Volt 50 and Volt 300

Today's the first time I used both my Volt 50 and Volt 300 on a late evening road ride with some dark canal path segments.

I found it easy to switch modes on the Volt 300, using the flashing mode on the road and the full beam when I went into the unlit sections. The unlit sections were brief but I was surprised by how much of the terrain ahead I could see with the narrow and powerful beam.

The mount for my 50 is still broken and there still doesn't seem to be a spare to order, so after a few bumps in the road it would start to point upwards right into drivers' eyes. I'll bodge it with an elastic band next week!

Xmas preparations

I've got the trainer tyre off of the Fuego now ready for some rides before I set off on Christmas eve.

My trailer has also already been modified to take a Cat Eye Volt50. This involved drilling a couple of holes into the end of the base:

Angling it down at the ground should prevent it dazzling anybody behind me and it's bright enough for the patch of light to be seen from a good distance.

Volt 50 on Fuego and storage switcharound

Just put the trainer tyre on my Fuego to get some training in and to try and figure out what's up with my knee, despite the time constraints of the overtime at work. In order to fit the trainer and bike on the floor this means I've had to move the Brompton onto the wall hook. From the desk it appears to float eerily:

More after the jump.

Endura Stealth Lite Biblongs & Cat Eye Volt 50

One (probably) last post on new Endura gear! Replacing my waterproof trousers is the last bit I needed to do to be more recumbent friendly in the winter. Complementing this was a Seal Skinz Belgian style cap, which is also ostensibly waterproof and very warm.

It turns out I'm less fat than I thought I was, fitting into the large rather than the extra large. It was about 6 or 7 degrees today (light wind, sunshine, no rain) so I went out for a test ride on the Brompton after I'd made my purchases.

(video and pictures after the jump)

Light 'er up!

I was planning this weekend to take the train to Lincoln, then ride along a stretch of The Water Railway route and finish off on the road to where my mum lives for a visit. Unfortunately a train derailed this week and ruined the track, so no trains are going that way for a week.

As the plan was to ride a lot of B roads, many with hedges and sharp turns, I ordered a flag mount to make my recumbent a bit more visible to the mad boyracers and motorcyclists who seem to think that slowing down for blind corners is a courtesy too far.

The mount I got was the type that fits on the rear axle of the bike. It comes pre-drilled with three holes which I guess are to allow you to bolt the mount in place through rack/mudguard eyelets.

These weren't quite big enough, so out came the cylindrical file (I also had to lop off a bit of a corner because of the derailleur, but have no photo of that):

Because the pole is so long and one of the attachments is pretty heavy, I felt it'd be safer if it were attached at two points for stability. The seat is suspended however, so it'd need to be able to flex. I added an elastic band around the rack and threaded the pole through the strap ring of the bag to give it some extra stability:

That red thing on the pole is the result of my thinking ahead to winter or when the weather is poor; I added a strip light. This was too heavy towards the top of the flag pole, so I mounted it above head-height. It should complement the existing rear light.

Here's a video of it in action (during a test phase, when it was much higher):