h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Tuesday 14th January, 2003

Another dull day weatherwise, but nothing to stop me from getting out on the bike. Still in court so I'm still doing an extra 5 mile loop in the morning and in the evening. The wind is about the same as yesterday so I got a good workout for at least half the route. One or two of those 'Klingon Moments' where your cloaking device kicks in and the tin cans get a bit closer than you would like, but nothing really serious. Let's hope it stays that way.

I adjusted the new front light tonight to get the beam a bit further out. I can now report that the beam pattern on a properly adjusted Busch & Muller Lumotec Oval Plus is excellent. For the first time since I stopped using the car I can see both the road ahead and the edge of the footpath at the same time even on those dark country roads where the edge of the road and the edge of the footpath are the same dingy, indistinct colour. Both front and rear lamps are of the 'Standlicht' variety which means that they remain lit for about 4 minutes after the wheels stop rotating, this is most definitely worth the extra money. It's just a pity that the tin can drivers can't see them.... or the reflectors on my panniers.... or my dayglo yellow jacket. What do car drivers actually look at when they are driving?

Weather Report:
Overcast. Warm for the time of year. Strongish wind from the South West. Dry.

The Bisy is better than the Lumotec (from experience) - I also use a Petzl headtorch on the dark bits. And I've ordered a Schmidt hub dynamo for the 'bent (smug, smug).

Thanks for the tip about the Bisy. Obviously too late for me now since I have just spent a shed-load on the Lumotec stuff, but it may be of help to other readers.

Let us know how you get on with the Schmidt hub dynamo. Are you going to sacrifice a wheel or does it need rebuilding anyway?

Terry

I will change the hub on my front, and re-use the existing brake disc. I've also ordered spokes for cross-two lacing, as cross-three is a bit excessive on a 405 wheel.