As we all know the weather in MN for this winter has been terrible. We got some snow it disappeared quickly. Then we got some freezing temps that made it too cold to safely ride for extended periods. Now that it is finally warm enough all the snow is melting. It is such a yo-yo and real makes it hard to get out and just enjoy biking.
I have attempted to just make the best of it. When those temps get way cold, I make it a challenge to get outside and ride. I find enjoyment in being out in the cold. Being one of the few people out risking the temperatures rekindles my sense of adventure. I still try to be safe. I lay out a plan tell my wife how long I'll be gone and when to call me. If she can't get a hold of me then call for help. The worst part is it is too cold for my kids and I to ride together.
Now it has warmed up and there is ice in my usual spots. It has forced me to find new trails and areas to ride. I find the adventure in finding these new trails and exploring them. For me my rides have been lasting about an hour. You can make almost anywhere a fun ride for an hour. It doesn't take much. I have found some new logging roads on state land and crossed some swamps I wouldn't be able to in the summer.
I know weather sucks but you just have to get out and enjoy the bike. It is one of the reasons I was drawn to fat bikes. The exploratory nature. They just open up new trails anywhere you want. I don't think you have to plan a multi day excursion on some crazy mountain path. Just explore a back road near where you live.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Monday, January 9, 2017
Night lights
Currently in MN it is freezing out. The days are extremely short, and it is hard to get a ride in without riding in the dark. So looking at budget options for lights we have found a couple we have come to like. Versatility for us is hugely important. The light may have to ride on handlebars one day and be on a helmet the next. It has to be easy for a five year old to set up. The light also has to be cheap. Our local bike shop sells Sigma lights, and Infini lights. I like the helmet light interface of the Infini light that one is mounted on my helmet and does not leave.
The sigma lights have a silicone strap. This makes it incredibly easy to put the light on a helmet or handlebar. With the silicone strap it is easy to mount just about anywhere.
The Sigma lights are 100 Lumen lights. They also came with a red tail light. We bought them for around $25. This is a great deal and works well for us. The lights work well for around town and riding our speed at night.
With the snow on the ground the 100 lumen light seems brighter due to the reflectivity of the snow. My wife and I have been running a light on the handlebars and on our helmets. With the double lights we are able to see good enough for our riding speed. I'm not sure if you are able to ride a lot faster if these lights would be bright enough.
In the extreme cold the light batteries do not have the same amount of run time. We were able to do our rides without the lights dyeing. With it being cold our rides were probably around an hour. If you were going to go on longer rides you might want to bring spare lights tucked into you jacket to keep warm until you needed them.
The Infini light I purchased is a $45 light. I keep it mounted on my helmet. It is a 300 lumen light. This light is noticeably brighter. I like running it on my helmet and being able to see where I look. My helmet is the Bell Super 2. It came with a go pro mount which works well with the mount included with the infini light. I will run the 300 lumen infini light on the lowest setting and it is comparable to the Sigma light on full power. I'm able to run the Inifini light for a longer time this way.
I know there is a million lights out there we have found some that work well for us. I would encourage anyone to go to their local bike shop and see what they have there. We were able to find good usable light kits for under $30. This mean we were able to purchase more lights and make them more usable for all of us riding.
I recently did a night ride by myself. I put two lights on my handlebar and wore my helmet light. With only a half moon. I ran only one handlebar light and my helmet light. I was saving the second light in case my other lights died. Due to the cold I rode only an hour so well within the lights capabilities.
Below I have a comparison of the lights on different settings. Being only a 100 lumen light the Sigma light on its lowest setting in the woods is noticeably dim. It may not provide enough light by itself. It would work well in a commuter setting but in an area with no light the dim setting just does not have enough light. Once the Sigma light is used on full power it you can begin to see more of the trail and it becomes usable as a riding light. If you compare the Infini light on its lowest setting it provides almost as much usable light as the Sigma light. The biggest advantage to running two lights is the ability to look around and light up what you look at. The bar lights are nice to angle down immediately in front of your bike and have your helmet light set up for looking further down the trail, and around corners. The riding I have been doing has been around hiking trails in the woods. no downhill mostly flat terrain.
The Sigma lights are 100 Lumen lights. They also came with a red tail light. We bought them for around $25. This is a great deal and works well for us. The lights work well for around town and riding our speed at night.
With the snow on the ground the 100 lumen light seems brighter due to the reflectivity of the snow. My wife and I have been running a light on the handlebars and on our helmets. With the double lights we are able to see good enough for our riding speed. I'm not sure if you are able to ride a lot faster if these lights would be bright enough.
The Infini light I purchased is a $45 light. I keep it mounted on my helmet. It is a 300 lumen light. This light is noticeably brighter. I like running it on my helmet and being able to see where I look. My helmet is the Bell Super 2. It came with a go pro mount which works well with the mount included with the infini light. I will run the 300 lumen infini light on the lowest setting and it is comparable to the Sigma light on full power. I'm able to run the Inifini light for a longer time this way.
I know there is a million lights out there we have found some that work well for us. I would encourage anyone to go to their local bike shop and see what they have there. We were able to find good usable light kits for under $30. This mean we were able to purchase more lights and make them more usable for all of us riding.
I recently did a night ride by myself. I put two lights on my handlebar and wore my helmet light. With only a half moon. I ran only one handlebar light and my helmet light. I was saving the second light in case my other lights died. Due to the cold I rode only an hour so well within the lights capabilities.
Below I have a comparison of the lights on different settings. Being only a 100 lumen light the Sigma light on its lowest setting in the woods is noticeably dim. It may not provide enough light by itself. It would work well in a commuter setting but in an area with no light the dim setting just does not have enough light. Once the Sigma light is used on full power it you can begin to see more of the trail and it becomes usable as a riding light. If you compare the Infini light on its lowest setting it provides almost as much usable light as the Sigma light. The biggest advantage to running two lights is the ability to look around and light up what you look at. The bar lights are nice to angle down immediately in front of your bike and have your helmet light set up for looking further down the trail, and around corners. The riding I have been doing has been around hiking trails in the woods. no downhill mostly flat terrain.
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| Infini light full power |
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| Infini light low power |
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| Both lights on |
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| Sigma light lowest by itself |
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| Sigma light full power |
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