Lights
11-27-10 | 02:36 AM
#1
Thread Starter
24-Speed Machine
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 2
From: Wash. Grove, MD
Bikes: 2003 Specialized Allez 24-Speed Road Bike
Lights
I am not referring to traffic lights, car lights or, the front n' rear lights on a bike. I am referring to rear lights on a bike helmet. I am not thinking of the light being permanently affixed to the helmet as in, built-in. I am referring to lights put on the helmet.
My problem is, how does one put a light on the helmet, without damaging the helmet?
My problem is, how does one put a light on the helmet, without damaging the helmet?
11-27-10 | 02:56 AM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 444
Likes: 8
sorry about suggesting those lazer helmets - the lights are buil in which isn't what you wanted and also those lazer helmets are very expensive. i use a cheaper helmet, and i use velcro stickies to keep my small red flashers (from MEC) to the back of the helmet, and also i velcro a small white LED light to the visor.
the rear led is a bit trickier to properly direct the light as the helmet has those pointy bits that is a bit hard to aim the red blinky directly backwards and so the red light sort of flashes downwards than straight back. It sort of works out that the red light tends to light up my backback and sort of makes the backpack glow reddish.
the rear led is a bit trickier to properly direct the light as the helmet has those pointy bits that is a bit hard to aim the red blinky directly backwards and so the red light sort of flashes downwards than straight back. It sort of works out that the red light tends to light up my backback and sort of makes the backpack glow reddish.
11-27-10 | 04:47 AM
#3
Conservative Hippie
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,268
Likes: 0
From: Wakulla Co. FL
I wear the Bell Metro when I wear a helmet. It's a pity bell dropped this helmet from their line. I thought that with the accessories this was the most utilitarian helmet on the market, but the Citi is almost the same and has the strap on the back of the helmet for a taillight.
11-27-10 | 06:14 AM
#4
xtrajack
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 0
From: Maine
Bikes: Kona fire mountain/xtracycle,Univega landrover fs,Nishiki custom sport Ross professional super gran tour Schwinn Mesa (future Xtracycle donor bike)
I have a Nite Ize helmet marker light velcroed to the back of my Tourlite helmet.
11-27-10 | 10:15 AM
#5
Part-time epistemologist
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,870
Likes: 3
From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Jamis Nova, Bike Friday triplet, Bike Friday NWT, STRIDA, Austro Daimler Vent Noir, Hollands Tourer
I am not referring to traffic lights, car lights or, the front n' rear lights on a bike. I am referring to rear lights on a bike helmet. I am not thinking of the light being permanently affixed to the helmet as in, built-in. I am referring to lights put on the helmet.
My problem is, how does one put a light on the helmet, without damaging the helmet?
My problem is, how does one put a light on the helmet, without damaging the helmet?
https://ecom1.planetbike.com/3010.html
https://www.bikelightingsystem.com/vis360.html
The are lights with helmet mounts
https://www.princetontec.com/index.php?q=eos-bike
Alternatively, there are mounts from TwoFish and home made alternatives that work well. Below is a thread with some excellent links and such.
https://www.bentrideronline.com/messa...t=64798&page=2
__________________
A narrative on bicycle driving.
A narrative on bicycle driving.
11-27-10 | 11:26 AM
#6
Thread Starter
24-Speed Machine
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 2
From: Wash. Grove, MD
Bikes: 2003 Specialized Allez 24-Speed Road Bike
sorry about suggesting those lazer helmets - the lights are built in which isn't what you wanted and also those lazer helmets are very expensive. i use a cheaper helmet, and i use velcro stickies to keep my small red flashers (from MEC) to the back of the helmet, and also I velcro a small white LED light to the visor.
The rear led is a bit trickier to properly direct the light as the helmet has those pointy bits that is a bit hard to aim the red blinky directly backwards and so the red light sort of flashes downwards than straight back. It sort of works out that the red light tends to light up my backpack and sort of makes the backpack glow reddish.
11-27-10 | 12:05 PM
#7
Thread Starter
24-Speed Machine
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 2
From: Wash. Grove, MD
Bikes: 2003 Specialized Allez 24-Speed Road Bike
There are lights built for helmets:
https://ecom1.planetbike.com/3010.html
https://www.bikelightingsystem.com/vis360.html
https://ecom1.planetbike.com/3010.html
https://www.bikelightingsystem.com/vis360.html
Alternatively, there are mounts from TwoFish and home made alternatives that work well. Below is a thread with some excellent links and such.
https://www.bentrideronline.com/messa...t=64798&page=2
https://www.bentrideronline.com/messa...t=64798&page=2
Last edited by Chris516; 11-27-10 at 12:12 PM.
11-27-10 | 12:18 PM
#8
Part-time epistemologist
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,870
Likes: 3
From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Jamis Nova, Bike Friday triplet, Bike Friday NWT, STRIDA, Austro Daimler Vent Noir, Hollands Tourer
I missed the part about rear lights only. Sorry.
But there are a few out there. I don't have any links handy.
But there are a few out there. I don't have any links handy.
__________________
A narrative on bicycle driving.
A narrative on bicycle driving.
11-27-10 | 03:05 PM
#9
Thread Starter
24-Speed Machine
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 2
From: Wash. Grove, MD
Bikes: 2003 Specialized Allez 24-Speed Road Bike
No problem. I sent the link to the planetbike light, to a family member that was bugging me to get a light on my helmet. Thankfully, They are willing to buy it.
11-27-10 | 06:59 PM
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,954
Likes: 388
From: NE Indiana
Bikes: 2020 Masi Giramondo 700c; 2013 Lynskey Peloton; 1992 Giant Rincon; 1989 Dawes needs parts; 1985 Trek 660; 1985 Fuji Club; 1984 Schwinn Voyager; 1984 Miyata 612; 1977 Raleigh Competition GS
I did a weird thing but it worked. I took a Cateye LD600, and then found a wide zip tie and drilled a hole in both ends so the Cateye bolt would thread through it, then just zip tied it to the rear of the helmet through and around two vent holes with the light in between the two setting vertical. It works really great.
11-27-10 | 11:52 PM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,471
Likes: 1
From: Gig Harbor, WA
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Trucker, Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, Dahon Mu P 24 , Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Rodriguez Tandem, Wheeler MTB
+1 on the Bell Metro, I easily attach a super flash to it's rear, for all my night rides
11-28-10 | 12:07 AM
#12
Not safe for work
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 8
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bikes: KHS Town and Country 100 & Jamis Durango Femme 1.0
One of my rear lights came with an elasticized velco strap (originally an arm strap?) but instead I threaded it into two vents on the back of my helmet. Works a charm. The red light slips easily onto the strap and stays firmly on it through every ride. Maybe Planet Bike sells arm straps? I'm pretty sure all my lights are PB.
11-29-10 | 11:36 AM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,630
Likes: 18
From: Vancouver, BC
just be careful how you mount them.
from my favorite site
from my favorite site
The first and most important rule for mounting a light on your helmet is that it must break away readily when you crash or catch an overhanging obstacle. If it does not, you risk having your neck jerked when it snags on the pavement or tree. Besides jerking your neck, that can add to the g's of the shock to your brain when you hit pavement.
There is no standard for how easily the light should detach. The CPSC standard says it should "readily" detach during normal lab impacts. But "readily" is not defined. Few helmet or light manufacturers have given enough thought to their mounts. Only one helmet manufacturer we have spoken to provided their lab test levels, Uvex, proving that they actually have an internal standard. And the light manufacturer Jet Lites has a standard requiring their mount to break away when loaded with a 5 pound weight.
There is no standard for how easily the light should detach. The CPSC standard says it should "readily" detach during normal lab impacts. But "readily" is not defined. Few helmet or light manufacturers have given enough thought to their mounts. Only one helmet manufacturer we have spoken to provided their lab test levels, Uvex, proving that they actually have an internal standard. And the light manufacturer Jet Lites has a standard requiring their mount to break away when loaded with a 5 pound weight.
Last edited by closetbiker; 12-06-10 at 10:21 AM.
11-29-10 | 12:17 PM
#15
Arizona Dessert
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 15,029
Likes: 2,170
From: AZ
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
I clip a PBSF to the rear head fitting 'strap' on my Giro Pneumo, fits there perfectly. It may not provide the ideal directional aiming, but it is only supplemental to my under saddle light and it is pretty close.
Can anyone tell me what other helmet brands or models allow for this type of mounting with no other hardware required?
Can anyone tell me what other helmet brands or models allow for this type of mounting with no other hardware required?
12-01-10 | 02:25 PM
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 779
Likes: 1
From: Portland, Maine USA
Bikes: Trek 850 Antelope
Using a Planet Bike Super Flash (PBSF), I thread a few thick elastic bands through the back vents and under the rear of my Giro Atmos helmet. Placing the PBSF on the flattest part of the rear of the helmet, I put the ends of the elastics over the area of the light that doesn't cover the bulb. If one elastic band doesn't hold it, try strapping it down more tightly or use more than one elastic band.
The elastic bands need to be replaced every now and then, but it works.
The elastic bands need to be replaced every now and then, but it works.
12-03-10 | 09:25 AM
#17
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 2
From: Down South
I clip a PBSF to the rear head fitting 'strap' on my Giro Pneumo ...
That's exactly what I did, and it worked great — just clipped on there, and was aimed well.
I did that for a number of years until recently, when I had to replace my helmet. New one doesn't have that kind of stap/adjuster back there, so I had to zip-tie to the backside.
Works, but often I have to fiddle it back into the right aim. That was never a problem with the Bell helmet I used to have.
That's exactly what I did, and it worked great — just clipped on there, and was aimed well.
I did that for a number of years until recently, when I had to replace my helmet. New one doesn't have that kind of stap/adjuster back there, so I had to zip-tie to the backside.
Works, but often I have to fiddle it back into the right aim. That was never a problem with the Bell helmet I used to have.
12-03-10 | 11:30 AM
#18
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Chandler, AZ
Bikes: Scattante CFR Elite road bike and Schwin mountain bike
I do the same. It works great. I had to replace my Pneumo recently, but found a Scatante helmet that has a strap that works for this too. I rejected a helmet with a dial in the middle of the back strap because I couldn't mount my light there.
12-03-10 | 11:43 PM
#19
Commander, UFO Bike
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 23
From: Subject to change
Bikes: Giant, Trek
I'm not a fan of the NR helmet mount for the MiNewt/Sol headlight series. I simply took my MiNewt, and applied enough Blu-Tack poster putty to hold the light in place, and used the supplied O-ring to mount it. It's worked for over two years, rain or shine. Sure I have to reposition it nearly daily, but it's no big deal.
I use a PB taillight for the rear, using the supplied velcro, and a long skinny balloon (Qualatex 260) to hold it in place.
I use a PB taillight for the rear, using the supplied velcro, and a long skinny balloon (Qualatex 260) to hold it in place.
12-06-10 | 10:19 AM
#20
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: sebtown
+1 on the zip ties. I put one not too tight through a couple of the back vents on a Bell delierum. My super flash hangs on that even mountain biking. Some helmets don't have vents that allow a a horzontal zip tie.
12-06-10 | 10:24 AM
#21
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,630
Likes: 18
From: Vancouver, BC
The first and most important rule for mounting a light on your helmet is that it must break away readily when you crash or catch an overhanging obstacle. If it does not, you risk having your neck jerked when it snags on the pavement or tree. Besides jerking your neck, that can add to the g's of the shock to your brain when you hit pavement.
