Dear Jerry and all,
The only "appropriate" light I believe in for use on any bike is the brightest thing that I can afford--so that I am seen and do not get hit. (I was injured when someone did NOT see me once, 35 years ago, despite my being well-lit by then-current standards. Thank God that the technology has improved since Wonder lights. :-)
My view on flashlights, other non-bike-specific lights, "period correct" lighting is simply this: DON'T. I would no more use early-1970s lights on my early-1970s Peugeot UO-18 mixte than I would wear a leather hairnet "helmet" or cut the seat belts out of my car.
I use a relatively recent (early-21st century) NiteRider 13.2V dual- beam headlight (12 and 20 watts, respectively) with a bottle-cage battery pack (Ni-MH) with 2-3 rear flashers of similar vintage. And as soon as I can afford one, I will probably buy a brighter and/or "greener" light with LEDs and more lumens. (The dyno-hub lights and other products available from Peter White and others are great, too, as long as they are bright enough. But I have my doubts about any 6V light being satisfactory, having used up my fair share of 6V Union generators in a former life.)
I would much rather see my fellow CT list members using current safety gear on their bikes than hear about any preventable accidents that caused harm to them or their bikes.
Firmly in the functionalist camp on some things while supporting CR goals,
Jon Spangler Alameda, CA USA (where it is dark outside but well-lit by 120V AC and fluorescent technologies in my home office)
On Jan 13, 2009, at 10:15 AM, ...wrote:
>
>
>
>> From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
>> Subject: [CR] Flashlights for Bike Lighting
>
>>
>> To raise a non-contraversial, if there is such a thing here, issue in
> connection with touring/randonneur bikes. Anyone know of
> currently availa
> ble flashlights appropriate for use on such bikes?
>>
> Not sure if they look like what you're hoping for, but the various
> editio
> ns of "Fenix" lights and their look-alikes, LED "lamped", might do the
> trick.
>
> If you end up with something that wants a C or D cell, there are
> dummy ho
> lders that are C or D sized into which you place a rechargeable AA
> battery.
>
> -- Joel Niemi / Snohomish, Washed-out-ington, USA -- waiting to
> see ho
> w much mud and sludge is left on the cycle-able back roads here
> about, no
> w that the water is going down.
>
Jon Spangler
Writer/Editor
Linda Hudson Writing
510-864-0370/FAX 864-2144
MOBILE 510-846-5356
hudsonspangler@earthlink.net