Rear Light Adapter
10-12-18, 07:30 PM
#1
Oooooooofffff SALESMAN!
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Rear Light Adapter
I would like to mount a rear bike light on my rear rack of my bike however the light comes with a mount that goes on the seatpost. Problem is
1) I can't mount the light to the seatpost because when I carry a bag on my rear bag it covers up the light 100%
2) My rack doesn't have a "seat post tube" to attach the light onto.
Here is a photo I found online of a guy that fixed the problem but it looks really bad. Isn't there some kind of adapter I can buy? Has anyone else fixed this issue and would like to provide some photos?
1) I can't mount the light to the seatpost because when I carry a bag on my rear bag it covers up the light 100%
2) My rack doesn't have a "seat post tube" to attach the light onto.
Here is a photo I found online of a guy that fixed the problem but it looks really bad. Isn't there some kind of adapter I can buy? Has anyone else fixed this issue and would like to provide some photos?
10-12-18, 08:04 PM
#2
don't try this at home.
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Cygolite sells a rack mount for $3.95 (plus $3.00 shipping)
It fits both older Hotshot and newer Hotshot Pro lights. The two outside mounting bolt holes are at 50mm (1.97 inch) spacing, that's pretty common on rear racks. Or use the center bolt hole if there's only one hole.
It's the same click-in method as the seatpost brackets use.
When clicked in, my tail light sits below the level of the top of the rack, so a top bag doesn't interfere with the light.
There's similar brackets for other brands, too.
It fits both older Hotshot and newer Hotshot Pro lights. The two outside mounting bolt holes are at 50mm (1.97 inch) spacing, that's pretty common on rear racks. Or use the center bolt hole if there's only one hole.
It's the same click-in method as the seatpost brackets use.
When clicked in, my tail light sits below the level of the top of the rack, so a top bag doesn't interfere with the light.
There's similar brackets for other brands, too.
Last edited by rm -rf; 10-12-18 at 08:15 PM.
10-12-18, 08:30 PM
#3
Non omnino gravis
If you lived even remotely close to me, I could fabricate something in about 10 minutes.
But as you don't, I would say remove the rear reflector, and use that hole to screw into a piece of dowel-- probably 1 1/4". Put the light's seatpost mount on that.
But as you don't, I would say remove the rear reflector, and use that hole to screw into a piece of dowel-- probably 1 1/4". Put the light's seatpost mount on that.
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10-12-18, 09:02 PM
#4
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Just do what that guy did more or less and make it look better.
Or zip tie it to your helmet. Puts the blinky up higher.
Or zip tie it to your helmet. Puts the blinky up higher.
10-12-18, 10:28 PM
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Clark W. Griswold
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Originally Posted by Happy Feet
Just do what that guy did more or less and make it look better.
Or zip tie it to your helmet. Puts the blinky up higher.
Or zip tie it to your helmet. Puts the blinky up higher.
10-13-18, 12:23 AM
#6
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I have one on my old helmet snd have seen many others do it as well. Works fine. It's a red flashing light designed to be seen from an arc of rear facing angles.
But this is a great easy project to try out. All you need is a friend, a light, a helmet and a zip tie.
But this is a great easy project to try out. All you need is a friend, a light, a helmet and a zip tie.
10-13-18, 03:51 AM
#7
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No pics, but I think you could use a small P-clamp, which would mount onto the rack's rear diagonal down-brace, about where the dowel rod is beside the reflector. Remove the round seatpost clamp part from your light mount, and thread a small bolt with nut (if your bolt and nut on your light mount won't work) through the p-clamp hole and tighten it well.
10-13-18, 06:57 AM
#8
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I used a smaller bracket to mount on one of the rack stays on one bike. Something like this. I may have added more rubber to fit it.
https://www.modernbike.com/niterider...eat-stay-mount
https://www.modernbike.com/niterider...eat-stay-mount
10-13-18, 08:17 AM
#9
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you didn't say or show us what light & rack you have. I agree that there's a big lack of support for this exact circumstance with rear lights, even those that supply multiple brackets with their lights. they all seem to assume we want to mount them on circular objects. well we don't all want to do that, do we?
probably the easiest stuff to work with is metal strapping from the hardware store. it comes on a roll, is easy to bend, already has 2 sizes of holes along the whole length. to cut it to length it's best to use metal snips. altho you can break it with pliers or a hammer by bending it back & forth and slamming it at the crease. it's also easy to twist so you can make odd angles
this is my roll
these are the Midwest Standard, drop forged, snips I inherited from my father-in-law
once you have these two things, you can make all sorts of stuff for your bike
your local hardware store may also have lightweight thin "bar stock" that is easy to cut with a bench vise & hack saw. no home should be without those items as well. bar stock comes in aluminum & steel. it's easy to drill with metal drill bits on a wooden work bench & a clamp
so put that circular bracket in a box for safe keeping & make a bracket exactly as you need it
btw your light may have come with a small bracket, which can fit on seat stays or in this case a small part by my dropout
probably the easiest stuff to work with is metal strapping from the hardware store. it comes on a roll, is easy to bend, already has 2 sizes of holes along the whole length. to cut it to length it's best to use metal snips. altho you can break it with pliers or a hammer by bending it back & forth and slamming it at the crease. it's also easy to twist so you can make odd angles
this is my roll
these are the Midwest Standard, drop forged, snips I inherited from my father-in-law
once you have these two things, you can make all sorts of stuff for your bike
your local hardware store may also have lightweight thin "bar stock" that is easy to cut with a bench vise & hack saw. no home should be without those items as well. bar stock comes in aluminum & steel. it's easy to drill with metal drill bits on a wooden work bench & a clamp
so put that circular bracket in a box for safe keeping & make a bracket exactly as you need it
btw your light may have come with a small bracket, which can fit on seat stays or in this case a small part by my dropout
Last edited by rumrunn6; 10-13-18 at 09:27 AM.
10-13-18, 09:03 AM
#10
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Originally Posted by rm -rf
Cygolite sells a rack mount for $3.95 (plus $3.00 shipping)
It fits both older Hotshot and newer Hotshot Pro lights. The two outside mounting bolt holes are at 50mm (1.97 inch) spacing, that's pretty common on rear racks. Or use the center bolt hole if there's only one hole.
It's the same click-in method as the seatpost brackets use.
When clicked in, my tail light sits below the level of the top of the rack, so a top bag doesn't interfere with the light.
There's similar brackets for other brands, too.
It fits both older Hotshot and newer Hotshot Pro lights. The two outside mounting bolt holes are at 50mm (1.97 inch) spacing, that's pretty common on rear racks. Or use the center bolt hole if there's only one hole.
It's the same click-in method as the seatpost brackets use.
When clicked in, my tail light sits below the level of the top of the rack, so a top bag doesn't interfere with the light.
There's similar brackets for other brands, too.
DSCN0387 by Stuart Black, on FlickrI will suggest adding something to keep the light in place...a zip tie or o-ring. Some of the lights will pop out. I find lots of them on the road...mostly smashed.
I would also suggest some rear taillights over others. Most all states in the US require rear reflectors. There aren’t that many taillights that are also reflectors. The Portland Design Works Radbot is one and the Cateye Reflex is another. Most of the others don’t really have integrated reflectors.
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
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Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
Twisting Down the Alley. Misadventures in tornado alley.
10-13-18, 09:50 AM
#11
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I simply drilled a hole in the plastic "ring".
10-13-18, 10:02 AM
#12
Banned
DIY any?
I have more than 1 tail light that will mount directly to that bracket
with the 2 holes 2 cm apart vertically.. with a screw..
and have a couple lights, German spec, B&M, 2 bolts 5 cm apart, horizontally,
they include both LED and passive reflectors.. they're fixed.
But will admit People might steal your light if they can , (in major cities and school bike racks)
so put it in your pocket when you lock up your bike..
...
with the 2 holes 2 cm apart vertically.. with a screw..
and have a couple lights, German spec, B&M, 2 bolts 5 cm apart, horizontally,
they include both LED and passive reflectors.. they're fixed.
But will admit People might steal your light if they can , (in major cities and school bike racks)
so put it in your pocket when you lock up your bike..
...
10-13-18, 06:00 PM
#13
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Originally Posted by BobbyG
I simply drilled a hole in the plastic "ring".
10-14-18, 09:42 AM
#14
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He
re is a better look at mine...
re is a better look at mine...
10-14-18, 09:50 AM
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Home Depot has what you need for like $2
It's an angle bracket.
It's sort of this like...
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Superstr...G-10/100390324
except instead of both brackets going the same direction one is twisted 90 degrees. I couldn't find it on the website, but go into any Home Depot and you'll find it in 10 minutes.
Bolt it directly to the rear rack and then bolt the light's mount to the twisted part of the bracket. Viola.
It's an angle bracket.
It's sort of this like...
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Superstr...G-10/100390324
except instead of both brackets going the same direction one is twisted 90 degrees. I couldn't find it on the website, but go into any Home Depot and you'll find it in 10 minutes.
Bolt it directly to the rear rack and then bolt the light's mount to the twisted part of the bracket. Viola.
10-14-18, 11:00 AM
#16
Non omnino gravis
With each post, this thread gets a bit more like an episode of GCN's Hack or Bodge. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
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10-14-18, 03:06 PM
#17
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If you have fenders, you can mount a tail light to the rear fender:
10-14-18, 09:41 PM
#18
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
If you have fenders, you can mount a tail light to the rear fender:
10-14-18, 09:47 PM
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On my MTB-based commuter I have a rear blinky with what is like a pocket clip. I put an orange velcro strap between the Wald folding baskets and clipped it there.
BTW, the black bag behind the orange strap carries two cloth bags I use in the Wald folding baskets to carry small items that would fall through the wires.
BTW, the black bag behind the orange strap carries two cloth bags I use in the Wald folding baskets to carry small items that would fall through the wires.
10-14-18, 09:48 PM
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See the object just below the rear of the saddle?That is a short piece of wooden dowel attached to the end of a 1/8" x 3/4" aluminum bar stock, with the end bolted to the rack.
It works nicely with my Dinotte 140R tail light.
10-14-18, 09:54 PM
#21
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Originally Posted by Shimagnolo
See the object just below the rear of the saddle?That is a short piece of wooden dowel attached to the end of a 1/8" x 3/4" aluminum bar stock, with the end bolted to the rack.
It works nicely with my Dinotte 140R tail light.
10-14-18, 09:58 PM
#22
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Originally Posted by daoswald
Are you sure that chain couldn't be reduced by a pair of links? Looks like a bump could make the chain contact the derailleur cage. That aside, what a beautiful bike!
I have tested it in in every gear, and it does work fine, even if it looks wonky.
10-15-18, 05:38 AM
#23
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Several companies that sell tail lights sell brackets to attach them to a rear rack.
What light do you have?
What light do you have?
10-15-18, 09:13 AM
#24
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Originally Posted by Kapusta
Several companies that sell tail lights sell brackets to attach them to a rear rack.
I have one attached to a Racktime rack. Works great.
10-15-18, 05:47 PM
#25
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These are pretty cool if you have M6 threaded brake posts:
https://store.oceanaircycles.com/pro...-light-adapter
or this will work with any threaded braze-on you may have (M5 I think):
https://problemsolversbike.com/produ...mounts_-_27182
Or this is for a front rack - might work with a rear rack?:
https://problemsolversbike.com/produ...mount_-_271821
https://store.oceanaircycles.com/pro...-light-adapter
or this will work with any threaded braze-on you may have (M5 I think):
https://problemsolversbike.com/produ...mounts_-_27182
Or this is for a front rack - might work with a rear rack?:
https://problemsolversbike.com/produ...mount_-_271821
