Mounting Headlights to Surly Nice Rack
 

I have an LHT with Surly Nice Racks on the front and rear. I am considering mounting two Mag Lights on the underside of the front rack, so they will not interfere with front panniers, nor with anything place on top of the front rack. Headlights on the handlebars don't work well, because I often use a handlebar bag as well.

My thought is to stuff the Mag Lights into cut pieces of intertubing to avoid any metal-to-metal contact and also for rattle control. Maybe attach them with black zip ties?

Has anyone done anything like this, or have any better ideas for mounting light (any type) to the underside of a Nice Rack?

Thanks!

I got one of the bolt on tubular adapters, Pauls Gino in my case,
it goes on a 5mm bolt, and lets you mount one of handlebar lights
That have better reflector design and beam pattern.. than a flashlight.
particularly if not aimed.
If no braze on screw mount, a there are clamp on pieces
such as for computers on aero bars.

another mount type replaces the nut on the QR wheel skewer.
axle height.

That would be a more cost effective route but ive got this little adapter called the knob,I know lol anyway I have it attached to my fork just above my pannier and it holds my planet bike headlite handlebar mount perfectly.My lbs ordered it for me it was only like 10 bucks.If you get the same setup get the larger knob.LOL

I described how I mounted a regular handlebar type light on a Surly front rack here:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post12713360

There are other ideas at that thread too.

Sorry its spelled Nob

Mag lights are so very 80's for bike lighting. I used to use them when thats' about as good as it got for battery powered lights for the bike.

the new LED bike lights are much brighter, the bulbs won't burn out, and will flash for daytime visibility.

try a new 1W light from Pbike or Niterider or any other manufacturers. Princeton Tec makes a bike light that converts to a headlamp.

to mount trad hbar mount bike lights to front rack, zip tie a round tube to the rack across the front of the rack. attach bike light mounts to tube.

Here's how I mounted mine: https://skitch.com/jeraimee/8x6ds/imag0016

Thanks, everyone, for the great ideas and links. I guess I'll get out of the 80's and forget the mag light idea. :-)

Tourist in MSN, I like the simple way you've shown your front light mounted and I may go with that idea. In the link you provided to another forum, I saw another good idea by jwbnyc, using a Paul Gino and Topeak Bar Extender. Still thinking about that one since I can't get my mind around the way the bar extender would mount. i.e., the Paul Gino connected to the Nice Rack braze with a M5 bolt would have the Gino facing the wrong direction for mounting the bar extender - unless the bar extender pivots this-way-and-that-way. I've never seen a bar extender in person.

For tail lights, I have two Superflash lights mounted on either side of the rear Nice Rack, on the vertical bars. I built up the bars with inter tubing (similar to Tourist in MSN's idea for the front) and attached the light brackets. I'm plenty visible in low light and I don't ride in pitch darkness.

Actually, I'm not planning a big tour ... just enjoying the gadgets. I must say, however, that Ireland has been calling my name for quite a while ...