|   the best 2 lbs i ADDED to my bike... | nino
Oct 30, 2002 7:41 AM | | yesterday evening i went the first time for a night-ride.equipped with a LUPINE headlight and another spot on the handlebar.just one word: AWESOME!
this is just amazing.I never thought that this would be so much fun.I expected some kind of a tunnel vision and very reduced speeds...NOT SO!we were able to go about the same speed as in daylight.we were a group of 5 riders.our ride started at seven in the evening when over here in Switzerland it`s already dark.we went for 3 hours and did all trails we also do on our usual rides.technical singletrails,jumps,roots and logs...no problem at all.I used the handlebar mounted spot as a base light for moderate fireroads and added the flashlight on my helmet when the going got though.AMAZING!this is now the only way i can go for rides since it`s already dark when i come home from work.other years i pulled out my hometrainer.not this year!
when you look back to see your riding buddies at night it seems as some ALIENS are approaching.
Lupine Babylu (780g):
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Helmet mounted Spot:
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| First night right is always a revelation | pedalAZ
Oct 30, 2002 7:54 AM | | Glad you had the same experience! You will find that night riding develops quicker reflexes for picking lines and setting up moves on your day rides, not that you were slow to start with! But, I have found that it is a good tool sharpener, and opens a new world of ridig opportunities, especially for us worker bees who don't have Monday-Friday daylight hours to play with, or when it is too hot during the day.
Good call on the bar/helmet dual combo. |
| Welcome to the darkside, Nino.... | SS_MB-7
Oct 30, 2002 7:59 AM | | I've been night-riding for 8-yrs and it is a blast! To those who haven't tried it yet -- try it!
Since daylight savings has ended, it's dark by ~6:00pm. Let the games begin ;)
Now, with regards to the Lupine light-system you are using. What helmet light is that? I'm in the market for a new helmet light as I will be competing as a solo racer in a '03 24 Hrs race. I'm eyeing the Light & Motion ARC Cabeza (helmet mounted HID), but am curious about Lupine.
Ride Hard,
Mike B. |
| about my Lupine.. | nino
Oct 30, 2002 8:21 AM | | the one i have is the LUPINE BABYLU 003.it has a 16 / 8 Watts flashlight and a 4.2 Ah Ni-MH Battery.I additionaly got that helmet adaptor.the Babylu comes with a handlebar mount only.the helmet adaptor allows you to mount it on any helmet withot hassle and has an extra long cable.
Lupine win about every lightning system shootout i know of but they are also expensive.I got mine at dealers cost otherwise i would still be riding my honmetrainer for the next few months...
my friends are very good electricions and tune the lamps to the max.if i`m right they have 25 Watts and some smaller sized batteries too.I will contact them to build me a second unit for the handlebar.
www.lupine.de |
| Thanks, Nino (nm) | SS_MB-7
Oct 30, 2002 8:44 AM | | |
| More questions with regards to the Lupine... | SS_MB-7
Oct 30, 2002 12:01 PM | | In your first post, you mentioned being "equipped with a LUPINE headlight and another spot on the handlebar". Are you using a water bottle battery for both lights? If so, how are you storing your helmet battery (Camel Bak?)? If not, which battery are you using?
I don't like the idea of using a water bottle battery for a helmet light. I prefer to be completely independent of the bike. Lupine does offer a soft-case battery pack for other models and am curious if these would be compatible with the bar-mounted lights.
Ride Hard,
Mike B. |
| More questions with regards to the Lupine... | nino
Oct 30, 2002 12:21 PM | | from what i know they have all different sorts of batteries.I have a battery in a bottle like cover so it fits in the bottlecage.I fit it in my Camelbak and had no problems whatsoever.I was told that i could take the battery out of that yellow bottle so it`s much smaller and can be stuffed in the Camelback or the jersey.I don`t care since i have enough room in my Camelbak.
the other light was a self made lightning system.they used batterys from remote controlled cars,fit them into a regular bottle,sealed everything and attached them to a tuned Specialized lamp with Lupine bulb.very powerful and cheap too.the Specialized lamp has a wider optic so it makes for a perfect base light.the Lupine is very powerful but has more of a centered,round optic.I hope you understand what i`m triyng to explain... |
| Gotcha! Any comparison to the Light & Motion ARC HIDs? | SS_MB-7
Oct 30, 2002 12:34 PM | | Yep, I understand what you explained.
Do you have any comparison (personal, magazine, etc.) of the Lupine vs the Light & Motion ARC HIDs?
Ride Hard,
Mike B. |
| maybe... | nino
Oct 31, 2002 2:56 AM | | I don`t have any personal experience with other systems.I guess in a test somewhere in my piles of bike-magazines i could find a comparison.oh well - i just don`t know in which magazine...
I forgot to tell about the capacity of my Lupine Babylu 003:
120 minutes + reserve (15 minutes dimmed light) with 16 watts flashlight
240 minutes + reserve (15 minutes dimmed light) with 8 watts light |
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