The
dynamo days are over. Does anyone
remember the dynamo? Give up? OK, the dynamo was the name for a simple
generator that was able to self-create direct current. The entire process of rotating coils of wire,
magnetic fields and mechanical rotation to create direct electric current is known as Faraday's law of induction. You may read about that science the next time
you are suffering from abject insomnia.
Dynamo powered bike lights were some of the first practical bicycle
lighting devices and were popular in the 1960s and 70s. They were easily attached to the front forks
and when aligned with the tire the spinning of the wheel created enough energy
to power a small headlight. The faster
you went typically the brighter the light.
An SBT crew member admits to having a dynamo on an old (now vintage!)
Schwinn Continental (pictured).
With the days getting shorter many riders: commuters and
after-work recreational riders are finding themselves riding in the dark and so
many questions are asked to the Sticky Bottle Team--what kind of bike light
should I get, what the heck is a lumen, should I go with a battery or use a
rechargeable, etc.? The SBT crew has done exhaustive research (ok, maybe just a
thorough review), and here’s what to look for in a bike light.
Now just a bit more science, sorry but sometimes it’s necessary. Let's start with lumens as this is typically how lights are rated. A lumen is a measure of the total "amount" of visible light emitted by a source. The SBT crew feels that lumens are a better measure than candlepower, watts, and lux--other units to measure a light's output. To get a feel of luminosity take the standard 100 watt household light bulb, it produces about 800 lumens. Indeed, lighting has come along way since the first “Edison screw” light bulb in 1909.
Now just a bit more science, sorry but sometimes it’s necessary. Let's start with lumens as this is typically how lights are rated. A lumen is a measure of the total "amount" of visible light emitted by a source. The SBT crew feels that lumens are a better measure than candlepower, watts, and lux--other units to measure a light's output. To get a feel of luminosity take the standard 100 watt household light bulb, it produces about 800 lumens. Indeed, lighting has come along way since the first “Edison screw” light bulb in 1909.
Riders can spend literally hundreds of dollars for a light
yet do you really a light as bright as a car headlight (just under 1,100
lumens)? To cut through the bike light clutter Modern Bike (www.modernbike.com) has
put together an innovative bike light comparison guide showing a wide range of
lights in real night time conditions. And pictures do indeed tell the entire
story. For our money the best light out there in both cost and performance is
the Metro 300 USB Rechargeable Headlight from CygoLite (www.cygolite.com).
At less than $50 or 6 lumens/dollar, it provides plenty of light on your night
rides plus it's rechargeable with a 2-hour in-use time at the highest
intensity, more than enough time for the ride home.
Next time you visit
your local shop, ask the staff about lumens and lighting. They may not recall old man Faraday’s law but they will be able to shed some light on your issue and help you
get home in the dark.
For more product reviews (with less science and history)
please visit our website at www.stickybottleteam.net.
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