ITI lighting

[SteveW]

So, I seem to have got myself entered in the Iditarod 350 for my winter holidays. I pretty much have the kit list sorted now, but I can't figure out what lighting to go for.

What do you guys use who've raced before?
Do I need something with a remote battery pack to keep the batteries warm? How does the cold effect battery life if not?

I was thinking about the Princeton Tec Apex Extreme

Do I need something on the handlebars too?

I appreciate any experience, thoughts and ideas. Thanks.

[Shaggy]

Hi Steve,
I saw a few people with dyno hubs but most people just had head torches. External battery packs under your clothing is a good idea, it makes the batteries last longer and keeps them working at lower temperatures. This http://www.petzl.com/en/outdoor/myo-series/myo-xp-belt is pretty easy to get hold of in the UK. Lithium batterys work better at low temperatures (and last longer and weigh less...).

[Damnitman]

I like having a light on the bars (flood) as well as a headlamp (spot).  It may sound strange, but I think a light on the bars helps me "aim" my bike...

[joatley]

No need for a remote battery pack as long as you are using lithium disposables.  Lithium rechargables are a much different deal...that should really be avoided out there.

Two lights, minimum.  Bars, head...whatever you like best.  Although you'll certainly need something on your head for fumbling with gear in a sleep deprived stupor.

[Eric]

I used something like what shaggy is talking about but older, with 5 normal Led's I thought it was plenty. nothing on the bars, but maybe I don't know what I'm missing.
3 watts is a lot, might be overkill.
Also carried a backup that was smaller.

[sean salach]

I used a Streamlight Argo HP headlamp the last two years and they(1 + spare) were more than adequate, until one of them broke last year. The cap that held the c123 batteries in seized up and I tried opening it with my teeth, which resulted in the cap and the threaded portion of the 'barrel' snapping off. I had forgotten my spare in Rohn(thanks for bringing it to McGrath Lou/Eric!) and had to borrow spares from first Tim then Bill the rest of the way in.

This year I'm using a different headlamp, but I haven't tested it 'out there' yet, so I'm not even gonna say which one it is. 75 lumens/90 hrs/3 AA though, so much brighter with longer battery life and more common batteries than the Streamlight.

+1 for 2 lights minimum. Ideal would be two identical lights and a small emergency spare.

+1 for all battery operated devices using the same batteries.

I could see the advantage to having one of my light sources on the bars, though it's been years since I've had one. Being able to look off trail with my headlamp while still being able to see the trail in my peripheral vision would be nice.

[SteveW]

Thanks for the responses guys. I figure having two lights is essential, especially in a race where a considerable time is going to be spent moving in the dark. I didn't have any lights that are designed for repleceable lithiums batteries, so I've made a couple of new purchases, a bike light and a headtorch.

For my head I've gove for this, which uses 2xCR123 lithiums
PT Apex Pro

And for the bike, the Spark uses 2xCR123 lithium also
Exposure Spark

[mmeiser]

I've not biked in alaska... that said I do A LOT of night biking, especially in the winter and just got back from doing a 1500+ mile long trip down the blue ridge parkway and skyline drive in winter.

That said, when I first saw the latest headlamp from Fenix, the HP20, I immediately thought it'd be a superb winter light.

http://www.fenixlight.com/viewnproduct.asp?id=76

Besides superb longevity and brightness on 4 AA it is completely waterproof and has a detachable battery pack capable of being kept inside ones clothes. 

I often personally rewire my headlamps so I can keep the batteries inside my coat, usually hanging them around my kneck or down my back. I used something similar on my trip.

Anyway, I'm at least curious what others think.

[spikolli]

I would look at the fenix ld 20 for a bar light. As far as a headlamp. I just purchased a fenix HP10 to use for a 24 hour race. I used an LD 20 all last winter in Winnipeg Canada and it is an excellent light. All aluminium parts, AA batts with 2 fish light block is simple and bomber. The HP 10 is really bright but heavy (I have no experience with the hp 11). I crashed in the night at the 24 hour event and had an issue with it (the click mechanism that holds the head up disengaged, fixed it later at home but it is a plastic part). I strapped another LD 20 to my helmet and it worked well.

The petzl headlamps are not as bright but i think are a little burlier. the fenix LD 20 is an awesome light.

For something remote like the ITI I would seriously think about an LD20 on the bar and another on the head with the fenix head strap.

my $0.02

[sean salach]

13 hrs of run time at a usable 47 lumens? 5 hrs at 94, 2 hrs at 180? Batteries are heavy and changing them when it really cold and really dark is a pain. Cabelas Alaskan Guide XW(rebadged Princeton Tech Yukon) gives an honest, race proven 90 hrs at 78 lumens and 200 at 30 lumens.

[spikolli]

The Princeton tec looks like a strong choice. I admit I have no experience with their product. For a winter race I think that yukon would probably be a better choice. I have learned to be leary of lumen rating and batt life ratings as those ratings may "optimal conditions" but I am going to have to look into that Yukon headlamp.

[sjanes]

I've not biked in alaska... that said I do A LOT of night biking, especially in the winter and just got back from doing a 1500+ mile long trip down the blue ridge parkway and skyline drive in winter.



. 

just got back from doing a 1500+ mile long trip down the blue ridge parkway and skyline drive in winter.

just curious of your route,  BRP plus skyline is less than 500 miles?

[mmeiser]

just curious of your route,  BRP plus skyline is less than 500 miles?

Cleveland to Charleston, NC

Cuyahoga canal trail 60+ miles, crossed over the Ohio river at steubensville, oh, took the panhandle trial to the montour trail, took that around Pittsburgh to the great Allegheny passage, took the GAP over to harpers ferry WC.  Followed the shenendoah river up to front royal, tool skyline drive to the blue ridge parkway to asheville, NC. Finally I road over to charleston, SC and then I hopped a train back to DC and then back to Toledo Ohio.

I wish there was a tour divide east so i could just do that and wouldn't have to explain my convoluted route. That said it was an absolutely superb route and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Only part that wasn't awesome was my route in SC. That was ok, but it did rain for three straight days. Wish I would have had a little more time to complete the parkway south of asheville.

Anyone have an good tour divide east bikepacking route?

P.s. I believe the skyline and brp are more like 650 combined.

[Area54]

Thread dig. I'm AK bound for the 350. Is the LD22 still the hitter it used to be?

[harryonaspot]

There is a route in Va. That is a couple of hundred miles long. I don't remember the name or where I saw it. I will google around and see what I can find.

[harryonaspot]

I found it on this site. It is called the Virginia mountain bike route. 480 miles. It isn't under routes. Found it by googling Va bikepacking. There is also the C and O canal. But it is flat and boring. At least I thought so.