RH’s Roberts PBP
 Smart Superflash deserves its name |
 Trusty Exposure Enduro front lamp |
The editor’s Roberts PBP/tourer does most of the winter work from commuting to training, and wears a Smart Superflash LED light at the rear matched to an Exposure Enduro front lamp. The Smart is an impressive piece of kit, featuring a secure fixture to the seatpost complete with belt clip option that also makes removel for theft prevention a doddle. It has flashing and constant modes of operation from a touch switch on the underside of the light body. Three LEDs and a reflective, translucent plastic body throw out a fierce, penetrating beam. It is on its second winter and still on the original two AAA batteries.
The Exposure light is even more venerable, with three winters under its belt. The aluminium lamp-to-bracket mounting bolt’s 4mm Allen socket quickly rounded out, and was replaced with a stainless steel M5 bolt with 5mm Allen socket cut to length. Result; complete reliability since then, although care is needed not to strip the thread inside the lamp housing. Run time is about seven hours on low beam and twice that in flashing mode; full beam never gets used for the well-lit urban ride. As the lithium ion battery runs down, the lamp’s behaviour can become erratic, but it has never failed to take a recharge, which takes about eight hours.
DA’s Enigma
 A happy meeting of belt clip and belt loop |
 Seoul emitters if you will |
The lighting setup Dave A has been using on the Condor Fratello has been chosen for minimal weight and the least possible clutter. This explains why the Blackburn Mars 3.0 rear light, thanks to the handy optional belt-clip, is attached to the equally handy light-loop on the seat pack.
Up front he’s chosen the tiny Exposure Joystick MaXx, redesigned for 2008 with new Seoul emitters and a revised lens design. The cable free design offers anything from 24 hours to 3 hours from three modes, plus a flashing mode which will last a week between charges. It’s stupendously bright, and other road users certainly notice him approaching, particularly on the flashing mode. The small Electron light underneath the handlebars is really intended as a backup light, should the Joystick run out of juice.
RH’s Roberts Fixed
 Weird Basta clamp is very secure |
 Dynamo hub lighting is the future… |
Attaching the Basta rear light to a rack mounting boss makes sense on the ed’s Roberts Fixed, since the boss is otherwise unused and the back end is a bit short of space for a lamp. The Basta light has flashing and constant modes and has proven reliable through two winters with no need for battery replacement. Its bracket is somewhat reminiscent of a clam shell, and requires an unusual removal technique that should defeat most pilferers.
The front light is powered by a Shimano ‘Ultegra’ quality DH-3N71 dynamo hub built with 32 DT butted spokes crossing two into a Mavic Open Pro Ceramic rim. Spare block connectors are available from Ultimate Pursuits; they enable the wheel to be quickly swapped between cycles fitted with suitable lamps. Drag when the lamp is turned off is minimal; the wheel spins for about five seconds. Turn the lamp on and the wheel stops in about one second, but the 10W it draws are hardly noticeable when riding. It cleans up a treat thanks to a durable anodised finish, and has yet to do anything other than provide instant, reliable power on demand.
And the lamp? Review coming soon on RCUK.
