Fastfwd

I probably won't be driving at night much but I wanted to have lights in case I ever want/need to. I got a small front light and a small rear light.

I asked the bike shop to fit my rear light to my rack but they said it could not be done and instead fixed it to one of the rear "post" on the bike. This means that vision to the rear light can be blocked by the wheel itself on some angles and will definitely be blocked by the bags when I put them on.

I will definitely move it to the top of the rack but want to hear from you to see how you did it before I start tinkering with this. Pictures would be even better.

thank you.

lyledriver

The Cateye 170 can EASILY be mounted on a small L bracket on the back of your rack (assuming there is a hole there)

I wouldn't trust a bike shop that isn't willing to think outside the 'post clamp' like that.

HiYoSilver

not a very good LBS if they can't figure out how to mount a light to a rack. I'd go elsewhere.

jeff-o

I have a rack too, I just attach the rear light to my rack bag. It's very rare that I ride without my rack bag, especially at night.

Fastfwd

And they are the "good" bike shop in my area according to what I read/heard/researched. I'll agree that doing a free custom installation on a 12$ light is probably asking for much. I'm looking for the best way to fix my problem myself, not for a new LBS

MacG

I have a fairly traditional rea rack on one of my bikes. I scrounged an old Cateye mount from my spare parts box and removed the loop part designed for a seatpost, replacing it with a white nylon P clamp (designed for securing cabling to a wall, etc.) and added a star washer between the Cateye bracket part and the P clamp for some added friction. Wrapping a few turns of electrical tape around the upper area of the lefthand rearmost stay of the rack allows the P clip to bit in quite nicely once the machine screw is tightened down.

I can take a picture if you would like. It's very rugged and I have yet to have a problem with the setup.

Fastfwd

I would appreciate a visual on that. I don't have any old spare parts but I'm looking for all kind of ideas and them I'll develop my own solution with what I learned.

HiYoSilver

What type of rack do you have, or post an image of it. All the ones I see would easily allow a mounting of some rear light.

Fastfwd

It's a generic rack type. I already have a reflector on it and I'll probably look for a way to replace this with the blinking light. I would also like to be able to install/remove it easily.

jsharr

Could you get a round wooden dowel, about the diameter of a seat post, screw it to your rack from the bottom and then use the quick release seat post clamp on it?

MyPC8MyBrain

I had to drill a small hole through the back of my rack to mount mine. Then just used the screw and nut that came on the light. I suspect that this action may lessen the strength of the rack, but I guess I don't care much about that.

I also mounted a Cateye TLD 1000 high on the seatpost with the included mounts. Since that Cateye is twice as cool as the old Performance one, the one on the back of the rack doesn't see much action lately.

EastTennesseeBP

I always have a rear blinky on my seat post, that one never comes off, I also have one on my rear rack trunk bag. So I'm pretty much covered regardless. There is also a loop I can attach the blinky to my camel back bag, So Im covered on that front too.

yes

My rack was a cheapo zefal with a huge reflector on the back. I remounted the reflector to be vertical, and mounted a cateye to the other side with an L bracket from the hardware store.
light: https://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...vcat=searchnav

jabowker

I'm not particularily familiar with that specific light but most are similiar and your problem is not unique.

First there is a good chance that if you already have a reflector attached to your rack that the same bracket can be used to mount your light. It won't be as easily removed but I wouldn't worry about that. Try removing the reflector from it's bracket and the mounting part from the back of the light and see if they can be mixed. I don't advocate removing reflectors but the swap may be worth a try.

A more home grown alternative may be to try attaching an appropriate size dowel, tube or whatever horizontally between the rack supports and clamping the light to it.

You might want to browse the hardware section on your local hardware or home improvement store for usable "T" or "L" brackets and clamps. You could also check your local discount or whatever store that has cheep bike stuff for a replacement reflector of something that has scavengable bits.

Steev

I put mine near the top of the seat post, there's just enough space to lift it out for a battery change. It is well above the rack and any stuff I have on it. I like the idea of getting the light up as high as a typical car driver's eye level.

eubi

My trunk has a loop to mount a tail light. That solves the problem of the bag hiding the tail light.

I wear a reflective vest, so I clip another blinky to the back of that.

Fastfwd

That probably the best idea yet for me. Stich it directly to the under saddle bag. I always take it off when I leave the bike and always bring it on rides.

geeklpc1985

What I have is one on a fender, one under the rack, and one on the rack about 4" off the top, then one on the back of my helmet. Also what I have done in the past is put one on each side of the bike, but when I got painners they got in the way.
Good Luck,
Super Geek

sfcrossrider

I keep my rear light on the back of my tmibuck2 bag. My commuter is also my cross rig, so I like to keep her lean.

caloso

Ziptied to the loop on my saddlebag.

outofthesaddle

I have a CatEye - I clip it to the plastic adjustment mechanism on the rear of my helmet (Giro - either Pneumo or Atmos). That keeps it up high and visible and keeps it with me regardless of bike changes.

CHenry

I drilled a hole through the plastic clip on the back of my Planet Bike blinkie and attached it through the small plate on the back of my rack with a short stainless screw and jam nut. The light stays below the rack deck.

MMACH 5

Here's my setup. Three blinkies and scads of reflectors and reflective tape. I modified the clip that came with the light to attach it to the rack.

Larger image

thdave

on the back of my trunk bag, which goes on my rack.

lcjohnny

If peopel are as light-fingered where you live as they are here..
I would apply superglue to the easily remove clip on the rear light.


That way it will always be there when you need it

Jon