jefnvk

For those of you who run with both handlebar bags and front panniers, where do you mount your front light? There isn't a place on the handlebars that I can find that doesn't affect either my grip or is blocked by the handlebar bag, and anywhere on the fork is obstructed by bags. Bars are butterfly. Is there any sort of mounts available for the hoop on the rack?

Andrew R Stewart 

My solution is to make my own mounting point. Simple AL plate, a star nut for the tube stud clamping thing. Paul's and others make QR skewer end studs which can be fitted elsewhere. It just takes some creative thinking and basic fab work. Andy

Snuts

Jeff, many know I don't like handle bar bags. I much prefer my lunchkit, on a front rack. I fear interference with cables, etc. and this helps keep the weight lower.

But to your question. I found an item called a Space Bar at a LBS. Perfect, I keep both my city-see-me light, and my dark MUP bright light both on there. Added, there is space left for my "Cute" little chime. My spare light is hanging off to the side, simply to make it easy to find in the dark should I experience trouble with the others. All the other junk is some of my One-Wrap.

Hope this helps.



-Snuts-

kcblair

YEp, Space Bar is great . Got one for my tourng bike, to get the light and GoPro above the the handlebar bag. Only $11. KB.

jefnvk

Thanks Snuts. Completely forgot about that, I've actually got a similar one in one of my boxes that I got in a mystery grab bag from the LBS sale last year!

Not sure if I'm sold on the handlebar bag yet, it may get left behind due to airline checked luggage space concerns, but I am putting everything together with the intent of keeping it on.

Snuts

I like how my top rack on the front ties the low riders together as if it were a top over loop. Solid as beans (how's that for Grandpa talk).
Add any bag, etc. as you wish.

-Snuts-
(I added a GoPro mount on the front of my Space Bart as well)

Rob_E

I use a mount from here: Light brackets to move my light below my handlebar roll, but still near the crown (which I assume would be over your panniers). When I had a front rack, with a platform, I used the same piece to get the light mounted in front of the rack.

This is also a problem that Problem Solvers has tackled, so they may have a solution. Problem Solvers

Tourist in MSN

First photo, when I was still using battery powered headlights, I wrapped a strip of rubber from an inner tube (about 3/4 inch wide) around the hoop several times to approximate the diameter of a handlebar. Used a piece of electrical tape to keep it wrapped. Then mounted my light on that. If you use this method, put some tension on the strip when you wrap it so that it will grip the hoop tubing tightly and stay put.

Second photo was taken on my trip to Florida two months ago, I mounted a light temporarily for that trip only on the front platform rack. I did a sloppy wiring job because it was intended to only last two weeks. This is on the same bike as shown in first photo, I have not removed the battery powered light addition that I made to the hoop since I do not normally have a dynohub on this bike and still occasionally use a battery powered light. No panniers on the bike when I took the photo, but the panniers were not a problem.

Third photo, my expedition bike in Iceland, no problem mounting a light on the fork crown. Panniers and handlebar bag did not conflict.

Fourth photo, the bike that I just completed building up, on this one I had some trouble getting the light bracket to work with a V brake that uses a travel agent, I did some serious bending on the bracket to make it work. You can see the bottom of the handlebar bag, no panniers on the bike at the time of photo but panniers will work. Fortunately I had a big vice and a 16 inch long crecsent wrench so I could bend some pretty stiff steel.

Aushiker

and a close up



This setup has been in place for approximately 15,000 km without any issues of note.

B. Carfree

These handlebar bag racks are pricey, but they do have a light mount out front clear of the panniers.

https://www.compasscycle.com/product...ponents/racks/

jefnvk

Thanks again! The bar I have is too small for my space mounts clone without wrapping it with a tube or such, and I'd prefer to jsut attach it to the hoop if I'm doing that. May try to fab up something that goes in that center fork hole.

chrisx

Could you use this to mount 2 flash lights to the bars?
https://www.fenix-store.com/fenix-al...se-bike-mount/

I drilled a hole in a pvc cap and mounted one to each mid blade hole before, to hold lights.

These have 360 degree rotation and long straps, I have mounted one to each bar end before. You could mount on to each side of a fully taped butterfly bar. I lost partial use of the bar end. They remove eaisly, mount and all. They strap is long enough for use on the fork.
https://www.lightandmotion.com/choose...00-fast-charge

Easiest solution;
Use 2 velcro straps too attach a flash light to your helment.
I use this one,
https://www.fenix-store.com/fenix-uc...imate-edition/
About 5 hours at 400 lumens, nice wide beam pattern.
Not the latest model, new ones are lighter.

Do not wear a helmet?
Get a headlamp, they come in 900 lumen sizes now.

I find 1 lamp on high perhaps 1.5 hours is not long enough for touring.
2 lamps on low perhaps 6 hours of light seems to get me by between charges.

jefnvk

TO be honest, I have absolutely no use for a light for lightening the road, moreso a blinky for visibility. Not too worried about battery life.

I do like the PVC comment, though. Could easily drill a hole in that to mount to the center fork hole, and put the light on the PVC tube.

Tourist in MSN

I like that threaded rod setup you used.

Tourist in MSN

I finally got around to taking a photo of my recent addition to my rando bike. This obviously would not work with front panniers however. A long bolt, a couple extra nuts & washers and a plastic spacer.

I got a really good price on a used wheel with dynohub, so I added it to this bike. But with the light this low it creates more shadows than I like. But I was looking for a simple way to mount the light and this was the simplest. If the fork had mid-fork rack mounts, I would have used that to raise the light higher.

Aushiker

Thanks. It is just a long bolt with a couple of nuts. Had to go long to clear the brake cable hanger. I have been pleasantly surprised that it has survived a lot of rough dirt track riding.

djb

if only for visibility, another "and now for something completely different" suggestion is what I do for a front blinkie, I put one of these usb rechargeable, "supposed to be strapped onto the handlebar" onto the visor of my helmet.

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5025-5...FQGSaQod0HsBIQ

It looks kinda dorky, but if in urban environments at night or dusk, being able to just turn your head and direct the white blinkie towards a side arriving car that often doesnt notice you , is a very effective way to make sure that they do notice you.
Since I started doing this a bunch of years ago, the sometimes regular situation of cars pulling out in front of me because they didnt notice the safety vest wearing, bar mounted blinkie biker in front of them has been pretty much eliminated.

I realize its not the same as a bigger light, it looks kinda goofy, and is really more suited to a commuting thing because you have to charge the light regularly, but if its just for occasional use riding at night, it does work well and doesnt matter what bike you use if you ride multiple bikes and are out in the dark for shorter rides.

ps, lots of neat mounting suggestions here....

Tourist in MSN

I could not find any long M6 bolts at stores in USA, so I used a threaded rod on my most recent build to get the extra length I needed. Thus, I assumed yours also was with a threaded rod.

Yours does look nice.

Maelochs

I want more close-ups--BIG pics--of this entire set up. I love it.

Snuts

Sure. I am with family at my first leg of this tour. Which will include a wheels-off wash, and service. I will be glad to take some photo's, and add my experience.

Later,



-Snuts-

prathmann

I use a Magic Shine clone that normally attaches to the handlebar with an O-ring. I found that I could use the same mount to attach it to the head tube where the light shines below the handlebar bag and above any front bags. Since it turns with the bike frame instead of the bars the aim of the light is a little different when starting to turn but it still works fine.

Snuts

Here you go, as promised.
I added a few photo's of how my hands ride. Most often open palm on top of the trigger shifters, using my ring finger to shift. The mount for my Bluetooth speaker is simply Ty-Wraped on. The mount for my mirror is a piece of plastic shaped to produce a flat pivot/mount for my mirror which is through bolted. I'm very happy with this mirror mount.
I often hang clothing from the light "tower" to blow in the wind, or set my helmet on top when parked shopping.
Hope this helps.

-Snuts-

jefnvk

Oh, @Snuts, you're one of those hoodlums blasting the music as you're tooling down the road?

Awesome pics of the setup though. Answers another question I had, on what folks with butterfly bars did for bar end plugs...

Snuts

My experience with crossing the Canadian Prairies, and now the North Shore of Lake Superior yes some occasional inspiration is welcome.
It's not the volume, but the beat (cadence).



-Snuts-

Doug64

Jeff, I know this is not answering your question, but if you don't need a bike mounted light for lighting the road, you might consider using a headlamp for the few occasion that riding in the dark is necessary. We seldom ride at night, but use our headlamps for visibility when we do. They also work great great around camp.