Where do you mount your LIGHT?

TBerk said:

- Handle bars and it turns with the steering OR

- Front Head Tube and it points straight ahead (most of the time.
anyway).

I am of a mind to think option #2 is gaining merit in my mind. Having
the light turn with the handlebars makes sense to get those corners
lit during late night highspeed runs ;]) but it am getting annoyed
in my 'old age' w/ the shaking and waving back and forth with the
normal to and fro of, say, hands free riding.

Oh course I am stacking cordwood here for a flamewar, so I apologize
in advance.

Some of this may come down to wide beam vs spot light and the
practical aspects of being able to actually see at night.

TBerk

I've got lights on several bikes. The height of the light varies from
about 12" (on one of my folding bikes) to about four feet (on my
touring bike).

None of them are fixed to the frame. All are mounted on either forks,
handlebars, or a front rack.

IME, the best height is about 24" (just slightly lower than the top of
a wheel). The best position of all is on a rack (or perhaps a front
fender, if metal) out in front of the tire.

Putting it higher gives more chance for reflected light into my eyes
(especially if there's fog) and doesn't do as good a job of showing
relief in the road (potholes & bumps). Putting it lower make it's
tilt angle more sensitive; it's harder to have the beam skimming the
pavement to the right degree. (As a thought experiment, a lamp right
at road level would brilliantly show every dimple in the road with its
shadow, but would show nothing of the road if its angle didn't
precisely match the road.)

One folder has it mounted to the fork crown on a slight vertical
extension. This works well. My touring bike has it mounted on the
front of an aero bar, hanging down. Not quite as good. My commuter
has it on the front of a homebuilt rack, definitely best. And BTW,
when I do mount one on the handlebar, I hang it below the bar, not
above it, if at all possible.

- Frank Krygowski

TBerk said:

- Handle bars and it turns with the steering OR

- Front Head Tube and it points straight ahead (most of the time.
anyway).

I am of a mind to think option #2 is gaining merit in my mind. Having
the light turn with the handlebars makes sense to get those corners
lit during late night highspeed runs ;]) but it am getting annoyed
in my 'old age' w/ the shaking and waving back and forth with the
normal to and fro of, say, hands free riding.

Oh course I am stacking cordwood here for a flamewar, so I apologize
in advance.

Some of this may come down to wide beam vs spot light and the
practical aspects of being able to actually see at night.

TBerk

Dear T,

Tradition demands that the light turn with the front wheel.

Modern safety-bicycle riders with inflatable tires on paved roads
should not complain about "shaking and waving" as they trundle along.

Stylish handlebar mount:
http://i18.tinypic.com/4lf9qiv.jpg

Classy double side mounts:
http://i29.tinypic.com/wjueli.jpg
http://i30.tinypic.com/2ikqz5c.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/24x2d86.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/9ppb2p.jpg

Inimitable axle mount:
http://i12.tinypic.com/4tz3tp0.jpg

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

TBerk said:

- Handle bars and it turns with the steering OR

- Front Head Tube and it points straight ahead (most of the time.
anyway).

I am of a mind to think option #2 is gaining merit in my mind. Having
the light turn with the handlebars makes sense to get those corners
lit during late night highspeed runs ;]) but it am getting annoyed
in my 'old age' w/ the shaking and waving back and forth with the
normal to and fro of, say, hands free riding.

Neither. Mount the light to a front rack, fork leg, crown, or Q/R
skewer* and you'll get a better flood pattern and it'll turn with your
in corners.

*http://www.velo-orange.com/lowdolimoty1.html

TBerk said:

- Handle bars and it turns with the steering OR

Handlebars, but I also have a headlamp (originally bought for camping)
that I sometimes use if I feel the need to throw some extra light around
tight corners.

Quoted message said:

Some of this may come down to wide beam vs spot light and the
practical aspects of being able to actually see at night.

Very much so. My light (a B&M Ixon IQ Speed) has a beam fairly close to
that of my car, so it's not a problem for it to turn with the handlebars
(indeed, sometimes I wish it would turn *more*, which is why I have the
auxiliary headlamp).

--

Kristian Zoerhoff
[email hidden]

Frank Krygowski said:

TBerk said:

- Handle bars and it turns with the steering OR

Quoted message said:

- Front Head Tube and it points straight ahead (most of the time.
anyway).

Quoted message said:

I am of a mind to think option #2 is gaining merit in my mind. Having
the light turn with the handlebars makes sense to get those corners
lit during late night highspeed runs ;]) but it am getting annoyed
in my 'old age' w/ the shaking and waving back and forth with the
normal to and fro of, say, hands free riding.

Quoted message said:

Oh course I am stacking cordwood here for a flamewar, so I apologize
in advance.

Quoted message said:

Some of this may come down to wide beam vs spot light and the
practical aspects of being able to actually see at night.

Quoted message said:

TBerk

I've got lights on several bikes. The height of the light varies from
about 12" (on one of my folding bikes) to about four feet (on my
touring bike).

None of them are fixed to the frame. All are mounted on either forks,
handlebars, or a front rack.

IME, the best height is about 24" (just slightly lower than the top of
a wheel). The best position of all is on a rack (or perhaps a front
fender, if metal) out in front of the tire.

Putting it higher gives more chance for reflected light into my eyes
(especially if there's fog) and doesn't do as good a job of showing
relief in the road (potholes & bumps). Putting it lower make it's
tilt angle more sensitive; it's harder to have the beam skimming the
pavement to the right degree. (As a thought experiment, a lamp right
at road level would brilliantly show every dimple in the road with its
shadow, but would show nothing of the road if its angle didn't
precisely match the road.)

One folder has it mounted to the fork crown on a slight vertical
extension. This works well. My touring bike has it mounted on the
front of an aero bar, hanging down. Not quite as good. My commuter
has it on the front of a homebuilt rack, definitely best. And BTW,
when I do mount one on the handlebar, I hang it below the bar, not
above it, if at all possible.

- Frank Krygowski

Sorry to follow up on my own post, but I _don't_ like having the light
mounted to a fork blade. The front half of the rim casts a shadow off
to one side of my path, and sometimes that shadow is where I'm
turning.

- Frank Krygowski

Frank Krygowski said:

Frank Krygowski said:

TBerk said:

- Handle bars and it turns with the steering OR

Quoted message said:

- Front Head Tube and it points straight ahead (most of the time.
anyway).

Quoted message said:

I am of a mind to think option #2 is gaining merit in my mind. Having
the light turn with the handlebars makes sense to get those corners
lit during late night highspeed runs ;]) but it am getting annoyed
in my 'old age' w/ the shaking and waving back and forth with the
normal to and fro of, say, hands free riding.

Quoted message said:

Oh course I am stacking cordwood here for a flamewar, so I apologize
in advance.

Quoted message said:

Some of this may come down to wide beam vs spot light and the
practical aspects of being able to actually see at night.

Quoted message said:

TBerk

I've got lights on several bikes. The height of the light varies from
about 12" (on one of my folding bikes) to about four feet (on my
touring bike).

None of them are fixed to the frame. All are mounted on either forks,
handlebars, or a front rack.

IME, the best height is about 24" (just slightly lower than the top of
a wheel). The best position of all is on a rack (or perhaps a front
fender, if metal) out in front of the tire.

Putting it higher gives more chance for reflected light into my eyes
(especially if there's fog) and doesn't do as good a job of showing
relief in the road (potholes & bumps). Putting it lower make it's
tilt angle more sensitive; it's harder to have the beam skimming the
pavement to the right degree. (As a thought experiment, a lamp right
at road level would brilliantly show every dimple in the road with its
shadow, but would show nothing of the road if its angle didn't
precisely match the road.)

One folder has it mounted to the fork crown on a slight vertical
extension. This works well. My touring bike has it mounted on the
front of an aero bar, hanging down. Not quite as good. My commuter
has it on the front of a homebuilt rack, definitely best. And BTW,
when I do mount one on the handlebar, I hang it below the bar, not
above it, if at all possible.

- Frank Krygowski

Sorry to follow up on my own post, but I _don't_ like having the light
mounted to a fork blade. The front half of the rim casts a shadow off
to one side of my path, and sometimes that shadow is where I'm
turning.

- Frank Krygowski

Massive overkill - a light on each blade - would solve that problem
nicely 🙂

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

TBerk said:

- Handle bars and it turns with the steering OR

That's where I mount mine. And one on my head. Works great.

I remember, way back when, when I owned a '78 Scirocco, that there was
a TBerk who used to post in r.a.m.v.w. Are you the same TBerk, or a
different one? ISTR a lively discussion about tiki torches...

E.P.

Nate Nagel said:

Massive overkill - a light on each blade - would solve that problem
nicely 🙂

get your bib and click on this:

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/dualsetupfork.htm

TBerk said:

- Handle bars and it turns with the steering OR

- Front Head Tube and it points straight ahead (most of the time.
anyway).

I am of a mind to think option #2 is gaining merit in my mind. Having
the light turn with the handlebars makes sense to get those corners
lit during late night highspeed runs ;]) but it am getting annoyed
in my 'old age' w/ the shaking and waving back and forth with the
normal to and fro of, say, hands free riding.

Maybe a headlamp? You only have to be careful a little bit, because
they can confuse motorists, but it's my favorite, and much more useful
if you have to change a tire 🙂. People probably would call me crazy,
but I use more than one light on the bike.

Todd