Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - A Quad Fenix Setup (QuadraFenixa?)

In the last few days, I obtained a couple of extra Fenix L2D flashlights so that I can easily set up another family member or friend to ride with me in the evenings.

But...since I have them available, I figured I might as well play for a bit.

Thus....the "QuadraFenixa" (or something to that effect).

I've got two spacebars on the front of one of my bikes, which gives me enough room to attach four L2Ds via lockblock. This evening, I'll give it a ride and see if it was worth the effort or was overkill or was a bad configuration...or whatever. :rolleyes:

Here are a few photos:

http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-003a.jpg

http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-002a.jpg

http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-007a.jpg

http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-012a.jpg

Testing it against a backdrop in my home showed that it might give an interesting kind of "wall of light" effect (although that's probably overstating it in a relative sense). Maybe just a "picket fence of light" rather than a wall. Or...maybe a wall. ;)

http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-018a.jpg

From the head-on view, it will actually be much more blinding than in the photo below if you were to look straight into the lights...but I wanted to take a shot in such a way that you could see the position of the lights (thus, this rather crappy photo).

http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-025a.jpg


Actually, with my helmet light, this will make five of them (I'm starting to lose track)... :eek:

If it doesn't work out or isn't at least a bit of fun, I'll let the thread die an easy death. :thumb:

V, you are cleared for takeoff.:D

My eyes! The goggles do nothing!

Varus,

I am concerned if the Fenix will cause 'phantom' milage on the wireless bike computer? I have found that whn the flash light is on strobe mode and also cycling high/low modes the bike computer would rack up milage and sometimes you'll see your speed shoot from 0 - 60+kph (yah I wish it was true :) ). Can you check on this for me? What bike comp are you using? I'm using a Schwinn I think 13 mode bike comp.

Varus,

I think it's time to upgrade next time to a dedicated bike light then the 5 x Fenix's. Given you're this far into the lighting it would be probably better to go with a dedicated bike light like a Dinotte 200L. I'm surprised the little one hasn't taken all your lighting and claimed it hers yet. Good job on keeping it on your bike. ;)

I need to come down sometime and check you out.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&saddr=Rainbow+Bridge+%4043.091650,+-79.071260&daddr=League+City,+Texas&hl=en&geocode=7851976266475652679,43.091650,-79.071260%3B12213347291133425965,43.086070,-79.059120&mra=ls&sll=43.09083,-79.06414&sspn=0.057916,0.109863&ie=UTF8&ll=30.751278,-87.231445&spn=17.404421,28.125&t=h&z=5

Varus,

I am concerned if the Fenix will cause 'phantom' milage on the wireless bike computer? I have found that whn the flash light is on strobe mode and also cycling high/low modes the bike computer would rack up milage and sometimes you'll see your speed shoot from 0 - 60+kph (yah I wish it was true :) ). Can you check on this for me? What bike comp are you using? I'm using a Schwinn I think 13 mode bike comp.

My computer showed that I rode over 100 miles tonight at an average speed of 45 mph...not bad for a mountain bike. Or for me. :p

You know, that's something I'll have to check out. I hardly ever use the strobe mode, with most of my riding being neighborhood trails and bike paths very late in the evening. I use a Sigma 1606L.

I need to come down sometime and check you out.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&saddr=Rainbow+Bridge+%4043.091650,+-79.071260&daddr=League+City,+Texas&hl=en&geocode=7851976266475652679,43.091650,-79.071260%3B12213347291133425965,43.086070,-79.059120&mra=ls&sll=43.09083,-79.06414&sspn=0.057916,0.109863&ie=UTF8&ll=30.751278,-87.231445&spn=17.404421,28.125&t=h&z=5

It will be easier if you wait until we visit my wife's family in Chicago. Much less of a ride for you, even on your superfast phantom bike. ;)

Varus,
I think it's time to upgrade next time to a dedicated bike light then the 5 x Fenix's. Given you're this far into the lighting it would be probably better to go with a dedicated bike light like a Dinotte 200L. I'm surprised the little one hasn't taken all your lighting and claimed it hers yet. Good job on keeping it on your bike. ;)

Don't worry, I'm not planning on making the 5x Fenix my regular setup. I just did it because I could. The other two will most likely be held in reserve for my wife and daughter so we can ride together. My daughter keeps TRYING to claim my lights, so it is indeed an ongoing battle. I might designate one of them as "hers"...symbolically... :innocent:

That stuff aside, I loved the ride tonight. Using the four L2Ds on the spacebars did indeed give me somewhat of a wall of light to work with. I switched a few times from a two-light mode to four for certain stretches of road, and stopped a couple of times to go from two to four without riding (so I could look carefully without the road changing) and it was a heck of a difference. In fact, my helmet light went largely unnoticed (by me), being mostly lost in the light from the others except for certain turns and look-asides. The entire ride was actually quite a bit of fun.

Just when you thought Varuscelli could not top his previous configurations, he comes through again!

Just when you thought Varuscelli could not top his previous configurations, he comes through again!

Ha! Next up: Eight Fenixes in an over/under configuration on two spacebars... :p :D

Actually, I'm really glad I got to play with that four-light handlebar configuration. I doubt I would have bought two extra L2Ds for this, but since I wanted to set up my wife and daughter to ride with me, this seemed like the perfect time to get some matched lights and then to play around with using them on ONE bike.

I really did like the experience of having those four L2Ds going at once. You might be able to see that on my handlebar, the lights are fanned out slightly to left and right, which did light up a broader swath in front of me, but still kept them all relatively tight. It was a very solid lighting effect. And when I paused by some wooded/field areas and turned the handlebar/lights out toward the field (and up a bit from road height) the four lights together really lit up the field areas. I was very pleased with how much light the setup put out and the way it hit the road ahead of me with the slight "splaying" of the lights because of the slightly angled-back handlebar.

I'm accustomed to riding with three L2Ds (two on handlebar, one on helmet) but this could really spoil a guy. Maybe my wife and daughter will have to get their own lights... ;)

Just when you thought Varuscelli could not top his previous configurations, he comes through again!

Howabout it? When's his picture going to be on the Fenix website?:thumb:

Varus,

I am concerned if the Fenix will cause 'phantom' milage on the wireless bike computer? I have found that whn the flash light is on strobe mode and also cycling high/low modes the bike computer would rack up milage and sometimes you'll see your speed shoot from 0 - 60+kph (yah I wish it was true :) ). Can you check on this for me? What bike comp are you using? I'm using a Schwinn I think 13 mode bike comp.

I've had no trouble at all with my Fenix L2DQ5 in strobe mode with my Garmin Edge 305 HR/CAD.

Awesome varuscelli!

Reminds me of those dudes with KC bar lights on the top of their truck for when they go off-roading at night.

http://z.about.com/d/4wheeldrive/1/0/M/Q/shawnS10.jpg

Howabout it? When's his picture going to be on the Fenix website?:thumb:

Yes, maybe I'll be in the running for the coveted "Fenix of the Week" award. :thumb:

Awesome varuscelli!

Reminds me of those dudes with KC bar lights on the top of their truck for when they go off-roading at night.

http://z.about.com/d/4wheeldrive/1/0/M/Q/shawnS10.jpg

Ha! I knew it reminded me of something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Something of a cross between that and airliner wings with jet engines jutting forward (as I think busted knuckles was suggesting). ;)

I'll bet UFO sitings in texas are up.

Yes, maybe I'll be in the running for the coveted "Fenix of the Week" award. :thumb:

You're going to run out of places to mount them pretty soon! I was at a friends place a while ago, and another guy showed up on a Vespa he'd set up like the one in Quadrophenia. It looked pretty cool, with mirrors and lights plastered all over the front of it. And a separate electrical system to power the extra lights. Are you going to start adding mirrors to go with all those lights?:rolleyes:

Are you going to start adding mirrors to go with all those lights?:rolleyes:

I already have a pretty funky mirror setup on that particular bike...and not one that anyone riding a bike designed for speed would like, but this is just a mountain bike that I ride around casually (my "police patrol style" around-the-neighborhood bike). The mirror setup on it is probably as aerodynamically inefficient as you can get (well, maybe not quite that bad...but pretty bad). You can sort of see them in the backdrop shot in my first post (they're folded back a bit).

The mirrors look like a couple of fruit-bat ears sticking up off my handlebar...and you couple that with the L2Ds and the front of my bike looks rather insect-like. A large UFO-airliner-fruit-bat-eared-insect bike with eyes that flash brightly in the dark. :twitchy:

(And a tiny little bell that goes ding-ding-ding...:rolleyes:)

I tried the four-L2D setup on another bike last night and took more photos of this different setup that used only lockblocks (no spacebars on that bike).

My regular dual L2D setup on that bike:

http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-041a_small.jpg http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-043a_small.jpg


A "tight" setup of four L2Ds on the handlebar:

http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-045a_small.jpg http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-044a_small.jpg


A more spaced apart setup on the handlebar (this was a better configuration, I think, for the handlebar on that bike and the way the light hit the road in a slightly broader swath...again, because of the handlebar being angled back and having the outermost lights angled out just a slight bit by virtue of the handlebar angle):

http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-068a_small.jpg http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-063a_small.jpg


Side view and rear view:

http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-092a_small.jpg http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-075a_small.jpg

The neat thing about using the four lockblocks/L2Ds on this second bike is that by sliding the outermost lights farther to the outside of the handlebar, they gradually angle outward more because of the slightly curved/slanted outward handlebar. So, you have both up and down tilt (as you always have with lockblocks) plus the ability to angle the lights a bit farther left and right to get a wider light swath.

With two lights, I like them pointed to almost the same spot. With four, you can get much better lateral coverage while keeping good intensity across the light swath. It's pretty nice to have so much control over the way the lights hit your path with all the up/down and left/right control that four separate heads give you. Using the spacebars as shown on the bike shown at the start of the thread gives me the same up/down movement of the lights, but limits the left/right movement.

I think it's time to upgrade next time to a dedicated bike light then the 5 x Fenix's. Given you're this far into the lighting it would be probably better to go with a dedicated bike light like a Dinotte 200L.

You bring up a good point, and even though I have considered that before, I still like what I've got (given my particular needs and uses). A few of my personally compelling reasons to stick with flashlights -- for the time being, in any case -- are:


Hassle Factor: I don't particularly want to have to deal with separate battery packs and cables (I really like that flashlights are self-contained units).
Versatility: I like the extra real-world use I get from the flashlights as flashlights (my family and I use them all the time for their normally intended purposes), so the flashlights realistically provide me and my family better (more versatile) all-around tools to have at our disposal.
Financially: I don't really want to invest in a separate system at this point since I have been slowly investing in the Fenix flashlights (which means I either sell the flashlights at a loss to get money to spend on bike lights or spend quite a bit more than I've already spent (on flashlights) to invest in a dedicated bike system).
Number of Bikes Accommodated: With five of the L2Ds total, I can potentially rig of as many five separate bikes for family and friends to ride with me -- at least casually in the neighborhood. I can rig up two bikes very nicely with both handlebar and helmet lights, and I can rig up enough lights to quite easily accommodate me, my wife, and my daughter riding together. It would take a heck of a lot more investment in DiNotte to get me the equivalent in accommodating family bikes (even enough to accommodate two bikes would be a much larger investment than what I've spend on the Fenix lights).


Again, you do bring up a good point, and I think if it were just me and I was looking only at accommodating my bike riding, I would consider something like the DiNottes. But as it stands, I still think the direction I've stayed with is giving me more bang for the buck and more versatility of use. That's the way it seems to me, in any case. :) :thumb:

You have the flashlights pretty far back in the holder. Don't you get extra vibration because of the imbalance? I have to have my mounted right where the fore/aft balance is or else they won't be steady.

You have the flashlights pretty far back in the holder. Don't you get extra vibration because of the imbalance? I have to have my mounted right where the fore/aft balance is or else they won't be steady.

These could probably be slid back about one-quarter to one-half inch to be exactly on the balance point, but for whatever reason I don't seem to have any trouble with imbalance or lack of steadiness when I use them as shown (with the lockblock strap bumped right up the the head of the L2D). The lockblocks clamp so well to the handlebar and the lights that it seems like there is quite a bit of leeway as to where I can tighten them into the blocks and have them stay steady.

Are you also using lockblocks and L2Ds? If so, are you actually having problems with them staying in place if you don't have them exactly centered (or getting excessive visible light vibration)? Just curious. I'm wondering what might be the difference in the way you are set up and the way I am. Maybe the roads/paths we ride...or maybe differences in the suspension on our bikes combined with where and how we ride?

In case I want my daughter to go blazing through the neighborhood. :eek: :rolleyes:

http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-106a.jpg

http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/080821-113a.jpg

These could probably be slid back about one-quarter to one-half inch to be exactly on the balance point, but for whatever reason I don't seem to have any trouble with imbalance or lack of steadiness when I use them as shown (with the lockblock strap bumped right up the the head of the L2D). The lockblocks clamp so well to the handlebar and the lights that it seems like there is quite a bit of leeway as to where I can tighten them into the blocks and have them stay steady.

Are you also using lockblocks and L2Ds? If so, are you actually having problems with them staying in place if you don't have them exactly centered (or getting excessive visible light vibration)? Just curious. I'm wondering what might be the difference in the way you are set up and the way I am. Maybe the roads/paths we ride...or maybe differences in the suspension on our bikes combined with where and how we ride?

Yes, I am using lockblocks and L2Ds. They stay in place, but can vibrate over rougher road. Currently I have them set up next to each other, with a two small velcro straps between them to give tension. That helps.

Yes, I am using lockblocks and L2Ds. They stay in place, but can vibrate over rougher road. Currently I have them set up next to each other, with a two small velcro straps between them to give tension. That helps.

One thing I definitely don't have is experience with this kind of light setup on different styles of bikes. I do most of my riding on two different mountain bikes (a Raleigh F500 and a Gary Fisher 29er). The Raleigh has pretty good suspension, the Gary Fisher has what I'd consider very good suspension. I'm guessing that might be the part of the difference. But I also wonder if riding over rougher road might cause that problem for you no matter what the lighting system, since they've all got to be mounted securely to the handlebar (or forks or wherever you choose to mount). I'd think that if you're getting lots of vibration with the lockblocks and L2Ds, you might get the same with whatever you have mounted (just a guess, though).

One thing I definitely don't have is experience with this kind of light setup on different styles of bikes. I do most of my riding on two different mountain bikes (a Raleigh F500 and a Gary Fisher 29er). The Raleigh has pretty good suspension, the Gary Fisher has what I'd consider very good suspension. I'm guessing that might be the part of the difference. But I also wonder if riding over rougher road might cause that problem for you no matter what the lighting system, since they've all got to be mounted securely to the handlebar (or forks or wherever you choose to mount). I'd think that if you're getting lots of vibration with the lockblocks and L2Ds, you might get the same with whatever you have mounted (just a guess, though).

I've got one L2D mounted on the handlebars of my Hardrock with the lockblock like Varuscelli, and ride on some rougher pavement. I haven't had any trouble with it vibrating loose yet, but I have had that problem with some of the other lights I used before.

I'm considering a Fenix / lockblock setup. I just noticed that you all have mountain bikes with suspension. I'm going to be strapping them to a tight angled steel fixed gear bike. Do you think vibration and jolts will be a problem?

I'm considering a Fenix / lockblock setup. I just noticed that you all have mountain bikes with suspension. I'm going to be strapping them to a tight angled steel fixed gear bike. Do you think vibration and jolts will be a problem?

I have my Fenix/Lockblock on a carbon road bike and have used it on an aluminum bike. Very easy to reposition the light should you need to do so. It is very secure in the Lockblock mount. I can't imagine you would have an issue with it on the steel bike.

I've been admiring your setup for awhile now, but have you considered experimenting with a pair of fork mounted Fenixes?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2396/2036717800_89736c41ab_o.jpg

I've been admiring your setup for awhile now, but have you considered experimenting with a pair of fork mounted Fenixes?


You know, I've considered it and wondered how it would work out, but have never tried it.

One of my concerns -- at least, with my bikes -- is that it would be placing the lights below the suspension, and I thought that might subject them to a lot more jolting and vibration.

But how is it working out for you? And what kind of mount are you using? Lockblock, maybe?

You know, I've considered it and wondered how it would work out, but have never tried it.

One of my concerns -- at least, with my bikes -- is that it would be placing the lights below the suspension, and I thought that might subject them to a lot more jolting and vibration.

But how is it working out for you? And what kind of mount are you using? Lockblock, maybe?

Oh no, this isn't my ride. I just put up the picture as an example from this person's site:

http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/11/15/foglights-for-bicycles-update/

Ahh! I got it...

Well, dang. I was hoping you'd be able to answer something I was wondering about. ;)

Speaking of fork mounts, these look pretty bad-ass:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gzahnd/sets/72157606062692803/

Speaking of fork mounts, these look pretty bad-ass:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gzahnd/sets/72157606062692803/

Cool! Pretty great looking.

I wonder if they're actually sold or just a one-time custom thing? Looks custom made for someone on request...(???)

Varuscelli - Thank you very much for sharing your light setup with us. I've recently converted to being car-free and the biggest hurdle I have to overcome is comfort riding in the dark. Luckily I've been an avid cyclist and motorcyclist for years and I am comfortable in traffic, just being in the dark is scary to me (and probably should be). I'm following your lead as I didn't want to experiment on my own at this point. I ordered some spacebars, some lockblocks, and 3 L2D premiums. I plan on using 2 L2D's and carrying the 3rd as a backup should one fail or batteries die. I do most of my miles commuting on a trail and honestly won't really need the lights there very much, if at all. But if this car-free stuff isn't going to totally cramp my lifestyle I need to be able to ride around town at night and this light setup will be a big part of that. I've also got some blinkies and a bunch of reflective tape to apply to my bike. It should all show up this week and I'll let you know how it works. Thanks again, safe riding.

Good for you, Adam. I hope you enjoy the Fenix setup. Sounds like you've got everything you need lined up, too.

Are you planning on using one of the lights on helmet on both on the handlebar? Just curious (and you might have a couple of things to consider if you're going to use on one a helmet. If I were running two of them, I'd have one one handlebar and one on the helmet since you get such great directional control of the light when on a helmet...but it also might require a different attachment, depending on the design of your helmet (if you use one).

Also...you'll find the the L2D makes a great flashlight to have around. I end up using them as often for other things as I do on my bikes because they're such good, compact, general flashlights.

Let us when you've got your setup and how you like it. :thumb:

Fenix is FAST! I placed my order Friday afternoon and the lights showed up today, I didn't pay for expedited shipping... and that was from GA to CA. Not bad, but the lights showed up so quick that my charger and new NiMH batteries haven't gotten here yet. I had to test the lights with my old crappy Radio Shack batteries that have seen many recharge cycles, even with those I'm impressed.

I don't plan on wearing the lights on my helmet as don't like wearing things on me, well other than clothes that is. :) I avoid putting things in my jersey pockets or anywhere else as much as possible. I suppose this is just an old habit that I might need to change as I can definitely see (pun intended) the value of having a light pointed not just straight in front of my bike but also in the direction I happen to be looking. I could see having 2 on the bike and a 3rd on the helmet, or maybe just 1 on the bike and 1 on the helmet. I'll have to play around and see what I like, but that is what is so great about this solution is that it's totally flexible to configure however you want. On top of that like you said, they're just great all around flashlights.