Originally Posted by
doctor j
Yes, that's the mount.
You have to cinch it down fairly tight with the velcro so that the light doesn't move around when you roll over holes, concrete joints, rocks etc.
Once I get it cinched down, I don't remove it for the remainder of the winter. I'll just remove the light for strictly daylight rides.
The actual mount for the light pivots up and down relative to the plastic base. There's a small screw on which the assembly pivots. I keep the screw reasonably tight once I get it where I want it. I set the angle so that during my under-the-lights rides, the the light from the Expilion hits the pavement at about the same spot that the light from the MagicShine hits the pavement. I can make small adjustments to the pivot angle without having to loosen or tighten the screw. There's enough friction to hold it in place.
I'm starting my third winter season with the Expilion and my fourth or fifth with the MagicShine (can't remember exactly). I don't commute. All my rides are recreational rides. Once we lose daylight savings time, my entire after-work ride is under the lights. Typically, I run the MagicShine on low or medium and the Expilion on medium when it's completely dark. Before total darkness, I run the Expilion and maybe the MagicShine in flash mode in order to be seen.
I'm becoming more conscious of blinding people with my lights, as I've encountered other cyclists with lights as strong as mine. I'm experimenting with covering the MagicShine with my hand briefly as approaching vehicles get close. If they haven't seen me at this point, they're beyond legally blind and shouldn't be driving. Also, I'll look down or to the side ever so slightly to get the beam from the Expilion out of their eyes to the extent that I can do so without compromising my own line of sight. Also, I wear a hi-viz safety vest with silver reflective bars front and back.
I would suggest that you get a safety/highly reflective vest for late evening/night rides. I had a local cop tell me that the vest REALLY sticks out when illuminated by headlights.
Thanks - great information on the Expilion. I agree with your concern on blinding people. I aim the light on my bars down a bit, and as I said, I don't plan to run the helmet light really bright. I do think it's ok to give a driver a flash if they're about to do something dangerous. There aren't many other cyclists on my route, so no worries about bothering them.
I have an urban commute, which will be in full darkness after the time change (although there are street lights). I typically run two headlights and two taillights, plus reflective vest, extra reflective tape on the helmet, reflective tape on the bike, reflective side walls. Sometimes reflective bands on my ankles and wrists (the latter so drivers can see my signals). I'm lit up like a Christmas tree.
