I believe the Mars is brighter, but it is a single point light while the toplight has 3 LEDs that are focused a specific way. They are really 2 different things. The Toplight is powered by a dynohub and is on continuously while the Mars is usually in flasher mode (unless you want to replace batteries every week. Also, the Toplight spreads the light out laterally to give approaching traffic a nearness reference (as you get closer, the light appears wider). So says the marketing literature anyway.

I have to say though, that I have never had someone ride my bike with me approaching in a car from behind - I actually never have thought of it until now. Anyone here do this?

-G

Thanks to those who provided pics. I just put a PB flasher on each side of my rack with a PDW Radbot 1K in the middle. There all different models, so it looks kinda hodge podge, but it sure makes me more visible, and now I've got back up.

One thing that the OP left out of their post was the type of rack being used. This can have an effect on the choice of mount to use.

I only get racks that have a solid "deck" to prevent the stripe up the back when I have the fenders removed (which isn't all that often anymore).

I attach my PB Superflash (and/or PDW Dangerzone [they use the same mount design, and are interchangeable]) tail light's mount to a spare strut from another rack and mount the assembly to the underside of the deck with two bolts.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2678/4...16a0f7afd0.jpg

Rack in photo is a TransIt Pannier Seatpost Rack. I've used the same method with my newer PB Eco Racks.

Two PBSFs on a Topeak rack.

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/...s/photoco3.jpg

Yeah. I've been trying to read between some invisible lines here but I'm not sure what we are looking for. For everything mentioned here, the place designed to mount a light with his gear, back of rack, is the only place to mount the light. Just exactly what is it we are trying to do here?

I have a solid rack that has holes at the rear, so I took a 90 degree angle and attached it, then bolted an old bathtub wrench to that and then attached the lights. When I mount my trunk bag and panniers the lights are still behind the baggage.

http://markstone.org/This1.jpg

http://markstone.org/This2.jpg

My lights are a PB Superflash, and on the bottom is a generic flasher from Kmart or somewhere that for some reason is very bright also. Also, there is a MiNewt 200 that I put in flash mode occasionally, during times when driver visibility is in question. The most frequent use of the MiNewt is when I am riding directly into a sunset and I know the drivers behind me may be blinded by the sun - the MiNewt is very, very bright even under those circumstances. At night I move the MiNewt to the front handlebar. :thumb:

Edit: I never use the MiNewt at night on the rear

I suspect that some LEO out there would claim that the white to the rear is illegal (even in daylight)... Perhaps a red "filter" would prevent an unnecessary stop by one.

Back in #18 I posted a link to the rack http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

I checked that out and discovered that during daylight hours there are no requirements or restrictions on bicycle lighting. Other cities/counties/states may differ, but here it is fine. At night, we are required to have red in the rear and I could be pulled over if I tried to use the white flasher, but I wouldn't do that anyway. 1., the light is extremely bright in flash mode and although not blinding it is distracting enough to be dangerous; and 2., I imagine that under some circumstances it could be construed as a headlight and may confuse a driver.

The point was that I wanted to mount more light(s) back there, but I didn't have a clue as to how. The solution has been pointed out to just use a length of old inner tube to increase the diameter of the rack leg to such an extent that a bracket will clamp securely.

You could bolt a piece of dowel to the underside of the rack plate, then mount the blinkie on the dowel. I bet you could get two on there if you offset them.

But you have panniers?! Not trying to be a wise guy but your lights simply need to be back behind most everything else.

Nashbar Townies for grocery runs. Otherwise, it is backpack all the way.

I refuse to have a rack that doesn't have a light mount in the center in back.

I also don't want a crapload of lights back there.

Yep.

Here's a photo of my Racktime TourIt rack, Planet Bike Blinky 7, and Planet Bike Rear Light bracket.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=228332

I mounted the bracket to the rear piece of the rack with a mix of hardware that came with the rack and the bracket. The shape of the rack protects the light from being accidentally hit, yet allows for good visibility. The only thing I'm not sure of is how this setup will work when I add fenders in the spring.

This is an honest to goodness question that might sound negative: How do you decide when you have enough rear lights?

Full disclosure: My viewpoint has always been that there is a point where adding light/reflectors/whatever isn't going to do a thing. I see similar patterns with motorcycles lately. They get those flashing brake lights (maybe it's an Illinois thing?). I believe that if the driver didn't already see you, those flashing lights aren't going to change a thing. And that's also how I feel about adding multiple rear facing lights on a bike.

Help convert me, what am I missing?

Redundancy. If you rely on only one light, if it fails, then what?

Kind of the reason why I started this thread- no matter how I used my rack, at least one of my two active lights are blocked to some degree or another.

If I wanted two lights and I couldn't mount them to the single mount point on the back center of the rack, I would do whatever it took to fashion a new mounting plate which my two lights can attach to, and mount the plate to the rack. Most people have drills and drill bits around, so if you can source a strip of metal somehow you can come up with an answer quickly. You may need to hit the hardware store for some nuts/bolts/washers so may as well check the hardware store for metal.

Seatpost lights make little sense if you have a trunk bag. Lights mounted near the bottom of the rack legs or on the seat/chain stays create the need for one on each side simply because one can be blocked by the tire/rack/bags/fenders. Put the lights where they are best seen.

Here's a pic of my set up (except for the Ortlieb Office bag which is in the house).
Thanks again.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...G/IMG_0367.jpg

I have our MUP all to myself for my entire commute. I seldom ride the street. I use one light in the back most of the time. I have two. I use one headlamp and a handlebar lamp.

My rack had a mounting point in the middle until some punk who couldn't figure out how to steal just the light broke off the entire metal mount.:mad: Turns out the rail mounted position works better.

One of the accessories Planet Bike has on their website is a mount for their Superflash type lights which is designed to attach to the reflector mounts in the back of the rack. It's mildly annoying to lock to poor racks with but seems to work OK.

Radbot 1000 FTW. There are several in pictures already in this thread -- and it was the most recommended when I posted about 2 months ago asking about a bright rear light.

http://www.ridepdw.com/goods/lights/...%E2%84%A2-1000

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=228475

I have mine mounted onto the rear rack on the proper tab (axiom) and it allows some "bending" to angle the light properly. If it's angled too high I have had drivers let me know about it. Many cyclsits have commented about how bright this thing is also. It's probably the brightest damn light I've seen on the road, but the PB super is pretty good as well.

Long term -- I'm not sure. It's been rained on twice without issue...so we'll see.

+1I do. I want to be the PeeWee Herman of Southwestern Commuters! :thumb: