Commuting - Headlight on a TT bike. Suggestions?

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Edonis13
06-06-11, 08:31 AM
I am being transferred to a different office at work which will conveniently place me about 3 miles from my "work apartment." I want to start making the commute on a bike but the only bike I have at this apartment is my TT/tri bike which is mainly there just for trainer duty. I would be commuting to work prior to 5am so lights would be required. I have a great red blinky and a bright orange backpack to help with rear visibility but I need to find a solution for mounting a head light to my aerobars. The bike has a visiontech 1 piece aluminum setup with S-bend bars. Because of the short distance of the commute I was thinking a self contained light (no external battery pack) would be best. Because of the shape of the base bar I dont think a typical light would properly mount to it, so my thought is mounting a light on the underside of one of the aerobars. But I will defer to the experts on this one. Please educate me on possible product choices and mounting options. Thank you. :)
tjspiel
06-06-11, 08:55 AM
You could mount one to your helmet.
Alternatively you could go to the hardware store and by a short length of plastic pipe with a diameter roughly that of a typical handlebar. Doesn't really need to be that close, just something suitable for mounting a light on. Cut it to fit between your aerobars, then drill a hole all the way through each end. Use zip ties to fasten it to the bars. Worked pretty well for me.
I like having 2 headlights, with one on helmet as tjspiel said. You can aim a helmet light into turns to illuminate shadows that might be hiding a person or animal (deer are cute but not your friends!) and to get a driver's attention. Some pretty powerful yet small lights have helmet mounts, so it could be your only light or your primary light. #2 could be a self-contained unit - something like Planet Bike's or one of the more powerful Cateyes. To mount it, try tjspiel's plastic pipe suggestion, or get one of the accessory mounts designed to mount a computer or light on aerobars.
Don't stint on taillights. Planet Bike Superflash and the knock-off version Performance & Nashbar sell are quite bright in strobe modes, I have one on the saddlebag and one on the back of my helmet. I also have reflective ankle wraps for dusk/night commutes. Smaller blinkies may not be noticable enough to give an overtaking driver sufficient warning you're out there.
Edonis13
06-06-11, 10:04 AM
The planet bike superflash is what I have. I hadn't even considered a helmet mounted light but that would probably be my best option. Thanx!
osoloco
06-07-11, 11:34 PM
The planet bike superflash is what I have. I hadn't even considered a helmet mounted light but that would probably be my best option. Thanx!
The light & motion vega series and the planet bike spok lights both mount using adjustable bands rather than handlebar mounts. They allow you to get creative with where you position the lights. I've got both, the spoks on my helmet and the vega on the steer tube
http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/10/22/light-motion-vega-120-200-light-review-intro/
http://www.google.com/m/url?client=safari&ei=jwjvTaDFHeSK8Qaz5-TEAg&hl=en&oe=UTF-8&q=http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-3042-1-Light-Headlight/dp/B0015R9Q4S&ved=0CBYQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNHOE0jQvPaP-w-6XQB0GWEPRwV6uA
These work pretty well for giving you a mount off the aerobars.
http://www.profile-design.com/profile-design/products/accessories/all-accessories/ucm----ucm-xl-.html
Schwinnrider
06-08-11, 03:47 AM
You could mount one to your fork blade.
fietsbob
06-08-11, 10:10 AM
There is a substitute for the Nut on the end of the front QR,
threaded insert, 1" OD tube outside.
It becomes a place to mount a handlebar light.
http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/accessories/lighting/dynamo/low-down-light-mount-type-i.html
onyourback
06-08-11, 12:09 PM
The Topeak Bar Extender (http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-TBX01-The-Bar-Extender/dp/B000FIAVN8)
We don't know what model or brand of aero bars you have. I've got Syntace C2's and they came with a computer/light mount. If you can't do that then you could use the thing from Profile Designs. I think that would work good. Or get a bar extender.
If you feel ambitious you could make one of these.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_LTl5TGh2KPc/TY_bwy4AQjI/AAAAAAAAE9A/N-HX8XIvlK8/s512/DIY%20Light%20mount%2006.JPG
http://www.thaimtb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=295735&start=345
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