Bike indicator light w/bike rack
 

Hello, I want to get a bike indicator light to attach to my bike. However, I also want to get a bike rack so that I can transport stuff. The bike indicator lights I have seen only attach to the seat post which will be covered whenever I transport a package which for me will be almost always. Are there indicator lights that attach to the bike rack? Also is there some term that I can use to differentiate the bike rack that attaches to your car and the bike rack that attaches to your bike and let's you carry stuff. Thanks.

My 30 year old back rack has a tab that hangs down with a couple of holes. My two year old rack does not, but it has holes in the horizontal "plate". The first light had a plastic bar that accommodated this and I bolted it to the rear underside of the rack. After a few months that light worked its way loose, fell off and broke. The second light only had a plastic "loop" for a bar mount. I drilled a hole in that and used it to attach it to the underside of the plate.

The plastic quick-release just broke last week. So I drilled a small hole in the back of the light housing and used a small brass "mending plate" from the hardware store to bolt to the back of the light and then to the hole in the plastic loop.

If you shop for lights in person you may find one that will attach to your particular rack. There are a myriad of mounting option out there including rubbery straps and zip ties.

Otherwise, you may need to get creative at the hardware store using small plastic or metal parts. I find those challenges fun, especially if they involve less than $10. Others may not enjoy that and would rather have something that works "right out of the box".

As far as what to call the rack on the back of the bike, I have always called it a "back" rack, rather than a "bike" rack. I suppose for clarity it could be called a "rear package shelf". To further add to the confusion, the thing that you lock your bike to at a store or office is also called a "bike" rack. For clarity that could be referred to as a "parking" rack.

Do you mean for a taillight? My rear rack (recent vintage) has mount for a light. I have a Cygolite Hotshot, and they offer a rack mount as an accessory. Screw the light mount to the rack mount, and and it's done. I imagine other light manufacturers offer a similar option, and the mounts seem standard, as all the holes line up.

Earlier, with a different light, I used a mount meant for seat stays that came in the package. Adding a shim, I mounted it sideways to a rear facing tube on the rack. Since the light attachment rotated, the light could go in vertically, and it was good to go.

My rack has what looks like a small license tag holder on the back that I use to attach my Cateye X3 rear light (TL-LD720-R). Like many rear lights, it uses an "O-ring" wrapped around something to secure the light. It works well on the rack, the seat post, or even on the trunk bag because there's a cloth loop in the back of the bag that I can thread the "O-ring" through. Even without the license tag holder, it could be mounted the same way on the rack frame because the Cateye comes with another mount for attaching to thinner/smaller diameter tubes or rack frames.