A few years back I wrote up a rather long article on cycling lights.  Unfortunately I never got a chance to test out the NiteRider (https://www.niterider.com) cycling line.  After seeing them at Interbike this year and making some good connections, NiteRider sent out a few of their latest toys including the NiteRider Sentinel 150 Taillight.

History

NiteRider got it’s start sort of by accident and by necessity.   Back in the day, Tom Carroll needed a way to light up his outdoor Southern California adventures including surfing at night.  The goal was to have a light that was waterproof, very bright, lightweight and hands free.

After a few attempts Tom came up with something that would not only work for surfing, but also would be perfect for nighttime trail riding.

As the years went by, the lights would become smaller and brighter and all together kick butt.

NiteRider Package Arrives

Olaf our pug is guarding the NiteRider goodies or maybe he is just using the box as a headrest.

Niterider sent out 3 lights to review and a K-Edge adapter.

The Sentinel 150

NiteRider Sentinel 150 Taillight Review

For those who cycle in the early mornings or at night, it’s now become almost a given to use a taillight.  Commuters have known this for quite some time, but it’s now mainstream even with the top echelon of the cycling community.  No more is it a nerdy gimmick or something only a commuter would use.

The NiteRider Sentinel 150 is NiteRider’s top of the line Taillight and from my experience, they nailed it.  Everything about the Sentinel was well thought out and designed.

The Sentinel comes equipped with 7 different modes including 2 high intensity flash modes, 2 non flash modes and 3 laser modes that can be combined with the main lights or used separately.  Yes I said the taillight uses lasers, let that sink in.

For anyone who hasn’t seen the laser show before, it’s really wicked.  Taking the Sentinel 150 on my first group ride, people were coming up to me saying that is so cool.  NiteRider use of the lasers is something more companies will probably adopt.  When turned on, the lasers provide beam of light in the form of a line on either side of the bike.  These light beams are designed to help warn motorists to keep a safe distance from you.

People who were riding around me certainly noticed the laser lines, but cars traveling at high speed might not see them as easily as the main light.  It remains to be seen if the lasers are a gimmick or actually change driver behavior.

Beyond the Cool Lasers, the Sentinel has what NiteRider calls Daylight Visible Flash (DVF).  When in flash mode, the Sentinel sends out bursts of bright light that can be seen in daylight hours.  The flash is so bright in fact, you really don’t want to look at it.

When traveling in packs, switching to Group Ride Mode allows the light to function at a lower intensity to lesson any distraction it may cause with fellow cyclists.

Battery life is pretty impressive ranging from 4 hours at the highest output to 21 on the lowest setting.  When using just the lasers, battery life ranges from 5 hours to 11.5 hours.

Tail Light Strap Mount

The Sentinel 150 comes with a rubber/plastic seatpost mount that has a groove cut in it for mounting on standard or aero seatposts.  I found the mount to work extremely well with my Felt AR1 aero seatpost and equally as well on my Spot Rocker round 27.2 seatpost.  The groove on the mount seems to hold the light in place even during bumpy travel.  I didn’t experience any movement or swivel, which I have experience with other tail lights.

Niterider sells a replacement mount for $9.99 which could be used for a second bike or to replace the original if broken.

The Sentinel comes standard with both the quick release strap mount and a jersey clip.  Either option can be used depending on your needs.

Water Protection

The Sentinel 150 has an IP rating of IP64, which essentially means it’s protected from water spray from any direction, which should protect it plenty from any rain that you may encounter.  It’s not considered waterproof, so don’t go dunking your bike in a river with the 150 attached.

USB Rechargeable

NiteRider provides a micro USB to USB cable to charge the 150 and the micro USB port is located on the bottom of the unit.

When charging the unit or powering off  the unit, a blue light indicator will let you know that it has a good charge.  A red light will indicate low battery and the unit will need to be charged.

NiteRider Sentinel 150 Taillight Specifications

• Class-leading, ultra-bright 150 lumen output
• 7 modes: 2 steady, 2 flashing, 3 Laser Lane modes
• Laser Lane option projects laser lines on the ground to create a virtual lane
• Daylight visible flash
• Includes Group Ride mode to be seen without distracting fellow cyclists
• 4 hour to 21 hour run time depending on mode
• Re-charges via USB cable in 4 hours
• Internal Li-Po battery
• Low battery indicator
• Seatpost mount is compatible with round and aero posts
• Weight: 116 grams
• Retail: $54.99

NiteRider Sentinel 150 Taillight | Final Verdict

What’s not to like about the Sentinel 150.  It does everything you could possible want in a taillight and at a price point that is very affordable.  For $54.99 retail, you get a kick butt taillight that can be used any time of the day or night and you even can say you have lasers.  How cool is that!

Check out NiteRiders full line of lights and accessories (https://www.niterider.com)

Garmin Forerunner 920-XT Review | 2017

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For 2019 UltrAspire introduces another cool product in their lineup called the UltrAspire Lumen 800 Multisport Waist Light. Now that’s a mouthful.

If you haven’t checked out GearMashers before, you will know we are big fans of UltrAspire and recently reviewed the Lumen 600 3.0 Waist Light.

The Lumen 800 Multisport, like the name suggests, was designed for a wide variety of sports including cycling, running and just about any nighttime activities and adventures.

Rather than a single beam of light, UltrAspire designed the Multisport with 2 spot cones that create a wide-angle and project a more focused beam further ahead.

UltrAspire hooked us up with a variety of mounts including a waist mount, a head mount, and a bike mount. They also included a wrist light for kicks.

UltrAspire wanted the 800 Multisport to be something more than just a waist light, so they designed it to fill several roles.

The light can be worn on the head using their Head Light Strap.

For those needing a Waist light, it can be used like that.

Finally, it can also be used as a bike light.

UltrAspire Technology

UltrAspire incorporates a wide range of technologies in their lighting system to make it easy to use, easy to charge and provide a great source of lighting.

Bike Mount

The only flaw in the system from my perspective is the bike handlebar mount. While the bike mount is rock solid, it makes attaching and removing the light quickly non-existant.

There are 4 mounting screws, 2 of which, need to be removed or screwed in each time you remove or mount the light.

On Top of that, the screws need a 2.5mm hex wrench, which isn’t the typical 4mm, 5mm and 6mm cycling tool size.

My suggestion would be to make the screws 4mm for easier removal or come up with a quick release solution.

Light Output

Light output with the 800s is great for running and most adventure sports. For cycling, I would love to see a 1200 Lumen version. I found the lower light settings to be pretty useless on the bike as a source of light output, so I always used the highest setting.

At lower settings, the light can certainly be seen by oncoming traffic, but I found the settings too dim to see at speed.

Comparing the UltrAspires 600 Lumens with the wide beam to the 800 Lumens with a more focused beam, it was sort of a toss-up for running. On the bike, however, the Multisport 800 provided better light coverage further ahead.

UltrAspire Lumen Multisport 800 Technical Highlights

Technical Highlights

• Aircraft-grade aluminum
• Dual spot cones
• Conical belt
• Adjustable angle
• Easy to use performance buckle
• Large buttons
• Micro USB charging port (charging cable included)
• Breathable mesh
• Low, medium, high, and blinking modes
• Sturdy low-profile aluminum bracket included
• Headlamp compatible (strap included)
• 4-8 hour burn time
• IPX7 Waterproof rating
• Weight: 5.3 oz (153g)
• Colors: Black/Gray
• Sizing Range: 26″-38″

Technologies-

• Low Weight™: Lightweight components and materials create an almost unnoticeable on-the-body feel without compromising durability.
• Steady Beam™: Prevents eye fatigue by maintaining a steady lumen output that does not dim until the battery is very low.
• Race Fit™: Conical shape, fatigue-free buckles, and limited stretch elastic ensure a snug and stable fit which promotes a healthy and natural breathing pattern.
• Stable Ride™: Proportional weight distribution combined with our conical belt shape create a balanced load and a no-bounce ride.
• Fatigue Free™: Intuitive settings, large buttons, and quick release buckles. Easy operation for fatigued minds in extreme circumstances.
• AutoCool™: Heat dispersing fins mounted in and around the light passively dissipate heat, keeping the light cool and efficient during heavy use.
• Widebeam™: Like daylight. Let your eyes roam freely without adjusting between light and dark areas. Even lighting eliminates headaches and tunnel vision.
• Enduralight™: Sturdy construction and aircraft-grade aluminum provide better durability and improved hot and cold tolerance while reducing overall weight.
• PerfectAngle™: Easily adjust up, straight, or down to suit your terrain. Illuminate your path while keeping your head and body in a natural running position.

I like where UltrAspire is going with their Multisport 800. It’s a bit more versatile than the 600 with 200 more lumens and more focused lighting.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who needs a light source for running, cycling or adventure sports with one caveat. That is if you need a quick release bike mountable light, this isn’t it.

For more information, the 800 Multisport and other cool products, check out UltrAspires Website.

The post UltrAspire Lumen 800 Multisport Waist Light Review appeared first on Gear Mashers.

So you want to mount both a cycling computer and a light to your handle bars, but your current setup isn’t optimal, well then you should check out the K-Edge Pro Combo Mounts.  Currently K-Edge makes mounts for Garmin, Sigma and Wahoo cycling computers and with the K-Edge Pro Combo Mount you can also attach a light or video camera underneath.  It’s definitely the most elegant and functional solution in the market today.

The beauty of the K-Edge Pro Combo mount is it’s location and simplicity.  Having a light attached below the cycling computer removes that unwanted glare on the computer screen that occurs when a light is often attached to the handle bars next to the cycling computer.

K-Edge uses a GoPro mounting system underneath the cycling computer mount, allowing any light or camera that has a GoPro compatible mount to attach to it.

K-Edge History

For those wondering when K-Edge got their start, you will have to walk back in time to 2008 when K-Edge launched their “Chain Catcher” product to help keep the rider’s chain from derailing (falling off).  Since that time K-Edge have developed various solutions to mount both cycling computers and lights.

NiteRider And GoPro Adapter By K-Edge

If you are a NiteRider (https://www.niterider.com) fan like me, K-Edge and NiteRider have teamed and created a solution to mount any NiteRider Rail Interface equipped light to any K-Edge GoPro style mount connection.  NiteRider’s newest Lumina series, fantastic lights by the way, all have the Rail Interface and are compatible with the K-Edge GoPro Mount systems.

When mounting the light you will run into one issue that may or may not bother you.  In order to mount the light in it’s current form, you mount it from the bottom side rather than the top side.

By mounting the light upside down, you lose the ability to view the power indicator lights and any other information that displays.  A good example would be mounting the NiteRider Lumina OLED 1100 Boost and not being able to see the digital display screen showing battery run times because they are pointed towards the ground.

For me it’s not a big deal since I charge my lights the night before a ride if I know I am going to use them.

Quick Release Solution

As far as I know K-Edge hasn’t created a quick release solution for their K-Edge GoPro mounting system.  When I spoke to K-Edge at Interbike this year, they hadn’t developed anything at that time.   They did come out with a “Go Big” thumb screw that can be tighten with a 4mm hex wrench.  The Thumb screw does add a little bit of safety over a normal GoPro thumb screw since you can tighten it down more with a 4mm hex wrench.

As a commuter who sometimes has to lock up my bike and leave it unattended, not being able to quickly remove expensive lights can leave them exposed to theft.

Currently as long as a thief has a 4mm hex wrench they could easily remove the light from it’s GoPro mounting bracket and walk away with light in hand.

I did find an adapter (SP-Gadgets Clip Adapter for GoPro) that can convert any standard GoPro mount into a quick clip mount.   I contacted the company to get a sample sent out, but as of today I haven’t received anything.  The adapter might solve the Quick Release Issue, but this solution isn’t as elegant nor as aero as the K-Edge non-quick release setup.  Still those looking for a quick release method, the SP clip adapter might work.

Swapping Out Cycling Computers

When purchasing the K-Edge Pro Combo Mount, you specify which cycling computer you own and buy the appropriate mounting system.  K-Edge has color coordinated the different computer mounts to include Black for Garmin, Blue for Wahoo and Red for Sigma.

If you buy a Garmin mount and then replace your Garmin computer with a Wahoo or Sigma, currently you just need to purchase Wahoo or Sigma insert rather than having to buy another K-Edge Pro Combo Mount.

K-Edge Pro Combo Mount Specifications

• CNC Machined 6061-T6 Aluminum Platform, Injection Molded Copolymer Interface
• Compatibility: Wahoo Bolt, Wahoo Mini
• Fits Handlebars: 31.8MM
• Go Pro Action Camera type attachment for camera or light
• Anodized Color: Black
• Made in Boise, Idaho, USA
• Lifetime Guarantee against material or manufacturer defects. Damages due to abuse or crashing excluded.
• Retail: $64.99
• BUY IT: https://amzn.to/2JeCWJh

Additionally I highly recommend purchasing the NiteRider Lumina series of lights and the NiteRider GoPro Adapter by K-Edge ($19.99).

The NiteRider light I am running with the the Pro Combo Mount is the Lumina OLED 1100 Boost ($149.99).  It’s a fantastic light that is perfect for early morning or evening rides.  The run time is based on how high the lumens is set, but you can get somewhere between 1:00 – 18:00 hrs depending on power output.

Bottom Line | K-EDGE Pro Combo Mounts

Other than not having a quick release, the K-Edge Pro Combo Mount is the best solution I have seen to mount both a cycling computer and a cycling light and do it in a way that is elegant and functional.

Check out K-Edge (https://k-edge.com) for all their great products.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/2JeCWJh

Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt Review (2018)

Garmin Edge 820 vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt

NiteRider SENTINEL 150 Taillight Review | 2017 2018 | Gear Mashers

The post K-EDGE Pro Combo Mounts For Cycling Computers appeared first on Gear Mashers.

UltrAspire sent us a fantastic product called the UltrAspire Lumen 600 3.0 Waist Light. Version 3.0 is the third iteration of UltrAspire’s waist racing belts and by far the most advanced.

For those that love to night run or run in the early mornings before the sun is up, light is key to seeing what’s ahead of you. Before waist light’s your options were headlamps, chest lights or handhelds (flashlight) or a combination of them.

Waist lights change the dynamic of running at night by providing light closer to the ground, making it much easier to see potential hazards.

UltrAspire Lumen 600 3.0 Unboxing

I reach out to Joe over at UltrAspire to get my hands on their new waist light called the Lumen 600 3.0. It’s a beauty of a waist light and I knew I wanted to review it.

The waist light matches up perfectly with another UltrAspire product Joe sent called the UltrAspire Bryce XT Race Vest.

UltrAspire caters to the Ultrarunning crowed making amazing products for racing and training. That said many of their products also can be used for adventure racing, mountain biking, and nighttime activities.

Package Arrives

When the package arrived it came wrapped in bubble wrap. This isn’t the official packaging that one might expect to get once the light becomes available for retail. Ours was a pre-retail model and it was very cool to get it before it hit the retail market.

The Lumen 600 comes with the following

• Waist-belt and light combo
• Removable Zippered Pouch
• Rechargeable Battery
• USB Charging Cord

Here is a closer look at the rechargeable battery (18650 3.7V rechargeable battery) and power cord. Replacement 18650 3.7V batteries are readily available from UltrAspire or from Amazon, which is really convenient if you need spares.

UltrAspire Lumen 600 3.0 Review

The Lumen 600 requires little setup time. It comes with an adjustable belt and a fatigue-free performance buckle (that’s their words not mine) and a rechargeable battery.

Lumen 600 3.0 Adjustablity

I found the adjustable belt strap and buckle good, but nothing extraordinary as far as setup goes. I suppose the new buckle design helps prevent breakage over time, something I really couldn’t test.

The Lumen 600 gives you the option of wearing a removable pocket or if not needed just the main light setup. People who are weight weenies and aren’t running far may opt to remove the rear pocket. Those who plan on doing longer runs may like the convenience of having an extra pocket.

Beyond adjusting the fit of the light belt, you can also adjust the light’s beam up or down depending on preference. UltrAspire marketing gurus calls it “Perfect Angle”.

IPX7 Aluminum Casing

The battery is housed in an IPX7 aluminum casing. For those that don’t know about IPX ratings, check out my IPX rating article. Needless to say a rating of IPX7 is very high up on the scale. Most consumer electronic fitness products only have a rating of IPX5 or less, so to have an IPX7 is outstanding. It means the light unit should hold up to anything mother nature throws at it. In fact, I can only think of a meteor strike or maybe a tornado that could cause issues. Joking aside, the light is pretty bomb proof.

Charging Your Lumen 600

As stated earlier, the Lumen 600 comes with a USB to microUSB charging cord. To charge the Lumen you unscrew the cap side that houses the red on/off button. Once unscrewed a micro USB port is revealed. You plug the USB end to a USB charging station and the other end to the Lumen.

A red indicator light displays when the unit is charging and a green when the unit is full charged.

Note: UltrAspire doesn’t include a USB charger with the Lumen. That said, most people have the ability to charge via USB. For those that don’t, you will need to get a USB compatible charging unit. I picked up a pretty cool 10 USB charging device (seen above – Sabrent 60 Watt (12 Amp) 10-Port [UL Certified] Family-Sized Desktop USB Rapid Charger.) from Amazon. It’s very handy.

UltrAspire 3D Lighting

The light output UltrAspire uses what they refer to 3D Lighting. With most lights say a headlamp, shadows from objects on the ground get washed out. Some of this has to do with the height of the light source, but also because the light is roughly on the same level as your eye’s line of sight.

By moving the light source from your head to your waist and away from your line of site, this will naturally cast shadows across whatever subject is laying on the ground creating a 3D effect during nighttime and low light conditions.

Photographers will often employ a similar technique to increase depth in a photo by using external flashes.

Why 3D Lighting? The things that trip you up when you are trail running at night typically aren’t large rocks or stumps; those are easily seen with a headlamp, but more often little uneven dimples in the ground that aren’t as visible. With UltrAspire 3D Lighting you will see more shadows cast across those uneven surfaces allowing you to have a better understanding of your terrain.

Battery Life and Output

The Lumen 600 with it’s 18650 3.7V rechargeable battery gets roughly 8 hours of battery life and takes about 4 hours to recharge.

When cycling at night I like to use lights that are around 1000 to 1200 lumen. For running you don’t need as powerful of a light simply because you’re not moving as fast. Also the higher the lumen value, the faster the burn time is on your battery. 600 Lumens seems to be a good balance for light output vs battery consumption.

For those who plan on really long runs, say ultras, will want to have multiple rechargeable batteries handy. Most other people can probably get away with just the supplied battery.

Lumen 600 2.0 Vs Lumen 600 3.0

UltrAspire really hit it out of the park with the new Lumen 3.0. The big changes were a reduction in both package size and weight. They also upped the IPX value from XP6 to XPX7, making extremely weather resistent.

• The light itself is 30% smaller and lighter than the 2.0 version. 
• There is no alignment pin in the 3.0 as was in the 2.0 making battery swaps on the go significantly faster and more intuitive.
• The power/adjustment button is much larger than the 2.0 version.
• Removable pocket allows you to carry essentials or strip it down to a race version if you so choose. 
• The output is still 600 lumens however the “Steady Beam” feature helps to keep the light as close to 600 lumens as possible until the battery is very low. This is considered a regulated power output. 
• It is compatible with UltrAspire’s current battery lineup. They will be launching a new UltrAspire 18650 battery which is 3400 mah and is a low amperage output which is sufficient for our lumen strength but doesn’t overuse energy thus making the battery last longer and be more efficient. 
• A new buckle system was added called Race Fit.
• Reduction in retail price ($159.99 Lumen 600 3.0 vs $179.99 Lumen 600 2.0)

UltrAspire Lumen 600 3.0 Technical Highlights

UltrAspire packed a ton of cool features into the Lumen 600 3.0 including

• The Lumen’s light has a focused center with wide-angle peripheral light for a natural running experience
• 180° directional rotation with a range of motion adjusting 90° up and 90° down and anywhere in between for the best depth of field over the road or trail ahead
• Dual-sided adjustability with the body of belt comprised of comfortable and breathable large-holed micro-fiber polyester mesh
• The Lumen 600 is an MBS belt and the front is compatible and interchangeable with a Synaptic back for a hydration and illumination combo
• Rear zippered pocket large enough for a cell phone or other essentials
• Water, dust, and impact resistant aircraft grade aluminum housing. Tempered glass lens for clarity
• Easy operation of light: Push the button once for On which is also the High setting. Press again sequentially for Medium, Low, S.O.S., and Off. Button pressed after 4 seconds will go straight to œOff
• The light as a unit is rechargeable and comes with a USB charging cord
• Bright elastic binding for comfort and reflective hits for added visibility
• 600 Lumens. Uses a single 18650 3.7V rechargeable battery (Included)
• Adjustable sizing from 26 to 42

If you plan on running, walking or doing any nighttime adventure, you will absolutely love the UltrAspire Lumen 600 3.0. It provides a ton of light and allows you to run as fast as you want without worrying about not being able to see what’s ahead.

Overall I was super impressed with the light system and all the cool updates that UltrAspire implemented with the version 3.0. The engineers got everything right.

If you run on trails with tight corners or like to look off to your left or right, you may want to team up the Lumen with a headlamp.

Check out UltrAspire (https://ultraspire.com) and the rest of there very cool products. You will not be disappointed.

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