Commuting - Rack mount for Planet Bike Superflash?

Does anyone have any suggestions for mounting a planet bike superflash to a rear rack? I followed recommendations from here, put a "items wanted" ad on CL, and got a rear rack for $9 and a set of fenders for $10. But now, I have nowhere to mount my superflash. I know planet bike makes a mount specific for rear racks, but at $5 + $5 shipping, it costs as much as my fenders!

Does anyone have any cheap-o DIY solutions to this problem?

Thanks!

If you have a rack I assume you are going to put either a trunk bag or a pannier on it? I just clip the superflash to whichever bag I'm using and if not using a trunk bag or pannier I clip it to my seat wedge bag that holds my tools. I wanted to mount mine to the rack also when I got it but this works out well. just left my regular red reflector on the rack.

try getting creative with zip ties.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2143/2435723031_3e8736b747.jpg

That is very clever...

Are you at all worried about the light shifting so it's not shining directly back? The superflash seems to be very directional.

That is very clever...

Are you at all worried about the light shifting so it's not shining directly back? The superflash seems to be very directional.

Although this is not my photo, I have mine set up the exact same way and have no troubles with the light shifting. My GF can attest to high visibility during our night rides.

Considering I have it mounted to my saddle bag with much success, I'm sure you can figure out a way to strap it to the rack. Or you could always mount it to one of the seat stays with the original harware (just make sure you wrap the stay with a couple layers of the supplied rubber pads so you can tighted in down pretty well).

Does anyone have any suggestions for mounting a planet bike superflash to a rear rack? I followed recommendations from here, put a "items wanted" ad on CL, and got a rear rack for $9 and a set of fenders for $10. But now, I have nowhere to mount my superflash. I know planet bike makes a mount specific for rear racks, but at $5 + $5 shipping, it costs as much as my fenders!

Does anyone have any cheap-o DIY solutions to this problem?

Thanks!

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3108.html

PlanetBike doesn't charge shipping for small items. I'm pretty cheap too but for $5 I think a well fitting rack mount is worth it.

That is very clever...

Are you at all worried about the light shifting so it's not shining directly back? The superflash seems to be very directional.

I have had problems with the Planet Bike lights coming out of the loops on my wedge packs. Have now lost two and broken a third.

I ordered one from them it was $5 total.

I ordered one from them it was $5 total.


Yep. I just checked planetbike.com and there is a free shipping option. Free standard shipping. So, OP, I think you should just buy the part. Five bucks is cheap enough.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e262/kowtaaia/Picture437.jpg

I mounted a 90 degree angled piece of metal (a small 90 degree bracket) to the underside of the rack, and mounted the light to that. Fits perfect, can't shift.

My rack has a tab on the back with a single hole in it. I drilled a small hole in the back casing of my Superflash (there's a small recess in the back that works perfect). Then I just screwed it to the tab and used a small o-ring to keep the water out. It's been working just fine that way for 3+ years now. Despite people telling me that I had "comprmised the integrity" of my light. :rolleyes: Total cost was a screw, a nut, and an o-ring. All of which I had lying around.

I found a piece from one of my Topeak racks and drilled it to accept a braze-on frame bolt and here it is.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v353/bbrace/planetbikesuperflash.jpg

I used the PB mount that comes with it. To make the rack tube fat enough I wrapped some inner tube in there. It works fantastic.

I found a piece from one of my Topeak racks and drilled it to accept a braze-on frame bolt and here it is.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v353/bbrace/planetbikesuperflash.jpg

What the hell kind of tires have you got on that thing??? :eek:

1/2" square aluminum tubing.
Cut 2 slots (dremel) into opposing sides to accept the blinkie clip.
Drill a hole through the other 2 sides to accept a screw/washer.
Bam.

You have to cut the slots JUST the right size. It took me two attempts. The first time, I removed too much material and the blinkie wouldn't snug up tightly onto the mount.
Trial and error.
It has worked really well for the last 4 months. No rattling, yet easy to remove.


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/crawdaddio/rearlight.jpg

The Planet Bike Rack Bracket is definitely the way to go. $5 shipped. I have one on the back of my bike. Ironically, it's not attached to the rack at all - I ride a folder with 16" wheels, so my rack is VERY low to the ground - too low for good visibility.. I have a Wald rack top basket attached to my rack, and the bracket is ziptied to the back of the basket. Works great. I did have a problem once where the light was caught in an elevator door and was pulled off. The light was OK but one side of the bracket sheared off. Planet Bike replaced the bracket for free, no hassle at all.

The Planet Bike rack bracket can also be used, with minor trimming, to adapt a european taillight with 50mm c to c horizontal mounting bolts to a rack equipped only with the short vertical light/reflector mounting tab. I used it to mount my dynamo taillight to the Civia Hyland rack. Been working great for several months now.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z172/stephenhazelton/MiscBikePhotos/4814Proc.jpg

What the hell kind of tires have you got on that thing??? :eek:

The tires are Sweetskinz Nightwing II.

those tires pretty durable?

don't know just put them yesterday.

Here's how i attached my Superflash Blinkies to my rack using the parts that they come with

I realize this is an old thread, but I just got my Superflash, and I have a question:

Ash, what did you (or others) use between the mount and the rack for spacing? Mine came with two different sized mounting brackets, but nothing like that, and there is substantial space between the smallest mounting bracket and my rack tubing.

Thanks!

Just use some old inner tube.

I got the bracket from planet bike for $5.00 with free shipping.

I got the bracket from planet bike for $5.00 with free shipping.

I would just get the bracket, but I'm not sure it will work for me. It looks like the superflash sticks down from the bracket, and the piece that sticks down on the back of my rack with the holes almost touches my fender. Any thoughts?

I just use the seatstay mount and put it on the back of my rack. If you cut a bit of inner tube to use as a gripper, you'll be able to get it plenty snug.

How do you use an inner tube for the rack? I can't picture it.

I just use the seatstay mount and put it on the back of my rack. If you cut a bit of inner tube to use as a gripper, you'll be able to get it plenty snug.

I see what you're saying, but there is a large gap for me. I guess if you use enough innertube, it'll do it though. Thanks.

I see what you're saying, but there is a large gap for me. I guess if you use enough innertube, it'll do it though. Thanks.

Just keep wrapping it. Actually, my superflash came with some strips of rubber that I used for the purpose. I wasn't forced to break into my stash of "punctured tubes that I'm going to repair someday"

How do you use an inner tube for the rack? I can't picture it.

Use some scissors to cut off a section of innertube, then wrap it around the section of the rack where you're going to mount the SuperFlash. Repeat as needed (cut another section) to get a snug fit for the SuperFlash.

Use some scissors to cut off a section of innertube, then wrap it around the section of the rack where you're going to mount the SuperFlash. Repeat as needed (cut another section) to get a snug fit for the SuperFlash.

How do you mount the PBSF or the clip to the innertube? From your description, I'm just picturing a metal piece of my rack tubing with inner tube wrapped around it - and no way to mount the PBSF facing rearward.

I found a piece from one of my Topeak racks and drilled it to accept a braze-on frame bolt and here it is.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v353/bbrace/planetbikesuperflash.jpg
Be careful with this type of mount. My Topeak rack came with it and the plastic "loop" snaped clean off when going over some railroad tracks. My Superflash then got smashed by a car.

I got it!

I found a cheap nashbar lightset I had lying around and mounted it on my Trek, but I didn't need all the rubber spacers that came with it, so I used them on my Felt for the superflash, and voila! I have light.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I would have used an inner tube days ago, but I don't have any bad ones. I couldn't bring myself to cut up a new one.

With the Magicshine on the front, and the Superflash on the back, I'm good to go with this bike. Now I need a cheap 'to be seen' headlight for the Trek so I can ride it to the bar. The one that came with the set won't even stay put together.

Time to search more threads!

Though I haven't done it, you could use some heater hose from an auto parts store to make it large enough to clamp on to. You wouldn't need much, and if you have any old hose around it would obviously work as well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/DRMS_7888/FILE0124.jpg

Does that make sense? They hold pretty snug if you use enough rubber.

I bought a generic 6-LED tail light from the local homegoods emporium. $7.00... and it came with my choice of seat tube or rack mount. Plenty bright, and I didn't need to get all McGuyver trying to rig it to the rack.

It's a real disappointment that a $30 light doesn't include a 50-cent piece of plastic and a pair of bolts to mount it to a bike rack.

I realize this is an old thread, but I just got my Superflash, and I have a question:

Ash, what did you (or others) use between the mount and the rack for spacing? Mine came with two different sized mounting brackets, but nothing like that, and there is substantial space between the smallest mounting bracket and my rack tubing.

Thanks!

Sorry Just noticed this post .. Anyway i used all the bits that PB supplied. I had some left over because i had my sf. jump off my trunk bag .. think it was hitting my reflector

I used an old rack's support to create a mount for my Superflash.

After using a hacksaw to cut off the extra that I wouldn't be needing, I bent the support (connects the top (front) of the rack to the seat stay) in the shape of an upside down U (with flat edges), then drilled out a couple of holes in the deck of the rack, and bolted the mount to the underside... I attached the original mount to the suport, and it works well (occasionally have to re-tighten the bolt).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4079548900_16a0f7afd0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ufobike/4079548900/)

Rubberside Down!
K'Tesh

Scheherezade - I only have one on the right side, but mine is mounted exactly like that, once I found enough rubber to use as a spacer.

Every one of these mounts are better than anything I could buy. Thanks all!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/DRMS_7888/FILE0124.jpg



This looks like my Topeak rack (I have a Super Tourist) with the same rear light mount bracket. Bought the PB rack mount, the holes line up exactly....except that the light is upside down. The clip is snug but I'd hate to grenade a $40 light. I think I'll try your design.

Similar solution to K'Tesh, no extra parts needed, no cutting, drilling or even bending. All I did was loosen the screw that holds the original reflector bracket on the rack 90deg, and the rest is self-explanatory in pictures.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_QJ5lPaLXguA/TIB_jJvDbBI/AAAAAAAAG7Q/9dixfjTl3CU/s800/DSC_3910.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_QJ5lPaLXguA/TIB_jw15eQI/AAAAAAAAG7U/FKARPH853Ic/s800/DSC_3913.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_QJ5lPaLXguA/TIB_iB4j8tI/AAAAAAAAG7M/ssG4jJTzW6o/s800/DSC_3907.JPG

Bought the PB rack mount, the holes line up exactly....except that the light is upside down.
Turn the mount over. On my rack, to clear the fender, I only had one hole line up so I put a dab of adhesive between the rack and the mount then bolted them together to keep it from pivoting on the bolt.

thought of that, but it would block my oh-so-nifty Topeak MTX mount channel. There's not much vertical real estate back there.

I used the PB mount that comes with it. To make the rack tube fat enough I wrapped some inner tube in there. It works fantastic.

Ditto, I mounted the bracket to one of the rear angled supports on the side of the rack, using the inner tube trick. The bracket can be angled up to get the light veritcal. I've also lost a light by clipping it on a bag loop - I now put a piece of duct tape on the clip to secure it.