Technical > Lighting and Electronics

Has anyone tried this??

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lewis noble:
Hello!  I am looking for a better front light for my Audax and Sherpa - better output, decent flashing mode for urban riding.  I normally stick to Cateye products, which have suited me well and saves getting different brackets / mounts etc.  My Audax has a Moon rear light, supplied at build by Thorn, very good and compact.

But I have been having a look at at this, a combined light / alarm - sounds a good idea, how does it work in practice??

https://bouh.co.uk/

Would it be realistic / safe to take a lighter bike lock than my usual D lock??

One problem I forsee is interchangeability between bikes - I guess you would need an additional mount? - the mount is not a quick release fitting.

Has anyopne used one of these??

Lewis

mickeg:
I have never seen one.

But if I read it correctly, once you remove the light and arm it, if it senses movement it will sound the alarm until you replace the light or it runs out of battery which could take a long time.

I have occasionally had to shift some bikes that were already in a bike rack to get mine into the rack too.  And I am sure that others have shifted my bike a bit in a rack while they are getting one of their bikes out of the rack.  If a false alarm like that would not be a problem, then no problem.  Just thought I would mention that might be a possibility, you could verify with the manufacturer if that could be a deal breaker for you.

Danneaux:
Hi Lewis!

You asked for thoughts so here are some...

I have not used the combined product you linked to, but do have separate...
• Battery lighting (LED blinkys)
• Dynamo lighting (steady headlight and taillight)
• Alarm
...on most of my bikes. The alarm is a separate unit that mounts under my saddle and uses a several AAA cells and a separate remote for dis/arming and alarm/sensitivity selection. I got mine off eBay and they (I have 6 at present) continue to work well a couple years after purchase. I use Eneloop rechargeable batteries as they lose less charge in storage and don't leak. These replace earlier models that mounted to the seatpost and required keypad entry to dis/arm and set sensitivity. They worked well for several years but ultimately died and it was a hassle trying to set them without a remote.

The =idea= of an alarm has worked well for me in practice the way I use it. I installed my first motion-detecting alarm on a bicycle back in 1987 when I was commuting regularly and needed to leave the bike parked in racks. My office was nearby and I could hear if it was triggered. I set the sensitivity to ignore small bumps but sound if a larger bump was detected, thus minimizing false positives which legitimate rack users found (and reported to be!) extremely irritating. Once I got things adjusted and parked at the far end of the available racks, all was well for everyone concerned.

Now, I use the motion-detecting alarms for my day rides and touring to alert _me_ to problems. For example, in summer I regularly ride a 108-mile training loop several times a week. At the far end is a portable toilet too small to bring the bike inside. Though I set the frame's ring-lock, it is nice to have the alarm on also to tell me if someone is tampering with the bike while I am indisposed and might not notice otherwise. On tours in the mountains, I regularly set the alarm to deter small animals that sometimes climb on the bike in search of food. Porcupines in particular seem to love the taste of leather saddles whether they are under a cover or open, and the alarm has deterred several that were on their way to taking a nibble two. Similarly, I have triggered the alarm with my uniquely paired remote several times in the last year to deter bears I could see wandering into my campsite while I am abed. It works nicely for that, causing the bears to sort of compress mid-stride before turning tail to flee what seems to be an infernal and unfamiliar sound (I always bag and hang my food apart from my tentsite whenever I'm in bear country but really don't want to encourage a close-up visit). When I tour and camp in more populated areas I set my alarm and use my frame mounted ring-lock and a plug-in cable or chain as desired.

My general experience with combination gadgets is they don't do as well as single-purpose gadgets. I suspect that most of the price for this item is based on the convenience of having both and they docking/activation function, which could be really handy, though the light might be bulky to carry with you. The website indicates...
--- Quote ---The SR600 can be paired with multiple other units so you can share it’s security with family, friends and even clubs.
--- End quote ---
...but I think you would need multiple alarms and mounts to work with one headlight/switch. Perhaps there is a discount for the one piece?

For the most part I try to avoid devices with embedded rechargeable batteries. I have found their service life sharply diminishes after a couple years' use and then it is either impossible to replace them or recycling is problematic, so I prefer user-replaceable batteries and choose to use Eneloops for the reasons mentioned above. Keep in mind, most remotely triggered alarms continue to draw current on standby. The one you linked to has a very good claimed alarm standby time of 10 days when new.

One last note on the alarm/light combo: I have found my alarm - though loud -- draws surprisingly little attention from others. People seem to be either inured to alarms in general (i.e. car alarms) or do not want to get involved when a property crime is occurring. I consider my alarms to be for my own notification and they have worked well when used in that way.

You asked...
--- Quote ---Would it be realistic / safe to take a lighter bike lock than my usual D lock??
--- End quote ---
I think it depends on where you ride and whether/how long you will be leaving the bike unattended. I live in an area where bike theft is endemic and there are now snatch-thefts where bikes are taken with riders standing next to them. For rides where I don't intend to leave the bike alone but might stand beside or near it, I take a small cable and combination lock I thread through one or both wheels and around an object simply so the bike cannot be snatched while I am peeling off my leggings, removing my rain booties, or taking a photo. Apart from a portable toilet, I take my bike into public restrooms with me and use a similar means to secure it while I'm indisposed. If I have to leave the bike alone for any time at all, I remove the front wheel and lock it to the rear with a U-lock and large cable, but I much prefer my frame-mounted ring-locks on the bikes that have them. It is so simple to lock the rear wheel simply by throwing the hasp, or depending in need, I can carry and use a cable or either of two chains (6mm or 8mm hardened links) depending on the amount of security needed. Of course, the downside is I am always carrying at least the weight of the ring-lock on the bike and this makes a light bike heavier than it would otherwise need to be. For this reason, I use the little cable and combo lock on my Fixie, which is my lightest bike. Out in the countryside where there are open fields or in the forest or desert, I don't have to worry and usually don't employ any security except my alarm as protection against animals bothering the bike or its contents. YMMV.

All the best,

Dan.

John Saxby:

--- Quote ---The alarm is a separate unit that mounts under my saddle and uses a several AAA cells and a separate remote for dis/arming and alarm/sensitivity selection. I got mine off eBay
--- End quote ---

Thanks for these very helpful notes, Dan.

What brand of alarm do you have?  Online searches yield quite a range of devices, prices, etc.

Cheers,  John

Danneaux:

--- Quote ---What brand of alarm do you have?  Online searches yield quite a range of devices, prices, etc.
--- End quote ---
Happy to tell you, John; I didn't mention it only because there are a variety of similar ones and the vendors change from time to time. I don't think it has a brand name.

Though the seller I got mine from two years ago has gone, the model I have is like this one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bicycle-Alarm-Intelligent-Anti-Theft-Alarm-Remote-Control-Alarm-Waterproof-US-/143111663088?hash=item21521eadf0

Do a search for "Bicycle Alarm Intelligent Anti-Theft Alarm Remote Control Alarm Waterproof" to catch the listings for most of these, but check carefully to make sure the feature set is like the one I linked to above. They all cost in the neighborhood of USD$12-$13 and include a remote with three buttons, the one for setting having a blue light-up ring around it. They use three AAA cells to power the main unit and two cable ties and two sticky foam pads to secure it. The coin battery in the remote lasts me a long time; I've yet to change it. Range is really good, on the order of 500m. I would strongly suggest avoiding the included alkaline cells as they will and do leak in time, usually before the first battery change as I found to my dismay. Eneloops are an excellent substitute. If the alkalines do leak, some white vinegar applied with a cotton swab will clear the white "bloom" and restore the contacts to shiny-new unless it has progressed too far.

Only caution: The case-back on the main unit is secured by a tiny metric screw and the case needs the included plastic pry and little screwdriver to open it. It is screwed in pretty firmly from the factory; a drop of Phil Tenacious Oil applied to the screw threads made subsequent changes easy. Also, the cable ties must be replaced with each battery change, but I find that a small price to pay given the performance, low price, and reasonable battery life. I secure mine under my Brooks saddle either across the rear frame rails or above the rails in the nose section of the saddle. No, there is nothing to keep a thief from cutting the cable ties and removing the alarm as it sounds, but I don't leave my bike for long periods so for when I am nearby it works well enough for what I want. The model Lewis linked to would be much harder for a thief to steal. These alarm units are also handy to drop in a jacket pocket or in a bag for a little extra security. After an initial warning, they sound continuously for a timed interval if vibration continues. Sensitivity, timing and alarm choice are all adjustable via the remote and there is also a "panic button" option for immediate triggering.

All the best,

Dan.

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