Moons & Floods

 

The postman brought me some interesting goodies to keep me out of mischief. This Moon Helix Pro W (W denotes white) being one of them. It’s a 5-mode contingency/town light boasting a maximum output of 250 lumens, sensored (stop-go), and intelligent output technology.  

Middle of the Helix family of front lights, there’s a Helix Lite-W, delivering 150 lumens, while the Helix Max pumps out a cited 350lumens and run times between 2.15 and 170 hours, depending on mode (in my experience, factors such as temperature also have an influence). The Pro supposedly delivers 2.15 to 142hours, from the lithium polymer cell. Would be interesting to test the rear counterparts, which look very impressive. Despite the relatively flat profile, the lens casts a broad arc of light  

IPX7 for weatherproofing should mean it survives all but full blown, sustained immersion too- I've not had any issues with the recent biblical rains and flooded roads. Anyhow, just need to keep subjecting it to the real world. It also has a 150-lumen rear counterpart, which looks interesting. The instructions recommend not fitting it close to a wireless computer, which wasn’t a complete surprise, but I wondered whether this referred to the head unit, or the fork sensor.  

For the time being, I’ve positioned ours on the fork leg, which hasn’t induced any weird readouts and I’ll move it to the bars and possibly a head tube in due course. There’s a wealth of clever functions- an auto mode that selects the right output for conditions, theoretically maximising run times, a locking mode so the switch doesn’t get accidentally triggered when bouncing around in the bottom of a bag, pocket etc.  

Auto Safe mode is basically a limp home setting. A reserve of 45 minutes on the lowest mode gives a sporting chance of getting home illuminated but try not to go this route too often- aside from the obvious safety element, it’ll also do nasty things to the battery’s service life.     

Talking of rear lights, the Ravemen TR200’s Ravemen TR200 Rear Light | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) bracket mysteriously expired, causing the light to tinkle across the tarmac.

It was the latter sound that alerted me and I U-turned. Thankfully, the TR200 was obvious and no-one else around. I tucked it into my middle jersey pocket and spun home. Mercifully I had a replacement mount in the spares box.  

Losing any light is never good but I am particularly taken by the TR200’s balance of power, presence, and relative frugality. 

  

Just before Storm Ciaron struck, the Schwalbe Smart Sam succumbed to a second sharp, funnily enough along the same section of very muddy, slippery backroad. Blowouts are rare, and this followed the slow, sinking hiss narrative. No biggie, I’ll just pull over to the verge, swap tubes, pop on the CO2 cartridge and head off again...   

Tyre OK, in went the spare tube, tyre seated properly. Alas, the CO2 cartridge discharged itself in chaotic fits and starts, while the tyre remained firmly flaccid. This is why you always carry a reliable pump.  

Off came the Topeak Gravel 2 Stage Mini Pump Topeak Gravel 2 Stage Mini Pump | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and ten minutes later, we were headed home, the wind swirling and ruffling the otherwise snug Oxford Venture Jacket OXFORD VENTURE JACKET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) which is still a favourite of mine, thanks to the fit, retro-reflective detailing, removable hood, and deep breast pocket-perfect for stowing my long zoom compact camera within easy reach.  

Mercifully, the flooded sections haven’t been deep enough to engulf hubs but a good test of chain lube, waterproof socks, and footwear. Though not waterproof, Steve’s been impressed by these Fizik Winter Cycling Socks Fizik Winter Cycling Socks | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Not hard to see why I’ve stuck to Ursula. Sealed bearings are designed to resist the pressures of puddles and garden hoses but it’s good practice to give bikes a mile or so a mile or so to purge any residual moisture. 

Conditions have been sufficiently wet n’ wild to tax the Zefal Extra Wet Nano Tech Ceramic Chain Lube ZEFAL EXTRA WET NANO CERAMIC CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) A blend that has otherwise fended off the typical British winter for up to 495miles. I may need to find the Weldtite Extreme Wet WELDTITE TF2 EXTREME WET CHAIN LUBRICANT (sevendaycyclist.com)  should the waterlogged theme continue much longer.  We must also spare a thought for those who have experienced considerable loss and damage. I'll close here with Steve's review of These Chiba gloves Chiba Bioxcell Winter Warm-Line Gloves | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

 

Picking Up The Pace

As the daylight hours become shorter and autumn takes command, Seven Day Cyclist has been receiving bigger and in most cases, brighter bike lights for testing. The other week, we took delivery of two Xeccon big guns from Moore Large (www.todayscyclist.co.uk) and formative impressions were favourable. 

This sub £100 Zeta 1300 continues to grow on me…Compared with bargain basement ebay specials, the beam is more focused giving a purer, useable spread of light. This picks out the detail when cornering at speed. There seems sufficient flood for overview and presence too.

Doing the decent thing and dipping down isn’t difficult either-medium still has enough bite for the backwaters and though a bit overpowered for town, low certainly hasn’t incurred anyone’s wrath.

Now, along with the usual helmet strap, O-ring bar mount, charger etc, there’s a remote trigger. Primarily intended for when it’s atop your lid, I was amused to discover it will operate the light from a distance of eight feet, or so and through solid brick walls!

I’ve since tethered it to the bars via the Velcro strap (otherwise I’m running the risk of loss, possibly to the washing machine) playfully staircasing through the settings by prodding my pocket drew some curious glances. I’m pleased to report it doesn’t interfere with my Tom Tom Bandit, or other, bar mounted tech.

So far, run times seem pretty faithful to those quoted-with the usual variance associated with factory batteries.

Genuine replacements are available for £29.99, though experimentation confirmed suspicions that it would pair up pretty well with other pattern batteries. I’m not suggesting the OEM model is anything less than reliable but spares can be slipped into a saddlebag or poachers/jersey pocket for extended, high output fun.

Run for the first hour or so, the diminutive aluminium alloy shell does get decidedly warm, although not in the digit singing sense synonymous with high end halogen/lead acid systems some twenty years back!

On a more serious note, I’m starting to think all systems should have a trigger that can be wrapped around the hoods for sheer convenience.

Electronic shifters are nothing new (Mavic’s Zapp system, anyone?) but as integrated technology becomes widely embraced-in the general sense, it follows that lighting systems should also evolve into self-regulating “intelligent” entities, commanded by and collating a wealth of information via smart-phone apps.

Given the potential to leave ourselves under surveillance and possibly vulnerable to attack, if data isn’t securely stored, on a personal level, I embrace this technology cautiously. As with physical locks, all good locks/encryption does is buy time, there’s always a backdoor in, so the software component needs to be continuously evolving to fend off these threats.

Car security/engine management systems have become so sophisticated and will thwart thieves using traditional methodology but with the right hacking skills, its’ quite possible to remotely control one. Taken to its logical conclusion, who’s to say a rival pro team couldn’t tap into the race leader’s derailleurs and engineer a sneaky miss-shift or two….

Come October’s close, it will be thirty years to the day since my thirteenth birthday-I eagerly collected a Holdsworthy build Claud Butler from a local independent dealer and an Austrian Au Pair presented me with a copy of Richard Ballantine’s iconic bicycle book. I was also taken with the classic continental off season attire, which involved ¾ longs and wool, rather than Lycra...

No such thing as the wrong weather, just inappropriate kit. The commuter label (this also applies to motorcycling) tends to infer lower standards/quality. However, why would anyone want to arrive at work looking, or feeling anything other than temperate and confident?

Another editor has sent me this Altura Nevis iii waterproof jacket, which is shaping up quite well. Less racy than some, the fit works with all sides of the wardrobe, sleek enough with ¾ length Lycra, yet sufficiently neutral to be worn as a general outdoor jacket with jeans. Pocket provision means sensible segregation for valuables, tech, bike related kit and crucially, deep hip pockets for parking hands.

In keeping with other polyesters of this price point, moisture management isn’t on par with more sophisticated fabrics. I expected to feel faint dampness around the pits and lower back given twenty minutes or so at 18-20mph.

By this stage the fibres hit the appropriate temperature and wicking commences.  Thus far, I’ve never felt uncomfortably clammy at this pace, over distances of 15miles or so and with the air temperature in the mid-teens.

Right, talking of teens, time I was putting the finishing touches to my series of Children’s stories. November’s only just around the corner...

InSpyred

TRP Spyre mechanical disc brake is widely recognised as being the best mechanical system going and little surprise they were a popular site at last week’s Cycle show. Numb of bum and brain, I took a break from deadlines and fitted mine to the Ilpompino on Tuesday afternoon. Twenty minutes, a new inner wire, some perfectionist re-wrapping of the bars and shot of PTFE lube later, we were ready for the lanes. 

I’ve always rated Avid’s BB7 but the spyre’s just a much nicer system full stop.

Both have been popular sights on the cyclo cross scene for a few years now, although they are fundamentally different designs. The Avids are a single piston design, whereas the Spyre uses two, meaning braking force is shared equally between both pads, which are effortlessly adjusted via the barrel adjuster (or from the bars in a race context). Single piston adjustment requires dismounting, annoying on a long winter ride but potentially the difference between first and second on a muddy race circuit.   

Correctly set up, this ensures uniform pad and rotor wear. With a compression-less cable, like for like, the Spyre feels marginally more powerful but modulation and feel are the greatest improvements. I also prefer the sleeker profile, which may offer some negligible aero advantage but bereft of wind tunnel facilities, I’ll settle for a sharper aesthetic and 20g saving.   

Darker nights are seeing a procession of high power blinkies and main systems, including Moon’s shield X auto. It’s a sophisticated 9 mode model with a maximum output of 80 lumens and interestingly, a light sensitive auto on/off setting. This gives the option of the light engaging via a sensor, once the light dips beyond a certain level. Not a new concept; Shimano’s nexus dynamo switch and several others have used similar technology, although admittedly, its comparatively rare on safety lights. 

Arguably and it its simplest, all you’ll need is two functions-constant and flashing but I’ve always liked a selection, of varying output and patterns. There are four steady and four flashing, with another daylight setting. Thankfully a mode memory means it defaults to your last choice, which makes life easier, especially if you have a favourite.  

Rule of thumb says 15-20 lumens is more than sufficient for urban riding. Rural contexts call for something brighter.

Specification is comparable with other bells n’ whistles models. COB (Chips on Board) technology means diodes are placed directly onto the circuit board, thus creating a more intense pattern of light.

In this instance the Cree XPE+ diode is joined by another 20. A CNC machined aluminium casing serves as a heat sink, keeping them cool, for a long and productive life. Lens and reflector quality have a big part to play, this casts a 270 degree cloak of light, which gives plenty of peripheral presence, while the collimator lens projects a very strong spot to nail the attention of approaching traffic.

 I’ve used  and been suitably impressed by the original Shield and formative impressions suggest this version is a very capable safety light but we’ll have more to say a few weeks down the line.

I’ve also taken delivery of this four mode, Xeccon Zeta 1300 lumen front light, which the Chinese marque claims is designed for both mountain biking and city riding. The diminutive lamp is nicely executed from CNC machined aluminium alloy for durability and heat dispersing qualities.

This meets IPX6 for weatherproofing, meaning water-resistant unless fully immersed and houses a single Cree XHP50 diode and switch. This attaches to the bars via a surprisingly neat bracket, slightly reminiscent of Go Pro types and choice of sturdy O rings.

As we’ve come to expect, there’s also a helmet mounting option and the 8.4volt 5200aMH battery pack is both smaller and lighter than photos suggest. This is reckoned to fuel the light’s 1300 lumen mode for a very respectable 3.5 hours, although a full charge means 5 hours and 30 minutes-from the mains. Looking at the couplings, I am fairly confident that other, pattern packs are interchangeable.

Technically, the neoprene carry sack will play nicely with a top tube bag; though in the Ilpompino’s case, I’ve substituted mine for the cavernous Axiom Grand Fondo wedge pack.   

Depressing the lamps’ positive centre mounted switch for two seconds brings it to life, subsequent presses cascade through the settings. This also employs the familiar traffic light battery-life indicator and it’s perfectly aligned within rider eye-line.  There’s also a remote wireless trigger for convenience.

First impressions-a quick hour’s blast along the lanes, suggests a good hybrid spot/flood combining sufficient navigational clout for serious speed with a decent arc providing presence a plenty. Unlike the ubiquitous auction site specials, lens and reflector quality means there’s no dazzling of rider or other road users.

Other traffic, including SUVs have dips their beams from full to main at car typical distances too.  I was surprised by how warm the casing had become during the ride but then again, we’re not in digit singing territory. For now,  I'll leave  you with a link to some footage...https://www.facebook.com/Sevendaycyclistmagazine/videos