I read Taipei has made lights mandatory at night for biking. The problem is I don’t use lights because they are bothersome. Batteries run out when you least expect it, assuming the light even lasted that long (one light quit working for mysterious reason on the second battery).
I’m looking for those things like Youbike where you pedal and the lights come on, it uses a generator off of the front wheel to power the light. I asked every bike shop and nobody has heard of it. Someone said they went out of style. Why? Do people prefer changing batteries all the time to having a bike where the lights just works as long as it’s moving?
Sometimes I feel like renting a youbike, “losing” them and paying the replacement cost just so I can have a bike that works like they’re supposed to.
I had one when I was a kid. It’s called a dynamo light (great word dynamo). Anyway it works by friction so it slows you down slightly. Maybe some people don’t like that. But yeah they are handy if you are forgetful or a cheapskate and more environmentally friendly too!
It’s no surprise Taiwanese never heard of it due to throw away mentality here.
There are lots of cheap sets for sale on ali express. Just search for dynamo light and loads come up. I’ve never tried them so I’ve no idea if they’re any good, but for US$20 or so a set I guess they’re worth a punt.
There are some sweet internal hub dynamos available. One particular brand is made in TW! check it out: sp-dynamo.com/
Philips also make a very nice set of lights for dynamo lights, too. Not cheap tho!
I have a bicycle made in China that has such a hub dynamo (and the light also has a brightness sensor, so it does not come in in broad daylight). It also has 6 gears and cost new under 7000 NT$. I added an inline spring/shock absorber in the seat post for about 700NT$.
I should mention though, that i bought and am using this bicycle in Okinawa, not in Taiwan - but i suspect such bicycles can be had in Taiwan, as well, that’s why i tell my story here…
It’s sweet tech and should be universal but hey. I’ve seen complete wheel and dynamo hubs available - so you just new to change the wheel. Otoh rebuilding a wheel is an easy job for a good mechanic. And you only have to do it once!
