Cycling UK Forum

Hi All,

Now that I'm working from home at the current time I'm able to cycle my kids to school much more than in the past and so now as we approach autumn I want to get my sons bike set up with decent lights. On my own bike I have dynamo lighting and I love the fact that it's always there and I don't need to worry about charging etc. Therefore I don't see why a similar set up couldn't be a perfectly good solution for my sons bike.

His bike is a hybrid style bike with rim V-Brakes and it has 26" wheels (ETRTO of 559 x 17 with 100mm hub spacing). I've been looking at buying dynamo wheels and so far I've not found a ready to buy 559 x 17 wheel option but I have found some in 559 x 19 size. His current rim is black so I'd like to get a black rim so as it doesn't look to strange against the black rear rim when it's fitted. I'll probably just put the dynamo wheel on for winter (and the bits of autumn and spring that are darkest) and then change back to the standard non-dynamo wheel for the summer and use that as an excuse to take the lights off the bike and give everything a good clean at that time.

So far I've found these wheels:-

ROSE MTB front wheel 26" Xtreme M-ZX 19 / Shimano DH-C3000 hub dynamo
Cost: £80.77 plus postage
Rim: Xtreme M-ZX 19, black, 36 hole, Schrader valve
Front hub: Shimano DH-C3000 hub dynamo, silver, 36 hole
Spokes: DT Swiss Champion, 2,0 mm black
Hub width: 100 mm (quick release)
Including quick release skewer, overvoltage protection, plug, without rim tape (required width: 22 mm)
ETRTO 26": 559 x 19 C

https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/rose-mtb-front-wheel-26-xtreme-m-zx-19-shimano-dh-c3000-hub-dynamo-2672140?product_shape=black&article_size=26%22

And another option:-

26 inch bike front wheel ZAC19 with hub dynamo black/silver

Rigida Zac19R double-wall rim 26-inch (559-19) – black
Cost: Euro 51.90 plus postage
Nirosta spokes – silver
Shimano Nexus DH-C3000-3N hub dynamo
ETRTO size: 559-19
Material: alloy
Single eyelets
36 holes
Valve stem: 8.5 mm (6.5 mm)
Shimano Nexus DH-C3000-3N hub dynamo
Plug connector included
Quick Release skewer
36 holes
Old: 100mm

https://www.taylor-wheels.com/26inch-bike-front-wheel-zac19-with-hub-dynamo-black/silver


Thanks for any thoughts on the best option to go for.

John

Do you have a target price or a maximum price in mind?

Jonathan

I got a 36 hole Taylor Wheels dynamo wheel about 8 years ago (Shimano 3n20 on ZAC2000 rim)for just over £40 and used it for about 10,000 (?) miles of all year commuting over 5 years or so plus a bit of touring. Absolutely zero issues with the wheel - still true now so great value. Given the mileage I have replaced it in "front line" service but it still comes out with winter tyres on. So Taylor Wheels would definitely be worth considering I think.

Spa cycles offer a 559-17 option (SP-PV8 in LX17 rim), £130

17 or 19 depends on the tyres you intend to use. 17 is good for 25 mm to 45 mm (1.0 to 1.75") or thereabouts. 19 is good for around 28 mm to 52 mm (1.1 to 2.1").

Hi All,
Many thanks for the replies!

Hi Jonathan,
I haven't set a maximum price but it's a kids bike which is parked at school so I don't want to spend silly money. I just want something which gets the job done and can last reasonably well whilst being left outside parked in the bike sheds during the winter.

Hi zenitb,
Thanks for the recommendation of the Taylor Wheels dynamo wheels being a good option.

Hi Andrew,
The tyres that are on the bike currently are 26" x 1.5 (38-559) and I'd probably fit something very similar again if I get another tyre or I might perhaps even use the current tyre.

Thank you for the tip about the Spa cycles dynamo wheel option which has the advantage of being available in a 17mm width to match the current wheel. It does cost a bit more that the other options though (the Taylor Wheels one being roughly £50 and the Rose Bikes Wheel roughly £81) and so what would be the other benefits advantages of buying the more expensive Spa wheel at £130?

Thanks again,

John

Yes I've had that Zac 19 Taylor Dyno wheel for a couple of years. Again no issues, build has been fine, even the cheap Shimano hub dynamos are very well sealed, and put out plenty of power at relatively low speeds. No real reason to spend more unless you want to. 2mm rim width difference means a simple brake pad/cable adjustment, and at most swapping the thick/thin v-pad cup washers around, although that probably won't be necessary. Plenty of options for decent value and performance lights too.
The spa wheel has a more expensive SP hub (smaller, a bit lighter, looks nicer, slightly less turning resistance when no electrical load). More expensive rim. Hand built? Hence it costs more.

John_S wrote:
I haven't set a maximum price but it's a kids bike which is parked at school so I don't want to spend silly money. I just want something which gets the job done and can last reasonably well whilst being left outside parked in the bike sheds during the winter.

To me that sounds like the perfect application for a Bottle Dynamo. Yes, Hub Dynamos are more ‘wonderful’ than Bottle Dynamos but Bottle Dynamos are still considerably more than sufficiently ‘wonderful’ for your purposes. Never underestimate the value of ‘old tech’, years ago much of it quite satisfactorily met needs that we still have today (including the need mentioned by the OP).