[GRRiders] GRR tech-inspection

Fri Jul 8 16:15:42 PDT 2005

Hi Peter--
Thanks for good questions I'm sure others might be contemplating.
Essentially, you're good to go, Peter.

1. No worries about upon which axis the LED are mounted, either vertical or
horizontal is fine.

1A. those little LEDs in the handlebar end are neat. I have seen them give
better definition to the nocturnal cyclists as I've drawn closer in a car.
Spare batteries are not required.

2. Your system is okay, since your front LED lamp (which has sufficient
power) is ready in case you have a failure of the Schmidt hub or front
wheel. Your bulb situation is fine.

Best of luck on the GRR,
Bill

Ps--
For all Schmidt users, Eric Simmons posted a useful reminder today to
inspect rims for cracks or excessive wear periodically, and especially
before the Big Dance you've all worked so hard to reach. I'm a big fan of
Schmidt hubs, and a user since their earliest days. However, should you need
to replace your wheel due to an accident or rim failure, I don't think any
spare wheels with Schmidt hubs will be in the GRR sag cars. In the case of a
busted wheel, you'd probably get back on the road eventually, but you'd be
relying on just your back-up lamp for the rest of the ride.

Here's a little GRR story from 2001 to illustrate the point. Literally 5
minutes before the start, the assemble pack was listening to the pre-ride
speeches, instructions, and whatnot. Well, for some reason, one large fellow
accidentally tripped, lost his balance, and then fell heavily onto another
rider who standing was nearby astride his bike. It wrecked the back wheel!
So, all of a sudden, this innocent guy needed a replacement. We got him
going with a loaner from Lee Mitchell's supply in Bike Van, changed the
cassette quickly, and he took off with the others, but only just at the last
possible second before being left behind! My point is that had he needed a
Schmidt front wheel, that wouldn't have been available. So whether it be bad
luck of some sort while stopped, or from an accident on the road, that is
the Schmidt's Achilles heel for the randonneur-- being laced to a rim, an
essential part of the lighting system is more vulnerable than a simple lamp
mounted on the handlebars. A good back-up front light is needed for that
reason, IMHO. 
(Also, sometimes randonneurs need a lot of bravery even before the starting
gun is fired. What worked for this unlucky fellow was that he kept a cool
head and didn't panic or complain in the tense moments while we swapped out
his gears and adjusted his derailleurs.)

> Thanks for taking the time to address all these various setups Bill. One more,
> just for clarification...
> 
> 1) LED taillights typically have one or more LEDs in a row. Some designs mount
> the body of the light, and hence the axis of the row of LEDs, vertically,
> others horizontally. Can the light be mounted on either axis, so long as the
> LEDs point directly behind the bicycle such that their angle of incidence is
> parallel to the road surface?
> 
> For example, I have two LED taillights. One has 5 LEDs in a row and mounts to
> the seatstay with the axis of the LEDs in the vertical plane. The other has 3
> LEDs and is designed to mount to the seatstay with the axis of the LEDs
> oriented horizontally. Both will be aimed such that the LED's angle of
> incidence is parallel to the road surface, that is, directly behind the
> bicycle. Additionally, I have bar-end LED plug lights mounted in the ends of
> my handlebars. Because of the combination of horizontal and vertical LED axes
> and the design of these various lights, I will actually have better visibility
> to drivers approaching from somewhat above or below me, as well as from
> oblique angles to either side. Is this acceptable? Are spare batteries
> required?
> 
> 2) The headlight rules require 2 independent lighting systems, each with 3
> spare lamps and sufficient batteries. My main lighting needs will be met by a
> Schmidt hub and (2) 3-watt Lumotec lights, a primary and secondary (only one
> required). I plan to bring 2 spare bulbs for the Lumotecs. My 3rd spare bulb
> is installed in the secondary Lumotec. I will supplement this with a
> helmet-mounted 1 watt LED (1000 CP) headlamp used for descents and route
> finding. Additionally, I will have a 1 watt LED (1000 CP) tertiary light. Both
> LED lights use conventional, readily available AA batteries. I use Lithium
> batteries and have tested both lights to offer >30 hours runtime at full
> illumination, more than enough to ride though three nights.  Will I be
> required to also carry spare batteries?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Peter
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Bryant <bill_bryant at prodigy.net>
> Sent: Jul 8, 2005 10:15 AM
> To: David Pyle <davidpyle at bwss.com>
> Cc: Gold Rush <goldrushriders at dbclist.org>
> Subject: Re: [GRRiders] GRR tech-inspection
> 
> Hi Dave--
> I wonder if there is anyway to get those seat stay-mounted lamps a little
> closer to 90 degrees? Maybe a little filing of the mount to increase the
> angle? Or going to the hardware store to see if there is some creative way
> to modify or adapt some new mounting method? FWIW, on the narrow Vistalites
> that are often mounted on seatstays, I found that mounting them upside down
> allowed greater angle than the regular position.
> 
> I think I covered the aspect of light angle in my note to Eric Simmons and
> the GRR List this morning, but again, I don't think one should think about
> the cars or other riders when they are relatively near you, but farther
> back, when they first see you. The 90 degree mounting seems best for giving
> them a few more seconds to figure out what that strange object is up ahead.
> Once they are closer (and more in the 80-degree range as you describe),
> they'll have picked you up in their headlamps and your reflective stuff will
> glow too.
> 
> All the best,
> Bill
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> Bill,
>> 
>> A question about the rear lights being vertical, or perpendicular to
>> the ground. I use three lights, two on my seatstays and one on my
>> seatpack. The ones on the stays are not exactly 90 degrees, probably
>> more like 80 degrees, and it is not really practical to get these
>> perfectly vertical. Is there any range of acceptability, or will you
>> only accept 90 degrees to the ground. I have always thought that since
>> the lights are below the line of sight of a car, and considerably below
>> the line if sight of SUV and trucks, that a slight angle up was
>> beneficial, but I am willing to admit that I have never tested this
>> hypothesis.
>> 
>> Dave Pyle
>> 
>> 
>> On Jul 6, 2005, at 2:13 PM, Bill Bryant wrote:
>> 
>>> Hello GRR riders--
>>> In a couple of weeks we'll all be gathering in Davis for the Gold Rush
>>> Randonnee-- it should be a terrific adventure for all. Moreover, we
>>> want
>>> everyone to be as safe as can be, especially when cycling at night.
>>> So, here
>>> are some tips to remember before you arrive at the GRR.
>>> 
>>> I hope no one is flustered before the start at tech inspection. Four
>>> years
>>> ago a few unprepared riders were, and then had to scurry around at the
>>> last
>>> minute when they should have been relaxing before the start. (BTW, all
>>> these
>>> points are in your rider packet.) Riders will need a special sticker
>>> from
>>> tech inspection in order to proceed to registration to pick up their
>>> route
>>> card, so please come prepared.
>>> 
>>> As main tech inspector I will be failing bikes whose rear taillights
>>> are not
>>> perpendicular to the ground. That is, for best rider safety rear
>>> lights need
>>> to be aimed directly back at the motorists' vision, not up at
>>> low-flying
>>> airplanes, okay? This alignment will be taken seriously; the sooner the
>>> motorists can see rider far ahead, the safer riders will be. Lamps that
>>> shine into the sky--even a little--are not as visible as those that are
>>> properly mounted. (Attaching a little LED rear light to a Camelbak or
>>> helmet
>>> is a good thing to do, but one still needs two rear lamps attached to
>>> the
>>> bicycle, per regulations.)
>>> 
>>> Also, it is very foolish to start the GRR without new batteries in all
>>> your
>>> lights. Did you replace your rear lamp batteries after your 600k
>>> brevet?
>>> 
>>> (During the ride, keep your rear lights running on "steady" mode; if
>>> you
>>> change to flashing, that indicates to the course officials you need
>>> help of
>>> some sort. During the day raising an arm skyward will get their
>>> attention.)
>>> 
>>> Randonneuring rules require that each rider have two ankle bands and a
>>> vest/sash/Sam Browne belt that puts reflective material on the front,
>>> back
>>> and sides of the rider's torso. (This assumes a regular bicycle is
>>> used;
>>> Recumbent riders can adapt their reflective materials in a different
>>> fashion
>>> to achieve this goal-- but the expectation is the same either way.)
>>> 
>>> Many rider will use a Camelbak-- a good thing considering the summer
>>> temperatures. HOWEVER, please be sure your vest/sash/Sam Browne is
>>> clearly
>>> visible from behind when wearing the Camelbak, and not hiked up making
>>> you
>>> less visible from behind. Some experienced randonneurs attach a safety
>>> triangle from the bottom of their Camelbak and these show up well from
>>> behind.
>>> 
>>> Smart riders will consider the reflective gear items just a minimum
>>> expectation; they will put additional reflective stickers on rims,
>>> cranks,
>>> the bike frame, helmet, etc. Please note that Illuminite reflective
>>> clothing, while recommended, does not take the place of the required 2
>>> ankle
>>> bands and vest/sash/Sam Browne belt.
>>> 
>>> For front lights, redundancy is paramount. For the GRR you are
>>> required to
>>> have at least two headlamps that are powered independently of the
>>> other. You
>>> should have three replacement bulbs for each type of lamp. If you are
>>> running LED front lamps, we'll assume the second lamp is your "spare
>>> bulbs";
>>> same goes for rear LED lamps.
>>> 
>>> Be sure your lamp brackets are sound; lighting failures don't always
>>> come
>>> from the lamp itself. I will be grabbing lamps and giving them a good
>>> shake,
>>> so be sure they are mounted securely. (Bumpy Cranmore Rd about two
>>> hours
>>> into the ride will be the real test.)
>>> 
>>> If you are running headlamps powered only by batteries, you will be
>>> asked to
>>> show spare batteries at tech inspection too. Also remember that GRR
>>> course
>>> monitors will be stopping any rider late in the event who should have
>>> replaced lamp batteries along the way. For headlamps, growing dim is
>>> usually
>>> not a surprise since the rider cannot see well at night, but remember
>>> that
>>> some rear lamps won't go the entire distance on the same set of
>>> batteries
>>> too. Please come prepared with on-board spares or use your drop bags
>>> intelligently. In any event, failure to comply with lighting
>>> regulations
>>> throughout the entire event--not just at tech inspection, or during
>>> the long
>>> first night--can result in a DQ. Law enforcement will be out on the
>>> route
>>> and we don't want the event imperiled by foolish riders who should have
>>> replaced their batteries sooner.
>>> 
>>> I hope that helps; if you have questions, please consult the ride
>>> rules but
>>> feel free to write back if I can provide more information too.
>>> 
>>> I'm looking forward to seeing everyone between 9 AM and 3 PM on
>>> Tuesday,
>>> July 19th. Please come to tech inspection wearing your helmet,
>>> reflective
>>> vest and ankle bands, and be ready to run all your lights.
>>> 
>>> Bonne Route!
>>> 
>>> Bill Bryant
>>> The GRR-ouchy Tech Inspector
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GoldRushRiders mailing list
>>> GoldRushRiders at dbclist.org
>>> http://dbclist.org/mailman/listinfo/goldrushriders
>>> 
>> 
> 
> 
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