NiteRider Lumina 550 headlight and Solas 2 Taillight

I've been using the NiteRider Lumina 550 for two seasons now so it's time to write a review...

I usually ride early, before work (I have a 63 mile commute which is impractical on a bike). From November through March this means at least half the ride is in darkness.

That's OK, since it seems most drivers are more cautious -- not less -- around a lighted cyclist. I guess it's since they don't really know what you are. They tend to slow down, pass with wider margins, and basically drive more reasonably around a flashing, reflective mass that seems to be moving along the road.

The Lumina 550 puts out plenty of light up front. It has three steady modes, and the high-beam mode provides plenty of light for speeds up to 25 MPH (after that you start to outrun the effective range of the light). I don't do high-speed downhills in the dark so this limitation is fine.

The Lumina 550 has an internal Lithium-Ion (non-replaceable) battery.

The handlebar mount will fit bar diameter up to 31.8mm. The mount is solid (except the slide on interface between the plastic handlebar mount and the metal-bodied headlight has enough gap to produce an annoying chattering noise. I try to ignore it but...) and the light hasn't come loose.

The claimed weight is 176 grams. It's not the lightest headlamp available, but who cares?

The light will put out 550 Lumen max, with run times between an hour and 4 hours on steady mode, and at least 6 on blink (product description claims Burn times of 1.5/3.0/5.5/18 hours, but I ride in winter, when temps are cold and battery power gets zapped).

Removal is easy and recharging is fast enough and convenient  via a micro USB port under a weather flap.

The High Beam setting is bright enough to cause drivers to flash me if I don't tone it down. The blink mode is as bright so I save that for runs through busy intersections after sunrise on the way home.

The Solas 2 taillight is equally well-built, though the mount released once while crossing a covered bridge. I will probably tape over the mount next time for insurance.

The blink modes are bright and I use them day and night. Recharging is easy (micro USB) and also convenient.

I'm happy with the performance, value, and run times on both head and tail lights and strongly recommend them to any cyclists who rides on public roads.

http://www.niterider.com/

30 miles in honor of Spring!

Nearing the end of March, we're starting to believe in spring -- melting snow piles, a few green sprouts, and temperatures above freezing. After this long, grey, cold, snowy winter, any hint of warmth is suspect, teasing us before the next wallop.

Today was promised to reach 60F, but winds would pick up as the day warmed, so I decided to roll early and avoid most of the wind. I rode a familiar loop and enjoyed feeling my toes despite not wearing booties.

While there was an overcast layer over most of the sky there was enough blue to make it a nice time to be outside.

A video of this week's early morning ride...

Blogging and Comments

I enjoy posting, but would like to hear from the folks who take the time to stop by. Please use the comment button below each and every post and let me know what you think!

Thanks!

Days Off

Cycling is addictive -- you ride many miles, come home, take a long hot shower (well, hot in winter -- gotta thaw), eat what you want, don't feel guilty about being lazy, sleep like a log, and are pretty content with clothes fit and the numbers displayed on the pound meter.

And then you feel tired.

Or have an early morning meeting.

Or just don't feel like riding.

It happens, and it's fine.

Unless you're being paid to ride your bike, it must take a back seat to more essential activities in life.

Recovery is one of those essential activities.

If you've been riding long enough you should know when to rest. While some twenty-somethings can press on, ignoring exhaustion, the more experienced of us need recovery.

So don't log onto Strava, don't watch Milan-San Remo highlights, and don't surf for a new helmet, wheelset, or tire to buy. You might even skip checking the forums for a day (I know -- heresy)

Oh, the horror.

So today is my recovery day. It's grey, damp, there's a chill wind, and I just didn't feel like riding. Plus it was supposed to rain. And I had a lot of work to do.

So I didn't ride.

I'll ride tomorrow. And maybe the day after.

And I will enjoy it more.

March 16th Early Morning Short Ride

Not alot of time, so I kept it short but loved the blue skies!

A Beautiful (but Windy) March Morning

Temperatures above freezing in the morning? No way!

I planned on getting a ride in early, before the serious winds built up later in the day. I rolled out at 8:35 AM into the mostly cloudy day. The absence of a bracing chill (that has marked the first few miles of so many rides in the past few months) was most welcome. I rolled into town, feeling the warmth surge through me as I worked up to tempo. To the west the clouds parted to reveal blue skies behind.

Blue Skies Ahead

The first five miles or so went by quickly (it's hard to even remember my route without glancing at the ride log). It's a familiar route I've ridden many, many times with one steep (11%)  ramp about 8 miles in. I didn't feel particularly strong but was able to spin up reasonably comfortably until I reached the crest, where the SW wind hit full force.

Farmland south of Elizabethtown, PA

Stonemill Road Hill (11% grade)

A few more pleasant miles and then a small detour into Bainbridge to look at the river. The Susquehanna was flowing moderately high and fast, with innumerable small ice floes racing along on top of the current.

Susquehanna River near Bainbridge, PA

I enjoyed the tailwind on the return leg (always welcome after fighting it and clawing along at 15 MPH).

I decided to give a Stava KOM a go (it's been a while so why not?) and headed over to Koser Road, a fairly straight, flat 1/2 mile with a slight rise at the beginning just to make it hard.t took me a while to wind up to speed, then once I hit 31 MPH I held it with a steady 120 RPM. But I'm out of shape this winter so I missed the KOM by 2 seconds. Oh well.

Koser Road Sprint

After Koser I pedaled easy until Main Street, where the Saturday morning traffic crawled along. A slight effort on the last KOM near home (I made the segment and called it "End of the road motivation").

It felt good to roll into the drive still feeling my toes and hands. I'm going to like this spring thing!

Warmth? Can it be?

So today was a partial day off to make time for car wrangling (one recently totaled, the other with engine problems) and doctor visiting, as well as other personal items. I started early, produced a 54 page document and rewarded myself with a quick ride.

I tossed the bike in the back of the ailing car, dropped the keys of with the mechanic, slipped into cycle-gear, and rolled down the road.

The sky was slate grey, winds were steady form the south, and it felt damp and not as warm as it was supposed to be. Ugh.

I maintained a steady 90 RPM cadence and forced myself to concentrate -- ignore the wind, the cold, the repetitious slate grey sky and focus on technique, breathing, rhythm.

That lasted 3 miles.

It's hard to be motivated when you feel like you've done this exact same ride in these exact same conditions exactly one thousand times. But the rhythm and the breathing and the sense of propulsion caught up with me and soon I was riding, ignoring self-doubt, self-pity, and cold toes.

I climbed the steady grade up to Milton Grove road, crested, and the sky split open: bright blue on one side, slate grey behind.

Begone, slate grey!

I pushed a bit harder into the bright blue, the wind now quartering tailwind, not enough to help, but no hindrance.

Cars were few, the warmth seeped in, and the ride became fun.

I rolled through town, pushed to the foot of HA hill, then spun up the short 13% patch at the end of the 8% ramp. It didn't feel good and I have a few hundred more hills to climb before speed can be associated with my climbing, but, that's what spring is for.

Down the steady grade into the teeth of the the SW wind, onto the flattish return roads, past the couple on the 5 MPH tandem (each wearing a jacket flapping in the wind), and one final small effort to get home with a decent average speed.

The start: Not so fun
The end: This is why I keep rolling

Lesson learned.