"Let there be light" Part 2

Last month we converted to a dynamo system for lighting.

Got the SON XS hub wheel, SON Edelux II LED Headlight (Gold) & B & M Toplight LineTec Brake Plus Rear Dynamo Light for BBB.

"Let there be light" Part 1

But what I didn't know at the time of ordering was that BBB needs a 50mm fitting for the rear bracket for rear lights and had ordered the wrong size. So I had to exchange it for the proper size which took a little while.

In any case I finally for it today and couldn't wait to fit it on BBB. So now BBB is fully dynamo powered lights.

B & M Toplight LineTec Brake Plus Rear Dynamo Light

The B&M connects directly to the Edelux with the wire supplied with it so its just a case of routing the wire to allow for the fold and pushing it on the connectors. Setting the Edelux to automatic and the B&M will also come on. 

Designed and built in Germany the Toplight LineTec Brake Plus is very small - 16mm thick, 90mm wide and 44mm high. It fits into many spaces that previous lights would not fit! It has good all round visibility and is very light weight. 50 or 80mm fitting for pannier rack mounting.

LineTec is a very clever concept developed by B&M. Before LineTec cars approaching a bicycle from behind could only see a single rear light spot without being able to judge the distance very accurately. To judge distance the human eye requires spacial relation - especially in 'spaceless' darkness. B&Ms lights with the LineTec light strip emit 'spatial' light. With LineTec other road users can estimate the distance to a cyclist much more accurately.

BrakeTec - How does it work for bicycles?

Motorised vehicles signal braking with bright shining red light to following traffic. This style of function is now available for bicycles. The new BrakeTec technology is integrated into rear B&M light. Unlike vehicles no connection is need to the brakes. Simply exchange your existing rear light for a BrakeTec rear light. This new function is approved by German road traffic regulations.

How does it work? Firstly your dynamo system needs to be operating. A processor inside the rear light analyses signals from the dynamo. If the velocity of the bicycle decreases significantly the processor registers deceleration and the rear light shines noticeably brighter.

- Patented lighting technology - Made in Germany!
- Extremely bright light exit at 320 degree all round visibility and glass protected red reflectors
- With plug contacts (central) for power and mass connection
- Beam shape helps motorists gauge your distance more easily
- Very light weight approximately 53g
- Switch for standlight deactivation

Fitted and ready to go

Here is a little video I made demonstrating the "BrakeTec" function & how bright & wide the beam actually is in real life. The standlight I've noticed actually stays on much longer than the Edelux II.

Traveling without moving

A few days ago when I was ready for my commute home after a hard day at work and I found that I had a flat rear tyre. I did notice that BBB felt a little odd half way though my morning commute but thought nothing of it.

Well I had to take the bus home as I was abit too tired to fix it at work and I've never tried the CO2 canisters and didn't feel confident with them. I may get a good hand pump that I can push into my Mini O bag at some point. The Brompton pump is good but how I got my cadence/speed sensor it won't fit.

BBB on the bus back to HiVE

But once I got home I checked again and found that my tyre looking like this...

Sliced tire

Yup pretty bad eh and the Schwalbe Marathon tyre is only a few months old. Looks like a razor or something just as sharp sliced though the tyre, the puncture protection and grazed inner tube.

So BBB is currently off the road till I get a replacement which should be delivered in the next day or so. Actually I may have just missed delivery as I got a "Something for you" card from the Royal Mail to say they tried to deliver something this morning, I was awake and waiting and no one actually rung my doorbell *growls* Don't you just hate when that happens? So now I have to wait till tomorrow and pick it up. Today I did plan to kinda stay in and catch up on some stuff so it kinda works out.

So the last 2 days I have been waking up earlier to take the bus into work. I so missed my Brompton "Bumble B"its not even funny :(

Commuting without my best bud :(

I have been planning to get a second B at some point next year but with Brompton Bicycles discontinuing the yellow colour I'm not so sure about it now :(

#YearoftheBus Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park trail with the Legend

I was feeling a little "Cabin Fever" today so I had to get out and then I remembered about the "Year of the Bus" Sculpture trails. I know one was pretty close to where I lived so BBB & I headed out trying to beat the rain that was due to come to London in the afternoon.

"Presented in partnership with Wild in Art, the Year of the Bus Sculpture Trails have brought businesses and artists together to create a series of free and accessible public art sculpture trails across London's streets, parks and public spaces.

The bus sculptures have been painted and adorned by well-known and aspiring artists to showcase the vital role that London's buses play in the life and economy of the city and the UK as a whole.

The sculpture trail is part of our celebrations to mark the 2014 Year of the Bus in partnership with the London Transport Museum and the capital's bus operators.

The first three trails will be installed for the public to enjoy from Monday 20 October with a fourth following before Christmas.

Following the display, the artworks will be auctioned to raise invaluable funds for three charities: Kids Company, Transaid and London Transport Museum."

This is similar to an event Transport for London did a few years ago but with cows.

There is even an iPhone app. You can use the app to follow the trails and mark off every sculpture you find with a handy barcode scanner. Search for the app called " Bus Art"

Code to scan into the Bus Art App

On the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Trail there are 11 sculptures, here they are....Enjoy

Ding! Ding!

Moquette

Journey to Anywhere

Time Travel

English Herbaceous Border

Hold Tight

The Paralympic Bus

Union Jack

Invisible to The Environment

Dazzler

CumulonimBUS

Was a nice ride and was great to see all the great pieces of art work. Will be doing the other Bus Art Trails soon.

To find out more check out the link here on Transport for London's website Year of the Bus

Maybe you have something similar happening in your own city, go find out.

Strava Data:Year of the Bus: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park