[LEL17] Light for your consideration

[Exit Stage Left]

I've got a huge amount of footage from PBP2015 showing bike set-ups. It's all in HD, so it's possible to review detail. They split into types, those who have done many PBPs have tried and tested equipment, with lots of tape and bungee cords. Newer riders have 'purer' bikes, which follow different strands of advice, depending on resources available.
PBP requires qualifiers, so the bikes should have had a good shakedown. At LEL it's possible to start on a bike put together from advice, rather than experience.
Dan Driscoll, in this shot, has gone for lots of padding on the bars, a Rolls saddle, dynohub and battery lighting, and has a reserve drinks supply, but no mudguards, but he's from Texas.

https://goo.gl/photos/3X3n6B58yyEa1wRv7

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Just to show that stereotypes aren't always accurate; the fellow on Dan's wheel is also from Texas but an aficionado of Jan Heine's approach.

[Exit Stage Left]

Jeff Newberry has three bottles on that bike, keeping fit before PBP can mean riding in hot conditions for many. A typically British setup is this one from Bob Johnson and Tracy Short. PBP has no bagdrops, but no need for a routesheet or GPS, so saddlebags and a neat  handlebar setup are usual.

https://goo.gl/photos/ARDqkt74Y7GYbf9m8



This Japanese rider has a torch attached to the dropout, as the clutter on his bars leaves him with little alternative.

https://goo.gl/photos/gJ9uTdxjCxtsP7gK9

[zigzag]

i've hardly seen anyone around me with a dynamo setup among vedettes during pbp'15, as understandably the "racers" do not want the drag of the dynamo to slow them down. i used two battery lights, which i find an optimal setup for long audaxes.

[Kim]

I think we've already established that you don't need a dynamo for PBP/LEL.  But you might want a dynamo for whatever you're doing with the bike the rest of the time, and it'll serve you well for the event.  As ESL says, tried and tested is what matters.

[Exit Stage Left]

i've hardly seen anyone around me with a dynamo setup among vedettes during pbp'15, as understandably the "racers" do not want the drag of the dynamo to slow them down. i used two battery lights, which i find an optimal setup for long audaxes.

One of the few I spotted was A126 Max Poletto, http://shprung.com/pbp/?mode=info&frame=A126

He did LEL in 2013, with a fellow San Francisco Randonneur called Vitus, from Lithuania.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfM1sZ_gxzs

[canuckystan]

Would not recommend turning them on or off while riding.  Assess conditions, turn on/off lights accordingly, start riding.

Very statement-making, those twin headlamp setups.

I recently acquired two Sigma Lightsters, each on a mount on the fork eyelets.  ...  You could use one in twilight and both during faster runs in the pitch black:

Am I reading this right?  It looks like a recipe for mashing your fingers in the spokes to me. 

[L.Lagopus]

I think we've already established that you don't need a dynamo for PBP/LEL.  But you might want a dynamo for whatever you're doing with the bike the rest of the time, and it'll serve you well for the event.  As ESL says, tried and tested is what matters.

The required pace on LEL is slow enough, and the daylight hours long enough, that even a not particularly speedy rider can make it around with very little night riding. A dynamo is definitely not necessary. But the turn it on and forget about it aspect of dynamo lighting is wonderful. Just one less thing to worry about on a long ride.

[mmmmartin]

The required pace on LEL is slow enough, and the daylight hours long enough, that even a not particularly speedy rider can make it around with very little night riding.

Very true. But you might want it on during the day cos Scottish Weather.