Attaching Blinkies without Losing Them
 

I had trouble with blinkies bouning off my bike. The clips aren't good enough to hold onto the flaps on my seatbag. I also can't use the seatpost mount because I have a saddlebag. Other locations are blocked by saddlebags.

So I put zip ties through the saddle rails and ran them through the blinkie's seatpost mount. An added benefit is that the zip ties absorb the shocks of the road, saving the blinkie.

I also added a backup blinkie to the saddlebag. I put a zip tie around the clip and ran that zip tie through a second ziptie that goes around the flap on the saddle bag.

I've decribed these before, but I finally have pictures:
Attachment 33697

Attachment 33698

I just clip the blinkie to the strap on the bag, and stick a short piece of tape across the opening. With that opening blocked, the blinkie can't fall off the strap.

I love that blinky! I mounted the first one upside down and lost it on the first ride :(
I have a zip tie on the back of my Brooks saddle that the blinky clips over. This gets it higher (over the saddle bag) and keeps the blinky visible when I attach my clip-on fender. On my junker the lightman strobe is bolted to the reflector bracket.

I have a tdl1000 and a performance rack trunk. The blinkie pulls the mounting point down to the point where the blinkie is facing the ground. I took a zip tie and attached it to the top of the rack trunk. Combined with a piece of electrical tape, that thing is staying put and higher up where motorists can see it. Got to love zip ties.

I had to do the same kind of thing with my rear blinkie to keep it from falling off, only problem is now I have to leave it on the bike when I park, so there is a greater chance of it being stolen, but, whatever..

It's this one from Performance. It's only $13. I like it much more than the $25-$40 TL-LD1000 from Cateye which I had until it fell apart way before it should have. The Performance one runs on AAA like my other lights and blinkies, so I only have to carry one type of extra batteries. It's really bright. Unlike the Cateye, it is clear, so there is no light lost. It also has a built in reflector. The only thing I don't like is the rubber gasket, which seems a little thin and which you have to finesse into place each time you replace the batteries. But the TL-LD1000 is certainly not two or three times as good even though its two or three times more expensive.

One advantage of a $13 blinkie is that you don't cry if you lose it.

The higher elevation is one of the big advantages of clipping a blinkie on this way. I should have mentioned that in the original post.

+1

Duct tape solves everything.

Hey is that a Topeak Aero seatbag? If so how secure is it when you're riding? I'm considering getting that bag as well.


Zero_Enigma

I have a Topeak QR Aero Wedge (sized small). I find it holds everything I need. I also have a medium size one but I use the small because I don't need the extra room and the bigger/wider bag combined with my narrow profiled saddle tends to cause rubbing against my legs.

http://www.neebu.net/%7Ekhuon/albums...0005.thumb.jpg

The bag itself is great in that it holds its form well and doesn't move around at all. The blinkie strap accomodates most blinkies fine and holds them pretty securely.

http://www.neebu.net/%7Ekhuon/albums..._004.thumb.jpg

The problem however is that it may hold them too securely. The strap is fairly thick and preloads the plastic clip on most blinkies quite a bit. A sharp jolt can thus easily break the clip off. I've snapped quite a few clips on blinkies after hitting a pothole, hopping or popping up a curb. These occurances are even more pronounced when the weather is cold and the plastic of the clip is extra brittle.

It's a Jandd seatbag. Its been working great for several years of heavy use with no sign of wear (except for cosmetic stuff, of course).

Thanks for the good ideas. I was going to post asking about this! On my new, very bumpy commute, I've dropped the saddle-bag blinkie on 2 out of 3 days!

If any of you end up getting that Planet Bike Superflash - it has one heck of a strong attachment. I've got it on the helmet bracket of my Bell Metro, and I don't have the hand strength to get it off without clamping my helmet between my knees and using both hands to pull. On the plus side, I guess I don't have to be too concerned about losing a $25 blinkie.

KNOG frog light on the back of your helmet and one on your seat stays.

+1 on the topeak areo wedge. I have that as well but can not use it with my rack trunk. Very nice seatbag with a tight strap.

J & G cyclewear has a jacket with a loop in the back for a blinkie. This works well.

Zip ties
 

What did we do before zip ties and bungie cords?

We kept buying blinkies when they fell off.

I just clip the blinkie to the loop on my saddle bag, backpack, helmet or whatever, and tighten a zip tie across the end of the clip. After that it's not moving.

I have this jacket also. It is their wind jacket but I suppose other models may have it. The only time I have used it recently was when our trailer was blocking the rear of the rack trunk.