Letting it Out On the Monon

You know those “Let it Out” comments in the Indianapolis Star? Sure you do – it’s where locals submit comments too short for a letter to the editor. There are quips, jokes, and lots of bumper-sticker ideas for solving difficult problems… oh, yeah, and a lot of political statements made by people so clueless you wonder why they're allowed to vote. But enough about that: last week, someone wrote in about the “mean” cyclists on the Monon Trail. The complaints? Not warning pedestrians as you pass them and using a strobe light. “The trail ain’t a disco,” was the complaint.

Axiom Lazer 500: Nice Light, Lousy Mount

Axiom Lazer 500 LED Headlight

UPDATED: See red text at bottom of page

A recent painful encounter with a distracted driver – well, actually, with the side of her van – reminded me that no cyclist is ever too visible. While neon jerseys and rear-facing blinking lights may serve to alert a driver overtaking you, some of the ones in front of you also need a visual nudge or two. One of those strobing headlights seemed to be just the ticket, so a pair of them appeared just in time for Mothers Day. They’re both the Axiom Lazer 500 LED Headlight.

According to the manufacturer’s specs, the Lazer 500 puts out 500 lumens of bright blue-white light. It features four modes: three different intensities of steady and a strobing flash. The lithium polymer battery is rechargeable from a USB port (charging cable included). Axiom says the battery lasts for up to 36 hours of flashing, or 2.5 hours at maximum steady intensity. The stated recharge time is five hours.

Lazer headlights come with a clamp-style handlebar mount that installs without tools. The light unit is removable for charging, and the mount allows me to swing the light from side to side to “see around corners” or, more commonly, point it at drivers approaching from the side.

There’s a one-button ON-OFF switch that you hold down to turn on or off or to activate the strobe function. Pressing the button while in steady mode changes the intensity. LEDs in the switch tell you that the light is working (green) and that the battery is below 15% charge (red). The light’s visible from several hundred feet away in strobe mode, though not really noticeable in bright sunlight beyond a couple hundred feet (3 seconds at 60 MPH).

I like that the Lazer 500 locks in its mount, because otherwise the bumpy local streets would probably bounce it off within a few hundred yards; I also like that swivel feature. I don't ride in the dark, so I can't speak to its use as a headlight: I bought this for safety. What I don’t care for is Axiom's handlebar mount: it’s hard plastic with an optional corrugated rubber insert, and a screw with a knurled knob to tighten the mount in place. The rubber insert can’t be used on our 31-mm bars with their slightly oval cross-section, which leaves hard plastic in direct contact with the handlebar (it can’t be mounted on the stem, for whatever that’s worth). As a result, the relatively low friction allows the mount to turn just a little as I ride, which eventually points the light downward. I’m careful to only rotate the mount itself instead of trying to use the light, but geez, guys, don’t you realize that many bikes don't have skinny handlebars any more?

As for battery life: the battery in one of our lights lasted twice as long as the other on its first charge, but since then the two seem to be keeping similar recharging schedules of perhaps 30-35 hours.

Axiom also sells a 700-lumen model (cunningly called the Lazer 700) and sets with both headlight and blinking tail light. I like the visibility and the rechargeable battery of my Lazer, but I’m less impressed by its mount. If the clamp were sized for real bikes, I’d like it a lot better. As it is, I’m just “meh” about it, mostly because I am suspicious that the mount is not going to last as long as the light.

And I was right: three times, the mount has broken on bumpy city streets, broken in such a way that it cannot be repaired. I'd say that mount ins worse than "Meh," it's utter crap. Buy any brand but this one...

copyright © 2017-2019 scmrak

You, Too, Can Be Seen with a Flashy Taillight

Planet Bike Blinky SuperFlash Rear Bike Light

If you ride a bicycle in traffic, you've probably noticed that many urban drivers aren't bike-friendly. It's not (usually) hostility, it's distraction: they don't shift to attack mode upon seeing a cyclist, they simply don't see us. A wise rider does whatever it takes to be noticed by folks thumbing iPhones or wiping goo off Baby's chin while driving. Flashy jerseys are a passive method; but in enemy territory, by which I mean most urban settings, you'd better take active measures. My first rides in the city where I used to live (Houston) were nerve-wracking, so I dropped into my LBS for something that would attract attention before my rear wheel disappeared under a bumper. My choice? A Planet Bike Blinky SuperFlash Light for rear mounting.

The SuperFlash is a small three-LED light in a plastic housing with padded clamps for either seatpost or seatstay. Installation takes a couple of minutes and a screwdriver. The housing is about three inches high, one inch wide, and one inch thick; shaped like a keyhole. Two LED lights are located on the vertical, with a third, focused by a parabolic mirror, in the center of the round top. A pair of AAA batteries (included) power the light or you can buy one that recharges from a USB plug for about twice the price. Including the batteries, total weight is fifty grams. The light has is a three-position switch: off, steady, and flashing. When flashing, the bottom two LEDS blink at one rate, while the upper LED flashes at a different, faster pattern. Planet Bike says that batteries will last for 50 hours with steady use, and 100 hours flashing. Mine lasted more than two years before I had to replace them. Some users claim that the light can pop out of the mounting on rough surfaces, but mine snaps in place and stays there. It's not certified waterproof, so rainy weather may cause problems. This is a heckuva bright light: I wouldn't be caught dead (well, actually I probably would be) riding in most cities after dark, but I use this for daylight rides on "share-the-road" streets and marked bike "lanes" (the "dirty bike stripe"). I've had almost no close calls from the rear with it working (wonder if I can mount one on the front?), because even in bright light the irregular flash pattern and that super-bright red upper light get a driver's attention. I've seen these on bikes while driving, and even in broad daylight they're noticeable from several hundred feet away. On gray days, I've been known to mount mine on the back of my helmet to get it up level with drivers' eyes.

Overall, it's a fine safety device for urban riders. The eye-catching flash pattern and superbright light should catch the attention of distracted drivers, day or night. The light may be a bit expensive, but so's major surgery.

copyright © 2016-2017 scmrak

Road Bike Essentials, Part 1: Comfort and Safety

So you just bought a new road bike? Well, congratulations! Now that you’ve brought that new toy home from the store, you probably think you're ready to ride. Whether you plan to ride out in the country, on neighborhood streets or on the city trails; the addition of some accessories will make your ride safer and more comfortable. So you might want to head back to the store: here are five (or so) items that are guaranteed to enhance.

Always Ride with a Helmet

I've been heard to say that cyclists can show their brains one way or another, by wearing a helmet or not. Helmets are the number one item of safety equipment for anyone on a bike. Don't be fooled, though: the number one safety rule is to ride smart.

A road helmet is lightweight and has plentiful openings that allow flow-through ventilation. A helmet with a visor isn’t suitable for road cycling, because the visor may block a rider's vision when bent over the handlebars. Because of that, some helmets have a removable visor. Either way, choose a helmet that fits well and is comfortable, one that can be adjusted so it fits over a headband in summer and a heavier skullcap when the weather turns cool.

Hydration: It’s Essential

Combine an inexpensive water bottle cage that mounts on the bike frame with a plastic water bottle, and you'll be set for short rides. For a longer ride, you may want to invest in a hydration pack such as the one shown here, manufactured by CamelBak.

Purists like to scoff at any rider wearing a hydration pack, but more often than not those same purists end up scrounging for water at convenience store prices. Hydration packs carry not only several liters of water from home (plus ice, if you like), but they also provide additional pockets for carrying cell phones, identification, cash, tools, tubes, patch kits and the like. Models designed for cyclist use like the CamelBak Lobo (right) and CamelBak M.U.L.E. are form-fitting and lie close to the back, which cuts down on wind resistance.

Gloves Provide Comfort and Protection

When you're in the proper riding position, up to one third of your weight is resting on your hands; so doesn't it make sense to put some padding between you and your handlebars?

A pair of well-fit cycling gloves is padded at several pressure points around the palm of the hand and on fingers and thumbs. The padding should let you shift your hands around in several positions on the handlebars and shifter hoods and still stay padded. Modern gloves use gel for shock absorption, which helps prevent keep your hands from falling asleep mid-ride. Road gloves for warm-weather use leave the fingertips exposed. Full-finger gloves are more common for mountain biking and/or cool weather. Good gloves come with an absorbent patch on the thumb so you can wipe sweat from your brow while riding.

The Long and Shorts of It

You may be of the opinion that those Spandex® shorts look silly, but your butt – not to mention neighboring bits – will be thankful when you wear padded bike shorts on longer rides. Tight-fitting, sleek bike shorts don’t just pad your hiney, they reduce wind resistance and the form-fitting cut reinforces quads and hamstrings on extended rides. Bike shorts come in men's and women's styles, and are intended to fit tightly -- very tightly. For your first pair, you'd be wise to visit a good local bike store to find some that fit properly and are comfortable. They're expensive, but they're worth it and they also last more than one riding season, so you can amortize the purchase over several years.

Don't wimp out and buy a pair of baggy shorts like mountain bikers: these will flap in the wind, and other road bikers will point and laugh…

Light it Up

Day or night, flashing lights will alert oncoming motorists that a cyclist is ahead (assuming the driver isn't answering an email). Battery-operated lights typically feature blinking strobes front or back and flashing red lights on the rear for daytime use, and can be changed to a steady white headlight and steady red or combination of flashing and steady tail lights at night. Many are available with rechargeable batteries and a USB charging cable. The cost of lights is a small investment to cover your rear.

copyright © 2016-2018 scmrak

Next time I'll visit some road-bike essentials for improving your ride and for taking care of the most common roadside emergency: a flat tire.