The BEST Functional Bike Tech That Cyclists SHOULD Use!
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- čas přidán 5. 06. 2024
- Dynamo hubs, belt drives, and bar bags, the priority isn't always speed and aerodynamics here at GCN Tech. If you are a cyclist who wants the most functional bike possible with components that are built to last and work really well this is the video for you. Alex & Ollie run through the most functional hacks and bike tech!
Welcome 0:00
Dynamo hubs 0:23
Belt drive 2:08
Internal gears 3:58
Mudguards 5:06
Bar bags 6:08
Saddlebag 8:24
Hi-vis 10:11
Bike lights 11:27
Mirrors 14:23
What is the best cost-effective upgrades you've made to your bike? 🚲
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What are the best cost-effective upgrades you've made to your bike? 🚲
It might not look pretty, but any kind of mount for a bike lock (kryptonite do their own) is such a time saver. Instead of digging around in a bag or pannier for your lock you just unclip it and lock up in seconds. Also - shifts weight to the middle of the bike so helps with stability.
@@rosa__lux692Yup! Having four bottle cage mounts I use one bottle as a spare tube container and the other (during winter) for the Li-Ion accus.
PS
Tanned tire sidewalls are cool but reflective stripes are cooler...
Mudguards and a top tube bag. Both are super functional.
hi GCN bikers
I am a long distancies biker, from Greece, but I am using my bike in the city of Athens... so from my expirience I have to say... in all my routs I make my self visible using lights, but not only under my sadle olso to my helmet. In the city trafic, that all of people r behind the stearing, holding a phone, or they r stessed, they r going to c me when the crash me... unfortunately... and the second roule for me is that I am wering yellows jersey and pands... yellow is a unic color, reflecting so its easy to c me... thank u
Good tires.. they really save energy.. so you need to eat less.. and thus save back the price of the tires 😁
Dynamos, belt drive, internal gear hubs, mudguards, and mirrors all in one video... GCN Tech has entered the CYCLINGABOUT terrain, and we're all here for it ⚡
Maybe because it is a video aiming at the "normal" rider who takes part in traffic and not wants to feel like he is riding the TdF but just wants to enjoy the ride?
@@The_Climbs_Exploratori think you really misunderstood this comment! Cyclingabout is expressing love for the angle that the video took
How restrained of you not to mention anything about the gear ratios of, let's say, GRX vs Rohloff. :)
If you regularly ride shared paths with pedestrians, I would add a bell to this list. I acknowledge that too many pedestrians do not hear or respond to a bell due to ear buds or other reasons, but enough pedestrians do hear and respond to bicycle bells, in my experience. I regularly get thanked by pedestrians for using my bell.
And always slow down, you don't know if a kid or some dog might want to cross your way out of a crowd and always brake before dead eye corners, who are 90 degrees.. Just in case if a car comes and won't see you. For example if pretty high fences are in the way and stand/get up on the bike to look over such fences or trees etc, that might block your sight before such corners.
Bell is likely legally required in most places anyway right? It is here in australia
@@JFat5158 It is but that doesn't mean that everyone has one. And if one is attached, it doesn't mean that it's easy to reach and works well.
I've been thanked as well, especially by dog walkers, although some just ignore me. I've also heard people wearing earbuds shout after me, only to be told by other pedestrians that I rang my bell and they heard it fine.
@@JFat5158 In the UK I think it's a legal requirement that every bike sold has to have a bell, but once on the road all that's required is an "audible means of warning of your approach" so your voice will suffice.
Garmin Varia radar is probably the most useful bike tech out there. That should be a must have for almost all riders.
Why? Most of us can hear cars coming and turn to see them.
@@bensmith2609 that was my thinking until I got one. It picks up cars before you can hear them and gives you a rough idea of how quickly they are coming up behind you
'Most useful'? No way. A mirror works just as well and keeps working on long rides when your battery runs out.
A Varia is like a buddy behind you who is constantly checking behind them. Sure you can hear cars come up if you only ride under 10mph and in good weather, but no one can hear a vehicle 100m behind them. Other than that it does away with 95% of shoulder checks. And the change in flash mode when a car comes up has a positive effect on driver behaviour. A Varia isn't useful in busy traffic, however. Battery life is as long as most lights anyway. A mirror only works if you look in it, a Varia works constantly. Very few people who have used a Varia think it's not worth it.
I check them anyway because I want to see what they are doing. A blinking light is not telling me if they are avoiding me or if they are gonna hit me because they are texting and not whatching where they are going.
Please note, in Germany and Switzerland and maybe other countries are flashing lights not permitted as the sole light source. Only a constant light is a valid light by law.
In germany its even forbidden. Ridiculous.
You can put them on a backpack though, because 🤷
in germany, blinking lights are not allowed if they are attached to the bike. but if u attach them to your body it's fine, eg helmet or backpack. having both is the best tho
In Austria, flashing front light is illegal but flashing back light is legal. I also noticed that Police stop you and ask you not to flash front llight and let you go. Personal Experience
Ja, aber nerven diese Teile nicht? Ich fahre oft selbst Rad, um zum Job zu kommen und so ein Flashing stört mich persönlich, weil ich konstant etwas aufspringen sehe, da Licht am Boden oder zur Seite etc reflektiert. Ich denke, dass es Autofahrer nerven, oder aggressiv machen kann, oder wenn man selbst auf dem Rad hinter so einer Sache herfährt, zumindest bei Ruecklichtern. Bei Frontscheinwerfern würde es mich auf dem Rad erst recht nerven. @@HolgerNestmann
@@HolgerNestmann Why is that ridiculous? Did you ever follow someone and couldn't pass? It felt like someone shouting "HELLO I'M HERE IN FRONT OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!" permanently. Yes, I saw you.
I live in Japan and have a "mama chari" bike with a dynamo hub, belt drive, internal hub gearing, mud guards and even 2 baskets. I wouldn't be able to lift it to save my live, but I love riding that bike to the shops.
I think the problem with these heavy ass dutch style bikes is that they claim to be very practical and reliable, which to an extent they are, but there is just so much more to be had with something like a steel ATB. My 80's true temper framed mtb also has fenders, a dynamo, front and rear rack while having even more gearing selection than an IGH can offer while being under 30 lbs. A belt drive and IGH is going to be less maintenance, sure, but you really do not have to maintain a chain drivetrain as much as GCN would leave you to believe. 3x7 drivetrains are robust.
@@testtest-ol3yi Yep. Not going to disagree with you there. I love my mama chari, but you can pick them up used here for almost free (mine cost $70).
fair nuff i guess. americans pay hundreds for them, so my perception is biased.@@urouroniwa
I'm very pleased to see GCN focusing on something else besides ultra light professional type of riding gear. Excellent to see.
My Pinion has a gear range of 620% & my SRAM 1x12 is 520% . I love my pinion mainly because I'm lazy git & it's quite .When doing LEJOG I went past some riders on traditional road bikes going up Shap ,I wasn't racing but one of them shouted out " it's all right for you I'm 45 & have already done 25 miles" my reply was " I'm 57 & I've done 75 "
25 miles they should be nicely warmed up!
This is really one of the most useful episodes on GCN Tech I can remember. I'm gonna switch to cycling instead of a car soon, so anything helps.
Mirrors are so underrated, especially if you’re riding in the city. Even a small bar end mirror like the Zéfal Spin 15 can make a huge difference in safety. Checking for vehicles before changing lanes or making a turn is much easier and faster with one of those.
The cool kids will never use mirrors but they help enormously when in traffic and are good if you are pacing someone on your wheel. Don't forget to look in the blind spots though.
I can definitely see the use case for a bar end mirror, especially if you have mobility issues. However when I'm in traffic I personally find it much safer and more reassuring to turn my head and look at the cars behind me if I have to veer from my line (potholes, parked cars etc) -- I've found that that sort of action generally leads to cars giving me more space (might just be in my head though) 😅
@@matthiaswuest7271 I agree 100% with this. I suffer from poor mobility in my neck and use bar end mirrors but in heavy traffic I also turn my head as far as I can regularly so that drivers following me get the idea that I'm checking on them. They definitely give me more space then. The mirrors are especially useful on long open stretches of road when I can see vehicles at a far greater distance and gauge their speed of approach over several mirror checks.
I use my ears and I know after 50 years the deal
@@stevegoodfellow3423 exactly. I don't have mobility issues, but I find that keeping track of cars behind me is much easier with a mirror than with head turn. I do turn my head, both as a sign to drivers and to get a better look - the mirror is something to use _in addition to_ , not _instead of_ turning your head.
Internal gear hubs (the better ones) normally have a GREATER range than derailleurs: Pinion 636% of 600%, Rohloff 526%. Enough for even the steepest climbs.
check out schindelhauer. they made a bike with a pinion gear box and mixed it with a rohloff hub.
czcams.com/video/ey_z0Qyqx1Y/video.htmlsi=U3NKzoeOj0ho97Ed
I was just coming down to the comments to add this. Thank you!
Those are gear boxes not hubs.
Could you combine pinion and rohloff?
@@climatechangedoesntbargain9140 Somebody in the Netherlands once did as a fun-project so yes it is possible. 252 gears...
I don't think it's right that an internal gear hub always gives you a reduced gear range. Pinion gearboxes, for example, give up to a 6x gear range, which is more than you get on nearly all modern derailleur systems.
It depends on the gearhub/gearbox. Rohloff claims around 500% which is similar to these huge 10-50 casettes. I think you can get more with a 3x system and Pinion has even more.
The cheaper ones (Alfine 11 with 400%) have less.
But they all have one huge advantage when cycling with luggage: The can change gears at low cadence or standstill.
Yes, it's misleading... it gives you less gear options in terms of the actual number available, but every gear is useable and no double ups. The range (high to low) is often greater than is available via a derailleur - so their comment needs to have a caveat attached to it... the range is similar of better and all the gears are useable, but you only have 15 in the case of a Rohloff.
@@markjthomson Small correction: Rohloff has 14 gears.
Another interesting thing is that the change between the gears is almost identical throughout the whole range.
Thank you Ollie for finally acknowledging the value of mirrors!! I'll add one more situation where they are invaluable: crowded group rides where many riders don't know or don't care about passing etiquette or safety - a yahoo down on his tri-bars executing a silent high speed close pass can be more startling and more dangerous than motorists.
Rohloff or Pinion in combinatie with a belt is perfect for commuting and for packed multi day tours 💪🏻
Even an Alfine with belt is amazing if you're not living in a hilly area. I regularly use about three of the eight gears I have available.
I always carry a spare butyl inter tube and so far I only give them away to cyclists that need them. A TPU tube seems a bit extravagant as a gift for a stranded cyclist.
You guys left out the rear radar lights. As a 70 YO rider I don't have great ability to turn around and look behind me so I use a glasses mount mirror and a rear radar. The radar alerts me about when I need to check my mirror and I find this very helpful.
Dynamo and built in lights are a game changer for everyday around town riding. Lights are bolted on so you don’t need to remove them when you park. They just always work when you ride. Would you buy a car with separate lights that you need to remove and remember to charge? And the lights are designed to put light where you need it, not just be super bright.
As a bike delivery rider, I appreciate that you guys touched on a few spare inner tubes (3 to 1 for TPU vs Butyl)
Touching on that further, i recommend at least a miniature foot pump with a gauge (Decathlon has a model) to pump the tyres with, or, if you are willing to risk limited uses or have access to a charging station - pocket sized electrical air pumps
The former has saved my bacon multiple times during the stormy season where I live, and punctures become more commonplace due to the heavy amounts of building and road construction debris that get washed all over the place by said storms
You missed my favorite light option - which is a rear facing helmet light. It’s incredibly visible to cars!
I do both! Seat post rear light, handlebar front light, and flashing light on helmet that emits light forwards and backwards 🏮💡
Only if the driver is looking. That's a HUGE IF.
Yup. It's also closer to their eye level. Dual front and rear lights; 1 of each on helmet and bike.
I’ll add a radar.
Definitely changed how I ride. Could confidently ride more on the road and can go to the side only when needed instead of always staying on the side which can be rough and usually littered with things like thorns or glass.
They don't like the radar, they've said before it's kind of pointless. But I'm still not sure whether they've actually used it or are just judging the concept.
@@MrKevinWhiteI can understand that for city riding but for those of us doing rural commutes, there is no better investment except perhaps a helmet.
Bike radar: my community loves electric cars, and I can’t always hear when one is coming up and it can startle me as they pass. My bike radar interfaces with the head unit on my bike and will show how many cars are coming up behind me. Plus, it doubles as a rear light.
Also, iron-on reflective tape. Some of my cycling kit wasn’t reflective enough for night riding (in my opinion), so I added extra reflectivity with reflective tape I purchased from the internet.
That's very interesting, I never thought about radar in the context of electric vehicles. We have a fair amount of them also, and they are inaudible. Thanks for sharing this! Great idea!
@@davidadamus177 It’s no replacement for one’s eyes and ears, but it’s been a big help in detecting when cars are going by. It also gives a rudimentary indication of how fast they’re coming - green = slow approach, yellow = fast, red = very fast. Some people may not like it, but I certainly do!
@@erinsheppard2424 makes sense. I rode with someone who had a radar unit. He picked up on cars WAY before I was able to hear them, and that was 7 years ago. Unfortunately my hearing is slightly an issue too. That may be a good use case for radar. Are you using the Garmin unit? Curious if it works with my Wahoo elemnt.
@@davidadamus177 yes, I’m using the Garmin Varia. Some people have said it’s compatible with the Wahoo, but everyone I ride with uses Garmin so I don’t know too much about it.
Another important factor WRT headlights is balance. You can't just rely on your inner ear when you're tired and maybe low on blood sugar, because the fluid in the semicircular canals can change density and deliver false results to your brain. (Much the same happens when you're drunk.) A bright light with a good horizontal spread will provide enough info to your peripheral retina for you to keep upright. Being diabetic, I speak from experience.
T'other thing is luminosity. One manufacturer will rate his offerings in lumens while another will use lux. My main headlight is an 80 lux dynamo light: how can I compare that with a backup light rated in lumens?
Re underslung lights, I fitted mine on a T handlebar extension so that it peeks out under my minibar sorry handlebar bag. Works a treat, and it's even got a (gasp!) *bell* riding beside it.
Re bells, Sod's law seems to dictate that if they're loud they rattle and if they don't rattle they aren't loud. PITA but there it is.
I also love the “Bob the Builder” harness, which I’ve used as well. A lot of the nicest clothing brands just don’t come in visible colors, so I put these on to improve visibility. You don’t actually need one that goes across the shoulders as they make belts too. One of the good things about the harness option is that you can fully unzip your layers, push them completely open (behind your back), and then there’s no flapping in the wind.
Would love my next Gravel bike to have belt drive and Pinion gears...
Priority has a gravel bike with a belt drive called the Apollo. I ride it to commute and enjoy it.
@@bruce2404 Love the Priority bikes (Hello Ryan Van Duzer)! Not available in Europe though :(
Finally, GCN Gubbins Edition!
Great use of terminology!
oh yeah!
Varia radar. I live and ride in the beautiful western part of the US state of Massachusetts. Long winding country roads. Running a Varia lets me know a vehicle is approaching usually long before I can hear it and gives me a graphic on the head unit to tell me how far off, how many and how fast. So much better than looking over your shoulder all the time.
Awesome that cyclingabout isnt the only one talking about these on youtube! Great video
Having had a mirror on my handlebars now for the last 30 years, I can attest to the fact that it's one of the best safety items I could possibly have had. Even though I don't cycle along very busy roads, I do cycle on very narrow roads. It's always good to know if something's coming up from behind and for RH turns I feel it is a godsend. Now being nearly 70 my flexibility has dropped somewhat since I was a teenager.
I am an older rider with arthritis in my spine so I have great difficulty with the shoulder check. I find the combination of a bar end mirror and a Varia rear light/ radar does the trick.😊
Would love to see the tech channel build a high end audax bike - maybe titanium with Rohlof hub, gates drive, carbon rims, 32mm tubeless and test it to see how much it gives away in speed to a race bike.
my fastest 160km and 200 km are both on my touring bike, with a light load... not all the cool stuff you list there (was on 32mm tubeless with mud guards and a front rack and bag), quicker than my road bike.
It would be ace to see a full build like this
Great suggestions!! I have been using and use it all on my commuter bikes. Dynamo hubs do work well, but for many riders it means going up hill all the time. Belt drive are both quieter and cleaner than a chain. They can last longer than a steel chains. Internal gears give me the gear range I need and I can shift any time. Bags, absolutely! Pockets just won't, and can't do the whole job. I keep my multi-tool and flat tire needs in my bag everyday. Other loads vary according to the day. I use my reflective, high visibility vest or jacket with front and rear flashing lights, day or night, on every commute ride. A rear mirror, never used years ago, makes me feel safer today.
I've just turned 65 and have no interest in speed, endurance or maintenance, but do cycle 15-20 miles each weekday morning for fitness. I've just bought a Canyon belt drive bike with an internal gear hub and what a difference it has made. It has 8 gears (apparently the equivalent of an 11-23 cassette, I'll take their word for that) and it is so much easier. No clunky gear changes, super quiet and, not that I did it anyway, no maintenance required! A definite life changer for the less serious cyclist!
Awesome
#askgcntech I have a question wich includes the pythagorean theorem but please stay with me. When I begun with cycling I used a simple speedometer wich calculates my speed and distance on how fast my wheel turns.
However nowadays I use a gps headunit and that is calculating speed and distance obviously by my global position.
Now how does the headunit calculates in gradient as I am travelling along the hypotenuse and not the adjacent side? I know it’s not that much but it seems quite harsh when you worked yourself up a 1km 10% climb and as a reward you lose some meters on your total distance.
Great practical advice for using a bike as a mode of transport and not just sport. I’ve been commuting daily for a few years now and recently came to the conclusion that practically trumps speed and style. Bought a Trek District 3 and it’s been great. Belt drive, Alfine 8 speed gives sufficient range for the hills, dynamo lights are so convenient but I back it up with additional rechargeable lights, mudguards keep me dry. I’d agree with others about how useful a bell is on shared paths. Will consider getting a mirror now.
I would add a suggestion for a pannier rack so that it’s easier to carry stuff. I got an Altura pannier that converts to a backpack which is great.
Bike also came with a built in lock which is so useful for brief shopping stops.
Keep the practical advice coming!
thanks for the comment!
Which pannier exactly?
Agree with Alex on the lighting, I like to have a light with around 400 on low and a toggleable high beam setting for those dark rural roads/paths
I’ve recently changed my gravel bike pedals from double sided SPD to SPD one side, flat the other. Now not only do I not need to bother with my bike shoes if I’m only popping across town, but I now have pedal reflectors (remember them?), which are actually a (rarely enforced) legality in the UK. As a bonus, my new pedals are a fraction lighter than my old one too, so win win!
Time Link pedals are a similar option. ATAC goodness on one side for the epic tours and day trips, flat on the other for the impromptu nip down to the shops for bread and milk!
Awesome this is the first time you showed something that I already own haha.
I love the amp 800 I got it on sale for £15 2 years ago and sorted me out since I got it.
Love the content in this video. All top practical items. I have a Sprintech bar end mirror for both my Canyon Grizl 7 and my Canyon Endurace CF SLX 8. Even though I can hear cars coming behind me, I like to glance down to make sure they are not going to be passing too close or are, worse yet, veering into the bike lane because of distracted driving. On two occasions, it literally saved my life because a school bus was passing while there was oncoming traffic (two-lane road on a curve) and a guy in a sports car didn't even attempt to move over or slow down. With the latter, I had to bail into the grass off the road.
I used to regularly ride at night. I have a couple of dynohubs, a Schmidt and a Chinese one that is supposed to have lower resistance, but actually has significantly more. I like to combine the dynohubs with battery lights for two reasons. I have some very steep hills to climb and in bad weather conditions, or during what we call "mud season," the dynamo puts out barely enough light to see the road surface. The other is resistance. On average, the dynohub slows me down a bit less than one kph when it's on, which isn't a big deal, but if I just want to be seen, I'll switch on the battery lights (the dynos run taillights, too). The biggest advantage of the dyno is that it's always there as a backup. I've had battery lights go unexpectedly dead or go missing, and being out in the dark without lights could cost you your life.
I have to chuckle to see that handlebar bags are coming back. I rode with one most of the time in the 1970s and 80s, then the stems changed, making the bag supports useless and they became "uncool." Now the cool kids are using them again. What goes around, comes around, I guess. Mudguards rock. Being visible at night rocks. Mirrors, not so much.
I am using Trieye glasses since years where you have got an inbuilt mirror. Works perfect!
Another disadvantage of the belt+internal gear setup is the high price... you didn't mention this but I think it´s a primary factor when someone makes a choice.
But you have much lower maintenance costs. You use singlespeed chainrings and sprockets, and once they've worn out you turn them over and use them again (that works with chains, not sure if it's possible with a Gates belt drive though).
@@frostsmoke well that should be quantified... a whole Tiagra groupset costs around 400€, the Shimano Alfine is 313€ only the hub, but it's 11 speed only and I'm not counting the rest of the group like belt , chainring and shifters; a Rolhoff hub is around 1200€ and above... and it's not like you're changing chain and cassette every 1000km... how many km do you need to do to get to the break-even point?
The upfront cost of a belt drive and a gearbox is higher, but if you account for their durability, the amortized cost isn't really higher. even a basic Alfine 8 (USD $250?) lasts over 100,000 Km.
@@andreapalazzi670 True, it depends on what you compare to what. But considering how expensive for example cassettes and chains have become on one hand and that you buy a Speehub for life I'd say you might reach break-even sooner than you would think.
@@frostsmoke You can't with a belt, but the belt will last you several 10.000 km.
I’ve had a bar bag for years, but lately, during the winter, I use a dry bag with a compression I harness that I bungee or zip tie to my bars. It is much more waterproof, can be compressed, and actually weighs next to nothing. It looks hideous, but since I live in a fair weather state (California, USA), I almost never see any of the fair weather a-hole fashionista riders who would give me a hard time about it.
HUGE fan of the Take-a-Look helmet-mounted mirror. Easy and straightforward installation, minimal aerodynamic drag, well-made and durable. If one does much urban / suburban cycling where there are lots of cars, this thing is awesomely useful.
Steering stabiliser. A Hebie elastomer job came standard on my new touring bike (Vivente) whether I wanted it or not. Why do I need that, I wondered as I pondered second mortgage options. After the Rohloff hub and belt drive, it’s become my favourite feature. No more front wheel flopping as you load the shopping or touring panniers. Bike stays upright and so do you. BTW, you don’t need a second mortgage either for the elastomer or the bike: a good modern touring bike is all you’ll ever need after you give up on any pro peloton aspirations!
Some internal gearboxes have MORE range than typical road bike setups. My commuter bike with the Pinion gearbox has a 600% range, which is greater than my 105 equipped road bike. The 12 gears with NO overlap make it perfect for commuter duty.
On the mirrors, I have a round mirror that is on a wrist band, and angle is adjustable with a velcro backing. It is lightweight and works quite well. You can move your hand around to see behind you in many different directions.
A helmet with remote turn signals has been very effective in telling drivers where I'm going. It helps me remain visible and drivers understand what it means. Also there are the same high vis bands that work like normal during the day but have led lights for night.
Just use reflective mitts!
Really nice way to show that you've been listening to the opinions in comments with a serious look at this area of tech. I love a fancy racing bike with care and attention to small performance increases, but it would be fun to see more of these featured in other videos actually being used. Much like the new video with Manon looking at fixies!
Glad you enjoyed it! What would you like to see even more of?
I do mostly endurance riding and unfortunately much of it on roads. So mirrors are mandatory. The aero ones that fit in the ends of the handle bar are the best. Not in the way and just big enough to save your skin.
Garmin Varia is must have
Well done lads, top work! Enjoyed this vid. Its all about context. Defo looking at a belt drive for the next commuter!
Also good shout on TPU tubes. Unless you want to go tubeless, TPU is a huge win. Comfort gain, weighs less, spare is smaller and oh hey for free you get more speed too.
Outstanding overview!! Fit for purpose thinking moves “safety needles” and the ride enjoyment in the right direction.
If you want a handlebar bag that it's easy and safe to get into while riding, the Ortlieb Ultimates, Vaude Aquabox and similar are the way to go. Waterproof, flip tops with magnetic catches, and easy to add/remove to the bike with the klick-fix adaptor or whatever it's called. Perhaps a bit heavy for a roadie but for touring / adventure riding / pleasure riding they're farking amazing.
Great round up, WRT hi-vis, I love NoxGear can make it slow color shift, blink, or just a solid. Keep up the great work
Found this video helpful especially lights
Most of my bikes have fenders/mudguards, handlebar mirrors, hub powered lighting, and a bell. Last year I bought a Trek District 4 Equipped as my main commuter, and it has it all: generator, lights, mudguards, belt drive, internal hub gears, a rear rack, and a bell. No bar bag, though.
Helmet mirrors are extremely helpful!
I've always used front and rear lights to be seen and a bar end mirror to see behind me. I'm legally blind in my left eye and it can be very difficult to see what's on that side of me. I've also started using a top bar bag on long rides. I'd think about a carbon belt drive and an internal hub for my next bike. Very good video! Thanks.
I use a radar (mine is a Magene, because they are cheaper than Garmin). Also, the slightly ridiculous bell that came with my high-end road bike gets better use on my commuting gravel bike.
I typically use 3 rear lights, (though one may be in reserve) and have them at different levels. Back of my helmet, under my saddle, and on the rear mudguard. Back in the time when Emma was presenting, I recall her saying that there was evidence that erratic flashing was more effective to get noticed.
On the talk of mirrors, I have also seen a bar end mirror, that goes really well with a drop bar and it's quite aero since it sits at the end doubling as a the bar tape holder. Something like an Evo Edge Road Bike Mirror.
You’ve basically done an episode on my Cube Travel EXC; dynamo hub, belt drive, internal gears, mudguards.
You should have Ryan Van Duzer on the show, he has lots of experience with belt drive bicycles, he has taken numerous cross country trips including off road on bikes with belt drive bicycles.
He has a CZcams channel.
I love my dynamo hub on my commuter bike. I will never run out of battery power for my lights.
Drop bars...use a helmet mounted mirror. I've tried hood mounts (which broke the tab holding my hood on), bar end mount, and helmet. With your constantly shifting position on a road bike, helmet wins hands down. Bar end ones work fine on flat bars. The exception is if you regularly ride with a backpack (idk why you would...panniers are so much better), since the backpack may block your mirror.
Pair with a Varia radar to provide reactive rear lighting and a warning system.
Those hi Vis bands are a great idea for those running clipless pedals, which are (technically) illegal in the UK as pedal reflectors are a requirement.
I bought a 6L Topeak saddle bag this year, normally have a small tool roll under my saddle but for long rides here in Scotland it's useful to have a bag to carry the tools and also clothing (soft shell jacket and the zipped off legs from my trousers depending on weather) and even my lunch if I'm going on a route with nowhere to stop.
Yes! An IGH is a great option. For urban use especially, it’s hard to beat the utility of the classic three speed Sturmey-Archer hub.
The piece of equipment that is a must is a small piece of inner tube to hold your front brake on while it’s leaning up against something. Try it! How many times have you tried to stand your bike up against a wall, a lamppost or even just trying to adjust something and it wants to roll away. A simple 25 mm wide piece of mtb inner tube stretched over your front brake from your bars will stop this and help stop your pride and joy getting damaged. Tim b
As a German living in Australia, I had to realise that people in Oz exclusively use the blinking setting as Ollie suggested, but it is my understanding the the STVO (German traffic regulatory government institution) required all lights sold in Germany to have a fixed light position. And the argument for that I believe was that blinking light do not allow a driver approaching a cyclist to accurately calculate the distance to the cyclist. As a consequence I have simply combined a single smaller fixed battery light with a pulsing light to get attraction. Maybe one of those days I have to look for a scientific publication that would support that claim. ;-)
👍👍👍 I definitely want more functional tech episodes
Flashing back lights last longer but downside is that car drivers will have difficulty to determine correct distance.
Ollie, the top tube bag doesn't rub on your knee since it's fixed- it's your knee that rubs on the bag!
12:16: Or just get a dynamo hub and dedicated front and rear light system. I love mine because I never need to worry about charging. Also, people do not realize that the "permanent" batteries in "rechargeable" batteries do not last forever. They have a certain number of charge-discharge cycles and then fail. When they fail, you have to buy a new light system.
I'm sure nobody with a mobile phone hasn't though tof that. Does your dynamo system have a backup so your lights don't go out when you stop?
@@stevemawer848 Many dynamo lights have a capacitor-based system to keep the lights on for a couple of minutes when you stop.
Great way to mix it up, guys. Enjoyed this topic.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I love the Hi-Vis Mankini :)
2:00 Reminds me of Bart Simpson’s bicycle headlight 😂
The accessories and bits of kit that we add to our rides are so dependent on the environment we ride in. If we commute in traffic, some kind of mirror will save your neck in more ways than one. If you ride along with pedestrians (and horses) on park trails, a bell is important and in some places mandatory. I like the reflective bands (on your legs) that Alex mentioned. They're light, easy to put on and take off and since they're moving they catch a driver's eye quickly. The guys didn't mention paniers but I think they're still the best system for carrying things as two paniers can carry 40 liters or more of material, they're placed lower on the bike so they lower the your center of gravity. They're not aerodynamic but then again, you wouldn't use them when racing.
A decent pump is essential. The ideal would be a full size frame pump but, if not a good small pump that sits next to the bottle cage. I have a Silca Tattico and it’s fantastic
With regards to lights, things like Reelight (I'm sure there are other brands), that are powered through magnetic induction are great positional lights. Never needs charging, some models have a small capacitor to allow them to keep powered on and blinking for around 2 minutes when you stop your bike.
They're not illumination lights, but they keep you lit up with blinking lights so other road users can see you. And since you don't need to worry about charging any batteries, they are also good daytime running lights for added safety.
Reelight's are a very interesting product. We remember first seeing them on bikes in Denmark.
Shout out to Pathless Pedaled … “Party Pace” mentioned on GCN Tech!
Good and informative, though I would have added bell as noted by others.
I have used mirrors that hook onto my glass's frames for decades. They are light and easy to use.
I am currently looking to make my cycling safer. Lights is my first. I'm having a hard time with the mirror option. But the ones on glasses look cool.
Seriously, great content.
Nice, have all of mentioned tech preinstalled from factory on my Gazelle Esprit belt. Except mirrors though :)
The reflective and waterproof rucksack cover is the ultimate bit of functional kit. Dirt cheap, safe and keeps your bag dry.
Enjoyed a show full of good ideas aimed at everyday cyclists, might subscribe again.
Use two taillights. If the battery dies, you won't notice it immediately.
And, use lights on bright days. Drivers' eyes adapt to bright sunlight. Passing into shaded area causes temporary blindness.
reflective tape for your bike. i've added some to my seatstays, and have received compliments on it. i also put some on my black helmet for a little extra visibility (though i've changed to a white helmet recently).
Great video, guys. 👍
I have a Cannondale Super Six Evo and a Priority Apollo which uses 11 speed Alfine and Gates Carbon CDX belt and I have not touched the Cannondale in 8 months even tho I ride everyday
Jolly good, amigos. The videos just get better and better.
Great article. Must look into mirrors.
Nice pun!
re rear lights, I now swear by running one on irregular rhythm flash, let’s say for visibility in terms of attracting notice of presence,
but equally, if possible, at the same time also a bright rear light on steady mode.
Not practicable on century rides etc, but for commute level distance rides, the difference it makes imho in aiding drivers to judge accurately your position and distance is palpable.
My headlight has a 450 lumen daytime flash mode. I've actually noticed that cars see me coming from farther away. Daytime flash runs for 55 hours. I thought the light was kind of expensive at $85, but it's still going strong 5 years later. As a daily commuter, it's more than given me my money's worth.
Just make sure its adjusted to not dazzle oncoming traffic. No point being seen if the car coming at you has a driver who's been blinded by your light.
Totally excellent episode. I'd add a bell to the suggestions you made.
Haven't you got a voice?
Yes but a bell seems more appropriate especially as it is a legal requirement in so many countries. If you like to shout at people then go ahead. Do you drive a car and does it have a horn or do you just shout? :-)@@stevemawer848
Thanks
Fat tyres, bar bags and mudguards. People were cycle touring in the 1920's using these items.
Bicycles were sold like this straight from the bike shops.
history sometimes repeats itself!
Doing a lot of road commuting and I do shift work meaning I cycle at odd hours. I have a cyclic camera light, It works well for day time riding but also a 1600 lumen light for night riding in dark areas. I find that the medium setting on the 1600 lumen light is enough. Also I have a couple of rear lights, I would have the rear cyclic camera too but was unable to afford it at the time.
Topeak are actually quite innovative... they always come up with something clever and new.
Yeah, we love having them as a partner to the channel! They are ace!
Useful info as always - thanks guys! But you missed one thing on mirrors: I've tried them all, and they all s*ck except for one setup: the mirror that attaches to your glasses... not built-in, like Ollie pointed out.. but check out the Take-A-Look Cycling mirror. I ride in Philadelphia, and I would not *EVER* ride in the streets without having one of these gadgets attached to my glasses. With it, you end up glancing up every few moments, and always knowing what the traffic situation is behind you, at all times. Very handy. (I am in no way affiliated with the company that makes those mirrors.)