Phantoj

Hello.

What's the optimum height for bike lights, in yer humble opinion? So far, I've only had them up on the bars. That's cool.

My new bike has a "space bar" attached at the caliper brake hole. (right over the tire) It's got a coupld Cateye LED's there, but I might just stick my dual halogen there. I saw a guy say that lower was better for seeing road imperfections. Not sure that I buy it; I think maybe higher is better.

Any experienced folks want to weigh in?

jeff-o

He's partly right, a lower light will form longer shadows when it illuminates debris on the road.

As for the height of the lights, I'd keep them above the height of most car hoods.

GTcommuter

Lower for better road illumination -- higher for better visibility. So my solution is to have my halogens lower (on the fork crown or front rack) and my LEDs on the handlebars or helmet.

DogBoy

Lower is better for seeing road imperfections because they will cast a longer shadow, allowing you to see them. Higher is better for all around visibility. Best is probably fork mounted + helmet mounted. At a minimum, you should be able to see within the distance you would have to stop in. Just try different things and you will find what works for you.

cyccommute 

Low lights cast great shadows that can hide great big holes I do lots of off-road riding during the winter light season and I've found that the helmet mount lets you actual see the rocks and other stuff you are riding over. Plus it lets you see into the corners rather than just spraying off into the woods like bar mounts.

My order of lights is helmet first (20W spot) and bars second (20W flood, 12 W spot). If anything happens to the lights, I'll make sure I have a helmet light over a bar mounted light.

dalmore

I'm with cyco - helmet lights first. For me it's all about aiming the light where I want. Most often that is where I'm going but not always. I mean when that driver is approaching from the side on a collision course, I like to be tickling them with the helmet light as I brake.

stapfam

Cyco is right- The long shadows can hide a multitude of nasties. I have the lights on the bar but that Helmet light is about the most usefull. Not my idea- saw it on another posting and have never thought of it- but the helmet lamp can be used to illuminate the arm when signalling- so how many of you have reflective strips on the arm or back of the gloves.

I did a ride last Sunday- 65 miler- and I wanted to check to see if I had the designated 8 hr battery life- I have by the way. One of my mates was at the top of a 1 mile drag and he looked for me when I was at the bottom.(I was nursing a new rider to distance riding) There were bikes all the way up the hill and he picked me out easily. Most of the other bikes he could not see that well with tops blending into the background- but the one bike with a light- He could see from a mile away. So think of using the lights if plenty of traffic about aswell as when it gets dark.

Lights are not only to see with. You can also be seen with them.

DogBoy

I run a light (3 actually: 1 LED blink, HID, 3 LED blink) at the fork crown and one (3W Dinotte) on my helmet. The lower I've gotten them the better I can see...I suppose at some point the effect you speak of will happen, but not at the heights I've tried. I do 99% road riding and prefer lights on the bike first, then helmet, but generally if I do one I do both.

idcruiserman

I'm happy with my HID on my helmet. Easy to light up any car that my be looking to cross your path. Hard to do that with one mounted on your bike.

Novakane 

I've got an LED light on the bars which works OK. I'll be hooking up a 20w halogen below the bars on a CatEye front reflector mount - attaches where the stem meets the tube, and holds the light below that level.

n4zou

Mag-Lite Mini LED flashlight mounted under the handlebar using EMT conduit hanger and plastic clamp. Bright, low weight, adjustable beam pattern, and 3.5 hour run time on alkaline batteries and longer if you use lithium 1.5-volt AA camera batteries.

marqueemoon

Wow. Datsa lotta light.

newbojeff

N4zou and others: Don't you worry about drop handlebars obstructing the light so that cars from the side will not see you as easily. I've recently mounted my NightSun lights on my road bike. No only am I a bit concerned about the side spread of the lights, the shifter cables from my brifters cross in front of the lights.

AndrewP

At the bottom of the forks for seeing the road immediately in front of you. On the bars for the road further out and for being seen by cars, On the helmet for street signs, maps and flat fixing.

Chris L

I'm running an E6 light on my handlebars, it's bright enough to have been mistaken for a car headlight on high beam several times. Personally I'm partial to having it on the handlebars for one reason that nobody has mentioned yet -- I can easily make subtle adjustments to the angle of the beam depending on the conditions I'm riding in. It's probably not really a concern on my current ride to work (which doesn't vary all that much), but it does come into my mind on other rides.

n4zou

Correct! I use an amber blinkie up front in addition to the flashlight. Its more noticeable to vehicles than a small white light lost among all the white headlights around you.

cyccommute 

3/4 of my commute is off street and about 3/4 of that offers trails along a creek so I use the lights mostly for that. But when I hit the street, I don't have to compete with anyone to get noticed I love the comments from kids, "Wow. Did you see that? It's a bike!"

acidinmylegs

Since my commute can take me off road, I can't really mount my lights much lower than the handlebar. Why? Grime, mud and water coming off of my front tire would get on the lens, blocking the light. And that's with a fender.