I had a $20 gift cert from REI that I used to buy the highly-rated Evoc saddle bag. To my disappointment, the rear light strap is angled such that my rear light points downward at roughly 30 degrees. I'm not planning on riding the bike the bag is strapped to in very dark conditions or tons of traffic. Should I still be concerned and get a different bag? If so, are there ones about the same price/weight/volume that I should consider? I have a medium Topeak aero wedge pack on a different bike that is too big and also curves downward such that I don't actually get to use the entire volume, and I barely fit what I need to in the 0.7L Evoc, ruling out the small sized aero wedge that has a 0.66L capacity.

I've never clipped a light to saddle bag as they all sag to some degree and change depending on what is packed. I mount to seat post below saddle bag, but you need enough space to do so.

How much space would be safe? Here's a photo I took before I got the bag: https://www.bikeforums.net/attachmen...1&d=1519081702 . I plan to either use a Planet Bike Blinky 5 that I would swap between rack mount on another bike and seatpost mount on the pictured one, or buy a PDW Dangerzone.

My main light goes on the back of my helmet. Supplemental light is on the rack. See lots of very ineffective uses of taillights by many commuters. Clipped onto a backpack is almost useless. Blocked by something doesn’t help matters. I like the helmet because it is above the cars a bit, improving the odds I’ll be seen. It’s a 180 degree pulsing light, rather than flashing, so even if I turn my head it’s still visible.

looks like you have plenty of space to mount on seat post. as long as the full unobstructed beam of the light projects backward toward drivers eyes. my rear light beam is parallel to ground, or ever so slightly angled so it is 4' off ground 100' back (basically level). if the saddle bag mostly blocks the light for a driver that is right (10') behind you that is OK as that condition only happens when stopped or if they are about to hit you anyway. also it would be wise to have a 2nd light perhaps on back of your helmet.

+1

I use a rear helmet light and I mount lights on the back of the rear rack.
On my rackless roadbike I mount the rear blinkie on the left seat stay, just below the tire rim so the light dances off the spokes.

I have that problem with my Topeak saddle bag and not enough room on the seatpost below the bag.

The light I use came with a seat stay mount but I kind of hate having the light stick out to the left side since that is the "down" side whenever I put the bike down (like in the back of my car) and I know I'll end up knocking the mount off or breaking the light.

So, I took a small piece of velcro and a small wedge of scrap wood and attached the wedge to the back of the Topeak saddle bag just under the strap - it forces the light into a more vertical position. Took a bunch of trial and error to get it right but velcro and scrap wood are cheap!

Not perfect - I usually have the same stuff in the Topeak bag but if I jam more in or carry less, the angle changes. But good enough and better than it was.

This is the reason I've gone away from saddle bags. There's a limited amount of precious space on the seatpost/seatstay that I'd like to use for lights and a rear view camera. I've done away with the bag altogether. Instead, I will be using a plastic canister the size of a water bottle that goes into the seat tube cage.

In the past I've tried mounting a light onto the saddle bag and had the same problem as you. The backpack is no good either.

I also like to mount multiple lights on the back, one of which is always on blinking. I found that my SKS Longboard fenders are a good spot for mounting a light if I have my 32 mm tires on. With 35 mm studs, this can't be done. I realize that's not an option for you with the flimsy MK3's, which are really, really ugly, BTW I have the older MK2's. Much more subtle looking.

Primary lights should be mounted to hard points, IMO. It's fine to put a light on a fabric mount if it's a secondary light, like on a backpack to give a high point light or a backup light. I wouldn't rely on a floppy mounted taillight as my primary/only light though.

I used the stainless steel strips that are used mounting bike racks, got one for center mount, re bent it in a curve,

stitched it to the top flap of my rear bag & that pointed the back blinkie appropriately..


it a larger Carradice Carradura (nylon, rather than canvas) the canvas ones now have loops on them to hang blinkies from.


<it appears you can either run a screw from your blinkie through the back flap, or sew a short piece of nylon webbing onto that>

you can add a safety vest and attach a blinkie or 2 to the back of it, as well..








....

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess no bag will be perfect, so my best options seem to be to put a good light under the bag and then use some extra lights. I have a blinky on the back of my helmet, but it's a cheap freebie I got so I'll keep an eye out for something better.

And yeah the MK3 is ugly, but beautiful in comparison to how filthy my bike got after my first real ride this winter when I was fenderless.

Ahh the good ol’ BGT thru UW! If you are cheap and insistent on using the saddle bag, you can always put a foam block just under the clip area to lift the light back up to a respectable angle.

Otherwise like everyone says I would clip to seatpost or seatstay (or both if you are riding in more dangerous areas).

Well the light clipped to the strap fell off today, and I only found half of the pieces, so that ends the strap experience.

Why don't you use Topeak saddle bags?
topeak.com/global/en/products/saddle-bags/129-aero-wedge-pack

They have an clip mount for Cateye lights like the Rapid X3.
cateye.com/intl/products/safety_lights/TL-LD720-R/
CatEye Spacer X
CatEye C-2 Clothing Clip

I find as a driver that lights at knee to waist height (of a standing person) are the lights I notice most reliably. High lights often get lost against city background light. On country and poorly lit roads, I find myself looking harder at the road surface; either center stripe or fog line/pavement edge. A light at or above eye-level is not where I am looking. And when someone puts a really bright light there, I do my best to avert my eyes, driving or riding.

I wear light colors and reflective gear high, but ont lights and especially not very bright lights. Those go below my seat, either on the seatpost or the left seatstay. (Plus one Planet Bike blinkie on the forward corner of each hip on my cycling vest strap. Very visible to left turning on-coming cars - the ones that kill us - and cars coming out of driveways/side streets.)

Ben

This is why:

Interesting. I'll have to see if any store nearby sells them, but I'm down on using the bag clip now. My default plan is to replace the fallen Blinky 5 with a Grateful Red since I can swap it between seatpost on my road bike and rack mount on the commuter. Like the Grateful Red because it has a builtin reflector so I can get rid of the reflector taking up space on my road bike.

I used a bit of wire, saved from packaging of electronic widgets..

where it was wrapped around the cables, and that keeps the light from coming off the strap..

you may like zip ties for that purpose...

is that a battery in a bottle on your top tube?

I like rear racks cuz I can carry a bigger bag & always lots of options for mounting rear lights

That is the air chamber for my AirZound airhorn.
There are better deals then this one at Walmart, but that is the first link I found. The original older models had a plastic bottle, and it looks like they still make them, but the metal canister works better in Sub-Zero temperatures.

I have lost 2 lights that bounced off those bag straps before I decided that more secure mounting is necessary. Now I use seat post or stay mounts.

I clip my tail light to the little fabric loop on the back of my seat bag. I haven't lost one, but I'm not saying you'll be as lucky as I've been. The back of my bag is vertical, so yes, you'll need that, or you'll need some kind of gadget to make your light's clip vertical.