In a fortunate moment last year, two lines of technical development intersected: the continuous improvement of hub dynamos and the further development of light-emitting diode headlights. LEDs once had the advantage of being more economical and more durable than incandescent bulbs. But when the German lamp manufacturer Busch+Müller presented its "IQ fly" dynamo lamp as a new top model, the decisive argument for racing cyclists was added: the headlight is bright enough for night-time training. "Three times as bright as standard halogen lamps", says the manufacturer, and after the first test rides, we are happy to believe it. 40 lux are specified even when travelling slowly. Only ten is required by law, and the lamp is also approved.
For a long time, what prevented dynamo lighting from finding its way onto road bikes was not only the sparkling illumination but also the cumbersome installation. But there is another way. If you look around long-distance cycle tourists, you will discover that the lights can be mounted directly on the front wheel hub. No long cables, no lamp holders - lamp and wheel are firmly connected. If you switch to a dynamo front wheel, you can mount the lights in the blink of an eye. According to SON's measurements, the additional rolling resistance when the lights are switched on is around 7 watts for high-quality hub dynamos from SON at 30 kilometres per hour, and slightly higher for the best Shimano models. This should not play a role in winter training. Add to this a standard diode rear light for the rear and you can finally look forward to training in the twilight.
The "Randonneur lighting" and "High beam" assembly instructions are available as PDF downloads.
Downloads:
download
