Rolling into another season of commuting, I wanted to pamper my commuter rig. I gave my bike the gift of dynamo lights. It’s one of those upgrades I’ve wanted to do for quite some time but always found an excuse. Mostly it was cost. I have a vast array of USB lights and a few others which take batteries. I had more than a few occasions last year when I neglected to recharge my lights at work and ended up with only the blinky light on my helmet to find my way back home at night. Something is better than nothing, however, I was doubting my ability to remember to charge my lights before leaving work this year so at the end of the summer one of my favorite bike shops posted a picture on Instagram of a Kona bike with these awesome fenders and dynamo lights and I felt compelled to get it done. Sadly, the bike mechanic said the fenders wouldn’t work for my bike, but the lights were a go!
Naturally the next part is the immense regret and heavy burden I bear for not having the wherewithal to install the lights a long time ago. What was I thinking? This is the best thing I’ve ever done on behalf of biking and commuting! What are you waiting for? If you don’t have dynamo lights and you are on the fence about getting them—get off the fence and get it done! Talk with your mechanic about what it will look like and how it will be mounted and then choose your lighting system. I wanted the safest, brightest light I could get without taking out a second mortgage.
I did spend some time getting quotes from three shops, but service and willingness won out. I was going to be out of town for a week and I opted to leave my bike at the shop for a few days. The hubs and rims needed to be rebuilt and I needed new rims anyway, so it all worked out. Be prepared for spending $400 to $600. It might be less, but I didn’t realize how much I needed to rims. While it was there I had the break pads done and a few other little tweaks. My final bill was $560.
After. The first thing you’ll notice if how liberated you feel. Pure unfettered biking with little regard for time. I can go to Happy Hour and still get home without worrying about the whether my LEDs have enough to get me home or if I will get plunged into darkness and need to catch a bus. Those days are over! I feel like I’m in control, not the lights.
My first encounter with integrated bike lighting was in 2009 when I rented a bike in Potsdam.
My bike rental in Potsdam, Germany in 2009 had a lighting system that was bulking but effective.
The other great thing is that these lights can be taken off this bike, in the event that I ever replace the Kona, and installed on another bike. Personally, I can’t imagine buying a bike without having a dynamo system installed. I commute 50-70 miles a week and there are days when I’m at a meeting which goes a little too late compromising my ability to get home safely. Dynamo lights on my bike mean I can think about loftier issues and not worry if I’m going to make in home before it’s pitch dark.
What do you do for lights on your bike? Do you have a dynamo or similar system?
Be safe out there.
Happy riding,
Bike Goddess
Bike Goddess 
Presumably, your dynamo lights are LED bulbs. How bright are they?
Thanks for reading. Mine are 60 lux. The rear light is wide and flat. I don’t have much to help you compare it, but the bike shop was extremely helpful. Tell them specifics about your commute. Since my ride to and from work there are plenty of lit streets I saved a few bucks by going with the middle lux rather than the high end. Yes, the LEDs are perfect for day and night. I leave mine on, but there is a switch I can turn them off during the day.
Is there a battery backup to run the lights when you’re stopped at traffic lights?
When I come to a stop the lights stay on. They stay completely lit and after a minute or so start to dim and then go out. Hope that helps.