It has been a bit grotty recently in the weather department around Timperley, but today I set off in the dark on my bike during a rare dry interlude.
Sunrise from the Bridgewater Canal was really quite attractive.
Just out of shot is a dredger, clearing silt from the well maintained waterway.
Also just out of shot is my bike, covered in mud.
An inconsiderate thorn then delayed my return home, but at least my hands were warmer pushing the bike than they were riding it. I hadn’t noticed the frost when I left home, lightly clad.
The purpose of the ride was to test my new lights. They work fine, but I think the charger may be faulty – surely the battery should not still register ‘full’ after an hour’s use?
Cycling along the towpath was a bit like riding through treacle. Now I know why I had a five month break from cycling between October and March last year, and a four month break the year before.
6 comments:
It's notoriously difficult to measure the remaining charge in NiMH & NiCad rechargeables. More often than not the battery pack will show a high level of charge until 90-95% of it's capacity has been used - then they go downhill rather quickly.
Don't know about Lithium Ion batteries though - a bit too modern for me!
JJ
I'll do a 2-3 hour evening ride with the Manchester Mountain Bikers next week (with a backup torch) and see if the battery shows any sign of depletion after that. If not, it's only a short trip back to Bike Shak, we I may give a call anyway.
Martin,
Get some Ay Up bike lights and all your problems will be solved. Not cheap but the good stuff never is.
Ooops forgot to say lithium ion show full until almost empty and then they die rapidly.
I'm not spending any more, Alan. I got a Lupine Tesla 4, ex-demo, at a very good price from Bike Shak. Impulse buy. Reviews indicate that it's an outstanding light, but the peripherals, eg charger may not be up to the same standard. I'll persevere and see what happens.
Light update: I tried leaving the Lupine light (lithium ion battery) on full power for a couple of hours. Some reviews say the 'low battery' light comes on after just half an hour, but my light has now been on full beam for 3 hours with no ill effect - still going strong. And now plugged into the charger the green light has come on, which means that it's charging. Roll on Wednesday night!
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