Showing posts with label bike commuting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bike commuting. Show all posts

8/27/2011

Blackburn Flea Rear Flasher Bicycle Taillight Review

Blackburn Flea Rear Flasher Bicycle Taillight
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Great light to chuck on the back of my helmet strap for a higher lightpoint to supplement the mars 3.0 on my seatpost. I do a lot of night riding and even after a 1 1/2 months the battery is still not dead (chase mode, at least 15 hours). It's super bright but i only use it as supplementary to a more comprehensive light system (Cygolite 350 mitycross on front, mars 3.0 on seatpost, cateye on the rear rack point on my road bike. This is typically combined with reflective gear when I'm doing serious riding. I'd much rather not get hit by a car again and a lack of visibility will be no excuse if I do.) I'm also going to add the front flea soon to the front of my helmet and possibly one for the handlebars of my commuter bike).

However, I would invest your money in the usb charging version. I haven't had to use the battery charging system yet but it seems like a hassle.

- Took +4 months for the battery to finally wear down. And I was wrong about the battery charging system, its wicked simple and easy; is excellent in case I go on any ultra-long bike journeys.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Blackburn Flea Rear Flasher Bicycle Taillight

Product Description:
This light is AMAZING. It's super small, unbelievably bright and SLICK looking. The lightest, brightest rechargeable cycling light in the world. Flea lights are smaller than cookies, and with a versatile hook/loop strap mounting system (and belt clip for the rear) they'll mount almost anywhere. Blackburn Flea lights include a proprietary charging system that saps juice from any standard 1.5v battery, AA's, C-cells, whatever you have. Just plug the magnetic leads to a battery and leave it---the auto-shutoff will prevent overcharging. - Micro size rechargeable Li-Ion headlight - Uses four super-bright White NichiaT LED's - 40 lumen output - Patented innovative charging system uses any standard 1.5V battery - Flexible and compact mounting design - Normal, Overdrive, and Flash modes - Superlight at 17 grams - 3 hour runtime steady, 6 hours runtime flash LED's: 4 Ultrabright Nichia White Run Time (Steady/Flash): 3-6hrs Batteries: Internal Lithium Ion Rechargeable

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8/26/2011

Cateye HL-EL600RC?Single Shot LED Bicycle Light Review

Cateye HL-EL600RCSingle Shot LED Bicycle Light
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The light is fairly bright, nothing spectacular, but bright enough for Chicago commuting. I read many negative reviews about the bracket, however my main issue lies with the extremely cheap and flimsy plastic casing. I have never dropped the light (though I believe a light costing approximately 100 bucks should hold up against a 3-4 foot fall without any issues), but the the casing cracked in my backpack. I always try to be careful with my backpack for I keep my sunglasses, graphing calculator, cell phone, and mp3 player in the bag, and they have not sustained any damage. The battery takes a long time to recharge, and its an all around bad buy. I would not recommend this light to anyone.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cateye HL-EL600RCSingle Shot LED Bicycle Light

Product Description:
The perfect suburban commuter solution. If you ride at night - especially every night - you'll appreciate this bright rechargeable light. The HL-EL600 series uses a powerful one-watt LED and new ROL (Reverse Offset Lens)

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8/11/2011

Planet Bike Alias HID Bicycle Light Set with Integrated Battery Review

Planet Bike Alias HID Bicycle Light Set with Integrated Battery
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This headlight fit my requirements perfectly. Since everything is contained in one relatively small sleek package, removing and installing is quick and easy. I at first worried that the mount would not be robust enough to keep the light from moving when going over bumps. No more worries - it has held its position going 30+ MPH over fairly rough asphalt. I ride a road bike so cannot comment on how well it would do off road.
Light output is excellent. It is probably about 30% brighter than my 15W halogen and has a wide coverage. I have to ride down an unlit road in pitch darkness on my morninig commute dodging potholes and the edge of the road. I reach speeds of just over 30 MPH and this light provides the luminence necessary to avoid those obstacles.
The 2.5 to 3 hours of burn time for this light is somewhat limited compared to others, but for me is perfect. I would rather have this capacity and the resulting compact size than to have a large capacity with the probable external battery. The unit uses a Li-Ion battery which is much better than either NiCad or NiMh in terms of capacity per unit size and weight, charge time, and any memory effects.
Workmanship is impeccable. This thing could be put in a museum. It looks and feels like a high quality instrument. The soft case that it comes in is very handy too.
My only complaint about this light would probably be with the mount. Although it is pretty easy to use and holds the light very well, once you get it adjusted to your handlebar it is easy to lose the adjustment once you take it off. Also, the adjustment resolution is a little coarse with one turn of the adjustment screw the minimum you can adjust. Not a big problem but I had to find something to complain about. You could avoid this by leaving the mount on the bike and just unclipping the light from the mount.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Planet Bike Alias HID Bicycle Light Set with Integrated Battery

Product Description:
See clearly at night and alert drivers and other cyclists to your presence with this Alias HID light set from Planet Bike. Designed to fit 25.5 mm to 31.8 mm handlebars, the light includes a 10-watt, high-intensity discharge (HID) bulb that employs Solarc technology to light an efficient path. Solarc bulbs offer several characteristics that distinguish them from other metal halide lamps, including small size, low wattage, a short arc gap, and a high color temperature. From a user perspective, the bulbs produce sunlight-caliber illumination that maintains outstanding brightness through its lifetime while requiring just one third the amount of energy required to power comparable halogen lamps. Cyclists will also dig the light's integrated battery and light head, which eliminate wires for a cleaner look and a quick attachment. Other details include a 14.4-volt lithium-ion battery that charges in just under three hours, a custom soft case for convenient transport and storage, and a 2.5-hour runtime on the high setting and a 3.25-hour runtime on the low settings. The Alias HID light, which weighs only 0.84 pounds, carries a limited lifetime warranty.
About Planet Bike
In November of 1996, Planet Bike was founded in Madison, Wisconsin. In many ways, Planet Bike began as a social experiment that dedicated itself to doing business in a different way. Instead of being just another company that develops and sells products with profit as its end goal, Planet Bike wanted to help bring about positive change for people, their communities, and the environment.
Despite being a simple machine, the people at Planet Bike have always believed that the bicycle has great potential to help improve the world and the lives of the people in it. From the start, they have embraced an alternative corporate purpose which seeks to help get more people on bicycles by making communities friendlier places for the self-propelled. By donating 25% of company profits to causes that promote and facilitate bicycle usage, Planet Bike hopes to make an impact.
Social experiments aside, Planet Bike was born from the heart of a cyclist with a goal of making innovative, high quality, and practical bicycle accessories. Simply put, they strive to design and develop the best bicycle products in the world. In the company's short ten year history, they have made important product innovations within the bicycle industry. Advancements include the 4-line computer which is now a standard in the industry and the world's first self-contained HID light. Not bad for a company that ten years ago started as a one man operation. Today, while still a small company, Planet Bike continues to evolve and improve their product line with the goal of always striving to build accessories that make it easier for people to ride their bikes. Since 1996, Planet Bike's financial support of the grassroots bicycle movement has totaled $500,000. By 2010, they have made a goal to donate $1 million to organizations that are dedicated to making America a friendlier place for cyclists.


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8/05/2011

NiteRider TriNewt LED Handlebar/Helmet, Mount wih Li-Ion Battery Review

NiteRider TriNewt LED Handlebar/Helmet, Mount wih Li-Ion Battery
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I have been using this light for over a month. I use it for a road bike mostly on country roads to help me see and be seend mostly early morning rides (dark fading to dawn). It is nothing short of incredible! The NiteRider TriNewt LED headlight blew my mind! It is so bright! 20 mph at night? No problem! It is strong enough you can actually see the road and obstacles at quite some distance. It also has a setting for strobe flashing which I use for visibility during the day. It actually gets the attention of drivers who normally can't see me in spite of being 6'3", all dressed in red or bright yellow. They see me now! Small, compact, easily installed, and a battery life at least what they claim! How can you not love it?! I would recommend it to both serious poor light road cyclists, and a cheap life insurance for commmuters.Fingers crossed for long-term durability.

Click Here to see more reviews about: NiteRider TriNewt LED Handlebar/Helmet, Mount wih Li-Ion Battery

Product Description:
NiteRider TriNewt includes LED headlamp, helmet and handlebar mount, Lithium-Ion battery with low fuel indicator, 12" and 36" cords, and 4 hour smart charger. Uses SurLock connectors,

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7/24/2011

CygoLite Rover II LED: Dual LED Bike Light with Frame Mount NiMH Battery Review

CygoLite Rover II LED: Dual LED Bike Light with Frame Mount NiMH Battery
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This is at the low end (as far as costs) of lights actually bright enough with a wide enough field of illumination for use in night trail riding.My wife and I both commute by bike, and about 5 miles is on a "rails to trails" bike trail, much of it through a wooded area. Since the morning commute is well before dawn, we needed something capable of revealing both the trail and unexpected hazards (who wants to hit a turtle or a low hanging branch at 15 mph?).She uses the relatively new 1 watt Planet Bike Blaze, which is an excellent light for the price (about 1/3 of the Rover II).It's beam, however, is less bright and far more center focused than the Rover II.Since we bike together, we functionally share lighting (I know, we're cheap).

Battery life on the Rover II is fine for a commute, but (especially in colder weather) may pose a problem for trips longer than 1 1/2 to 2 hours (on high).In normal temperatures you canexpect 2 to 3 hours on high.The "boost" mode adds a little more light, but results in a "low battery" warning within just a few minutes."Low" setting gives you more than double the time and is still more than adequate lighting for paved streets (or trails if you slow down a bit).A flasher mode (a common feature) is nice when traveling in an area already lit with street lighting and you want that extra chance an idiot driver getting ready to run a stop sign on the way to work will notice you coming (but don't count on it).The standard charging unit recommends no more than six hours on charge and warns against leaving it plugged in for extended periods of time.A more expensive "rapid charger" is available and both chargers and batteries work with this and several other lights from CygoLite.The Rapid Charger reduces charging time to three hours and includes internal electronics to prevent overcharging a battery left plugged in for long periods of time.

As I mentioned, CygoLite has the advantage of several models (several of them brighter than the Rover II) that can use the same batteries and chargers.Nice if you think about replacements, adding an extra battery, or upgrading to a brighter light and still using some of your existing components.For genuine off road or extended night trail riding, I'd probably save up for something brighter - although these tend to be significantly more expensive.

For limited night trail riding or a daily commute that includes some unlit or trail areas, this is a good balance between budget and brightness.

Click Here to see more reviews about: CygoLite Rover II LED: Dual LED Bike Light with Frame Mount NiMH Battery

Product Description:
Streamlined for the 2008-2009 season, the Rover II LED bike light is an ideal choice for avid road and mountain bikers. The Rover II LED boasts a pair of third-generation, high-brightness LED bulbs, which combine to illuminate any road or path without weighing you down. No more illuminating just a few narrow feet in front of you, or squinting to make out objects to your side. The Rover II LED is also extremely versatile, with four total brightness modes: high, low, boost, and flash. And riders will love the light's Cross-Fire technology, which crosses the highly focused beams to double the viewing area from side to side.
To keep the light shining well into your ride, the Rover II LED is outfitted with an ultra-compact NiMH battery that mounts under the top tube. Once installed, the battery provides up to 3.5 hours of run time on the high setting and 10 hours on the low setting. And charging is a breeze: just plug the NiMH battery into the overnight charger (included) and it'll be ready to go by morning. Other features include a complete weatherproof construction, an LED output equivalent of 25 halogen watts (255 lumens), a battery low indicator integrated into the headlight, and a heavy-duty Flip-Lock handlebar bracket that fits oversized and standard-sized handlebars.


The Rover II LED illuminates a much wider path compared to a traditional halogen bike light.Specifications:

    LED output: 255 lumens
    Bicycle/special lighting modes: 4/0
    Light type: 3rd-generation high-brightness LED
    Battery type: Frame-mount NiMH
    Battery level indicator: Yes
    Battery charging time: 6 hours
    Run time: 3.5 hours (high setting); 10 hours (low setting)
    Weight: 0.25 pounds (head); 0.6 pounds (battery)



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5/14/2011

Currie EZip Trailz Men's Electric Bike Review

Currie EZip Trailz Men's Electric Bike
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After three test-rides, and having contemplated retro-fitting one of our existing bikes with a Currie electric drive, we decided to go ahead and purchase this bike.As the adage goes, "you get what you pay for" - which is certainly the case with this bike.I didn't expect top-of-the-line componentry, but I did expect better functionality with certain aspects of the build.

As I've ridden it around town, I found that the shifting is a bit clumsy - even after numerous adjustments to the derallieur.I was also aware of the total weight when I purchased it - nearly 70 lbs when one battery is installed - and have come to the conclusion that it is NOT a bike an average person can easily ride around without frequently using the electric assist; it's really a tank (even compared with my Xtracycle loaded with 50 lbs of groceries).I also was sad to discover that my Sunlite pannier could not be attached to the non-battery side of the rear rack because the hooks (on panier) are not set wide enough apart to span the battery placement gap.Another everyday annoyance is the fact that there is no quick-release lever on the front wheel making it a pain if you need to remove the wheel (flat, transport, etc.).

Maybe I can overlook most of the above, but the real headaches came when I got a flat on the rear tire.There is nothing - in Currie's documentation or on their website - that gives any indication on how to remove the rear wheel when you need to replace a tube.I searched forums and everywhere else I could, and came learn that in order to remove the rear wheel, you have to REMOVE THE ENTIRE MOTOR ASSEMBLY - which is not a simple procedure.And, since the motor/drive housing is hardwired (rather than having a plug-in connection) you have to figure out a way to support the motor while it is hanging disconnected from the wheel.This was the worst flat-repair job I have ever had to deal with - and definitely not something that could be accomplished out on the road, even if you had all of the tools you end up needing.I immediately went and replaced both tires with puncture-proof (resistant) tires - and if you are considering buying one of these bikes, I would definitely recommend you have this change made, preferably before you take delivery.

Bottom line: So far the electric assist modes have worked well during riding.It is a heavy, clumsy bike - and really meant to be ridden with the electric motor engaged most of the time, rather than without.I'm not convinced that the distance ratings are accurate.I suspect a more truthful average is 15-18 mi/per single battery. I am totally not impressed with the support or documentation offered by the manufacturer (Currie), and I see alot of room for small but significant improvements on the basic bicycle (quick releases, please!!!).Worth the $500? ... the verdict is still out for me.I think you can buy a higher quality commuter bike for a similar pricetag - it all depends how much effort you are looking to save riding an ebike.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Currie EZip Trailz Men's Electric Bike

Product Description:
Bicycles are a terrific mode of transportation, but sometimes you just need a little extra push while getting around town. Enter the eZip Trailz men's electric comfort bike, which is equipped with a 450-watt DC earth magnet motor and a 24-volt rechargeable battery. Far cleaner than gas-powered scooters but zippier than a traditional bike, the Trailz will get you from point A to B in no time at all, but won't guzzle gas or belch pollutants in the process. The battery offers a range of 15 to 22 miles per charge, so you can make it back and forth to the grocery store several times without running low on power. And once you're on the road, the Trailz boasts a top speed of 15 miles per hour (contingent on the rider weight)--plenty fast enough for most bike-friendly city streets. Is your work commute too far to walk but close enough that a car seems wasteful? Turn to the Trailz, which comes with a rear rack to carry groceries and other gear.

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4/29/2011

CygoLite MityCross 350 LED Dual LED Bike Light with Stem-Mount Li-Ion Battery Review

CygoLite MityCross 350 LED Dual LED Bike Light with Stem-Mount Li-Ion Battery
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After researching various lights suitable for nighttime road use, I purchased the MityCross because of its light weight, bright beam, and lithium-ion battery (for cold weather and fast charging).I have had this light mounted on my handlebars for about 3 months now, and this is a huge step up from my previous 1W LED light.

The light is well constructed, using a thick handlebar mount, and a durable metal housing around the light, and the battery has a thick Velcro strap to attach it to the front stem.The size is astounding; the light is slightly larger than a golf ball, while the battery is about the size of an iPhone folded lengthwise.The light also comes with a helmet mount, which costs extra on many other light systems.The charger can be used in 110V or 220V outlets, which is a plus if you go overseas, and is very fast compared to NiMH chargers.

There are 6 modes, which are separately grouped into (high, medium, low) and (flashing, walking, SOS).Simply pressing the power button will start the light in high mode, with repeated presses cycling through medium, low, then high again and so on.The light can be started in flashing mode by holding down the power button for a few seconds and releasing, when the light is off, and can be cycled to walking and SOS, then back to flashing by pressing the button.There is also a three-LED battery gauge which "blinks" more slowly as the battery is drained.

Rated battery life for each mode: High=3.5hrs, Medium=5hrs, Low=17hrs,Flashing=50hrs, Walking=100hrs, SOS=100hrs.

The beam pattern is rather wide (compared to cheap LED lights), which is optimal for mountain biking.I would have preferred a more narrow and brighter beam for road use, but it does light up the pavement 100-200 feet in front as well as signs from thousands of feet away!
I prefer to use the "medium" setting at night, as it is rated for 5 hours, which means I only have to charge it once a week, and it still puts out a ton of light.In the daytime, I usually go with one of the two strobe options that are available for visibility.

I have not had any issues with this light while riding in rain or snow (not waterproof see UPDATE1), or when it was -10F outside.The light and battery are well sealed.

The only weirdness with this light is that it will automatically turn on in high mode when you plug in the battery, so you have to remember to turn it off.Otherwise, the light will stay on until the battery is drained.Also, when the battery is almost dead, the light will begin to flash on and off uncontrollably, which was not documented in the instructions.

Overall, this light is a terrific value in its class, if you are doing nighttime on or off road riding often, consider this light as it is a high-quality product that should last for many years.

UPDATE1: After three months of use, I have found that water can seep into the light through the button on top, which was causing the light to function sporadically.The light is completely sealed by rubber gaskets except for along the button and at the battery plug.I pulled out the button for a day, let the headlight dry, and now it works fine again, so I have put a large piece of clear packaging tape across the button so that water cannot get in through there.

UPDATE2: After nine months, the battery would no longer charge (the LED light on the charger was orange, a mix of red and green alternating rapidly).Fortunately, Cygolite allowed me to return the light system for repair and replaced the battery free under the one-year warranty (sent it in on a Friday and got it back the next Tuesday).The new battery looks the same except for having a different logo, so maybe it's better.I was very pleased with their excellent customer support, and will buy more of their products in the future.

UPDATE3: Announced August 1st 2010, Cygolite will be offering the Mitycross 400 and 320 for the 2011 year (price TBD), which I suspect will replace the respective Mitycross 350 and 300 models very soon.They will offer the same 3.5/17 hours high/low battery life, and have the same 240g system weight.

Click Here to see more reviews about: CygoLite MityCross 350 LED Dual LED Bike Light with Stem-Mount Li-Ion Battery

Product Description:
Incredibly small and impressively bright, the MityCross 350 LED bike light is an ideal choice for avid road and mountain bikers. The MityCross 350 boasts two third-generation, high-brightness LED lights, which combine to illuminate any road or trail without weighing you down. No more illuminating just a few narrow feet in front of you, or squinting to make out objects to your side. The light is also extremely versatile, with three brightness modes--high, medium, and low--and three flashing modes, including regular, walking, and SOS.

The MityCross 350 includes a helmet mount in addition to a standard handlebar mount. And riders will love the light's Cross-Fire technology, which crosses the highly focused beams to double the viewing area. Other details include a quick-release handlebar mount, a helmet mount, a lightweight aluminum alloy casing, a compact lithium-ion stem-mount battery, a three-stage battery level indicator, and a four-hour Rapid Smart charger.
Specifications:

    LED output: 350 lumens
    Bicycle/special lighting modes: 3/3
    Light type: 3rd-generation high-brightness LED
    Battery type: Rechargeable lithium-ion
    Battery level indicator: Yes, 3 stage
    Battery charging time: 4 hours
    Handlebar size: 25.4 to 31.8 mm
    Run time: 3.5 hours (high setting); 17 hours (low setting)
    Weight: 0.53 pounds



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