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I ride early in the morning, just before good daylight, and although there are more animals than other vehicles I would like suggestions on front & rear lights for my bicycle. I have a little Trek commuter bike. I have NO CLUE about this, and wanted to ask those who really ride. Also, for no more than I ride, I don't want to spend a lot of money. Do I need flashing, LED, etc.? Thanks, Gail
Welcome Bruce!
I had the same 'revelation' with golf. After playing (a lot) over a 10 year period, I had one really bad day and decided to change my focus. Here is something I wrote for my triathlon club in 2004 as I was preparing for my first Ironman:
"One day during the summer of 2000, I was driving home from my weekly golf league match (and a couple of beers afterward) and got depressed thinking about how fat I had become (really just 'soft') and how crappy a golfer I was. I never liked golf anyway so I decided that evening that I was going to get in shape, quit golf, and become an 'athlete'. The next morning I got up early and went for a bike ride. When I came home that evening, I went for a run. I kept at it and ran a few 5k-s and rode two centuries that fall."
Then a vehicle came out that seemed perfect for triathletes. The ELEMENT! The seats were water resistant, which was great for post swim (or sweaty exercise). Ours got a lot of bicycle transport use. It was also the kayak carrier, had many motorcycles transported in it (had to remove a few parts of the bikes), tons of patio tiles, a full bathroom demolish. We picked up a new washing machine and the Home Depot guys helping us load the box told us there was no way that was going to fit. I had full confidence - and they were amazed when we got it in. We finally let it go after 13 years. They use a lot of salt here in the winter and stuff was rotting away. The inside of the car looked practically new and the paint was still good. I was having to replace a lot of brakes, brake lines, power steering lines, etc. After replacing a rusted oil pan, I decided I didn't want to work on that car any more. But it is missed.
I am sad that I don't have many pictures of that vehicle loaded up. It was before I had a smart phone so I didn't take many pictures then. Here was the first picture I took in 2006 with a new digital camera.
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[QUOTE=Lee;1210690]I went to State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry 60 miles east of Watertown. That area got a ton of snow and it was even colder than New Hampshire.
We usually needed snowshoes when we had outside classes. Surveying classes required a lot of digging to set up a instrument.
I liked all the snow :)
[/QUOTE]
Lee, was that Wanakena? If so, I thought it was a ranger school. Is that your profession? Did you go to the Syracuse campus at all?
I love the Adirondacks. I've spent my whole life exploring that park. I've hiked it, biked it, canoed it, kayaked it, motorcycled, fished, skied, snowshoed, snowmobiled, swam, skated, etc. It is the place on this earth that feels like 'home' to me. Especially when it is cool and rainy. I love all national parks but the the Adirondacks (a state park) is MY park. I won't move there because I don't want to contribute to the destruction.
[QUOTE=shortythorne;1210781]I ride early in the morning, just before good daylight, and although there are more animals than other vehicles I would like suggestions on front & rear lights for my bicycle. I have a little Trek commuter bike. I have NO CLUE about this, and wanted to ask those who really ride. Also, for no more than I ride, I don't want to spend a lot of money. Do I need flashing, LED, etc.? Thanks, Gail[/QUOTE]
Gail,
I always ride with a blinking red rear light. If I'm going to be riding even close to dusk, I will use a white front light. I have had many over the years and they have all worked OK. I will say that I prefer the USB rechargeable ones for commuting. The regular battery ones are for occasional use - and I used to keep a set at work just in case.
If you look around you can get OK deals but I will suggest: DON'T get the real cheap ones from ebay or Amazon. The batteries don't last long and they tend to break. The last set(s) we got are the NiteRider brand and I like them. Battery has held up well for two solid years of use (about 4000 miles outside so far). I think ours are the Lumina 850 (front) and Solas 150 (rear). About $75 for each set but they are worth it. I have had people comment that they can really see us with the blinking rear. The front is a little more bulky and gets in my way so I don't run it all the time. It does provide enough light that you can see where you are going but you have to slow down. The AAA powered front light that I have doesn't provide enough light to ride but it is conspicuous. I would use that one only if there were street lights where I was riding. It is much cheaper.
Got out on the road bike today for the second time this year. Almost no cell service on this shore means no drivers texting. Yay.
You liked my view Mtn biking, this is what I see when I'm out on the road bike.
The long view on the way home, the town in the distance is home.
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A little closer a little different view
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Closer again with beaches to look at
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Nice windy roads that go in and out of the little bays and communities.
Nice to get out, you can see why I love living here.
That is awesome. I would be out on my bike all the time. Oh, wait, I am...
[QUOTE=kurtr11s;1210783]Lee, was that Wanakena? If so, I thought it was a ranger school. Is that your profession? Did you go to the Syracuse campus at all?
I love the Adirondacks. I've spent my whole life exploring that park. I've hiked it, biked it, canoed it, kayaked it, motorcycled, fished, skied, snowshoed, snowmobiled, swam, skated, etc. It is the place on this earth that feels like 'home' to me. Especially when it is cool and rainy. I love all national parks but the the Adirondacks (a state park) is MY park. I won't move there because I don't want to contribute to the destruction.[/QUOTE]
Yes Wanakena, I really like that area.
The courses were forestry, surveying and drafting.
I had planned on going to work as a Forest Technician with the Forest Service but found a job right away as a Civil Engineering Technician with the US Department of Agriculture.
I liked the work and stayed with them for 40 years.
I did not go to Syracuse after the Ranger School because the 4 year degree would probably get me a office job and I wanted to work outside.
Another reason was, two years of college was all I could afford :)
1975
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Lee, that is fantastic. Thanks for the photos. I love the Cranberry Lake area. I went to Clarkson and Michelle went to Potsdam. That is probably 1.5 hrs north of there. Potsdam had a camp on Star Lake and Michelle spent some time there - she has good memories. We have also motorcycle camped at the state campground on Cranberry. Many years ago, unfortunately.
To tie this into cycling: we've done the Tupper Lake Tinman (half ironman) a number of times and the bike course goes from Tupper Lake to Cranberry Lake and back on rt 3. I think it gets close to the road to Wanakena.
Here is a picture of me on that road in 2005 during the race:
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[QUOTE=skibum69;1210790]
The long view on the way home, the town in the distance is home.
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.[/QUOTE]
I like downhill views :)
[QUOTE=kurtr11s;1210799]Lee, that is fantastic. Thanks for the photos. I love the Cranberry Lake area. I went to Clarkson and Michelle went to Potsdam. That is probably 1.5 hrs north of there. Potsdam had a camp on Star Lake and Michelle spent some time there - she has good memories. We have also motorcycle camped at the state campground on Cranberry. Many years ago, unfortunately.
[/QUOTE]
Small world. Potsdam is 50 miles north of Wanakena and Star Lake is 7 miles west.
The Ranger School was on a arm of Cranberry Lake.
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I guess New Hamphire doesn't have as much salt on the roads in New York, and Vermont for that matter. I have very little corrosion underneath, and my mechanic told me mine is the cleanest he's seen. I haven't hauled a lot with it: 500 sq feet of oak floor from Lumber Liquidators which had the wheels bowed but was ok, and the transmission survivied.
I'm at 235K, and the picture was only taken about a year ago. I had the valves adjust a few years which made a big difference,, radiator, and alternator last summer and am glad it didn't happen on my trip to Virginia. It still runs great.
And yes, you can amaze the audience at what you can put in these, washer and dryer fit with no problem, that is with the seats removed. If it does die, I plan to get another one, so watch the Craigslist ads in Florida, there's some really nice ones down there. Fly down and drive it home.
My mechanic has already done a chassis swap. There was a couple in town that had a flower business and wedding photographers on weekends. They ran up 400K on their Element when the transmission went, but didn't want to part with it because of the added equipment like racks, blue tooth stero, custom seats etc .. My mechanic found an Element in a junk yard that had rolled down a hill, but otherwise had kept its shape though badly rumpled. So he and his crew came in on a weekend and hoisted the body off, and rolled the chassis under after gettinf all cables and wiring sorted. They were quite happy.
Honda set the age at 25 for market aim, but did not advertise or push it hard, being afraid of taking market share away from CRV. I admit it was strange the first I sat in, felt like I'd be driving a "four post bed."
In fairness to golf, if you have a few friends who just like to go out and have a good time, and can laugh it up without getting too serious, then you have found a good thing. As Clarence, Angel Second Class said in "Wonderful Life," "No man will ever be poor, so long as he has friends."
[QUOTE=kurtr11s;1210782]Welcome Bruce!
I had the same 'revelation' with golf. After playing (a lot) over a 10 year period, I had one really bad day and decided to change my focus. Here is something I wrote for my triathlon club in 2004 as I was preparing for my first Ironman:
"One day during the summer of 2000, I was driving home from my weekly golf league match (and a couple of beers afterward) and got depressed thinking about how fat I had become (really just 'soft') and how crappy a golfer I was. I never liked golf anyway so I decided that evening that I was going to get in shape, quit golf, and become an 'athlete'. The next morning I got up early and went for a bike ride. When I came home that evening, I went for a run. I kept at it and ran a few 5k-s and rode two centuries that fall."
Then a vehicle came out that seemed perfect for triathletes. The ELEMENT! The seats were water resistant, which was great for post swim (or sweaty exercise). Ours got a lot of bicycle transport use. It was also the kayak carrier, had many motorcycles transported in it (had to remove a few parts of the bikes), tons of patio tiles, a full bathroom demolish. We picked up a new washing machine and the Home Depot guys helping us load the box told us there was no way that was going to fit. I had full confidence - and they were amazed when we got it in. We finally let it go after 13 years. They use a lot of salt here in the winter and stuff was rotting away. The inside of the car looked practically new and the paint was still good. I was having to replace a lot of brakes, brake lines, power steering lines, etc. After replacing a rusted oil pan, I decided I didn't want to work on that car any more. But it is missed.
I am sad that I don't have many pictures of that vehicle loaded up. It was before I had a smart phone so I didn't take many pictures then. Here was the first picture I took in 2006 with a new digital camera.
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Right,
I've stuffed a lot of bikes in the Element, and loading with the side doors open is actually easier than lifting them up to the rear gate ... what do you think?
And they supply floor level tie off loops in the rear corners and mid rear side doors as well as the ceiling hand grips normally used by passengers.
Sigh. All roads lead to Rome, hopefully the moderator will understand that it will have to pass from Elements to bicycles to motorcycles . . .
[QUOTE=Lee;1210748]Welcome to the site.
The nice thing about a Element is it's tall enough to put bicycles in the back standing up instead of laying them down.[/QUOTE]
I loaded many bikes in my Elements over the years, full DownHill rigs fit in fine, we even shuttled runs with 4 people and 4 bikes. I used to keep 3 or 4 bikes in it at all times. Personally I always found it easier loading from the back. I've also stuffed 5 different full size motorcycles in the back plus a 10' surfboard will fit in it. I really want another one but ask myself if I'm asking for trouble buying a 10 year old machine?
There was talk of a rerelease for 2019 but I guess it didn't happen.
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Oh yeah, those are some good Element pictures, skibum!
Passenger seating is also awesome for sightseeing tours BUT getting people in and out with the suicide doors in tight parking lots was frustrating. 'OK, let me open my door, then you open yours, then you get out and I'll close my door so you can get by, then I'll get out and close all the doors'. What?
The other 'bad' thing about the Element was it's height. I couldn't get a sea kayak or canoe on the roof by myself. We had to carry a step stool so Michelle could get high enough to get the boats on and off.
Now we own two VW sportswagons. One is the alltrack model. The rack situation is better, the gas mileage is better, the handling is better/more fun, but the cargo capacity is nothing compared to the Element. I can put two bikes in the back but I have to lay them down and take the wheels off. I'm back to using a roof rack for short distances.
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I deliberately did not go with a roof rack, no kayaks so no issue there but it was easy putting surfboards on the roof. The last couple of posts got me looking at used Elements again, there were a couple of '08's with pretty low mileage for more $$ than I have right now. Damn do I want another one!
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Talk is new release for a 2021 model, maybe I'll just need to buy a new car?
[QUOTE=shortythorne;1210781]I ride early in the morning, just before good daylight, and although there are more animals than other vehicles I would like suggestions on front & rear lights for my bicycle. I have a little Trek commuter bike. I have NO CLUE about this, and wanted to ask those who really ride. Also, for no more than I ride, I don't want to spend a lot of money. Do I need flashing, LED, etc.? Thanks, Gail[/QUOTE]
For the back light we have a flashing Bontrager Flare R. Bontrager is a Trek brand.
For a couple years I had a flashing Blackburn headlight mainly for day time riding.
Last year I wanted better headlights for night riding for our Mackinac Island trip. Most of the island does not have any light.
It was really confusing trying to decide what to buy. I rarely ride at night so I wanted to spend less than $100 for the headlight.
I bought two Light and Motion Urban lights and I think it was 900 lumens.
Here's what it looked like at half power.
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One thing I didn't like was when meeting another rider it was not easy to dim the light and get back to the setting I had.
A few more problems
It would burn my fingers if I touched the front of the light.
Sometimes it would turn on while charging and I was afraid it might scorch whatever it sat on if I was not baby setting it.
For daytime it has a pulse mode and to me this does not stand out as well as a flicker effect.
I bought them online from Trek Bicycle Super Store and they agreed to take them back. [url]https://www.trekbicyclesuperstore.com/[/url]
The guy I talked to said they had a lot of returns on the light we had and would probably stop carrying it.
The Urban we had was a older light so maybe the other Light and Motion lights are ok?
When doing more research NiteRider that Kurt mentioned was one of the lights I considered.
I ended up with a Cycolite Dash 460. This is less light at 460 lumens but I use it more for daytime riding and when we were on the island 450 lumens was enough light for me.
[url]https://cygolite.com/product/dash-460-usb/[/url]
I like that this one flickers in daytime mode.
One thing I would like in a headlight is a option for low beam and high beam without going through all the settings.
I would definitely consider getting another Element. If I could tow a small trailer with it, that would be perfect. Kayaks on top, bikes inside, 250 dual sports on the trailer.
Bruce, I think I was the jerk that took golf too seriously. :)
It did lack towing capacity .. my second hitch was a 2" .. but the Eiment was only rated for 1500 pounds I believe .. you want a solid real axle for any real weight ..
The back seats were an awkward in and out, even with providing a stool for passengers ....
I NEVER carried a canoe or kyack on the roof, it was a job hoisting it up there even for two people, and I always was afraid of breaking the moon roof glass, which was another marketing feature to imagine yourself gazing at the moon, while you slept in the folded down seats, which I tried once never again !
But there you go, it is what it is ....
[QUOTE=kurtr11s;1210831]Oh yeah, those are some good Element pictures, skibum!
Passenger seating is also awesome for sightseeing tours BUT getting people in and out with the suicide doors in tight parking lots was frustrating. 'OK, let me open my door, then you open yours, then you get out and I'll close my door so you can get by, then I'll get out and close all the doors'. What?
The other 'bad' thing about the Element was it's height. I couldn't get a sea kayak or canoe on the roof by myself. We had to carry a step stool so Michelle could get high enough to get the boats on and off.
Now we own two VW sportswagons. One is the alltrack model. The rack situation is better, the gas mileage is better, the handling is better/more fun, but the cargo capacity is nothing compared to the Element. I can put two bikes in the back but I have to lay them down and take the wheels off. I'm back to using a roof rack for short distances.
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I did a wooden surfboard building course with a guy who was a car interior designer. He said the big wigs from Japan came over to California and talked to surfers about what they wanted in a vehicle. The big rear moon roof was designed for people to change in and out of their wetsuits and still be covered from the waist down. Makes sense to be but I've never bothered.
I think Honda is re-releasing the Element for 2021... [url]https://hondacarmodels.com/2021-honda-element/[/url] Even Scotty Kilmer mentioned it...
If they do bring it back, I would also suggest greater fuel capacity. Fuel range was a limiter on road trips and rural excursions. My RT has 50% more range than the Element! I won't complain about fuel consumption, it is a box and you know that can't be efficient. I would give up the moon roof but I think I would want another manual transmission. The automatic was just a little too weak when we test drove it.
We did change into/out of wetsuits in the Element and we simply sat in the rear seat - removing that moonroof was a hassle. It really is a great vehicle for active people. I've rented a lot of SUVs and haven't come across anything better. Many are more powerful or more comfortable but not more functional. We struggled finding a replacement vehicle. We compromised with the VW - I had a 2010 GTI that I really loved but was destroyed in a head on collision. I fell back into familiar habits: we've had at least one VW in the stable continuously since 1987. I bought my first VW (Jetta) 2 months before my first BMW (R65). I stick with what works.
In 1997 we bought a new Jetta 'Trek' model that came with a mountain bike and roof racks. That got us back into bicycle riding . I'm still using those bike rails!
It would have benefitted from a more powerful engine for sure. Damn I want another one and manual is sooo much better. My first was auto and my second manual. I prefer any vehicle in manual.
[QUOTE=kurtr11s;1210975] I've rented a lot of SUVs and haven't come across anything better. Many are more powerful or more comfortable but not more functional. We struggled finding a replacement vehicle. ![/QUOTE]
Neither one of us are Chrysler fans but last year we looked at a Pacifica and were surprised how nice the interior was. I figured the stow and go seats would not be comfortable but they were.
The very large flat floor and a sliding door on each side would be convenient.
Not sure if it's tall enough for bikes standing upright.
No carpet in the Element is also a huge plus. People used to say to me "you can hose it out!" To which I replied, why bother? I just let everything dry and sweep it out. Thinking mud covered bikes etc.
Since I was chatting up the VW...
Today we decided to ride around Owasco, our third finger lake this month. We are going to try to finish the rest in July. But riding from our house adds at least 55 miles on to the ride and on roads we've ridden many times - so we decided to drive over to Auburn, which is on the north end of the lake, to start.
We parked in Emerson Park which covers all of the land on the north tip of the lake. In normal summers, they have a theater for plays and other cultural activities. There is a boat launch and some really nice walkways. In August, they normally have 'The Great Race' which is a multisport relay race consisting of a 10k run, 20mile bike and 4 mile canoe (I think they have a kayak division now). This is a big deal in the area and it attracts a LOT of participants. The teams range from elite athletes to folks who found a bike in their shed and are riding for the first time. My buddies and I did it for many years in the late '90s and it was a great time with a fantastic party after the race. The whole city came out for the party. The only leg I ever did was the canoe leg because nobody else knew how to canoe!
Anyway, being at Emerson brought back some good memories. I used to get my canoe partner to bring the boat and I would ride my bike to the race (I would get a ride home because, well, beer...)
Here is the VW with the old TREK bike rails, which are still going strong after 23 years.
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There aren't a lot of really good photo opportunities on the ride but this shows the type of terrain. You are mostly riding on a ridge on both sides of the lake. Oh, the route is 32 miles with 1500ft of climbing.
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At the south end of the lake is the village of Moravia. There isn't much to Moravia but it is a village that reminds us that our country is the land of opportunity. Millard Fillmore (13th president) was born here into a meager log cabin. There is a state park just south of the village named after Fillmore. Fillmore Glen is a dramatic canyon carved by a small stream over the eons. These features are common in the finger lakes and there are many parks and hiking trails through them. The Finger Lakes Rally is located at Watkin's Glen state park which is similar but located 2 lakes to the west.
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Also in Moravia is the boyhood home of John D. Rockefeller. He also was born into meager means and was able to transform himself into the richest man in the modern era.
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I'm trying to take motion shots with my crappy phone. Maybe I need a new one.
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Back in Auburn we road out to the end of a pier with a gazebo. Might as well take a picture.
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Auburn has some interest history as well. It was the home of William Seward, who was Secretary of State under Lincoln (and an assassination attempt was made on his life the same night as Lincoln was shot - Seward eventually died from complications of his injuries). Seward is best known for his 'idiotic' purchase of Alaska :), but he was also Governor of NY and two term Senator. His house is now a museum that house a collection of objects he acquired from friends and foreign ambassadors. It is pretty neat place to explore.
Auburn was also the home of abolitionist, Harriet Tubman. All across NY there is evidence of the 'underground railroad' - the Seward house even has hidden rooms and secret entries in the basement. History has kind of forgotten about Millard Fillmore - he may be most remembered for his enforcement of the 'Fugitive Slave Act', that wasn't a good legacy builder.
Michelle gave me access to her photo library - so here is a shot of me in the gazebo. Don't make fun of the shoes, I love them. Notice how far the pier is from shore.
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If you look behind the 'Village of Moravia' sign you can see roadside living at its finest. Just down the road a neighbor had one of those political yard signs that said "Any Functioning Adult, 2020". Hadn't seen that before and it made me laugh. I think it was a response to one of their neighbors who was strongly supporting one particular candidate.
[QUOTE=shortythorne;1210781]I ride early in the morning, just before good daylight, and although there are more animals than other vehicles I would like suggestions on front & rear lights for my bicycle. I have a little Trek commuter bike. I have NO CLUE about this, and wanted to ask those who really ride. Also, for no more than I ride, I don't want to spend a lot of money. Do I need flashing, LED, etc.? Thanks, Gail[/QUOTE]
Hello Gail,
It sounds to me like you are riding during daylight hours (albeit dim morning light) and are not asking about projecting light by which to see the road ahead. The way I read your question you want to be seen by motorists. Hopefully I have interpreted your question correctly.
You are smart to be concerned about your visibility. Even in best light conditions distracted drivers often miss cyclists. And rarely do best lighting conditions last an entire ride. Usually most rides have a variety of visibility conditions from great to terrible. We ride in the bright sunlight one moment, then under a dark overpass the next, or into a deeply shaded tree tunnel. A motorist can be through the dark of an overpass or shade of trees long before their eyes have time to adjust or the sunglasses get pushed up. Cyclists are especially vulnerable at times like these, as well as during the dim light of morning, evening, or an approaching summer storm.
So just like on a motorcycle, operating "daytime running lights" is a very smart approach. For this purpose on a bicycle, I strongly recommend a combination of blinking and strobing/pulsing lights. You should follow the normal lighting protocols, i.e. white light at the front, and red at the rear.
My approach is to have small blinking white and red lights mounted to the bike at front and rear. But these are not my primary visibility lights. I feel it is more important to illuminate your self than the bike, because the rider's additional height helps to improve visibility greatly. I also want to remain visible if I need to dismount at roadside for whatever reason - - lights fixed only on the bike don't help the rider when they are separated.
I wear a hi-viz vest/harness, with strobing white and red lights affixed front and rear. The front white strobe is positioned left of center on my chest, and the rear light is positioned left of center on my back over my left shoulder blade. This puts them both high-up and "outboard" for better visibility. The hi-viz vest adds eye-catching contrast to whatever cycling clothing I'm wearing. See photo below.
All the lights I use are LED. The lights mounted on my bike are powered by a single CR2032 wafer battery. The white front strobe on my harness uses 2 CR2032s. The red rear strobe on my harness uses 2 AAA batteries.
I run all of these lights at all times while riding. Battery life is very good and I end up replacing them a few times a year. And I urge you to have them running at all times - - even trail riding. I've had too many close calls with pedestrians and other cyclists (usually ebikes) on trails, so anything that improves awareness can't hurt. There is also always the chance of an unexpected trail detour that will put you on a busy road with motor vehicles.
The hi-viz harness and lights attached to it can be purchased many places, but I got mine at the local runners footwear store. These kinds of shops generally carry a variety of harnesses and lights to fit almost anyone's physique and budget.
Saw a group of cyclists coming at us from the opposite direction today. One had a blinking white light. It was very noticeable. I'm going to get one. I have a ton of lights but I want one that is really small and won't get in the way of hand position.
I'm one of those guys who loves flashlights. On motorcycle trips, we probably carry at least 10 lights between us. As I think about it, the number is way higher than that.
Last fall we participated in a Ragnar team relay trail run. It was in the mountains northeast of San Diego and it runs through the night. I think it took our team of 8 people 30 hours to complete it - so a little less than 4 hours each - but each person had a leg that was in the dark. This was new to us so we made sure we were lit up. Below is Michelle modeling our vast array of lighting options. All are USB powered and we had a powerbrick to keep them charged.
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It turns out that we only used the chest light (everyone called it our 'Ironman' lights - referring to the movie). Man is that thing bright and it lasts for 3 hours, at least. If I ever ride trails at night, I'm taking that thing. The battery compartment is in the back and it contains pulsing red LEDs. The headlamp is very compact and would be great for rally (finding the john) use but couldn't compare to the chest light. It was good as a backup.
There are a lot of good options and it may be useful to get more than one.
Vark has provided very good options - but just be aware that the li-ion/USB choices are typically much brighter than the 'regular' battery powered ones. For conspicuity it doesn't matter all that much, I will agree.
Somehow in my memory, I remember some ad showing the Chinese tumbling team performing running summmersalts through the open doors of the Element. Has any one else seen it, or did I imagine it ?
- Visiblity has to be learned with the wide door posts on the passenger side, as well as both windshield posts. Coming into an intersection at a low angle can definitely test you.
- I found that 2'x4' rugs from Walmart for the back seat floor and rear floor, made cheap and attractive coverings and dampened sound a bit ..
- Floor mat in front . I would punch holes on the seat side and tie them to the seat frame, mainly to keep the from sliding around.
- My wife drove the Element for six years and didn't put a scratch on it . I finally gave up my "Massachusetts battle wagon Mercury" and took over the Element and put my wife into a sleek new Accord. In the first few months, she hit two poles holes and granite curbing costing two tires and a wheel. It was obvious that her visilbity was better in the Element given the "higher riding height" and significanty shorter hood and flat front.
[QUOTE=skibum69;1211026]No carpet in the Element is also a huge plus. People used to say to me "you can hose it out!" To which I replied, why bother? I just let everything dry and sweep it out. Thinking mud covered bikes etc.[/QUOTE]
A yes, the visibility of the Element. You do get used to it but it is a challenge coming from a car with really good visibility. Our best car for rear visibility: Miata with top down, worst car: Miata with top up.
Here is a picture we took of our local cycle team's vehicle at the 2017 Tour of Battenkill - the last year that it was a pro race. Now it is a Gran Fondo and is probably a better event.
The wheels tell the story of central NY winters.
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I imagine those graphics don't help with the visibility issues :).
[quote=vark] I feel it is more important to illuminate your self than the bike, because the rider's additional height helps to improve visibility greatly.[/quote]
This is the first light I tried but it's not very bright for daytime use.
I keep looking to replace it with something bright like the one I have on my seat bag.
I need to have something that's still shows up good when not perpendicular to the ground.
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Just skimmed through the link given below ..
Engine choices are:
- 2.4 L V-tech (can't complain about that engine)
- Hybrid 1.5 L Turbo - supposed 10 more horsepower over the V-Tech (I think I got that right)
This engine is already used in the CRV and Civic models.
Looks pretty much the same. The article claims the body curves would be sharper and more defined.
Sounds like Honda will once again fill the world with "Love and Elements . . "
[QUOTE=RIDERR1150GSADV;1210969]I think Honda is re-releasing the Element for 2021... [url]https://hondacarmodels.com/2021-honda-element/[/url] Even Scotty Kilmer mentioned it...[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Lee;1211162]This is the first light I tried but it's not very bright for daytime use.
I keep looking to replace it with something bright like the one I have on my seat bag.
I need to have something that's still shows up good when not perpendicular to the ground.
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I’m not specifically familiar with that light. But I do agree with the idea of a helmet light.
However, my concern with some helmet lights is they can be projected in the wrong direction as the head swivels, causing it to be lost from sight by motorists behind you. This can happen briefly at the worst time when you’re glancing over the shoulder to check the approaching vehicle, and also for longer periods if your head is cocked somewhat up or down or turned a bit.
So I would only use the hemet light as a supplemental (every bit counts!) The strobing light I run on my back left shoulder blade has a bank of 5 raised LEDs with a domed lens, so they are visible from a wide viewing angle. Their location on my torso means their position remains relatively constant with respect to traffic approaching from the rear.
Knock on wood these lights have served me well in a busy urban environment, as well as on rides to places like Skyline Drive.
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However, my concern with some helmet lights is they can be projected in the wrong direction as the head swivels, causing it to be lost from sight by motorists behind you. .[/QUOTE]
My concern was the limited viewing angle of some LED lights but this seems to be getting better.
One article I read about the new Element said $22-$28K. Originally I read only US release, here's hoping they release in Canada. Would I take the chance on buying a first year model? Or do I think it will be good based on the original production run.
Does it have A/C? :whistle could have used it the last few days!
High pressure system,Saharan dust from ancestors and crazy winds have been the week. Need to set day on weather display
Yesterday
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Today, we got home an hour before this reading!
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Shorter route and off the road earlier today with Holiday traffic
Never had a problem with the Element's AC. We turned it on every once in a while to make sure it was OK.
But seriously, it is starting get get a bit warm here. Forecast is for 5 days in the 90s next week. We have really high humidity, though. It isn't 'comfortable' like a 90 degree day in Phoenix. So we are also getting out earlier. In late July or early August we'll start our 5 weeks of perfect weather.
Heard the MOV (Vermont) rally is cancelled. That makes me sad - it is a really good time. The bluegrass band on Saturday night are just fantastic. Fire in the fireplace, bonfire in the field, crisp evening air that reminds you that autumn is closing in. The roads, oh the roads... The beer, oh the beer...
I have made more national rallies than I've missed over the last 30 years and just thinking about what would have been last month makes me melancholy. The national news, while not unexpected, is quite depressing. Thank goodness for the bicycle.
Have a great 4th of July, fellow riders. If all goes well, we will be putting in some big miles to get around Cayuga lake. Or maybe something else, whatever sounds like fun.
I did 26 miles of hills this morning and was tapped out by the heat/humidity. Really felt it and had to bail. That was at around 9:30 this morning!
Tomorrow we are heading out early (5 am) for a boat ride and bird watching on Chesapeake Bay. The plan is to be back home by noonish before it gets too darn hot. Then we’ll enjoy some BBQ and hopefully fireworks.
Stay cool and happy 4th!