Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Hard-learned lesson: Superflash mount mod

Hello all. After reading all the glowing praise here, I bought a superflash last week. I ended up mounting it on the left seatstay, probably not the best place but my old Baycliff saddlebag is in the way, and the saddlebag has no blinky mount. Anyhow, it was fine for a few days, but today I hit a decent bump, nothing bad, but the superflash ended up flying out of it's mount and shattering on the pavement. :( After buying a new one this afternoon, I attached a zip tie to the release tab to make a more secure attachment that you can see in the picture. You don't even have to bend the tab much more to release the superflash, but it fits in there snug now. I haven't road-tested it yet, but judging from tugging at it and such the light isn't going to be flying out too easily.
I searched the forums earlier and didn't find any posts similar to this, so I thought some of the many superflash owners might like to try this.

Wouldn't it be more secure if you did not mount the bracket upside down.

Wouldn't it be more secure if you did not mount the bracket upside down.

I don't have one so I didn't want to say anything. :)

See: http://pod.ath.cx/hid/z_old/cateye25000mcdblinky.jpg

I modded a reflector mount to accomodate my Cateye LD600 blinky. It works surprisingly
well and no spontaneous ejections yet.

I'll try and get a better pic later.

The seatstay is a good place for things provided the mount is secure enough.

Wouldn't it be more secure if you did not mount the bracket upside down.
*slaps forehead*
Oh wow. You know, it clipped in the way I had it, and with the tab facing up it seemed right...:o Oh well. I suppose I should change the name of the thread to "how not to mount a superflash".

I clip my superflash onto my seatpack and have never had any issues with it falling out.. The superflash is on sale at nashbar right now for 20.00..

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=60002235&sku=18959&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Brand%3A%20Planet%20Bike

I always drill a hole and attach a small cord with a clip as a safety cable for my blinkies


if they fall out they just hang there on my camelbak. I use them on my back, not the bike
but U get the idea...

I'm a bit surprised that it shattered. I used to have my Mars 3.0 fall off all the time when I used to clip it to my belt loops. It would slide down the road at 20mph still blinking. It barely even got scuffed and this happened 10-15 times including once at 35mph.

I like how you have it mounted on the seat stays though. My rackbag doesn't have a place to mount one either which is a bit of a pain.

I clip my superflash onto my seatpack and have never had any issues with it falling out.. The superflash is on sale at nashbar right now for 20.00..

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=60002235&sku=18959&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Brand%3A%20Planet%20Bike

On sale? I bought all of mine for $19.95

I'm surprised I'm not getting made fun of. You all are a nice lot.

I'm a bit surprised that it shattered. I used to have my Mars 3.0 fall off all the time when I used to clip it to my belt loops. It would slide down the road at 20mph still blinking. It barely even got scuffed and this happened 10-15 times including once at 35mph.
I heard the light bounce off of something on my bicycle before it hit the pavement. Judging by how loud it was, I'm guessing it got caught in the spokes when it came out of the bracket and was launched downward onto the pavement, also explaining why it shattered into tiny pieces.

On sale? I bought all of mine for $19.95

nashbar sales = jacked up price

I clip my superflash onto my seatpack and have never had any issues with it falling out.. The superflash is on sale at nashbar right now for 20.00..

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=60002235&sku=18959&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Brand%3A%20Planet%20Bike

amazon has them for $18 and $19 (http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Blinky-eXtreme-Bicycle/dp/B000KBEH1W/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-9381575-7451850?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1191521800&sr=8-2)(2 entries on superflash search)

i just use a small piece of duct tape to close the loop so-to-speak on the tab.

AE Bike always has the SuperFlash for $18.00. No tax like Nashbar either.

http://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30&action=details&sku=LT7357

Rule of thumb: If you truly value your blinkies use clear packing tape to close the loop so they can't come off. Some blinkies also benefit from having a small piece of tape securing the lens cover. I've had the lens covers pop off as well.

Point is that packing tape is damned cheap and lasts forever. Pluse it's clear so you hardly know it is there.

I always drill a hole and attach a small cord with a clip as a safety cable for my blinkies


if they fall out they just hang there on my camelbak. I use them on my back, not the bike
but U get the idea...

Probably wouldn't be a great idea here because if it did pop out of its bracket, it would hang down with the string and get tangled in the wheel and spokes... more damage than a $20 blinkie! :eek:

*slaps forehead*
Oh wow. You know, it clipped in the way I had it, and with the tab facing up it seemed right...:o Oh well. I suppose I should change the name of the thread to "how not to mount a superflash".

I caved in to forum peer pressure and bought a Superflash this afternoon. When I got back home, I searched for Superflash threads, found yours, then saw that the summary when mousing over said that you mounted it on your seatstay. "Oh crap!", I thought, because I also mounted it to my seatstay.

At least mine is mounted right-side up. ;)

Rule of thumb: If you truly value your blinkies use clear packing tape to close the loop so they can't come off. Some blinkies also benefit from having a small piece of tape securing the lens cover. I've had the lens covers pop off as well.

Don't know why I didn't think of that, too. I've got plenty of tape sitting around.

I've seen some riders recently who mount a superflash to the back of their helmet.

Interesting idea.

I've seen other blinkies on helmet backs too, not just superflash. I started mounting mine on seatstays but then got rack mounts (http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3108.html)from PB to center superflash in the back of a tubus rack. My 6 yr old's 16" bike has a superflash on its seatstay, still.

I'm surprised I'm not getting made fun of. You all are a nice lot.


Naah, we just find it more fun to do it behind your back.

I've seen other blinkies on helmet backs too, not just superflash.

I'm mounting a small Planet Bike flashie on the rear of my helmet with a reflective tape band that I found on the street. Some commuter must have lost it but I can't see how...not with all that velcro.

On sale? I bought all of mine for $19.95

MEC has em for $15 normally.