Low profile headlight?
 

I want to commute my road bike a few days a week. Less than 10 miles round trip. In the mornings it's still just dark enough that I need a lamp. I really hate a cluttered cockpit. Is there a lamp that clamps to the head tube or is low slung on the bars? I really don't want to place anything on top. I realise this is purely vanity but.... Maybe something exists?

I have the Barfly road max mount for that exact reason.

It attaches to the handlebar and holds the light in front, lower than the tops. The top of the mount can hold a bike computer.

Any light with an adjustable rubber strap or clamp strap should be able to fasten to most head tubes. I can strap both my Light & Motion Urban 500 and Serfas SL-255 to the head tube on my Univega. But they won't fit around the much larger diameter head tube on my Globe Carmel hybrid. I strap the Serfas around the suspension fork tube when I want the light at a lower angle.

But I fasten my lights to the head tube or fork because my handlebars are already so cluttered. I usually have a video camera mount, phone mount and handlebar bag or KlickFix adapter on the bars, so there's no room for the lights.

At least one of my riding buddies straps his standard headlights upside down on his handlebars. Not sure why. Maybe he prefers the slightly lower angle, or prefers to keep the top of the handlebar clear. Wouldn't work on my bikes -- the cables would interfere.

The only drawback to these methods is Light & Motion advises against mounting their Urban and similar lights upside down or sideways. The USB recharging port is sealed with a snug fitting plastic cap, but presumably water could infiltrate. Wednesday was the first time I was caught in a downpour and my L&M light was fine. So were my helmet lights by other makers -- those use less snug fitting soft rubber caps but these protected the USB ports well enough.

Light & Motion sells a combo urban 800FC + Barfly SLI, and when using the barfly mount, the light has to be upside down.

I sont think there's any issues there, and certainly not with the warranty.

i dont remember if it was a kludge my friend did, but he has an older Raleigh Record. he straps a bontrager ion 700 to his head tube or his fork.

You can sort of see mine. I can't remember the name of the part of the bike it's attached to!


https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1562/2...0fd634ed_b.jpgBicycle and bridges by Ed Miller, on Flickr

THIS! exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

Product Description | Origin8 You can get something like that for your fork and attach a light to it. Out of the way of the cockpit. :)

Generic Magicshine clone; a few possibilities with the supplied o rings.
In this video I mounted the head by the fork, my helmet & top tube:

I run mine either upside down under the handlebar, or on the stem underneath.

Minoura Spacer Light/Gadget Mount and Di Light Fender-Hole-Mount
 

Attachment 594098Attachment 594098I have a dynamo powered light permanently mounted on the fork crown.

B&M IQ-X with 150lx, a good choice.

I have rigged up a mount on my fork with one of those skewer nut adapters stubs paired with a Cateye light strap. I don't have a boss on my fork, like some touring bikes. This allows me to use a few different lights I own and mount them on the fork, away from the bars. Also nice for commuting as it's lower so less blinding for oncoming commuters.

Also picked up a fork mount thing, forget the make, but it's German. Allows me to mount a light above my v-brake.

As mentioned in another threat, I use this one:

this one would be perfect if it had a helmet mount. 350 lumens, 70 grams.
https://cygolite.com/product/dart-pro-350-usb/

https://cygolite.com/wp-content/uploads/dartpro.jpg

It is the perfect commuter light for me as it is so, so low profile and unobtrusive on the handle bars. Easy and Light enough to be mounted on my helmet too. I use it all year, day or night when commuting.

It is so low profile and integrated, it looks like the bike was built for that in mind.

I tend to mount other commuting tools on the stem (computer) or just below the handle bars (bell).

The physics of foot-candlepower is such that the same light seems brighter , the closer it is to the surface being lit,

So a light mount QR Skewer nut will put your light right at your hub axle height...

What is a QR skewer nut mount?

I do like the way lower mounted lights provide shadow and texture to the road in front. Helmet mounted lights tend to flatten everything out.

QR skewer nut, is on the opposite side of the fork from the lever... there are substitutes made for that nut that are a 1" tube,
with integrated threads, you use that like it were a handlebar tubing, to mount your light..

+1

Gut. Fertig.

I can't post links yet but there is a mount that bolts to the fork of a bicycle. Do a search for "Bike Front Light Extender Mount Fork Light archmount Extension". There are also mounts that attach to the wheel quick release. Search for "M-Wave Quick Release Light Holder". And another that you can replace a spacer with is "Minoura CS-500 Headset Spacer Mount Accessory Holder". Now that I think about it, I'm kicking myself for going the expensive route for my light mount when I think that headset spacer option would have worked great for me.

Since this topic is less communting related, many of the mounting options are to find there:
bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/1126857-minoura-spacer-light-gadget-mount-di-light-fender-hole-mount.html

Mounting at the fork crown (or at around that level) is the way to go.

I have 2 bikes like that, but the use of a removable battery light , is needing a different mount than my wired to the Hub dynamo headlights.

http://www.cyclofiend.com/working/im...-4P1010009.jpg

Because the wheel is 10" smaller the fork crown mounted light on my Brompton is even lower..






...

What is your primary requirement of the lamp?

To see, or to be seen? Urban vs rural riding?

There are quite a few lamps that would qualify in the "be seen" category. I found these shoe lights, nothing to attach to your bike.

https://www.bikeforums.net/electroni...oe-lights.html

Helmet light? Perhaps designate one helmet as a "commuter helmet".

All of my current headlights and taillights that I am using are detachable. So, a quick flick of the rubber band, and they're off the bike. For theft prevention, I attach them to the bike when I need them, and remove them when I don't.

Various silicone rubber lamps can be easily attached to the fork, or wherever you wish.