Commuting by bicycle year round means sometimes riding home in the dark. While there can be an overwhelming array of choices for lights I think there is one solution to visibility that stands out. In the past I have used those little blinky lights and rechargeable lights with mixed results. The blinky lights last a long time and help keep you visible to traffic but do very little to help you see where you are going. Rechargeable lights work great and give off plenty of light but I often found myself forgetting to take the battery off every few days for a recharge. What I have ended up using is a dynamo hub powered light and I could not be happier. A dynamo hub is a front hub that generates electricity as you ride allowing you to power various lights (and even a cell phone charger).
While there are many options out there for dynohubs there is one name that is synonymous with quality and efficiency. Schmidt. I built up their SON28 disc brake compatible dynohub and it’s working great. No more charging batteries or not having enough light. As soon as I start riding the light automatically comes on allowing me to see where I am going even on completely unlit roads. Unlike some other dyno hubs the SON28 is well known for creating a high output of power without significant drag. When I’m riding I can’t feel any resistance at all as the hub powers my light.
It’s a really cool system and while it may not be for everyone I think it’s a must have for the dedicated commuter or anyone else who often rides at night.
