Mounting a tail light on a rack
#26
There were no packets attached to the racks on display? I looked on the one I bought and one other, though I did not check them all. But I believe you. I figure it was removed before I bought it, by the lbs or some other shopper. I would have to go back to be certain, but I believe all the racks were displayed with no hardware.
Ah well, NEXT rack I buy I will be more observant.
Ah well, NEXT rack I buy I will be more observant.
#27
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I was looking for something like that and i found this on ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/Planet-Bike-...-/140756254626
then i can use the light i already had with no need of tieing it
#29
Don't know if it helps, but Dinotte sells spare mounts that might be useful:
https://store.dinottelighting.com/lit...arts-p142.aspx
https://store.dinottelighting.com/lit...arts-p142.aspx
#30
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: lebanon oregon
Bikes: trex 7500, old diamondback, older diamondback old frankenbike
I have thought about the topeak rack. Integral tail light mount, and the trunk bags that slide on seem good. The rack pictured above would look good on my wife's bike, so it wouldn't go to waste.
I am considering an array of tail lights for my morning commute this fall, about 30 minutes of suburban darkness. If I go that route later on, then I will end up fabricating something to hold them all. I was thinking of a bunch of blinkies, some on constant, some on on blink. Or a dinotte with some blinkies added. We'll see.
But that link is excellent! Yes, that T baracket does look like it would work, I wonder if it is long enough? I will give them a call. Thanks! BF comes through again.

I am considering an array of tail lights for my morning commute this fall, about 30 minutes of suburban darkness. If I go that route later on, then I will end up fabricating something to hold them all. I was thinking of a bunch of blinkies, some on constant, some on on blink. Or a dinotte with some blinkies added. We'll see.
But that link is excellent! Yes, that T baracket does look like it would work, I wonder if it is long enough? I will give them a call. Thanks! BF comes through again.

#31
Carpe Velo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,519
Likes: 18
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Bikes: 2000 Bianchi Veloce, '88 Schwinn Prologue, '90 Bianchi Volpe,'94 Yokota Grizzly Peak, Yokota Enterprise, '16 Diamondback Haanjo, '91 Bianchi Boardwalk, Ellsworth cruiser
I've had my own issues with mounting lights to racks. I don't like placing them on seat or trunk bags, as I use models that are very directional and need to point almost straight back (PB Superflash and PDW Danger zone) On my road bikes, I simply mount it to the seatstay, but panniers will block it on a rack equipped bike.
The Performance Transit rack that is on my wife's bike came with a light mount, but it is designed to mount to the bottom of the top plate and that places the light too low, rubbing against the tire. (I did have to buy the special light mount for a rack, about $5-7) Some careful bending got it into a shape that works. I had this setup on one of my own bikes, but vibration eventually caused a crack in the metal mount right in front of the screw. The mount also rubbed a small hole in the bottom of my rack trunk where it rested on top of it. I'm keeping an eye on my wife's. I'm sure I can find something suitable to replace it at the hardware store when it cracks.

I have two bikes with Blackburn racks, which don't have a top plate, so attaching the light was a little easier. The one I bought recently came with a light mount that wraps around the rack struts. Still had to buy the special clip for my light, but it attached nicely.

My other bike with a Blackburn rack already had the rack when I got the bike. I mounted a PBSF clone with zip ties. I like the horizontal mounting of this. The base section of the light just stays on the bike when I take the light off to change batteries.
The Performance Transit rack that is on my wife's bike came with a light mount, but it is designed to mount to the bottom of the top plate and that places the light too low, rubbing against the tire. (I did have to buy the special light mount for a rack, about $5-7) Some careful bending got it into a shape that works. I had this setup on one of my own bikes, but vibration eventually caused a crack in the metal mount right in front of the screw. The mount also rubbed a small hole in the bottom of my rack trunk where it rested on top of it. I'm keeping an eye on my wife's. I'm sure I can find something suitable to replace it at the hardware store when it cracks.
I have two bikes with Blackburn racks, which don't have a top plate, so attaching the light was a little easier. The one I bought recently came with a light mount that wraps around the rack struts. Still had to buy the special clip for my light, but it attached nicely.
My other bike with a Blackburn rack already had the rack when I got the bike. I mounted a PBSF clone with zip ties. I like the horizontal mounting of this. The base section of the light just stays on the bike when I take the light off to change batteries.
#32
Another trick is to use the seatpost or seat stay mount, but placed on the rack itself. Take a bit of electrical tape and an old inner tube to increase the diameter of the rack leg and then clamp the mounting bracket there. Depending on pannier, this actually puts the light out further than the pannier- increases side visibility just a tad (or doesn't block it as much). If I could only take a pic...
__________________
Community guidelines
Community guidelines
#33
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale, AZ
Bikes: 2010 Scattante CFR, Soma Stanyan, Bruce Gordon R&R
I bought a Cateye rear light that came with this mount https://www.shopcateye.com/product/s...-tight-bracket
It worked fine on my Tubus rack.
It worked fine on my Tubus rack.
#35
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 21
From: New Hampshire
Bikes: Niner RLT 9 RDO, Niner RLT9 Alloy
Yes, but it's made of fairly thin aluminium. It'd definitely designed for a standard issue bicycle reflector. It is probably OK for a light taillight, especially if your streets are potholefree, but if you install a Cateye TL-LD1100 and ride in the streets of Montréal, I'm sure it will fall within 30 minutes.
Not really sure how to fix this, other than to mount the light on the seatpost, or even on the rider's helmet, where the shock is less.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
vanwormer
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
0
04-14-13 07:51 PM
jayr
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
8
10-10-10 08:52 PM








