Dynamo lights, tyres, etc

[honesty]

Ok, I have decided to get the 853c forks and fit them to my audax (well ok I convinced my wife to get them for me for my birthday...) so thats going to happen this week. I'm going to take the opportunity to fiddle with the bike.

 1. Change the tyres for something a bit wider. I'm currently thinking either 32c supremes or 28c conti 4 season tyres. I like the look of the challenge strada bianca tyre though, any other suggestions or comments?

I have recently found out that lights can be got under the cycle to work scheme. Having checked with the provider this covers dynamo lights, including full dynamo wheel builds, so I'm tempted to go for one of these.
 2. The Wheel I'm thinking of is a SON but which model the delux or the 28?
 3. Which light? I'm thinking either the new Edelux 2, or the Luxos U. USB charging would be nice, which the last light gives, as I don't want to fit a Plug its about the only way to get it. Then again I'm not sure how much it would be used as I don't camp with this bike, its hostels and B&Bs the whole way at which point the USB charging is a bit redundant.
 4. Mudguard mounted rear lights, where do you run the cable? Over the top of the mudguard or underneath, and how do you secure it?
 5. The Edelux 2, how close is the blue version to other manufacturers blues? Hope BB for example. (Obviously the most important question here!)

[IanW]

Re. SON delux versus (new style) SON 28:

If you are convinced that you are *only ever* going to use the output from this hub dynamo to power LED bike lights,
then I think that *either* SON hub dynamo is equally adequate and the delux is very slightly lower rolling resistance.
But if you ever want to use the output for anything else, then I'd definitely recommend the "28".

Also, if you *ever* want to consider switching to disk brakes,
then it might be worth ordering a disk-compatible version of the hub, even if you use currently plan to use rim brakes
because it is an expensive proposition to buy another SON hub simply to convert to disk brakes.


Re. "Edelux 2" or "Luxos U"

My bike has "SONdelux" + "Edelux (1)" both in red. My spouse's bike has new-style "SON 28" (silver) and a Philips Saferide 60 (black).

Out of these two, whilst I like the aesthetics of the red SON hub matching the red Edelux
and I personally prefer the light-sensor-control of the Edelux over the simple on-off switch on the Saferide
and the OEM mounting bracket on the Saferide is a bit feeble and needs swapping out for an Edelux bracket,
I still think that the Saferide is the better light.

The Saferide has, in my opinion, a better beam pattern (than the Edelux (1))
It is just about as well engineered (modulo the mounting bracket enhancement)
It is considerably cheaper than the Edelux

But if you have the requisite funds and the colour scheme aesthetic appeals, then I am sure that the (blue) Edelux would be an excellent choice.

As I have no experience of the Luxos U I cannot make any valid comparison / comment
and this light gives you a number of other features.

If USB charging is definitely of interest then you might also want to consider the "Axa Luxx 70 Plus" http://www.axa-stenman.com/en/bicycle-components/lighting/dynamo-head-lights/luxx70-plus/


Re. mudguard-mounted rear light and cable routing:

In my experience lights mounted on the lowest end of the rear mudguard are a bit vulnerable to getting bashed / knocked
and in the end fatiguing the mudguard with the extra weight.
(I am even considering removing the tiny reflector and replacing it with high-grade retroreflective tape as it too catches on things)

So If the mudguard is indeed the only mounting point available I would suggest mounting the light further up the mudguard which puts the rear light at a better height too.
Maybe, with a bit of ingenuity you can work out how to mount the rear light at the mudguard stay attachment point.

If you are going to route cable *inside* the mudguard then it probably needs *gluing* in place
as any "hanging" bit of wire will eventually get destroyed either by coming into contact with the tyre, or just general abrasion from road debris.

[Andre Jute]

Bike mudguards of the narrower type used to come with a ridge along the middle for glueing in the wire for the rear lamp; I imagine some still do. The wider flat mudguards for wider tyres on modern touring bikes should have the wire run over the top of the mudguard for fear of abrasion, as already mentioned, but also to achieve a relatively close fit to the tyre for a sporting appearance.

[il padrone]

I realise there are increased risks, but I had a Seculite mounted on my rear mudguard for 5-6 years, with the cable taped inside the 55mm mudguard with 50mm duct tape. Never had the slightest problems - even in the glue-pot mud of the Mawson Trail after rain. My wife and son still have their tail-lights fitted in this manner.

[Andre Jute]

Another alternative, for a credit card tourer who you merely want to extend his phone's battery to cover any emergency, is an additional battery pack that also does duty as the phone's case. I bought a Mophie Juice Pack Plus for my iPhone 4S, which will recharge the iPhone from 10% to 100% and still have something left over for an emergency call and a call home to your family -- this is what I've tested; more is claimed by others, but there is some inevitable wastage. (The iPhone 4S has the biggest battery of all iPhones at 1420mAh, and the Mophie Juice Pack Plus theoretically offers 2000mAh.)

I also have 20Ah backup battery on order. It 2x USB ports, one supposedly capable of charging an iPad (2.1A or preferably better required). This is claimed to weigh less than one pound. We'll see when it arrives whether it does weigh less than a pound, and whether it indeed stores 20Ah, or more like 12Ah, as I suspect from the weight. Even 12Ah would be notable at that weight.