best place to mount homemade light
 

good morning from the very wet north east.

Im just about done with the soldering connection work with my homemade light set up.

Im wondering where would be the best place to mount. in the past my bike lights have been small battery lights mounted on the handle bars, this time around I have a 10 watt and 20 watt mr16 (OPTRONICS)

MY 2 OPTIONS ARE

1) USE "C" clamps and mount on the fork blades just below the canti brake arms ( I think this would provide more useful light but ??)

2) with a "U" bolt and bracket mount on the steering tube stack well above the brakes

I have a seperate switch box so having to be able to reach the light is not an issue.

have a great day

Mounting the lights low is better for seeing obstacles on the road; mounting them high is better for being seen.

Minoura makes a clamp for mounting a water bottle anywhere on the bike (the BH-95) that is very handy for mounting lights. You used to be able to get them from Nashbar for less than $4. Unfortunately, like all useful products it has been discontinued.

I have those exact lights and this is how I mounted them: I took a piece of 3/4" aluminum angle iron about 5" long and drilled three holes, one at each end and one in the middle. The two lights go in the end holes, the Minoura clamp attaches to the middle hole, and then the clamp attaches to the handelbar stem. The lights ride about three inches below and even with the handlebars.

I am just finishing a similar project - optronics mr-16s with a 5aH sla battery and a xenon flasher - and I am planning to mount on the head tube because they will be less prone to getting slopped up in foul weather (as on the forks) since it will be above the fender. for me there is no space on my bars and I currently have an older 10w light mounted to the reflector mount. works great, but I think the weight of the optronics is a bit much to do it that way. The U-bolt is a great idea as is the minoura contraption.

The nordic web site may still have 'em. They have other clamps also...check 'em out!
http://nordicgroup.us/cageboss.htm http://www.nordicgroup.us/cageboss/cagebo2.gif

I mount my dynamo style lamp on the fork crown using the steel mount from an old front reflector, bolted the brake bolt hole. I put my battery in a waterbottle.

I used the Minuoura mounts and would highly recommend them. I'll see if I can post some pics later.