Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - "Dashboard" lights?

When riding at night I can't see my bike computer display (no backlight), nor can I see which gear I'm in. (Too dark to see the indicators on the shifters.)

Has anyone already devised a convenient way to deal with this? Ideally I'd like a light that's fairly dim - obviously enough to see by - and that would illuminate from one shifter display to the other. Furthermore, it would be nice if it could light up only while I was pressing a button (mounted on my handle bar near my thumb, for example) - AND give me the option of keeping it steady on.

Any thoughts? I can think of a few ways to DIY it, but someone might have a quick solution. (Some ideas to work with would be - flashlight on helmet; earclip light; glow stick suspended from neck, or on handlebar; 2 or 3 leds mounted in series on specific points on handlebars; EL wire, etc ...)

there are backlit computers, but for the gear indicator on a shifter there are only DIY solutions.

I use a Coleman Max 3AAA headband lamp affixed to my helmet with thick rubber bands (velcro would work too). It augments my flashlight headlight significantly in addition to allowing me to view the computer, shifters, and the creature attached to those creepy glowing eyes alongside the road.

once your used to the bike what does it matter what gear your in? you should be shifting according to your cadence. it's not hard to keep track of gears by feel.

A good headlamp is the best solution. Not only will you be able too see that stuff you mentioned, but you can fix flats, fix bike if needed, read signs, read maps, and look into your turns. In addition it is one more light to add to your total visibility. You don't need too much either. Something like Princeton Tec's "EOS-Bike" works great for me, but other brands work too.

I might get a 1AAA light like the LD01 (https://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_69_49&products_id=639) to clip to my helmet visor for that purpose. I have a powerful helmet light, but it sits rather far back on the top of the helmet's center rib, so I have to look down quite a distance to hit the computer and shifters with it.

how's the LD01 compare to an ARC AAA?

how about a knog frog light. Runs for 160 hours. lowcost and lightweight.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/LS400A01-Knog+Frog+Led+Light.aspx

I use one of these - one of the more thoughtful gifts the wife ever got me.

http://www.lightsandknives.com/images/D/d-471-184.jpeg

link to catalog page (http://www.quality-items-flashlights.com/coast-led-flashlight-11.html)

I have the Micro version

I just use it to light up the speed and cadence on my Astrale 8. My HRM has a backlight so I can check when I want, but I found that if I didn't have direct feedback on speed and cadence I would tend to dog it a bit in the dark.

I took off the clip and it slides securely under the o-ring for my dinotte 200L. The flexible neck lets me put the light exactly where I want it, but it's not so flexible that it moves from wherever I put it even over the bumpiest roads.

I suppose you could set it up to view the gear indicators, but I only use it for the cycle computer.

Not very bright, this light, but it's exactly bright enough...

I see that Amazon has them (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JWD84E?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=msnshop-auto-20&linkCode=asn) for $11.07. I'm pretty sure the listed weight of 1.4 lbs should have been ounces.

I might get a 1AAA light like the LD01 (https://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_69_49&products_id=639) to clip to my helmet visor for that purpose. I have a powerful helmet light, but it sits rather far back on the top of the helmet's center rib, so I have to look down quite a distance to hit the computer and shifters with it.

Buy it. They are great. If the visor is too slippery a little tape for traction will hold it still. It's easier to put it on and off the visor than just about anything else. In a pinch you can ride slowly with it on high. The downward angle of the visor is just right for seeing things on the bike etc. Works great in the shop too with a baseball cap if it's dark. Fits in the pocket very well. Don't lube the threads much and go for a ride with your street clothes and the light in your pocket. It will unthread as you pedal and eventually come apart.

If they see this I'll never get out of here. :(

If they see this I'll never get out of here. :(

Can't you just chew through the restraints like you did last time? :)



how's the LD01 compare to an ARC AAA?

The ARC AAA I've seen in person struck me as a close-range working light for reading maps, looking inside PC chassis and so forth. The Fenix on its lowest mode is probably comparable to the ARC, but it also has two higher modes, maxing out at 80 lumens for 1 hour.


Another "dashboard light" I've used, is your typical little keychain light that runs on a flat coin cell. One of those on the visor of my helmet produced just enough light to read my computer and OGDs by.

A good headlamp is the best solution. Not only will you be able too see that stuff you mentioned, but you can fix flats, fix bike if needed, read signs, read maps, and look into your turns. In addition it is one more light to add to your total visibility. You don't need too much either. Something like Princeton Tec's "EOS-Bike" works great for me, but other brands work too.


+1 I have the EOS and I like it. You can also use the helmet light to light up street signs, animals, or flash at cars who might not see you.

once again, I am here with the real answer


there is a product


here ya go

http://www.glorycycles.com/sicodili.html

Can't you just chew through the restraints like you did last time? :)

Can you bake me a cake with a magnifing glass in it?
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/976674/fire_flashlight/

My helmet light helps with that, also if you have a bar light and just need to periodically see your shifters or computer I find that putting my hand in front of the light bounces enough back to read all that (though it impairs your view of the road for a second :))

once again, I am here with the real answer


there is a product


here ya go

http://www.glorycycles.com/sicodili.html

Once again, I have two of them. :)

I don't bother with them anymore. Anyone can have them.

I have a bright headlight. There is better light if I hold a white water bottle over and in front of the headlight. My hand works too. The water bottle will light up any part of the bike I want, even the rear cogs. The batteries in the little lights don't last long and it's just as easy to put the bottle or my hand up as it is to push the button. They do work however. A fiber optic cable that went from the bottom front of the headlight to over the computer worked the same and you can leave it on all the time. I got sick of extra stuff for no reason, plus it was ugly. No one really needs to see the computer or the gear indicators in the dark, but it's fun at first. All I ever wanted was to see the time or the miles once in a while. I used to do centuries in the dark all the time.

Once again, I have two of them. :)

I don't bother with them anymore. Anyone can have them.

I have a bright headlight. There is better light if I hold a white water bottle over and in front of the headlight. My hand works too. The water bottle will light up any part of the bike I want, even the rear cogs. The batteries in the little lights don't last long and it's just as easy to put the bottle or my hand up as it is to push the button. They do work however. A fiber optic cable that went from the bottom front of the headlight to over the computer worked the same and you can leave it on all the time. I got sick of extra stuff for no reason, plus it was ugly. No one really needs to see the computer or the gear indicators in the dark, but it's fun at first. All I ever wanted was to see the time or the miles once in a while. I used to do centuries in the dark all the time.


totally forgot about fiber. I will be running a fiber from my pbsf to my chest so i know when it is blinking
dang things hangs off my camelbak and reaching back I can't tell a switchpress from a fumble

Hey folks ... just wanted to say thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I ordered a decent flashlight for my helmet, primarily as a 'see' light, and I'm thinking this is probably the most likely solution.

Hey folks ... just wanted to say thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I ordered a decent flashlight for my helmet, primarily as a 'see' light, and I'm thinking this is probably the most likely solution.

You can have one of my Sigma computer lights if you want it. But I'm in the USA. The shiping might be more than buying a new one. I don't know.

2manybikes ... generous of you to offer ... thanks :) But you probably ARE right, it may be hardly worth it when you consider even a small amount for shipping. Plus I'd still be lacking illumination for my gear indicators. So I'm gonna still with the head-light route. I see the point of other posters too who said I shouldn't require light on either the computer or the gears - but I'm fairly new and still don't quite shift by gear - plus, I'm a geek and want to do it for the geek factor, at least until that wears off :)

Thanks again :)

2manybikes ... generous of you to offer ... thanks :) But you probably ARE right, it may be hardly worth it when you consider even a small amount for shipping. Plus I'd still be lacking illumination for my gear indicators. So I'm gonna still with the head-light route. I see the point of other posters too who said I shouldn't require light on either the computer or the gears - but I'm fairly new and still don't quite shift by gear - plus, I'm a geek and want to do it for the geek factor, at least until that wears off :)

Thanks again :)

:D it's good to be a geek !

I just got one of these little buggers -- a Planet Bike "Spok". (http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3042.html) Really low profile, enough light to see things nearby, and it strapped easily to one of the crosswise parts of my helmet's shell. Its base can also be rotated 90º to fit onto a longitudinal object like the spine of a helmet. They make a red version, too.

I've been thinking about adding some sort of dashboard light. I think it was mechBgon that wrote somewhere about sometimes looking down at himself so that his headlight illuminated his body and made it clear to motorists that there was a person behind/under that bright light.

I've been wanting to take that idea and extend it by getting a small red LED light that I could mount on or near my handlebars or stem that would shine on me. Red would preserve night vision while making it clear there's a person there.

A keychain LED flashlight (AAA or coin) seems to be the best bet for this. The coin ones are probably more appropriate given the amount of light required (not much). AAA is appealing as I've already got rechargeable AAAs lying around. A keychain coin-battery flashlight also might not work unless it has a clicky switch so you can turn it on and have it stay on.

The AAA Fenix flashlight could work with either this diffuser tip (https://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?products_id=421) or this red filter (https://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?products_id=338), but might still be too bright. On low mode, though, it might work very well.

You could use the same idea to illuminate your dashboard by putting it on your stem or top tube and pointing it forwards, using something like a lockblock. (https://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=92&products_id=274)

edit: That knogfrog thing might work really well, too -- I see they have it with a red LED. Coin batteries, though. I've seen rechargeable coin batteries but have no personal experience with them.

I've been thinking about adding some sort of dashboard light. I think it was mechBgon that wrote somewhere about sometimes looking down at himself so that his headlight illuminated his body and made it clear to motorists that there was a person behind/under that bright light.


I remember that thread too. It was not Mech, but I can't remember who it was either. With a good headlight that will not work, they won' be able to see you. Mech has lots of good lights.
But the good headlight will be a hundred times more visible to a driver anyway.