I keep sharing my thoughts and considerations with you in this blog. And this time it’s about my own conservatism as well as light and power supply on the bike. And a change of perspective.
My Path to the Hub Dynamo
But let’s start at the beginning: On my first bike tours, electricity was not an issue – there were hardly any/no devices that needed charging, and I rarely needed lights. All I needed was new batteries for the camera or flashlight now and then.
Over the years, this changed, and I got a hub dynamo (first Shutter Precision, then SON Deluxe, and then SON28) to have proper lights on the bike. The temporary peak was reached with the Norwid Gotland touring bike, where I treated myself to a SON Edelux II light. For me, that was the best light you could have at the time. Today, it’s not really useful for my kind of cycling.
Then I got into bikepacking, and from the start, I relied on a hub dynamo on the bike, both to power a good front light and to charge my navigation device, headlamp, and cell phone using a USB charger.
Writing this, it strikes me again how much technological progress simplifies things, but at the same time, also makes them more complex.
Independent power supply was always important to me, as it allowed me to be more self-sufficient during ultra-events. And good light became a necessity due to the night rides that come with these events.
For the Atlas Mountain Race, I bought a Busch & Müller IQ-X light for the hours in the dark. It was okay, but naturally had its limitations in luminosity and illumination. Back then, I wasn’t planning on using battery-powered lights – they simply weren’t on my radar.
Since the StVZO-approved lights at the time were not sufficient, and I relied on dynamo operation, I got the Klite Bikepacker Ultra, especially for the Silk Road Mountain Race.
This is a very bright light with 1,300 lumens, which provides a really good light beam in the dark and corresponding safety for faster off-road rides. However, this light is not approved in Germany and is not sold here. It came with the Klite USB charger, which sensationally allowed me to charge my devices even at slow speeds.
And on my tours throughout the year, I could always rely on the power supply and the light, and was thus relatively independent.
For the Trans Balkan Race, I then purchased the Sinewave Beacon 2 light. This is also not approved in Germany but offers a good light beam in the terrain with 750 lumens and has the USB charger integrated into the lamp head. This makes the lamp very compact, very light, and the charger very powerful.
During my races and tours, I always charged my GPS devices and my smartphone, and occasionally my power bank this way.
With the Supernova M99 DY Pro, an StVZO-compliant dynamo lamp finally appeared that also packed a punch and produced very good light. Unfortunately, operation with a USB charger was not integrated here. However, SON impressively closed this gap with the Ladelux.
This lamp is currently the measure of all things for me in terms of what can be done with dynamo power. And not only the high beam at the push of a button and the wide carpet of light, but also the impressive charging performance – also integrated into the lamp.
The fact that the combination of a powerful hub dynamo, a good light, and a USB charger can be attractive, especially in the adventure sector, is demonstrated not least by the two new model series from Rose Backroad and Canyon Grizl. They market this combination as independence, which is true at its core.
Hub Dynamo in Bikepacking: Where are the Limits?
In essence, everything is fine. However, there were a few things that always bothered me about this solution:
- The luminosity depends on speed. If you ride up a hill, for example, the light intensity decreases accordingly. SON has integrated a good buffer battery in the Ladelux, which guarantees a high amount of light for a longer period. But even that eventually runs out – especially if you have to stop sometimes and stand still. For this, I always carry a battery-powered headlamp that provides decent light at 1,100 lumens.
- The charging performance also depends on speed and can therefore vary depending on the terrain. Overall, I am satisfied with it – but you cannot rely on constant performance.
- I occasionally felt a minimal resistance when engaging the hub dynamo – but more in my mind than in performance. However, when I charged and lit up at the same time, it was noticeable.
- I ride SON hub dynamos, which are very well made and very durable. Nevertheless, it happens that the bearings fail and can only be repaired by SON. This has happened to me twice on my SON28 dynamos. The last time, shortly before the Grenzsteintrophy, it meant I had to ride a different wheelset and thus not the wide tires I needed. The most prominent case was at this year’s Silk Road Mountain Race, where Josh Ibbett had to abandon at Checkpoint 3 due to a broken SON bearing. Because it is not repairable on the road.
- The system weight of the hub dynamo with light and charger. The SON28 in the version I ride (thru-axle, Boost) weighs 480g. The Sinewave Beacon 2 comes in at 115g, the Klite Bikepacker Ultra, including the USB charger and switch, weighs 260g. The SON Ladelux adds 180g of weight. In total, this amounts to between 595g and 740g.
- A light/charging solution with a hub dynamo often also means that everything always remains on the bike, even when you are not using it. So, I have now come to the conclusion that I only use this setup for a maximum of 20% of my cycling year, even though it is always on the bike the whole time. The power supply is really only necessary on very long tours where there are also not many charging options. And I usually only need the light in autumn and winter and occasionally when riding in the twilight in summer. Essentially, a lot of “dead weight” that I carry around.
My Aha Moment: Why I Questioned the Hub Dynamo
For years, this system worked well for me. Alternative solutions, such as battery-powered lights, were, of course, known to me, but I never considered them. I was too obsessed with this independence in power supply. And in this, probably also driven by the typical German need for security.
Then something happened that led me to re-evaluate the whole issue, and it is the reason why I am sharing my thoughts with you: I bought a Coros Dura navigation device.
The reason was a short circuit on the Karoo 3 while charging and riding in the rain during the North2Peak Event. Until then, I had always charged my GPS navis with the hub dynamo while riding and navigating.
With the Coros Dura, I no longer had this problem, because you don’t actually have to charge the navi, or of course you do, but the battery lasts a very long time. I bought it with 80% battery charge, rode a lot with it, and after a month still had 63% battery. So, suddenly I no longer needed the USB charger.
And also during the North2Peak, I noticed that even though we often rode in the dark or twilight in mid-September, I would not have needed the light in this system capacity. And at the same time, I noticed that my co-riders’ battery-powered lights were significantly more powerful and produced better light.
The Possible Switch to Battery-Powered Lights
This led me to start looking more closely at battery-powered lights. For a long time, I didn’t pay much attention to Lupine, Supernova, and Co., as these lights were very good, but also very expensive.
Now, however, it must also be said that powerful dynamo lamps are now just as expensive, costing between 400 and 500 Euros. So, the price difference is no longer there.
I am currently very impressed by the Lupine SL Minimax AF, which, with a maximum of 2,400 lumens, various lighting modes, and different battery capacities, very much meets my expectations. Or the Supernova M99 B54, which is similar to the Lupine.
I evaluate a switch to battery power for myself as follows:
- Initially higher acquisition costs, as I would need a new front wheel or have the existing SON wheel converted to a normal hub. (I am currently looking at the XC-Master Carbon wheelset from Carl´z. If anyone has experience with it, please give me feedback!). And anyone who wants to switch to a hub dynamo should also factor in the costs for the SON28 (300-350 Euros) and the costs for installation and spoke lacing.
- Lower system weight: the dynamo system weighs in at 600-750g. The combination of a DT-Swiss 240 EXP front hub (145g) and a Lupine SL Minimax AF with a 50 Wh/6.9 Ah battery (350g) weighs 495g in total. This is a weight saving of 100-250g. And with the largest Lupine battery at 70 Wh/10 Ah, another 100g is added.
- In addition, I can also use the Lupine or Supernova battery to charge my smartphone or navi and thus save a power bank (I usually carry two – Nitecore 10,000 mAh at 150g each).
- More light, better light: both the Lupine and the Supernova illuminate everything when needed and bring much more power than dynamo lamps. And even when standing still, there is always sufficient light, and not just as a stand light. Also important to me: “finally” StVZO-compliant light that illuminates the terrain properly and doesn’t blind oncoming traffic.
- Installation is simpler and tidier. Only the battery needs some space (in the top tube or frame bag). I also like the operation and control of the lighting levels via the button on the handlebar. However, SON also offers this with the Ladelux in a similar way.
- Possible disadvantages may arise from the limited independence, as the battery in practice, depending on the use of the highest light level, then lasts 1-2 days or night rides before it needs to be charged. A certain level of runtime management and charging logistics is therefore necessary. In practice, however, I was rarely so far away from the next power outlet. And I don’t necessarily ride through an entire night, pushing the battery capacity to its limit.
- Another issue can be a possible battery failure. In that case, the entire system is unusable. The dynamo system has an advantage here, even if things can certainly break down there too. Furthermore, a battery is always a consumable item, which means that costs can arise over time.
Conclusion: Battery or Hub Dynamo – Which is the Better Solution?
The discussion between hub dynamo and battery systems is more complex than ever. While energy autonomy was clearly the main focus for me for a long time, new technologies are shifting the balance.
My Coros Dura with its solar charging and impressive battery life takes away one of the hub dynamo’s main tasks as a power supplier for navigation. The question of lighting remains: Am I willing to trade the certainty of infinite light for the chance of maximum light output of 2400 lumens (Lupine SL Minimax AF) to trade?
I currently tend towards the battery solution. During the few but critical hours in the deepest night, safety through maximum brightness on unknown trails is the decisive argument for me. The extra weight of the batteries is compensated by the lighter front wheel, and the charging logistics are manageable for me.
Now it’s up to you: What do you think? Is the hub dynamo the better system in bikepacking? Or is the battery the more optimal choice, given newer technologies and better light output?
