and a hoodie to keep my self warm, and a parachute-esque baggy high viz top in the rain.
I'm thinking I really need some bib tights, a close fitting long sleeved jersey, or probably a close fitting waterproof jacket instead really. Is it worth getting waterproof trousers, or am I better off just roughing it and accepting that I'm likely to get a certain degree of damp anyway?
This has led me to address my winter gear. The biggest issue is my lights which are great for town, but I live out in the country and unlit roads would benefit from some much better lighting. Part of me is swinging towards getting something like the Exposure Strada. It's hideously expensive, but winging your way down pothole ridden Northumberland country lanes at 18-20mph on 23c's is no fun when you can only see a few feet ahead of yourself. That said, does anyone have one, and does it offer much more over a ~£100 range light?
Next up comes clothing. I'll be honest at the risk of sounding stupid, I own 2 bits of lycra, which have been great over the summer. These are padded bib shorts, and a short sleeved top. Last winter I'd literally just got into road cycling as the winter ended, so I simply wore some baggy jogging trousers and a hoodie to keep my self warm, and a parachute-esque baggy high viz top in the rain.
I'm thinking I really need some bib tights, a close fitting long sleeved jersey, or probably a close fitting waterproof jacket instead really. Is it worth getting waterproof trousers, or am I better off just roughing it and accepting that I'm likely to get a certain degree of damp anyway?
Mate, I would spend 20 minutes going over past threads these topics have been covered in depth, there are various arguments for and against various lights and winter gear, depending on preference and budget.
Like you I live around pitch black lanes, my lights do the job well , but are too bright when cars come the other way which is a pain manually dipping them.
One thing I would add is I've stopped riding my 23c'd bike in Winter, I upgraded to at least 25c, 23c's are fine in Urban areas but I found the rural pot holes and cracks especially ruined the tyres quickly through the winter. This could be specific to the area I live in as they have dug up the rural roads lots, so the trenches they then fill "break up" at the edges, just where you cycle!
Like you I live around pitch black lanes, my lights do the job well , but are too bright when cars come the other way which is a pain manually dipping them.
One thing I would add is I've stopped riding my 23c'd bike in Winter, I upgraded to at least 25c, 23c's are fine in Urban areas but I found the rural pot holes and cracks especially ruined the tyres quickly through the winter. This could be specific to the area I live in as they have dug up the rural roads lots, so the trenches they then fill "break up" at the edges, just where you cycle!
TwistingMyMelon said:
Mate, I would spend 20 minutes going over past threads these topics have been covered in depth, there are various arguments for and against various lights and winter gear, depending on preference and budget.
Like you I live around pitch black lanes, my lights do the job well , but are too bright when cars come the other way which is a pain manually dipping them.
One thing I would add is I've stopped riding my 23c'd bike in Winter, I upgraded to at least 25c, 23c's are fine in Urban areas but I found the rural pot holes and cracks especially ruined the tyres quickly through the winter. This could be specific to the area I live in as they have dug up the rural roads lots, so the trenches they then fill "break up" at the edges, just where you cycle!
No worries, thanks for that. Good point on the tyres, I kept the original 25c's so I think I'll stick those back on the winter.Like you I live around pitch black lanes, my lights do the job well , but are too bright when cars come the other way which is a pain manually dipping them.
One thing I would add is I've stopped riding my 23c'd bike in Winter, I upgraded to at least 25c, 23c's are fine in Urban areas but I found the rural pot holes and cracks especially ruined the tyres quickly through the winter. This could be specific to the area I live in as they have dug up the rural roads lots, so the trenches they then fill "break up" at the edges, just where you cycle!
D4MJT said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
Mate, I would spend 20 minutes going over past threads these topics have been covered in depth, there are various arguments for and against various lights and winter gear, depending on preference and budget.
Like you I live around pitch black lanes, my lights do the job well , but are too bright when cars come the other way which is a pain manually dipping them.
One thing I would add is I've stopped riding my 23c'd bike in Winter, I upgraded to at least 25c, 23c's are fine in Urban areas but I found the rural pot holes and cracks especially ruined the tyres quickly through the winter. This could be specific to the area I live in as they have dug up the rural roads lots, so the trenches they then fill "break up" at the edges, just where you cycle!
No worries, thanks for that. Good point on the tyres, I kept the original 25c's so I think I'll stick those back on the winter.Like you I live around pitch black lanes, my lights do the job well , but are too bright when cars come the other way which is a pain manually dipping them.
One thing I would add is I've stopped riding my 23c'd bike in Winter, I upgraded to at least 25c, 23c's are fine in Urban areas but I found the rural pot holes and cracks especially ruined the tyres quickly through the winter. This could be specific to the area I live in as they have dug up the rural roads lots, so the trenches they then fill "break up" at the edges, just where you cycle!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Plus the "what bits have you bought" thread
Hide the credit card.....
shouldbworking said:
No need to spend silly money on lights. I have a year round 'be seen' set of smart lunar 25s, and for winter I add a p7 torch for seeing, and maybe a zoomable p7 as well if I really want to light up the world. Total for that entire set was under £100 from reputable uk sellers.
Great thanks. Can I ask how you mount the P7 torch?D4MJT said:
shouldbworking said:
No need to spend silly money on lights. I have a year round 'be seen' set of smart lunar 25s, and for winter I add a p7 torch for seeing, and maybe a zoomable p7 as well if I really want to light up the world. Total for that entire set was under £100 from reputable uk sellers.
Great thanks. Can I ask how you mount the P7 torch?
One of the lights threads led to a brilliant review where a guy put pics up of how each light lit the road as well as technical details; you could really see the benefits of the beam pattern. He was saying the cheap Chinese lights were as good as the mega-expensive ones. Opinions on that vary, for every story you see where someone raves about something (whether it was a tenner or a grand!) there is always someone else who has nearly been killed by it...here's a link -
http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/bike-light-da...
Scroll down to about the fourth one and you can really see how it lights up the road.
I would recommend two lights, front and rear. You need a back up if one gives up on you, and trying to change batteries on a dark cold wet country lane can be frustratingly difficult. Some of the rechargeable ones don't give you much warning about when they need a charge, they just go out. Case in point; my cheap Chinese one got wet and the switch stopped working (luckily it stayed "on") and my battery one got very feeble on a night ride, so I felt quite exposed. On the front, I feel best with one bright and one flashing, and sometimes a helmet light so you can see elsewhere apart from dead ahead. The helmet light will be a godsend if you have a mechanical on a dark cold wet country lane...
I was in my LBS and they had a deal on Altura fluoro jackets, 40% off. I bought one on impulse and haven't ridden the bike without it since. It is very bright when car headlights get on it, and keeps the wind off when it isn't raining.
http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/bike-light-da...
Scroll down to about the fourth one and you can really see how it lights up the road.
I would recommend two lights, front and rear. You need a back up if one gives up on you, and trying to change batteries on a dark cold wet country lane can be frustratingly difficult. Some of the rechargeable ones don't give you much warning about when they need a charge, they just go out. Case in point; my cheap Chinese one got wet and the switch stopped working (luckily it stayed "on") and my battery one got very feeble on a night ride, so I felt quite exposed. On the front, I feel best with one bright and one flashing, and sometimes a helmet light so you can see elsewhere apart from dead ahead. The helmet light will be a godsend if you have a mechanical on a dark cold wet country lane...
I was in my LBS and they had a deal on Altura fluoro jackets, 40% off. I bought one on impulse and haven't ridden the bike without it since. It is very bright when car headlights get on it, and keeps the wind off when it isn't raining.
Edited by Daveyraveygravey on Tuesday 12th November 13:19
I know it's down to personal choice and budget but if you've got the money I'd say go for Exposure lights. They're not cheap but from my experience they're bloody good.
I use a Diablo front light on my commuter bike and it doubles up as a fantastic helmet light for winter night rides on the MTB. As a main bar light on the MTB I use the new Exposure Maxx-D, if you're commuting down dark country lanes this might be a good light for you.
I've tried a couple of the Chinese torches as helmet lights and never managed to find something that would last longer than 45 minutes without killing the batteries so I gave up on them.
I use a Diablo front light on my commuter bike and it doubles up as a fantastic helmet light for winter night rides on the MTB. As a main bar light on the MTB I use the new Exposure Maxx-D, if you're commuting down dark country lanes this might be a good light for you.
I've tried a couple of the Chinese torches as helmet lights and never managed to find something that would last longer than 45 minutes without killing the batteries so I gave up on them.
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