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-   -   Disruption of the light throw (https://www.bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/1315972-disruption-light-throw.html)

MikeDeason 10-24-25 12:44 PM

Disruption of the light throw
 
If this was your bike and you were riding more after sunset due to the changing season, would you be concerned enough about beam disruption to look for other mounting alternatives.

Asking for a friend

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...550f3e49c.jpeg

Koyote 10-24-25 12:52 PM


Originally Posted by MikeDeason (Post 23632103)
If this was your bike and you were riding more after sunset due to the changing season, would you be concerned enough about beam disruption to look for other mounting alternatives.

And just how are we supposed to know how much "beam disruption" is occurring?

Fahrenheit531 10-24-25 01:00 PM

Friends don't let friends use electric tape on their bars.

MikeDeason 10-24-25 01:01 PM

The light is positioned beside the bag. You can determine height by the relation of top of bag to handlebar.

Can of corn.

Mojo31 10-24-25 01:04 PM

I wouldn't ride that bike. I have my night light under the bars and on centerline.

Not a fan of junk on the bars. Gotta keep it clean.

mstateglfr 10-24-25 01:11 PM


Originally Posted by MikeDeason (Post 23632103)
If this was your bike and you were riding more after sunset due to the changing season, would you be concerned enough about beam disruption to look for other mounting alternatives.

If the bag blocked too much of the beam, then I would look to mount the light elsewhere.
If the bad didnt block too much of the beam, then I would not look to mount the light elsewhere.

Seems pretty simple, Big D. I trust that you will be able to figure this out on your own, since you never listen to the opinions of the unwashed masses anyways.

MikeDeason 10-24-25 01:15 PM

Mounting elsewhere presents a challenge as the bag is deep

storckm 10-24-25 01:17 PM

Put your bike in a dark garage or something and see how the light actually looks.

Koyote 10-24-25 01:18 PM


Originally Posted by MikeDeason (Post 23632124)
Mounting elsewhere presents a challenge as the bag is deep

Every single thing about riding a bike presents a challenge for you.

skidder 10-24-25 01:22 PM


Originally Posted by MikeDeason (Post 23632124)
Mounting elsewhere presents a challenge as the bag is deep

Buy a new bicycle and bags to accomodate the light's beam pattern.

GGDaddy 10-24-25 01:32 PM

I dunno Big D, WWLD

MikeDeason 10-24-25 01:39 PM


Originally Posted by storckm (Post 23632126)
Put your bike in a dark garage or something and see how the light actually looks.

yes. Tried that. Definitely disruption. Not convinced it would affect safety. Other mounting options are not plentiful though.

MikeDeason 10-24-25 02:53 PM

Ideally below the stem but nothing seems available that will get the light low enough

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ca5e92a64.jpeg

tomato coupe 10-24-25 03:01 PM

I posed the OP's question to ChatGPT.


Q:If this was your bike and you were riding more after sunset due to the changing season, would you be concerned enough about beam disruption to look for other mounting alternatives.

A: HTF would I know? You can see the beam, I can't. Figure it out for yourself, and quit wasting my CPU time.

Mojo31 10-24-25 03:15 PM


Originally Posted by MikeDeason (Post 23632178)
Ideally below the stem but nothing seems available that will get the light low enough

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ca5e92a64.jpeg

Dayum, that's a lot of baggage on a bike that's ridden around town.

indyfabz 10-24-25 03:30 PM

Tidy Cats sux.

mstateglfr 10-24-25 03:40 PM


Originally Posted by MikeDeason (Post 23632124)
Mounting elsewhere presents a challenge as the bag is deep

you are the one who brought up mounting the light elsewhere.

icemilkcoffee 10-24-25 04:03 PM

there is a garmin mount on top of the bag. A Garmin mount headlight seems to be the most straightforward solution here:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/j8YAA...V/s-l1600.webp

I Like To Ride 10-24-25 04:26 PM


Originally Posted by MikeDeason (Post 23632141)
Other mounting options are not plentiful though.

I prefer to have my light mounted on my helmet. I can point my 1000 lumen light anywhere and see everything without any disruption.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...21dbd4bdef.jpg


MikeDeason 10-24-25 04:34 PM


Originally Posted by icemilkcoffee (Post 23632220)
there is a garmin mount on top of the bag. A Garmin mount headlight seems to be the most straightforward solution here:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/j8YAA...V/s-l1600.webp

For the win! ^^^^

Using the Garmin mount never occurred to me and I don’t need the Garmin for the commute. I need a new light only downside

mstateglfr 10-24-25 04:45 PM


Originally Posted by I Like To Ride (Post 23632229)

visually so much.

indyfabz 10-24-25 05:01 PM


Originally Posted by mstateglfr (Post 23632234)
visually so much.

IKR. That couch looks like a murder was committed on it. :roflmao2:

Wonder where he pilfered the photo from.

I Like To Ride 10-24-25 05:43 PM


Originally Posted by indyfabz (Post 23632242)
IKR. That couch looks like a murder was committed on it. :roflmao2:

Wonder where he pilfered the photo from.

Falsely accusing people of murder and stealing pics ?. You sound like a deeply disturbed individual. Go get some counseling and meds for your deeply depressive state..

rsbob 10-24-25 05:48 PM


Originally Posted by indyfabz (Post 23632242)
IKR. That couch looks like a murder was committed on it. :roflmao2:

Wonder where he pilfered the photo from.

I would have used a black zip tie to blend in more better. I have seen better sofas on the curb.

veganbikes 10-24-25 05:51 PM


Originally Posted by I Like To Ride (Post 23632229)
I prefer to have my light mounted on my helmet. I can point my 1000 lumen light anywhere and see everything without any disruption.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...21dbd4bdef.jpg

A light for commuting is not about you shining at people it is about good visibility and that doesn't really provide it. People need to know where your bike is and is going not where your head may decide to turn. Helmet lights are fun but are a tertiary light unless mountain biking where it is less about other seeing you.

In the end for a good front light if your light can be mounted either right side up or upside down, that is not an ideal light for a bicycle. a good bicycle light should have a shaped beam pattern so you aren't blinding people, casting a good wide light for good visibility and allowing you to see everything you would need to see and allow people to see you. The typical U.S. bike lights that aren't STvZO or follow similar lines don't do that and are basically a flashlight or are so dim what is the point.

As much as I am not a fan of Kryptonite for other products their lights in the X series are quite excellent and aside from maybe size and looks are great lights and Lezyne also does some excellent STvZO style lights that are quite good. I have used Light and Motion and NiteRider and they are good quality lights no doubt but the beam pattern isn't great. However most of my commuting now is done with actual Dynamo lights and those are pretty much all STvZO compliant and really do an excellent job and some of them even have a high beam function when I need an extra pop of light.

As always solid lights at the front are ALL you should ever use. Unless you are an emergency vehicle in an emergency keep your lights solid so you aren't blinding others and making it hard for people to see. There is never an absolute non-emergency situation where a white light should flash.


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