anyone mount lights on front rack?
 

I recently installed an oldmountain man sherpa front rack to hold gear in panniers while transporting my son from daycare in his seat at the back of my bike. Now that I have a front rack, I am wondering about the feasibility/wisdom of mounting lights on the rack. My current front light system is a pair of fenix L2D Q5 flashlights mounted on lockblocks (not sure if that is the correct name?) on the handlebars and a simple helmet mounted LED light.

If I mounted the fenix lights on the rack, I would gain space on the handlebar that I could use for other gadgets! Of greater importance, I wonder whether lights mounted on the platform of a front rack would be better or worse than handlebar mounted lights for seeing/beeing seen? I suppose I will experiment with this soon, but I thought I'd throw the question out in case there are others who have already explored this option.

Mount them under the bars with this.

The Minoura LH-100 is designed to mount on a wire basket, but I don't see why you couldn't use it on your Sherpa, if you don't mind drilling the platform...that is if you don't put anything on top of it...

I have one bike with the head light mounted on the rack and I like where it throws the beam, you don't have the glare off of things like the fender and you don't have the wheel putting a shadow in the center of your pattern. This one does have a bit of block to the right but I can live with it. If you go dual lights you will loose that problem. In reality the lower you get the lights the better the beam you get.

Aaron:)

http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/41...425x425Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/41...425x425Q85.jpg

Here is one way...

I have my lights mounted to a pice of 1 inch PVC pipe that is held to the rack by 2 pipe clamps. The lights are then clamped to the length of pipe just as if it where the handle bar.

This reminds me...

Does anyone know where one can get the details on the double-flashlight setup that you can find pictures of on Velo-Orange? I'd LOVe that setup...

+1 for this. I've found this to be the easiest way to mount lights with a handlebar-type mount anywhere other than the handlebars.

For lights with screw-type mounts (usually generator lights) you can use a p-clip, a long screw, and some spacers to mount the lights off the rack.