Tag Archives: lighting

Citi update [Just a few notes...] 2

accesories/equipment, Citi, cycling • Tags: , , , ,

Well, today I had hopes of receiving my “Faye Graphic” from Eric [mailed by Priority Mail on Monday [also from NY State] . It did not happen. Instead, I received my Brooks Handlebar Grips, sent by Priority Mail on Monday [03/23] from Niagara, New York. So, no pictures today. Maybe tomorrow, although we have rain in the forecast. Today was very overcast and COOL. I did learn that my bell crown is to be ready on Monday. I’ll have real *shinny* chrome then.

I like the look and feel of the Brooks Handlebar Grips on my Citi. I’ll be glad when she has wheels so the I can sit on her. I used my spare time yesterday to find a good location for my Lightspin Dynamo. I wanted to mount it on the front fork as my generator was back in the day. My bracket is to small for the fork and would likely interfere with the cantilever brakes. I could not find a suitable aftermarket bracket.

While you can mount the dynamo backwards, ideally the dynamo should be positioned ahead of the mounting point. In other words, if mounted on the fork, the dynamo should be in front of the fork, not behind it. In case the mount should come loose, the dynamo could jam between the spokes and the fork blade if it’s mounted behind the fork blade, If it’s mounted in front, it could bounce around some, but it’s not likely to jam and cause a crash.

I spoke with a dealer who informed me that it is *illegal* to place a dynamo on the fork without a dynamo braze-on mount. I questioned him on a U.S. law that says no. He says there is one. I doubt that, and find nothing supporting his claim in my search. The issue being that if the dynamo were to fall off, it could result in the rider going down if the dynamo were to jam into the spokes. My reading [Peter White Cycles ~ quote left] is a dynamo should not be mounted behind the fork [for the reason stated]. It should be in front and then if it detaches it will bounce, rather than lodge in the wheel. Instead of  pursuing fork mounting, I moved my planning to the rear wheel.

I had the dynamo mounted on my RANS SXP on the left seat brace [which happened to be more vertical]. It worked well there. Without a wheel, with tire in place, it is more difficult to position.  Using a 26″ front wheel [no tire] and a rear axle, I determined the right seat-stay will work. I altered my wiring for a power feed from the rear rather than the front of the bike.

My original brake cable conduit still works, now delivering power to the headlight. I tested by hand spinning the Lightspin and all is well. The front end is cleaner than it would have been. I’ve wire the back so that it is neat; although, I have a bit more wire than I’d like. I’m plugging a lead for both lights into the dynamo. I could have run one lead to the taillight and split the power to the headlight from there.

Anyway, the project is complete–the results are good. Now, to have the bracket painted black…

Citi build-up update 2

accesories/equipment, Citi, cycling • Tags: , ,

Following is an update of Citi build-up activities over the last two days:

  • Yesterday, 03/23 I received the Mirrycle Incredibell Big Bicycle Bell (Chrome). Although it is sold as chrome, I do not think so. It is not shinny as I expected or see in pictures. I polished it and got more luster, but still not what I expected. Today, I took the crown to a local electroplater to be  chromed. From the work I saw and the assurance I received, I’ll have the bell I want for this bike.
  • Today, around 2:45 p.m. EDT,  I received these items from Peter White Cycles:
  1. The Lumotec IQ Cyo (R) Plus;
  2. The Lumotec Headlight Mount for bikes with Cantilever brakes; and
  3. Seculite Plus (6 volt) taillight
  • I spent the majority of the time after receipt installing the lights on the bike, wiring and testing them. The frame ground works, the LightSpin Dynamo works. The wiring, including soildering and heat shrink tubing is complete. With regard to lighting, I like what has been accomplished.
  • I also install plugs to fill the holes left in the Topeak Tourguide Handlebar Bag when I modified it to be mounted on the stem versus the handlebar.

Tomorrow, I should receive the Faye & jalexartis graphics. I’ll put those on the bike and get pictures of what has been completed since the last photo shoot. Later this week, my Brooks Handlebar grips may arrive. They were mailed yesterday and are projected to arrive on the 31st. I think I’ll have them before then.

One more thing. I almost forgot. After modifying the Topeak bag, I install a bracket that will hold my Garmin Edge 305 [should I decide to record a ride]. Remember, this is my knock around bike.

This is what I did today 6

accesories/equipment, Citi, cycling • Tags: , ,

With this build-up, I am trying [as I have with my other cycles] to keep things neat–in this case, the wiring for my lighting system. Rather than using my DiNotte lights, I’ve decided to use a wheel dynamo. Back in the day, we simply called it a generator. I had one on my 3-speed English Racer. So, where will it [the generator] go? I installed it on the back wheel of my RANS Stratus XP. My English Racer had the generator up front. Therefore, I want to do the same on Fay. The questions are, how to neatly get the wire to the back for the taillight and where shall I place it? On my RANS SXP, I routed many wires in a vinyl tube that I secured to beneath the bottom tube. Such will not look neat on this bike.

After a lot of thought, I decided to place the wires in a small conduit. The best I came up with is a brake cable housing in the rear derailleur channel [since I'm doing a fixie & single speed build]; but, can it carry a pair of wires. I don’t think so. Now, how do I neatly get 2 wires from front to back?

Wait! Why not use the bike as a wire and then route one wire. Hey, that will work. Now to check the frame’s continuity. Two issues, the anodized seat post and the front fork. I cleaned a spot just beneath the seat [on positioning: I always want my taillight as high as possible] and then cleaned large areas below the maximum extension line so that the seat post is electrically a part of the frame. Several continuity checks and we now have good contact. I’d like to have the wire welded to the post. The problem with the fork is that some of the powder coat covered areas that precluded “electrical” contact with the frame. Scrap, scrape, and we have continuity–wire to fork. Very good!

Now, to get a longer piece of cable housing–done.

I spent a major part of the morning fashioning a bracket for the taillight that allows me to angle it as needed, based on seat position, and accommodate the cable housing. I have a bracket where a back caliper brake would go to keep the brake housing [now conduit] taunt. Pulled the wire. The wire ends are positioned for connection to the respective lights. I’ll cover any exposed wire with black heat shrink tubing.

I expect the lights to arrive early next week. Tomorrow, the Topeak Handlebar Bag and the REI order are scheduled to arrive. I’ll add a gallery of pictures sometime tomorrow–03/20. I trust my words here are sufficiently descriptive to allow understanding of what I’ve done.