Does it make any sense to share wheel and light between two bikes? How much of a pain is it to swap between the two bikes?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help
Dynamo query
(9 posts)- Started 5 years ago by amir
- Latest reply from crowriver
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Posted 5 years ago #
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And lights?
Suppose it depends how wires are attached to bike(s).
- and how lights are fixed.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Disc or rim brakes?
Posted 5 years ago # -
I went through a phase of swapping the dynamo- and disc-equipped wheel and light from my commuter bike onto my rim-braked road bike for long night rides. Swapping the wheel isn't a problem with a Shimano dynamo: they plug and unplug very easily and I could see the sense in using an expensive wheel on two bikes, but you'll quickly get fed up with re-wiring the light.
Given that the light is £60-£90 (depending on fanciness), the question is how many times you want to put up with the faff before just paying to not have to do it.
Posted 5 years ago # -
As others have said, depends on the cost of the components. If you've a solid axle bolt on Shimano dynamo wheel, maybe just pick up another for not a lot. As for the lights, probably too much hassle to swap: the cables and so on usually have to be lashed to the fork somehow even if the light is mounted on something easy to remove. If it';s bolted to the fork crown, maybe just forget it...
Posted 5 years ago # -
My rear lights are bolted to my mudguards, the wires wound round stays and frame and the front lights bolted to the fork crowns. Changing wheels would be easy but I like the lights to be fairly firmly fixed so that things don't get taken when locked up.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Thanks. I had a fanciful notion that I'd use a dynamo for winter commuting but take it off in the summer and at weekends. I'd also use it on my Audax bike for longer rides. But maybe not.
Anyway, I'm going to fix up my LHT with dynamo lighting seeing as I have a 26 inch dynamo wheel to hand. Should give me a feel for it.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Possibly the high-speed P.E. brigade would notice the marginal extra drag from the dynamo but you won't. Just fit and forget. The wheel is a bit heavier but that doesn't really affect the ride that much.
Downside of the Shimano dynamos are the modern versions are a complete swine to service. Happily they also seem to be rather well sealed so servicing isn't needed particularly often. The caveat is I don't do anything like your mileage so your experience may vary.
The older NX-30s and NX-32s are easier to service but the seals disintegrate readily and getting new ones is now rather hard.
Posted 5 years ago # -
"the high-speed P.E. brigade" - chortle. See also the aero/non-aero discussion in threads passim.
Posted 5 years ago #
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