“And there was light.”
No, no, this is not a divine intervention, nor is it the light from ICE agents chasing you. It’s just my hub dynamo, and it’s absolute dynamite!
I’ve been using a hub dynamo for over six years now, and I rely on it for both lighting and charging electronic devices, whether I’m traveling or just going about my daily life.
“What are you talking about? What language are you speaking? I don’t understand any of this mechanical jargon!”
You might be thinking that. Before we dive into the details, let me first explain what a hub dynamo is, what it’s used for, and where it came from. I’m sure most of you have already used one without even realizing it.
“And there was light,” no, no, this is not a divine action, nor the lights of ICE agents coming to persecute you. It’s just my hub dynamo, and it’s dynamite!
I have been using a hub dynamo for more than six years and I swear by it for my lighting and for charging my electronic devices while traveling as well as in my daily life.
“What is this gibberish, what language are you speaking to me in? I don’t understand your mechanic jargon!!”
Before getting to the heart of the matter, I will first explain to you what a hub dynamo is, what it is for, and where it comes from. I am almost sure that most of you have already used one without even knowing it.
Simply put, a hub dynamo is a generator installed in the front hub of a bicycle. Ride your bike, and electricity is generated! It’s that simple. So, how do we use this energy? Well, we put it to work, of course! This small device, capable of powering lights and chargers, is incredibly handy and can make your life much easier.
Its use is nothing new. Back in the 1920s, similar systems were already in use, operating by rubbing against the rubber of the tire. Because of their unique shape, they were called “bottle dynamos.”
This proven mechanism originated in Germany, the land of beer and sausages. The first models, manufactured by Berko around 1910, evolved rapidly due to fierce competition. Companies like Sport AG, Häckel, Gloria, and Balaco enthusiastically added their own innovations. Various improvements were made, such as increased output, greater robustness of electronic components, and more compact designs.
However, nobody had addressed the biggest flaw of the bottle dynamo: its lack of reliability in rainy weather and its extremely energy-consuming operation. In reality, when the tires were wet, the dynamo tended to slip rather than drive, and while in use, it significantly slowed the rider down.
To put it simply, a hub dynamo is an alternator that houses itself in the front hub of your bike. You ride, it produces electricity! It’s as simple as that. But what do we do with this energy? Well, we use it, of course! To power a light or even a charger, this small object is very practical and can make your life easier!
Its use is not new; as early as the 1920s, a similar system was used that would rub against the rubber of the tire to activate its mechanism. It was commonly called the “bottle dynamo” because of its very evocative shape.
This time-tested mechanism comes straight from the land of beer and sausage: Germany. Manufactured by the Berko company around 1910, the first models quickly evolved thanks to growing competition. Sport AG, Häckel, Gloria, Balaco—everyone gave it their all to add their touch of ingenuity. More poles to increase power, more robust electronic components, increasingly compact constructions, and so on. But no one had tackled the main defect of the bottle dynamo: its reliability in rainy weather and its extremely energy-intensive operation. Indeed, once the tire was wet, the dynamo tended to slip instead of being driven, and when in operation, it significantly slowed the user down.
Across the Channel, the British company Sturmey-Archer wasn’t a fan of the “bottle” design. So, in 1936, they launched the world’s first dynamo hub, the “Dynohub.” It was a groundbreaking product for its time, but unfortunately, it didn’t catch on, likely due to its high cost.
On the other side of the Channel, the British company Sturmey-Archer did not like the “bottle” design too much; it was not their cup of tea. So in 1936, they launched their “Dynohub” on the market, the first dynamo hub in the world—a revolution for the time that unfortunately would not catch on, surely due to a rather high cost.
It wasn’t until the 1990s that a young Wilfried Schmidt unearthed the concept of the dynamo hub, which had been lying dormant in the depths of old books, and cast a mathematical spell to create a top-performing hub with his own unique twist.
For his debut, he partnered with Union to produce meticulously crafted parts. This model was named “Wing.” Following the product’s massive success, he decided to launch his own manufacturing operation under the name “Schmidt Original Dynamo.” This was the beginning of what would later be known as SON.
It would take until the 90s for young Wilfried Schmidt to dust off the dynamo hub concept, lost in old grimoires, and recite a mathematical incantation to bring us the most high-performance hub, cooked up in his own currywurst style. For his debut, he partnered with Union to produce his component worthy of a goldsmith; the model is called “Wing.” And faced with the success his product met with the public, he decided to launch his own production under the name “Schmidt Original Dynamo,” more often known by the acronym SON.
In the early 2000s, seeing the growing popularity of dynamo hubs among cyclists, Shimano sensed a market opportunity and began producing entry-level and mid-range hubs for the general public. Models like the Nexus are still used on city bikes around the world today, from the Velo’v in Lyon to the “mamacharis” in Japan.
At the beginning of the 2000s, faced with the growing attraction of cyclists to dynamo hubs, Shimano scented a market to conquer and launched the production of low- and mid-range hubs for the general public. Models like the Nexus, which are still equipped on city bikes around the world today, from the Velo’v in Lyon to the Mamacharis in Japan.
While recent designs have remained practically the same, we are seeing developments here and there, such as SON’s new 29 hub, designed for high-speed riding and featuring a more efficient, energy-saving structure.
Although the designs have remained practically the same these days, one can still see evolutions born here and there, such as the new 29 hub from SON, designed for road use at a brisk pace, more efficient and less energy-intensive.
Enough about hubs; there is no point in having a hub that isn’t connected to anything, so let’s talk about the lights and other gadgets that can be powered by the magic of a dynamo.
Since you’ve read this far, you must be interested in this system. I assume you didn’t read it just for the sake of reading my writing (though if you did, I’m very flattered). So, let me offer you some advice on finding the right hub for you.
First, consider your riding style. Commuting? Bikepacking? Endurance racing? This will help clarify your needs. If you only ride 10km in the city, you don’t necessarily need a top-of-the-line SON hub.
The next important criterion is your budget. If you’ve already done a little research, you know that dynamo hubs aren’t necessarily affordable for everyone, as they require building a new wheel. Of course, the staff at Circles would be happy to suggest options tailored to your budget. You can choose your preferred hub from the SHIMANO, SP, VELOCITY, and SON lineups and combine it with the rim of your choice.
Enough talk about hubs; there is no point in having one if it is plugged into nothing, so let’s talk instead about the lights and other gadgets usable thanks to the magic of dynamos.
If you have read the blog this far, it is surely that this system interests you, and not for the simple reason of reading my prose (if that is the case, you find me very flattered). I must therefore guide you a minimum on what could suit you.
First of all, you must consider your practice(s). Commuting? Bikepacking? Endurance race? This will help you define your needs. For a 10-kilometer city commute, you won’t necessarily need a latest-model SON hub.
The second most important criterion is the budget. If you have already informed yourself a bit on the subject, you know that a dynamo hub is not necessarily within everyone's reach, given that it is necessary to lace a new wheel. Of course, the Circles staff will be delighted to offer you options adapted to your budget. You will be able to choose a hub from the Shimano, Shutter Speed, Velocity, and SON ranges according to your preferences to combine it with the rim of your wishes.
Even if you have a hub, it’s useless if nothing is connected to it! So, let’s talk about lights you can use with the magic of a dynamo.
As you might remember, I use this system to light my path and charge my electronic devices. For this, I use two separate components, although some brands integrate both into a single product.
In this blog post, I will cover only the lights; I will explain other gadgets compatible with a hub dynamo in a separate article.
When thinking about the lights themselves, you might think not much changes, but there are actually major differences. First, the light beam varies depending on your usage. For example, lights designed for city riding have a “low beam,” engineered to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers without sacrificing lighting quality. On the other hand, lights with a “high beam” are often used for mountain biking or gravel riding to illuminate winding forest paths. It’s a bit like a car’s high beam, although you wouldn’t necessarily take your car down the Fujimi Panorama course.
There is no point in having such a hub if it is plugged into nothing! So let’s talk about the lights usable thanks to the magic of dynamos.
If you remember well, I told you that I used this system to illuminate my path and charge my electronic devices. For this, I use two different components, even if some brands integrate both in the same product.
In this blog, I will only talk about lights, and I am saving an article for the other gadgets compatible with your mini-generator.
In itself, when one thinks about a light, one says to oneself that there is not much that can change, and yet there are major differences. First, there is the light beam that varies according to your practice. The lights designed for the city, for example, have a “low beam,” designed to avoid dazzling road users coming from the opposite direction, without losing lighting quality. Conversely, lamps equipped with “high beam” are more often used in mountain biking or gravel to illuminate the winding trails of the forest. It’s a bit like the high-beam mode of your car in the end, except that you won’t necessarily go down the Fujimi Panorama tracks with your car.
Then, there is a second criterion that might seem trivial at first but is essential in certain situations:
The ON/OFF switch. With entry-level lights, it is often impossible to turn the light off, meaning the dynamo must constantly generate electricity, which slows you down slightly. For daily use, this isn’t a big deal, but for racing or long-term travel, being able to save even a little energy is vital. (Be aware that a dynamo hub won’t slow you down to the point of braking; the resistance felt is more comparable to a very slight headwind.)
Mid-range and high-end lights also feature technology that automatically switches the light on and off for you: a light sensor. This might seem trivial, but it’s very useful if your lamp is hard to reach while you’re pedaling (e.g., if placed under a rack or basket), and if, like me, you tend to always be in a rush, not having to think about your light can lift a mental load.
Then there is a second criterion that could seem trivial at first glance, but which is essential in certain situations: the ON/OFF button. On entry-level lamps, it is often impossible to turn off the light, which means that your dynamo must produce electricity permanently and slows you down somewhat. For daily use it is not a big deal, but when you do a race or when you travel long-term, being able to save your strength, even a little bit, is vital (Be well aware that a dynamo hub is not going to slow you down to the point of braking you, the resistance felt will be more comparable to a very light headwind). On mid- and high-end lights, one can also find a technology that takes care of turning your light on and off automatically for you: the light sensor. This may seem trivial, but still very useful if access to your lamp is difficult when you are pedaling (placed under a rack or a basket for example) and if like me you have a tendency to always be in a hurry, not having to think about your light can unburden you of a mental load.
Finally, there is an important criterion that can greatly influence your choice.
Perhaps you have already asked yourself: “Will my light still work when I stop at a traffic light?”
This is a very pertinent question. Being visible while stopped is just as important as being visible while moving, and light manufacturers understand this well. That is why most lamps contain a mechanism that allows your light to continue functioning for a certain period after stopping.
For example, on “mamacharis,” low-end lights will start flashing while losing intensity. Mid-range and high-end lights lose intensity but remain lit for about 5 minutes after stopping; the idea being that you don’t need to see far, but you do need to be seen if you are stopped.
At the core of this technology is a fairly simple electronic component that acts as a buffer battery: a capacitor. Depending on the lamp, the capacitor can take more or less time to charge, and serve as a buffer battery for a longer or shorter duration. Even if this feature works after about thirty seconds, it takes about five minutes to fully charge the capacitor that allows for five minutes of illumination while stopped. Of course, these numbers change depending on the manufacturer, which can make a lamp more or less suitable for your practice.
Finally, there is an important criterion that can greatly influence your choice. Perhaps you have already asked yourself: “Does my light still work when I stop at a light?” , and it is a very relevant remark. Being seen even at a stop is just as important as being seen in movement, and light manufacturers have understood this well. This is why in most lamps you will find a mechanism that will allow your light to continue to function for a certain time after a stop. On mamacharis for example, low-end lights will start to flash while losing intensity. Mid- and high-end lights, for their part, lose intensity but remain lit about 5 minutes after a stop, the idea being that you do not need to see far but to be seen if you are stopped. At the base of this technology we find a fairly simple electronic component that acts as a buffer battery: the capacitor. Depending on the lamps, the capacitor can take more or less time to charge, and serve as a buffer battery for a longer or shorter time. Even if this functionality already works after thirty seconds, it takes about five minutes to charge to 100% the capacitor that allows having five minutes of lighting at a stop. Obviously these figures change according to the manufacturer which can make a lamp more or less adapted to your practice.
Finally, if you don’t know what to choose, here is a small selection of lights that you can find in our stores:
If you don’t know what to choose here is a small selection of lights that you can find in our stores:
BUSCH MULLER Lumotec IQ-XS
This is a mid-range light with a compact design. Equipped with a light sensor and an ON/OFF button, it is the perfect partner for daily commutes and occasional bikepacking trips. With its fairly wide low-beam, it will guide you safely, whether on the road or on gravel.
Can be coupled with a rear dynamo light.
Here is a mid-range lamp with a compact design. Equipped with a light sensor as well as an ON/OFF button, it is the perfect partner for daily commutes and occasional bikepacking outings. With its fairly wide low-beam, it will guide you safely, on the road or on gravel.
Can be coupled with a rear dynamo light.
SUPERNOVA E3 Pure 3
Small yet powerful, this minimalist light is machined from a block of aluminum and blends naturally into the cityscape. It is durable enough to withstand the careless movements of other cyclists during quick stops at convenience stores.
Equipped with a light sensor and compatible with the brand's rear dynamo lights.
Petite mais puissante, cette lumière minimaliste usinée dans un bloc d’aluminium se fond parfaitement dans le décor urbain, prête à endurer les comportements maladroits des autres cyclistes lors de vos arrêts express au Konbini.
Équipée d’un capteur de lumière et utilisable avec une lumière dynamo arrière de la même marque.
SON NABENDYNAMO Edelux II
A classic dynamo lamp that charms with its sophisticated design and vibrant color variations. The Edelux II is regarded by many as the best lamp for its combination of a wide beam and high intensity in the center.
Equipped with a mode selector to switch between on/off and automatic lighting.
Un classique des lampes dynamo avec son design épuré et son choix de couleurs vives. Pour beaucoup la Edelux II est la meilleure en termes de faisceaux lumineux, étant très large mais aussi très puissante au milieu.
Équipée d’un sélecteur de mode pouvant choisir entre ON / OFF et automatique.
SINEWAVE CYCLES Beacon2
Open your eyes wide. Introducing the Beacon 2 from SINEWAVE CYCLES, the Swiss Army Knife of the dynamo light world. In addition to three ultra-bright LEDs, this light also features a USB port, allowing you to charge your electronic devices when you don't need the light. Its high build quality ensures that both the light and USB charging function even underwater (so you don't have to worry if you ever feel like taking a swim with your bike).
Even at very slow speeds or if you encounter technical issues with your hub, you can power this little gem with an external battery (it can also be used in combination with a dynamo).
If you already have a dynamo hub, make the most of it! It comes in a wide variety of colors and is compatible with rear dynamo lights.
Ouvrez grand les yeux, je vous présente le couteau suisse des lumières dynamo: la Beacon 2 de Sinewave Cycles. En plus de ses trois LED ultra puissantes, cette lampe dispose aussi d’un port USB pour recharger vos appareils électroniques quand vous n’avez pas besoin de lumière. La qualité de fabrication est telle que la lumière et la recharge par USB fonctionnent même sous l’eau (au cas où vous auriez envie d’aller nager avec votre vélo).
En cas de très faible allure ou de problème technique avec votre moyeux vous pouvez aussi utiliser une batterie externe pour alimenter ce petit bijou (aussi utilisable en complément de la dynamo).
Si déjà vous avez un moyeux dynamo, autant l’utiliser au maximum !
Disponible dans une grande sélection de couleurs et utilisable avec une lumière dynamo arrière.
"Bling-bling..." There you go! Light to your heart's content! Dazzling, isn't it?
“Bling-Bling….” Et voilà ! De la lumière à volonté ! Éblouissant n’est-ce pas ?
Please feel free to consult with Circles regarding the installation of a hub dynamo!