The bare minimum for riding in low illumination areas is a single gen 3 autogated tube. Autogating means that bright lights won't damage your hardware or render it temporarily unusable. So this is very good for urban areas.
These devices have been in production for about 20 years and they are now available inexpensively to ordinary US citizens although they are export restricted. Each monocular will cost you about $1500 on ebay if you are OK with some imperfections.
As to whether you want to ride monocular or binocular, that depends. If there's enough light for your unaided, adjusted eye to see a monocular can give much better situational awareness. That's what the user manual recommends. On the other hand if you're riding in extremely dark areas or on top of obstacles binocular is very helpful due not only to the increased depth perception but additional image information your brain can use to make a slightly clearer picture than it would have from either monocular alone in terms of detail. Speaking of, a good gen 3 device will have about 2000 by 2000 lines on a circular viewscreen and 40* field of view. Normal field of view is 200* so you might think 40* leaves a lot to be desired, and it does, but in a situation where you otherwise wouldn't be able to see anything it is like turning night to day. While I haven't calculated apparent dot size, it is very high res and a properly adjusted image is extremely sharp and detailed to the extent that you can't really tell you're looking at a virtual image.
Binocular setup is heavier and can be more disorienting but is generally the best option once you are used to it. Properly setup, the binoculars do not really increase your field of view. You could do that, but you would lose the spectroscopy and it would be nauseating while you adjust.
Advantages: Everywhere you look you see really well, including off in the distance. Normally riding at night you only see where your light shines. See stars you never knew existed on a clear night. Remain unobtrusive, great potential to observe wildlife you would otherwise miss. Ride places where you would otherwise not be able to access with a light. Impromptu night vision races on the golf cart path with teams of 6-12 riders would be sick.
Disadvantages: dangerous, learning curve, increased potential for head and eye injury in certain crashes, you look like sam fisher and will probably draw the wrong kind of attention from people who do see you.
So I can't be the only hobbyist riding ebikes with NVGs. They go together like butter and toast. Anyone else?
These devices have been in production for about 20 years and they are now available inexpensively to ordinary US citizens although they are export restricted. Each monocular will cost you about $1500 on ebay if you are OK with some imperfections.
As to whether you want to ride monocular or binocular, that depends. If there's enough light for your unaided, adjusted eye to see a monocular can give much better situational awareness. That's what the user manual recommends. On the other hand if you're riding in extremely dark areas or on top of obstacles binocular is very helpful due not only to the increased depth perception but additional image information your brain can use to make a slightly clearer picture than it would have from either monocular alone in terms of detail. Speaking of, a good gen 3 device will have about 2000 by 2000 lines on a circular viewscreen and 40* field of view. Normal field of view is 200* so you might think 40* leaves a lot to be desired, and it does, but in a situation where you otherwise wouldn't be able to see anything it is like turning night to day. While I haven't calculated apparent dot size, it is very high res and a properly adjusted image is extremely sharp and detailed to the extent that you can't really tell you're looking at a virtual image.
Binocular setup is heavier and can be more disorienting but is generally the best option once you are used to it. Properly setup, the binoculars do not really increase your field of view. You could do that, but you would lose the spectroscopy and it would be nauseating while you adjust.
Advantages: Everywhere you look you see really well, including off in the distance. Normally riding at night you only see where your light shines. See stars you never knew existed on a clear night. Remain unobtrusive, great potential to observe wildlife you would otherwise miss. Ride places where you would otherwise not be able to access with a light. Impromptu night vision races on the golf cart path with teams of 6-12 riders would be sick.
Disadvantages: dangerous, learning curve, increased potential for head and eye injury in certain crashes, you look like sam fisher and will probably draw the wrong kind of attention from people who do see you.
So I can't be the only hobbyist riding ebikes with NVGs. They go together like butter and toast. Anyone else?
