Hey all! Couldn't find any threads for this topic so thought I'd make one...apologies if there already is one.

Am currently 2 and half months into a tour from Thailand to somewhere (currently in India) and have been encountering an issue with the shortening days - lighting myself up at night! I don't ride so often at night but with darkness getting nearer and nearer it's always nice to be lit up!

Currently I have a tubus front rack and have a small rubbish light fitted to the front, I also wear a headlamp. On the back is another rubbish $5 light. My biggest problem is finding places on the bike to put lights on. Considered handlebars but not much room there. Back rack is the same problem as the tent obscures the light quite a lot.

My question then is how to get around bike light placement and also any good brands out there.

Many thanks for any help!
Andrew

First of all, your trip sounds awesome.

Regarding your tent obscuring your rear light - I get around this issue by utilizing a rack-mounted rear light. That is, I use a light that attaches to the very back-most part of my rear rack, so there is very little chance that anything will obscure it. Does your rack have a small plate on the back with two mounting points? Many do, and if yours does as well, it means you can use something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/CygoLite-Rack...hot+rack+mount
https://www.amazon.com/CygoLite-Hots...YEFJM7133PFKKE

That is the combination I use. There are also lights like this that mount directly onto the rack:

https://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-98284...unt+bike+light

But I do recommend the Hotshot, as it is incredibly bright for a rear light.

I added a mount for a Handlebar LED headlight upon the Braze on I had added to My Steel Low rider hoop.

Predominant mount location for headlights is the Handlebars.. Lots of Competing companies ,
Add a 2nd Threadless stem under the first, stick a tube in it ,and you have more places for More Stuff.

What can you Buy There, on the road as You are ?
Or are you going to work out a Poste Restante Shipment to some where, for an internet Purchase?

Tropical means there also is less of a wide variation between summer and winter daylight hours

than it is for us at the 45th latitude ..


Q: how much sooner does the sun go down in Thailand ? its not that much variation being Tropical..

A: Internet Data for Bangkok, Daylight Hours

1)11:24 2)11:40 3)12:02 4)12:25 5)12:45 6)12:54

7)12:50 8)12:33 9)12:11 10)11:47 11)11:28 12)11:19





...

For randonneuring, I use a hub-generator headlight, one advantage being that it's ready at any time.
For taillights, I use multiple Planet Bike Superflashes. On the tandem, I have two on the rack itself, to others on the rear stays. You may have to get creative. On some helmets, you can mount one on the back with a zip tie.

You did not say which Tubus front rack, if it is an Ergo or Tara or one of the others with a hoop over the wheel, you can mount a light on that hoop.

I took a piece of inner tube rubber about 3/4 inch (or about 20mm) wide and long enough that I could wrap it around the bar over the wheel until it was a diameter about the same as a handlebar. Then put a piece of tape on it to keep it from unwrapping. If you try this, put some tension on the rubber when you wrap it so it grips the rack tubing tightly and does not shift position. Then mount a handlebar mount type light on it. It however will catch wheel spray so it is best if your light has good weatherproofing. See photo.

I no longer use a light in this location, I switched to a dynohub and I permanently mount a light at the fork crown.

to be seen lights such as these, sold by Decathlon (a couple of locations in India) are cheap, effective and can be attached to essentially anything (our bunch used helmets, with white light facing front and red facing rear.

to see lights can be mounted on a fork bracket. May not be easy to get one under way. I've also mounted a catEye sideways on the steerer tube. Not first best, but beats holding the light in your hand while you pedal.... If you can order online and have things shipped, consider either some helmet compatible light or something like a Petzel

Problem Solvers makes this thingy:

Ah thanks for such quick and great replies!

Currently taking a break near to Darjeeling so I'm able to receive post, will look into one of the rear mounted light holders, seems like a good trick.

As for the front rack, I have exactly the same as setup with some inner tube and a light, but it's forever slipping down and am scared one day it's going to hit the tyres! Handlebar lights seem the way to go I guess.

Again, many thanks!
Andrew

Most towns will have a workshop with craftsman who can make a bracket or adapter for almost any situation. Use the rear rack bracket if you can. You can emulate handlebar diameter with wooden dowel.
Cycling at night in many Asian countries is quite risky.

Not been a problem for me. Perhaps you should take it off and put it back on with more tension on the rubber when you wrap it so it grips the metal better.

No clue what Thailand is like, but that holds VERY true for India. Heck, driving ANYTHING at night is quite risky.

As to the issue, on the back I think I'd just take some lashing straps around the tent, and attach the light to that.