Bike light on seat stay?
08-10-11, 03:24 PM
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Bike light on seat stay?
This didn't seem appropriate for the lights forum because it's not really about the specific light...
Does anyone have their rear light on the seat stay? I recently got a second one (the first one stayed on the seatpost) and the seat stay seemed like the best place for it. It seems very secure, but I just can't tell if it's a safe place or not. Most companies show lights being put there, so I'm assuming it's not uncommon.
I put it on right side, because it looked like there's more clearance between the wheel and the stay (because the derailleur's on that side). Any opinions?
Does anyone have their rear light on the seat stay? I recently got a second one (the first one stayed on the seatpost) and the seat stay seemed like the best place for it. It seems very secure, but I just can't tell if it's a safe place or not. Most companies show lights being put there, so I'm assuming it's not uncommon.
I put it on right side, because it looked like there's more clearance between the wheel and the stay (because the derailleur's on that side). Any opinions?
08-10-11, 03:31 PM
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Left side is the traffic side.
I ride with two guys that have lights mounted there.
Not my photo
I ride with two guys that have lights mounted there.
Not my photo
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Last edited by 10 Wheels; 08-10-11 at 03:34 PM.
08-10-11, 03:41 PM
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WOW! Guess they have no problem with drafting at night....
Seatstay seems like as good a place as any to put an extra light.
Seatstay seems like as good a place as any to put an extra light.
Last edited by Booger1; 08-10-11 at 04:00 PM.
08-10-11, 04:09 PM
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I have some mounted on seatstays but seatpost is my location of choice. I like to have them mounted fairly high up so the drivers can see me over the bonnet/hood of their car. Also i have struggled to get the angle right on the seatstay, depending on the design of the bracket, because i think lights are at their most effective when they shine directly into the eyes of approaching drivers. With lights i do think more is better so mount one on the seatpost and one on the seatstay.
08-10-11, 04:40 PM
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I ride with either two or three Planet Bike Superflash lights depending upon which bike I'm riding.
On the aluminum bike... one of left seat stay, one on seat post, and one on back of wedge bag.
On the carbon bike... one on seat post and one on back of wedge bag.
On the aluminum bike... one of left seat stay, one on seat post, and one on back of wedge bag.
On the carbon bike... one on seat post and one on back of wedge bag.
08-10-11, 07:46 PM
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Wherever it fits and wherever it can be seen from behind is ok.
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08-10-11, 07:58 PM
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Thanks for the tips guys. Especially for pointing out mounting it on the roadside stay. I'm probably going to get a second set because of how awesome they are, so I'll have one on each.
08-10-11, 08:01 PM
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Geezuz, one could only guess that the cyclist on the right is a little paranoid about being hit from the rear. Personally I'd have invested more in some SOLAS reflective material and less on the flashers.
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08-10-11, 09:17 PM
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Seat post is dandy unless obscured by a seat bag, or trunk. I use the seat stays.
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08-11-11, 02:02 AM
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You can put 2 on the seatpost.
Dont use both on flash, it makes judging distance very hard. Use one solid and one on flash or both on solid.
Dont use both on flash, it makes judging distance very hard. Use one solid and one on flash or both on solid.
08-11-11, 04:25 AM
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For my main lights I run a fender or rack mounted steady on light, I put a PB Superflash on the seat post. I have one bike that has a light mounted on the seat stay. I always try to run a steady and a flasher. Nothing wrong with a stay mount light, just make sure you level it out a bit. I saw a guy one night that had his flasher pointed at the sky, didn't see it until I was right on top of him. I also try to run some extra reflective material, whether on the bike, bag or my body. On some of my older bikes I used to wrap the seat stays in frame colored reflective tape bands.
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08-11-11, 06:52 AM
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Seat stay is OK. A consideration is if it has enough range of tilt and clearance to be aimed horizontally rearward considering the angle of the seat stay. Also, some mounts won't clamp securely around small diameter seat stay. Apiece of rubber or silicone hose can be used to make up the difference. Make sure the mounting is secure so that the light won't rotate around the stay and run into your spokes.
08-11-11, 09:02 AM
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08-11-11, 08:28 PM
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I found out that the one on my bag had a tendency to get tilted up or down and not give the coverage I thought it should. But that probably depends on the type of bag and type of light.
Aaron
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08-11-11, 11:15 PM
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08-12-11, 07:17 AM
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A PB superflash on my left seat stay
08-12-11, 09:59 AM
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This didn't seem appropriate for the lights forum because it's not really about the specific light...
Does anyone have their rear light on the seat stay? I recently got a second one (the first one stayed on the seatpost) and the seat stay seemed like the best place for it. It seems very secure, but I just can't tell if it's a safe place or not. Most companies show lights being put there, so I'm assuming it's not uncommon.
Does anyone have their rear light on the seat stay? I recently got a second one (the first one stayed on the seatpost) and the seat stay seemed like the best place for it. It seems very secure, but I just can't tell if it's a safe place or not. Most companies show lights being put there, so I'm assuming it's not uncommon.
Anyway, it's generally more visible for longer periods on the left stay (for overtaking cars).
I installed the light on both sides and looked at the bicycle from behind pretending ("vroom, vroom") I was a driver in a car/truck. I've also observed lights on other bikes.
It's not uncommon to have a light on the stay. Very few people install lights on the right stay.
(It would be more visible for traffic on the right of you but the rear light is mostly for traffic behind you.)
Anyway, given that you are talking about a second light, putting in a less visible place isn't quite as critical.
Last edited by njkayaker; 08-12-11 at 10:07 AM.
08-12-11, 10:00 AM
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I know exactly what you mean. I keep something in my bag that makes the end of the bag rigid and keeps the light positioned correctly.
