From: Todd Teachout Subject: [BC] Report on PBP and Zn-Air and LVR/SON E6 lights Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2003 08:40:15 -0700 Message-ID: <1191512381-1463792382-1063554008@boing.topica.com> While I had heretofore been a "dynamo" guy on brevets, I decided that I'd follow tradition and have dynamo and a battery light systems on my bike for the 2003 PBP. For the battery system I took Willie H. up on his offer of his LVR with Zn-Air cells linked to a VistaLite Code 15. For the Dynamo system I did a Schmidt SON Hub with an Schmidt E6 headlight. The code 15 system has a 5 watt head and a 10 watt head filled with MR11 type lamps. I decided to maximize the battery life and attached just the single 5 watt head (I brought a spare 5 watt lamp just in case). The headlights were bolted to fork braze-ons that will eventually attach a randonneur style front rack. That rack, when it ever gets built, will allow the headlights to be mounted on it rather than the fork. This location has the headlight a little below the top of the tire and the headlight beam hits the spoke which enlarges the illumination area. I decided to do the fast 80 hour start. In 1999 I completed PBP after experiencing huge digestive problems due inadequate electrolyte replacement. Given these digestive problems I still eeked out a reasonable time of 71 h 45 m. Though I was older (45), I figured I had gained sufficient knowledge between 1999 and now to avoid a total repeat of the 1999 problems. From the time I signed up in May to August I was unable to follow a training program I thought was necessary to do well in the 80 hour group. During the days leading up to the start I was having my doubts and was thinking that choosing the 80 hour group might have been a foolish move. A group of about 500 riders were allowed to start at 8 pm. Once underway speeds picked up to 50 kph to begin the winnowing process. While not the first to be burned off at this pace I was burned off after 30 kilometers. This was the result of the encountering the first substantial hill, traffic, and incomplete recovery from a recently completed gap closing effort. A splinter group quickly formed at the top of the short hill. The lead group comprised of about 100 riders. By Sunset I was still in the second group. Wanting to conserve energy I activated the battery system. The 5 watt light was not the brightest light out there but it was more than adequate. The collective illumination from about 40 riders was more than sufficient to see through the night. I turned the light off briefly (7-10 minutes) at Mortagne au Perche, a feeding point in the out bound direction, while i refilled my bottles. The VistaLite powered by Willie's LVR operated flawlessly through the first night of about 9 hours. I continued my journey west through the next day. Sunset occurred before I reached Brest. I switched the VistaLite on again. It stayed on about one more hour on before I got to the controle. Despite some minor stomach problems due to poorly timed feedings things were going well. I got to Brest with a personal best 600k time. I decided to sleep three hours at Brest. It was still dark when I began the return trip, so on again went the VistaLite. In July I did a 200k night time brevet to test lights, fenders and bags that I intended to use in France. During the event I ran both the Zinc-air and the E6 together. The lights worked flawlessly but the brevet was over after 6.5 hours. Not a complete night and the time didn't drain the full power of the cells. PBP would provide me the opportunity to test cells for longer period the duration in a real life application. Starting the trip back to Paris (ok St. Quentin en Yvelines) I switched the light back on. It was about 2 am. About 4 am the light started cycling bright then dim. I let this continue for about 15 minutes before I declared that the cells had been exhausted. So I got 9+1+2 =12 hours of use of the 5 watt light with the four Electric Fuel Zn Air cells. During the event I did not seal the cells from air while the lights were off. The Zinc air cells come with air tight bags to limit no load discharges. I brought 8 cells with me for PBP. While I did break into the second set of cells I used the dynamo system as the only lighting system for the rest of my ride. Given improved feeding, I improved my time finishing to 65 hours 44 minutes. I was also able to sleep 7 hours in the process. The bike/human contact points were traumatized and I still have numbness in places 2 weeks after the event is over. I stored the cells and the LVR in a cotton money holder that I had used in 1999. The money holder was then placed in an interior side pocket of a Rivendell "Baggins Bag" handlebar bag. I draped the cable over the top of the bag and zip tied it to the brake cable in two places to keep it secure. There was no rain during the event so I was unable to find out performance under wet conditions. I found the 3 watt E6 light a little more effective at illuminating my way than the 5 watt MR11. When the group was small (under 4), I was found myself at the front providing illumination for the group. The italians, the danes, the brits (at least the ones I rode with) and the russians continue to use marginally acceptable lighting. Their lights provide enough illumination to alert an oncoming vehicle and do little to effectively illuminate the path ahead. I supplemented the VistaLite and the Schmidt SON/E6 with a Petzl duo beam helmet mounted light for descents and for locating guide signs. The light was powered with 4 AA lithium cells. The lamps are halogen and regular incandescent. I did not use up the power in the cells during the ride. I was very pleased with the Zinc Air cells. They were easy to connect, pretty light, less harmful environmentally and they lasted a long time. They are a little pricey but for special events such as PBP I found the the cost to be reasonable. Willie and the folks at Schmidt and VistaLite - thanks. Todd Teachout Hercules CA PBP 1999, 2003 Ancien -- To subscribe to this list send a BLANK email to bikecurrent-subscribe@topica.com To unsubscribe from this list send a BLANK email to bikecurrent-unsubscribe@topica.com --^---------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to: lm1@fundy.net EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiBc.a3y8Xj.bG0xQGZ1 Or send an email to: bikecurrent-unsubscribe@topica.com TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html --^----------------------------------------------------------------