Smaller Can Be Better

From the few years that I thought I could race 24 Solos I went through a lot of lights. I used a variety of NightRider Halogens and HID lights. Then I saw the Princeton Tec LEDs, and just felt in love with the color of LEDs and how my eyes react to it versus HID lighting. There is just no comparison to me- LED is the shit! And the folks at Princeton Tec helped me out a bit and are great peeps.

My main set up for a while was a Princeton Tec SB3. Thing would burn forever and gave me some good light. It had it's down falls; the light sat REAL tall on the helmet (branch fodder), and the battery weighed a ton. But I more than happily made that sacrifice because the burn time fit my racing at the time, and the light was bright enough. (For the time).

Once I saw that I was probably not be going to be doing many more 24 hour races (solo), I figured I could take a look at some lighter weight LEDs that were on the market. The only thing was the price! Gad-zoinks!! But then a buddy tuned me on to the Magic Shine light. Sub $100, and bright as the sun to me. Sure it's cheap, made in China, blah, blah, but it was freaking BRIGHT! When I bought it I figured if I get one year out of it I'd be happy enough.

The thing is/was when I lived in White Oak, PA I hardly ever rode at night- I wasn't a fan of the city based legal trails at Frick Park, South Park was a bitch to get to, and Bavington and North Park might as well been on another planet it took so long to get to from my crib! There was the mountain was a bit too far away for a night ride (and covered in snow a lot during the winter, and Boyce was a great place to ride, but technically illegal to night rider there. Sure people do it, but there were always threats from the County po-po about getting caught, etc., etc., And I know me- I WOULD be the freaking one to get made and example of by Mr. County Cop With Attitude. I would be forced to tell the tale of how I spent the night in poky, with my bike locked up in the evidence room while some meth head tried to molest me through my chamois in Cell Block H.

On top of all that I have been working at home for the past 2 years (I run a mag called XXC in case you didn't know), and since I'm the boss, if I want to ride during the day, I can usually ride during the day. SO, any night ride I was doing was the occasional rail trail ride when schedules got ephed and I didn't want the trainer in the basement.

But then I moved to Michigan. All the trails near my crib are open to night riding. In fact I questioned the legality of riding the parks and trail systems at night to one shop owner and his reply was- "They're all legal, why wouldn't they be? Nobody cares if you ride at night." GASP! OK, this changes things a bit.

Now if I can't make it out during the day to scheduling, Dad stuff, etc., I have some serious options, not to mention a small group of locals who have real jobs and ride at night, and the trails are easy to get to which is a huge bonus! Now I sort of WANT to ride at night. Good thing I got that light I love so much!

Then about a month ago I start reading posts on the blog and forums about how that Magic Shine light that I love so much is having battery issues (and eventually the battery will be recalled). Rumors are flying all over the place- one dudes says his battery spontaneously combusted and almost burned his house down, one dude says it's just a cell problem in the battery, one guys says "you get what you pay for." One dude says there's nothing wrong with them at all, just a supply issue that is being blown out of proportion. All I know is that mine works and I doubt it will burn my house down any more than my lap top or cell phone could. BUT once I start hear those rumblings I start searching for a replacement just in case it goes down on me (and just in time before the mobs of folks thinking their house will explode from their lights).

DAMN! Every light that has what I want still costs a boat load. One of the options beyond just being bright was the option to use regular rechargeable batteries with it. Just in case. Well I finally found what I was looking for thanks to web buddy and endurance freak (and sort of just a freak) Dave Nice. Dave threw out a link about Amoeba Lights. Jay out in CO, does some KILLER DYI lights, that are bright as the sun, super, super light weight! Like my digital camera weighs like 3x what the batter and light of this light does. Really SUPER impressed with this light. Built solid, well crafted, and handmade right in Colorado. This light will be perfect on its own with the Princeton Tec EOS (a great back up light!) or on occasion with the still kicking, hasn't burnt my house down Magic Shine I am venturing somewhere a bit more technical.


The light itself is so light that the helmet mount is just some Velcro adhesive pads that you mount to your lid. This didn't work for me since the Lazer helmet has a serious peak in the middle. BUT not to be deterred, AND keeping with the DYI anthem of the light I have an extra rubber piece for mounting a HR monitor to the bars. Drilled some holes in the side, zip tied it to the helmet, mounted the adhesive pad, and stuck the light on my lid- DONE. (pic tomorrow, tired now).

Mod Photo: Almost like it was SUPPOSED to be. The light head is the exact size of a HR monitor rubber, handlebar thingy (Oh, like you know what's it's called!). Drilled a hole, stuffed a zip tie in, zipped and done. Of course I didn't have a charged drill battery, so I used a "ghetto drill" and just kept shoving a screwdriver through the rubber thingy till it popped out the other side.

Many folks mount the battery to the helmet too. I do not want to. I want as little weight as possible on my head. So I will just throw the tiny battery in my jersey pocket or rear jacket pocket.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Pros: BRIGHT!! Super light weight, tiny, solid made, great customer service, extra battery pack that can be used with 6 AA batteries, made in Colorado by a dude that uses his lights every day.

Cons: Not crazy about the helmet mount system, but I am happy with what I did to solve that. The light will get hot. If you are just standing about. Should probably be turned off if you are just standing talking with your friends bull shitting in the woods. But how many of us do that? And there is just one setting: Super bright. No low, medium or flashing. Just HIGH. And that is fine by me. I can't say I have EVER just used a low setting on a light, except for if I was on the road at some point at dusk. Which in that case I have the EOS to turn on. So that is of no concern to me.

As with any mountain bike, part or accessory, the real proof is on the trail. It looked super freaking great in the backyard tonight, but the the trail is the puddin' proof and my legs were too damn tired from going ape shit at the gym today. Should be able to test them out next week, maybe in some snow!

EDIT: Jay from Amoeba Lights let me know today that a REAL helmet mount is available direct from him.


I make pick this up if my ghetto mount fails in some way. Thanks Jay.

Later.