The Chainlink

The worst winter in decades inspired a design firm and frame builder to fashion a bike tough enough for this town.

http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/minimal-method-bicycle-concept...

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You mention two things - do you want a light to see the road, or a light to be seen?

I use a Bontrager Ion 1; it's not really bright enough to ride on dark unfamiliar streets or anywhere with loads of potholes, but I attached the bar mount to the top of my helmet and adjusted the light so I can both direct it where I need it and also direct it (and "pulse" it) to oncoming traffic. I've found it useful to communicate with those drivers who think they can best help cyclists see at night by turning on their high beams. Most get the idea, after having it directed at them, and switch to low.

We rented a pair of bikes in Germany which were equipped with AXA dynamo lights, meeting German government standards for bicycle lighting. They also make battery lights. While we weren't out at night, we did have a couple of long underpasses where they proved useful. They're on my wish list.

I've got Busch & Muller dynamo powered lights on one of my bikes - awesome!  My Lumotec Lyt Senso Plus (30 lux) is bright enough to light up street signs and license plates 1 block away.  It also shows road imperfections very effectively.  Combined with the Toplight Line Brake Plus light, I've had no trouble being seen at night.  Bonus - for a few extra bucks, I got a sensor function on each light that turns them on automatically if I enter a dark area (viaduct, shadow of building or tree, etc.), then turns them off again when I return to brighter light. They also turn on in overcast conditions. Great stuff.

I've got a rear B&M battery light which looks pretty bright for two LEDs (granted they're hitting a reflector) and a Lumentrail front light that works pretty well, but I still think something that looks a little farther ahead and doesn't put so much light into the air (or other people's eyes) would be nice.

That's the nice thing about the AXA, it really puts the light where you need it in front of you, not leaking out everywhere to the sides.  That's the Germans for you and their strict dyno lighting rules on lenses and not blinding other road users. 

Yeah. Gee. Sort of like the rules that the US should have about "fog lights", "driving lights", etc., etc.

James BlackHeron said:

That's the nice thing about the AXA, it really puts the light where you need it in front of you, not leaking out everywhere to the sides.  That's the Germans for you and their strict dyno lighting rules on lenses and not blinding other road users. 

Because the rules about speeding, selling & buying drugs, stealing, and so on have been such a big help so far in eliminating those things.

Jonathan Quist said:

Yeah. Gee. Sort of like the rules that the US should have about "fog lights", "driving lights", etc., etc.



Uh, yeah. What you said.

Actually, if an approaching vehicle has obnoxiously bright lights, retroreflective material is probably more effective than an opposing set of obnoxiously bright lights. Of course, that's just my opinion pulled out of thin air - I have no data to support the hypothesis.

Obligatory reference to the original topic: If one has to pull over and change the nav destination or send a text message, won't the lack of a top bar on these bikes (making them more difficult to hold up while standing on the ground straddling the bike with hands occupied) be another annoying design feature? (he said, smoothly changing the topic away from his earlier short-sighted comment...)


James BlackHeron said:

Because the rules about speeding, selling & buying drugs, stealing, and so on have been such a big help so far in eliminating those things.

Jonathan Quist said:

Yeah. Gee. Sort of like the rules that the US should have about "fog lights", "driving lights", etc., etc.


I think it'd be closer to the laws/regulations regarding cars having seat belts, airbags, and such.  They seem to have gone in pretty much universally.  

James BlackHeron said:

Because the rules about speeding, selling & buying drugs, stealing, and so on have been such a big help so far in eliminating those things.

Jonathan Quist said:

Yeah. Gee. Sort of like the rules that the US should have about "fog lights", "driving lights", etc., etc.


+1  Hilarious and right to the point.  Exactly what I was thinking. I voted for SF the only bike that even considered carrying children utilitarian. 

Lisa Curcio 6.6mi said:

Bike snob is hilarious, but I really liked the Chicago one.  Not just because they are from here but because the other designs just don't do it for me.  Especially the one where everything shoots out of the tubes, that seems weird and useless to me.

I liked the fact that the SF modular cargo concept included a wide variety of carrying accessories. Nice that they didn't dismiss folks who ride with kids. 

April said:

+1  Hilarious and right to the point.  Exactly what I was thinking. I voted for SF the only bike that even considered carrying children utilitarian. 

Lisa Curcio 6.6mi said:

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