Light is on the way!

[jminer]

The Mrs and me have have been riding our cycles a lot more and it still gets dark early, even when "winter weather" is still like a warm fall in the midwest out here.

So some lights were in order, on recommendation from @ITA97 I ordered a pair of Lumina 1000 Boost headlights and Sabre 110 taillights.

They're not cheap, but I'm learning to buy nice once instead of cheaply 3 or 4 times then finally upgrade. The order shipped out this morning so I'm hoping to have them by the end of the week!

The lights are overkill for the suburban riding we do now, but that'll eventually change as we gain more skill and take new adventures. It's the first of likely many more upgrades as we start to dig into this new hobby.

I'm already feeling better and am finding my pants a little looser after riding every day (not very far yet) for almost 2 weeks and we're finding our normal loop not long enough anymore. It's time to start exploring the town and getting in some longer rides.

Next piece of equipment we're after is some sort of tracker for distance/speed/time. Off to do more research (or read the comments for recommendations).

[Highlander]

@jminer I like seeing current speed and distance so I have the Garmin Edge 130, it is the cheapest garmin cycling computer currently available at $200. https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/596828

Otherwise you can get a cateye cycle computer for like $20-$25 and use strava on your phone to track the ride.

[Chariotoflove]

@jminer Nice. I cheaped out and got a set of LEDs for my hand cycle. I only ride in daylight, and I turn them on when it's a dark day or near dusk. They are bright, but of course, I'm not using them to see, but to be seen, since I'm so low to the ground. They're nothing like what you bought.

My Cateye bike computer borked a few years ago, and I started using the Cyclemeter app on my phone as a stop gap, but never got around to getting a new computer. There are several apps like it. They use GPS and cell tracking to get your stats instead of the old sensor on your wheel. They all also have archiving and analysis functions so you don't have to keep your own training diary like I used to do. Do you have an Apple Watch or Fitbit? They have cycling specific functions in them as well with pretty decent software from what I've read, though my only experience is my daughter telling me she likes hers. They link with Strava too.

[MM54]

I used to have an app on my phone that would log speed/distance (it was called "track my ride" or something). Might be a little less than what you're looking for, but it was interesting to look at on the occasion I'd go ride for a while.

[VincentMalamute]

@jminer said in Light is on the way!:

Next piece of equipment we're after is some sort of tracker for distance/speed/time.

I just use Strava on my cell phone. I like RideWithGPS to find new routes recommended by others. Otherwise both do the same thing. Their numbers don't exactly match each other though.

[PowderHound]

@jminer I have that same light and it is great! I also use it when we skin up the resort and ski at night. If you are going to do any night mountain biking I would suggest also getting a bright headlamp. When this is fixed to the bars it is hard to see through the rest of the turn. Still works well it just depends how fast you are trying to go

[jminer]

@chariotoflove We both have fitbits which do a good job of tracking activity and heartrate, but not distance.

@Highlander I like the garmin idea, I'll keep an eye out for sales on one. I've used Garmin devices for hiking for well over a decade now and they've never let me down.

@MM54 @VincentMalamute I don't even usually bring my phone with me right now, but a cycling app does make sense especially in the short term. There's room for it in my tailbag and it's not much work to start a tracking app before I head off.

[jminer]

@powderhound Good advice on a headlamp later

[jminer]

@Highlander now that I'm thinking about it I should have kept a couple of my older garmin GPS units, they'd do fine for this. They're what I used to use for kayaking too. I just kept my main unit (64ST) because last summer when prices on outdoor spiked way up I sold my older ones (a couple of them for nearly original MSRP!!!)

The 64ST is a bit big and bulky to either mount somewhere or put in a tailbag though.

[VincentMalamute]

@jminer said in Light is on the way!:

I don't even usually bring my phone with me right now

I carry it for safety. Or if I'm stuck, maybe a neighbor could help me out.

[SSfancy]

@jminer

I’ve got 2 of these. One for the head. One for the bars. They’re a pretty great value, performance per dollar.

Riding around town in the evening, I find that one on the bars is sufficient.

[ITA97]

@jminer Good choice!

I just use Strava via my phone for distance tracking. The free version does everything I'm interested in, although the paid version will get further into the weeds if you really want to play in the data. My roadie friends swear by Cateye cycling computers if that's the way you want to go.

I always take my phone on a ride, espicially since beer and/or coffee stops or some other social function are frequently featured parts of my rides. My phone also givesw a backup plan for if something happens I can't fix on the side of the road.

[facw]

@jminer Nice, good lighting is essential, especially at night.

I'll agree with others that there's not much need for a dedicated cycling computer these days. Just use Strava, MapMyRide, or similar. If you want cadence or heart rate sensors you can tie those into the app. A dedicated computer really only useful in that you decrease the risk of breaking your expensive phone if you don't bring it with you.