Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Cheapest flashlight mounting hardware ever

I introduced this idea in another thread, but since that thread talked about several other flashlight mounting hardware types I thought it worthwhile to discuss this mounting method by itself.

You know, there are so many really excellent and low-cost hand-held flashlights out there at a fraction of the cost of a bicycle-specific light that one can hardly resist the temptation to find a way to use them on a bicycle. Like a lot of people, I have so many bicycles that I need some cost-effective way to add lights to all my bicycles. This is one way of doing it. Hey, it gets the job done!

This is pretty simple.

You cut an old mountain-bike inner-tube crossways to get a nice stout rubber band. Cut another piece a little bit wider than the flashlight to act as a base.

Slip the inner-tube band around the handle of the flashlight near the lamp.

Position the other slice inner-tube on top of the handle-bar to act as a base material between the flashlight and the handlebar.

Wrap the inner-tube band around the handlebar

Slip the back end of the flashlight through the inner-tube band.



There you have it - a pretty good flashlight holder. Nearly free of cost.

I used an O-ring and a cut wine cork shim (for a good beam angle) for my helmet light. I had both items in the house. There are some good DIY mounts, but they are limited for the commuter who locks up outside as most seem to be permanent mounts. I use a Two Fish mount on my bars for easy of mounting and unmounting my light.

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/5561/helmetr.jpg
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/3040/helmet2w.jpg

[QUOTE=Ziemas;9962323]I used an O-ring and a cut wine cork shim (for a good beam angle) for my helmet light. I had both items in the house. There are some good DIY mounts, but they are limited for the commuter who locks up outside as most seem to be permanent mounts. I use a Two Fish mount on my bars for easy of mounting and unmounting my light.

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/5561/helmetr.jpg

Very clever, Ziemas! Is that one single larger O-ring you used?

Where did you get the O-Ring? Anything special to ask for at the hardware store to help you get pointed in the right direction?

[QUOTE=Ziemas;9962323]I used an O-ring and a cut wine cork shim (for a good beam angle) for my helmet light. I had both items in the house. There are some good DIY mounts, but they are limited for the commuter who locks up outside as most seem to be permanent mounts. I use a Two Fish mount on my bars for easy of mounting and unmounting my light.

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/5561/helmetr.jpg

Very clever, Ziemas! Is that one single larger O-ring you used?

Where did you get the O-Ring? Anything special to ask for at the hardware store to help you get pointed in the right direction?

Jaa, it's a single large O-ring. I had it laying around my tool box. IIRC it actually came with a Sigma light I bought a while ago. Can't think of what you'd ask at the store to help.

BTW, I got the idea from another BF user a while ago. Kudos to him.

The O rings are over in plumbing. They may only be in the rack up to a certain size. Past that they may be over where the water filters are, they're used to seal water filter holders, in those applications they go up to probably 6" in diameter. You can get them in any size, pretty much, but up to about 6 at any hardware store.

I use 1 3/16 ones to go around the 4AA cell holder of the Dinotte to keep the batteries from rattling out.

Clever, both.

Clever, both.

You don't even need an o-ring for this to work. A thicker rubber band also works great and is surprisingly rock-solid stable. If you need 2-3 rubber bands, they also go on easily.

Even more sturdy is a piece of inner tube with holes cut through both walls and mounted in the same exact manner.

Yep, the inner tube idea has been around for quite awhile and the O-rings are just a variation.

Another idea I have used is simply two hose clamps. One loops through the other at 90 degrees. Its simple and secure. Another method is using two conduit clamps.

Another idea I have used is simply two hose clamps. One loops through the other at 90 degrees. Its simple and secure.

Example (in this case, with a 20W halogen)
http://www.hauntedfrog.com/gallery2/d/3999-1/20040910-192825-My+Bike.jpg

Example (in this case, with a 20W halogen)
http://www.hauntedfrog.com/gallery2/d/3999-1/20040910-192825-My+Bike.jpg

OT...but does that light screw with your compass when you turn it on?