johngwheeler

I've just bought an Apidura 17 litre seat bag, which attaches to my seat post, covering the entire post down to the the top of the seat stays.

Unfortunately, this obscures the red rear reflector (on the seat post) which is a legal requirement in my state.

I'm wondering what options there are for fitting a reflector elsewhere on the frame? I don't have fenders or a rack on this bike, which is why I have the seat pack.

There is no solid fitting on the seat pack itself for a solid reflector, so I'd need to mount it on the frame somehow - but the current attachment will only fit on a seat post. Other parts of the frame (seat post or seat stays) are either too fat or too thin).

Any suggestions on how to solve this? All of the rear reflectors I've seen are designed for the seat post.....

Thanks!

John.

RoadRider4321

The best suggestion I can offer is to buy a frame mounted rear reflector to one of the seat stays. They sell rear bike lights that mount on the seat stays so I'm certain that mounting a reflector there is a viable option.

katsup

It appears to have a place where you can clip on a rear light / reflector.

https://www.apidura.com/product/saddle-pack-regular/

BlazingPedals

Most rear reflectors or lights include a provision to mount onto the seat stay. If you don't have one, your LBS could probably come up with it.

10 Wheels

Try This.

Crawdaddy

Not sure only 17 tail lights on that bike is Safety Sally approved but a good start.

wphamilton

I put mine (tail light) in the little triangle at the top of the seat stays. It's not ideal because of the angle, but it should satisfy your legal requirements.

SkyDog75

It's like 'pieces of flair' from the movie Office Space.

"Seventeen is the minimum, okay? Now, you know it's up to you whether or not you want to just do the bare minimum. Or... well, like Brian, for example, has thirty seven pieces of flair, okay. And a terrific smile."

Crawdaddy

Thats good. Can see somebody trying to get them all to blink at same time too

Milton Keynes

I had the same problem with the reflector getting covered up, so I removed the reflector and put some red reflective tape on the back of my underseat bag, and a couple of strips down each seat stay. I also have red reflective tape on the back of my helmet. This to compliment the three taillights I run at night, as well as the red blinky on the back of my helmet. Hopefully all the tape meets the legal requirement of having a red reflector at night per state law. If not, part of one of my taillights has a red reflective surface like a normal reflector.

ramzilla

These little wire clamps w/rubber cushions are great items for fastening things to bike frame. You can get them at just about any hardware store.

20 Pcs 1/2" Rubber Cushioned Insulated Stainless Steel Cable Wire Clamp Holder | eBay

dabac

I've mounted rear facing reflectors using a fender eyelet.

Squeeze

Not a serious post, but I wonder if the law specifies a visible red rear reflector or simply a red rear reflector.

I wish I could find the picture I saw online of a bicycle bell mounted on a hub, inside the spokes! Apparently it was to comply with a law somewhere that required bells on bicycles but didn't specify where the bells must be mounted.

corrado33

Pretty sure most states require you to have a reflector or two (hence why every bike is sold with them.)

Pretty sure most of us ignore that law and take them off immediately. If a police officer pulls you over for not having one just play dumb and say it broke.

johngwheeler

Maybe the red-reflective tape would be a good solution. I've tried mounting the reflector on the seat stay, but it's an awkward fit and I worry about it dropping down and fouling the wheel.

I don't have fenders on this bike, so a fender-mounted reflector isn't an option.

dedhed

Wi law:

The red rear reflector must be visible to others between 50 and 500 feet away.

I'd guess most states would have similar language.

sinjun

Just attach the reflector to the seat bag.

Speedskater

I have a red LED on my seat bag, but the LED doesn't have a vertical adjustment so it's not aimed at the horizon.

travbikeman

Reflective tape that you can put on different parts of your bike. Including your seat bag.

JanMM

In Indiana, red reflector or red taillight required at night and must be visible from 500 feet.

Unbeknownst to almost everybody, in 2016 Indiana legislature removed the code requiring a bell or other audible warning device on bikes. Not aware it was ever enforced.

mcours2006

How do you charge all of them?

As for OP, I mount mine by the seatstay just below about the level of the rims using the o-rubber rings.

vol

If you only want reflector (at first I thought it's about taillight), those little red reflectors are not any good anyway, and there are many ways you could have better reflectors by using stick-on reflective tapes, reflective belts (wrapped around your bag), reflective yield sign triangles, or some reflective trunk bag covers.

Milton Keynes

Yes, rechecking my state's laws and it does say the rear red reflector must be visible at a distance from 100 to 600 feet to the rear of the bicycle when in front of a car's low beams. A lamp emitting a red light to 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle may also be used. Not sure what happens if it's visible further than 500 feet, I guess they haul you in.

johngwheeler

Any suggestions for a clip-on rear fender that is stable enough to hold a rear light & reflector? I don't have fender braze-ons, so needs to be something that will hang on a carbon frame without stressing it.

Thanks!

johngwheeler

Yes, there are no doubt better reflective options out there. The white material on my Topeak bags & tires seems to be far more reflective that the little red disk - but this is clearly what my local law (NSW, Australia) insists on. I think it would grossly unfair to be fined for lack of a red reflector if you had other (superior) options fitted, but you might find a frustrated cop who wants to follow the rules. However, I *can* see the point in having a red light/reflector at the rear to make it clear of your direction of travel (light a boat's navigation lights) - but the most important thing is TO BE SEEN at all!