Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Handlebar bag and lights
Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.
I know, it's probably been discussed before, but I'm outfitting a new bike and would like the best solution for having lights and a handlebar bag.
The bag is a necessity -- I need my pager, keys, cell phone, and occasionally a map at hand when riding. However, I sometimes get home at dusk, and would feel a lot better having some type of lighting.
How can I marry the handlebar bag (which takes up the space for most lights) with having night lighting for a reasonable price? (I don't ride at night for safety purposes, so am reluctant to spend >$50 for a light.)
I saw a website that sold a bar that attaches to your handlebars that you can use to attach accessories to. Maybe somebody here will remember what it is called. I think it was used for touring.
Another lighting option is a helmet light. I just have a small but powerful flashlight attached to my helmet with rubber bands.
http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.942
You might be able to get away with a bento bag (http://www.onetri.com/bento-bike-large-p-2475.html) for your stuff. I get cell and GPS in mine with room to spare.
bktourer1
06-14-08, 09:10 AM
Look into the Minour Space Grips & Swing grips. Everyone has their own pros & cons about them.
I have both and haven't had a problem yet.
Hydrated
06-14-08, 10:08 AM
Homebrew.
Attach the lights to the front fork arms. I went whole hog and run my 20W halogen lights overvolted to 14.4V... it practically shoots flames out in front of your bike. And I have prolly $100 invested in it but that includes a digital light controller unit that cost me about $40.
http://members.cox.net/netwurkin/trekbars.jpg
Look into the Minour Space Grips & Swing grips. Everyone has their own pros & cons about them.
I have both and haven't had a problem yet.
As I run lights and a handlebar bag, I modified a space grip to fit the fork crown hole on my Heron. Using a cheap pipe cutter, I reduced the width of the tube to 3 inches and modified the base with a dremel to avoid the lower part of the headset. Used 2 cheap chrome H-bar plugs to dress up the ends. It now ratchets up or down. Clears the H-bar bag perfectly and looks like it was meant for the bike. My light is a Nightrider "Minewt." I've had many ask where they could purchase one and where I got it. As I've never been able to post a pic to this forum w/o a half hours worth of hassle, send a pm if you'd like a pic.
Richard