In my ideal world I will have a rim that fits both my croix de fer and my inbred, I want it to fit both as it will have a sp dynamo hub. Not sure about tyres yet but wont be massive.

I think the weather would have to be amazing for the cdf, so the inbred may win. And although I have ridden the cdf for 200 miles in one day that was on tarmac - I not sure how comfy it would be for 200 miles of gravel - that said I will still keep it mind when the freak tropical sping comes (as in warm tropical not monsoon!)

Well, that was interesting. CX bike was fine on gravel roads right up until it got dark, whereupon I seemed to ricochet off every small obstacle or ripple in the road that otherwise appeared smooth in my light beam. Does anyone else find that a helmet mounted light "flattens" the trail surface? Everything is so well luminated, there are no shadows on anything to judge height, depth etc.

On the strength of that test, I'll likely take the Pegasus for the Two Ton. Gears or SS still undecided, but shod with Ikons or Race Kings me thinks.

Are you thinking that it was the angle of the light or just having one?

Did from Strata Florida on wards in the dark on the BB200 with just a bar light and it was OK. 140mm fork though so that might have played a part in making the bumps go away.

Now you come to mention it Ian, yeah I hit bumps like that with just a headlamp. Commuting I use just a headlamp and that happens, when doing night rides etc. I normally have bar light and headlight with no problems.

Went out for a little ride today and got so fed up riding through mud that I came home and fitted 29 x 2.0 race kings to do some road rides/gravel rides and leave the off road stuff for a while.
They look ridiculously skinny but seem to roll well on my test around the block. Gonna head out on some sustrans paths this week to start the "training"

Dan_K wrote:Went out for a little ride today and got so fed up riding through mud that I came home and fitted 29 x 2.0 race kings to do some road rides/gravel rides and leave the off road stuff for a while.
They look ridiculously skinny but seem to roll well on my test around the block. Gonna head out on some sustrans paths this week to start the "training"

The trails are minging round here too. We need some cold weather to harden them up a bit

Interesting thing lights. If I could I'd like my LEDs to have the light colour of halogens, which gives a nice soft light. I find the blueish/white of new LEDs just a bit harsh to look at. In terms of angle, Guitar Ted has discussed light set up for gravel riding, he points out that lights mounted up high flatten bumps as the high beam casts no shadows, it shines in to the hole. He mounts a light down low to get those shadows spilling up the trail and therefore reviling the stuff to avoid. I also find that in misty or damp conditions a helmet mounted light can create a glare directly in front of my face. When taking into account the colour of LED light this glare can get a bit tiring on a long haul.

I'll be mounting a maxx D on an accessory bar under the front of my Jones bars. Might look a bit ugly, but function over form here. I will also have helmet light if things get a bit quick, or technical.

I generally use an exposure toro on the bars for most riding. I often have a head mounted lamp too though, just as you say, for when things get a bit techy or fast.

On the BB 200 I used a single helmet mounted Joystick and piggyback battery. Most of the time it was fine but if it started to get a little misty or drizzly the glare was noticeable.

I find the same thing with headlamps and now tend to clip something to my jacket or even round my waist rather than wearing it on my head.

I wonder whether a fork mounted light might be a good option: Pauls 'Gino' mount on a Mukluk.

Cotic Solaris for me, rigid fork, 1x9 (33T 12/34) and 2.25 Ardents front and rear

Wildcat 100 ... Singular Swift, rigid fork, Alfine 8 (34 Wonky and 18)
Tyres undecided, I need soemthing faster rolling than current