Exercise Physiology of Female Cyclists: Optimizing Performance through Understanding Physiology
Next week, we’ll experience the shortest day of the year—a fact that’s not exactly something to celebrate. But here’s the good news: from late next week onward, the days will slowly begin to lengthen again. That’s definitely something to look forward to! Still, it will remain dark early in the evenings and late in the mornings for some time.
DISCOUNT
During these darker days, our new partner BusyBee has the perfect solution. Especially for followers of Pro Cycling Women, there’s an exclusive discount available. Use the code PCW25 at www.busybee.nl to get 25% off your order. Not bad, right?
Ravemen Lights
To help brighten up these dark days, we had the chance to test the Ravemen CR1000 and CL105 lighting set. Together, the Ravemen CR1000 front light and CL105 rear light make a complete lighting set for cycling in low-light and dark conditions.
Installation
Let’s start with the setup. Mounting the light set is straightforward, thanks to the rubber bands around the mounts. Both the front and rear lights can easily fit handlebars and seat posts of various thicknesses, without needing a screwdriver or Allen key. An added bonus: the rear light’s mount features flexible V-shaped rubber inserts, making it easy to attach even to aerodynamic seat posts on aero frames or time trial bikes. Thoughtful design!
Front Light: Ravemen CR1000
The Ravemen CR1000 is a sleekly designed heavyweight among front lights, developed especially for road cyclists who love riding fast and long, even during winter. Its 4000mAh battery ensures up to 25 hours of illumination in Eco mode. Speaking of illumination, the efficient LED provides a whopping 1000 lumens on the highest setting, lighting up the road up to 150 meters ahead with ease.
The beam itself is T-shaped, illuminating both the area immediately in front of you and further ahead. In addition to Eco and High modes, the front light offers four more settings: Mid, Low, Pulse Flashing, and Rapid Flashing for those who prefer a blinking light.
The lamp boasts two standout features. First, the small orange side lights make you visible from the sides—great for intersections. Second, it includes a remote control, which you can attach to your handlebars near your grip. With the remote, you can easily switch between brightness levels without fumbling with the light itself, even when wearing thick winter gloves. This keeps your hands on the bars and your eyes on the road—safe and practical!
Rear Light: Ravemen CL05
What’s coming from behind is often out of sight, making a reliable rear light crucial for dark and poor weather conditions. The Ravemen CL05 does the job brilliantly. It has a sleek round design with two LED rings that produce up to 30 lumens.
A handy feature is that you can adjust the angle of the light on its mount, ensuring optimal visibility without blinding approaching traffic. Speaking of approaching traffic, the light detects headlights from cars behind (over 50 lux) and automatically switches to an attention-grabbing warning flashing mode to further enhance your visibility.
Final Thoughts
Both lights are easy to recharge via USB-C—a cable you probably already have at home. After several test rides in the dark, we’re convinced this light set is a practical, safe, and stylish addition to your (winter) bike. And with the exclusive discount for Pro Cycling Women followers (25%, just saying), it’s a perfect deal!
