softreset

All -

I've been torn between posting this in commuting, touring, and here. As the bike is being used for the other two purposes. I'm departing in late September for a week long credit-card tour with some buddies and we're traveling light. I'm going with my Mercian, a handlebar mounted bag (Swift Paloma) and some panniers.

My Mercian has brake calipers (Tektro 539s) and no front rack or fork braze-on mounts. I most likely won't be putting fenders on as it doesn't rain in the greater Sacramento area till October (if we're lucky).

Due to the size of my bag and it's locating, handlebar mounted lights are out. I tried a VO mount (https://velo-orange.com/collections/...ccessory-mount) and didn't love it. I found that the beam sat up too high/parallel to the ground and on a few test rides with friends had them complaining about head on blindness.

Looking for some assistance recommendations on alternatives. I have dual Bontrager Ion lights at my disposal (no helmet mount).

bark_eater 

I just ordered a "Nob" computer mount. Peter White has them on his web site with pictures of them used as fork mounts for dynamo lights. Their on ebay but there seem to have been 3 or 4 different brand name versions. I'm useing the "Nob" to mount a battery light to one of the bull horns of a Velo Orange Crazy bar, for the the same reason of clearing the handle bar bag.

canklecat

When I use an AGU handlebar bag with KlickFix mount it blocks most handlebar mounted accessories -- lights, video camera.

So I mount my light on the head tube. It clears underneath the bag, no problems with seeing the road, and the bottom of the bag blocks spill overhead where it doesn't illuminate much of anything useful anyway.

I've used a NiteRider Lumina and Light & Motion Urban light that way. No problems.

If the light's supplied mount doesn't cover the head tube, a Two Fish rubber light mount block with velcro straps may work as a substitute. I used a Two Fish mount to replace my Light & Motion headlight's broken rubber band mount.

A couple of friends use light mounts on their forks with dual headlights. Works fine. I don't know what hardware they use but there are a few options for fork mounts.

noglider 

It's ugly, but it works great. I took some PVC pipe and cut it short. I mitered the inner end to fit the contour of the fork. I cut slits in it with a hacksaw. I attached it to the fork with a hose clamp. You see the rubber band light mount on it.

softreset

Thanks all the tips so far. The 'nob' looks worth a try to start and then go from there. I'm reluctant to put a hose clamp on my fork (and damage the wonderful paint) but if I put an insulation barrier between it and the fork that would work.

Looks like there's options!

robyr

Fork crown mounts are easily the best option, and will clear your bags. Lights on the fork blades tend to leave a huge shadow. Your Mercian deserves something classy, too.

gnappi

I bought a hokey accessory bar that clamps to the handlebar, but, despite juggling with its spacers to try to get it to stay put it was always moving going over bumps. The solution was to mount it straight up vertically so gravity didn't pull it down. With it being vertical it also has easier access while riding being closer to me than stuff mounted directly on the handlebar.

angerdan

Check this thread:
https://www.bikeforums.net/electroni...ole-mount.html

noglider 

What does that attach to?

canklecat

There are aluminum mounts similar to Tom's homebrew that mount to quick releases (or fixed skewers) or fork crown holes for fenders/brakes. They don't cost too much either.

The trick to minimizing shadows with fork mounted lights is to mount pairs, one on each fork. At least two folks I ride with do that. Works fine. Enhances their to-be-seen visibility from afar as well.

znomit

Depending on how deep your handlebar bag is a fork crown mount might fit
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/accessor...ssory-bracket/

noglider 

I have one of those, and it replaces the nut on the front wheel skewer. It works, but since the light ends up being very low, aiming the light is tricky. It's too easy to aim the light too high. It's not an ideal height for a headlight.

canklecat

I've noticed that problem with the fork-mounted lights a couple of friends use. They can be quite blinding.

That problem could be resolved if more bike headlights used beam shaping lenses like automobile and motorcycle headlights. But there are few of those for bicycles.

noglider 

I have the problem with my B&M shaped-beam light, too. Getting the angle so the sharp edge doesn't point up is tricky. The lower the mount, the trickier it is. And I can't reach my axle while I'm on the bike.

Tourist in MSN

As mentioned above, mounting a light at axle height is not ideal but I did that on my errand bike. I was not planning to put a dynohub wheel on that bike since I rarely ride it after dark, but I got a fantastic deal from a dealer on a new wheel that was pulled off of another bike. And I had a vintage dyno powered light in storage, so I upgraded the bike to dyno headlamp. The light is mounted on a piece of threaded rod in the fender mount on the fork dropout.

rumrunn6

Peter White has some ideas

https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/light-mounts.php

I have some things I saved on my Amazon wish list that might be of interest

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AUPC1F6...v_ov_lig_dp_it

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0761RX64G...v_ov_lig_dp_it

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CJXB5E...v_ov_lig_dp_it

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00458F88C...v_ov_lig_dp_it

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0029LKZNU...v_ov_lig_dp_it

but what about going back to that high bar mount you have & pointing your light down a little? maybe add a DIY beam cutoff hood? but maybe that bag would make a distracting shadow? so you have panniers then you have a rear rack? do you also have a trunk on top of that rack? if not, add that & ditch the front bar bag?

softreset

Interesting, in doing some additional research, I never thought about the quick release mounts. The handlebar mount that creates the elevated rail isn't going to work with the length/depth of my bag. The light has to be too close to parallel to the ground and even on low beam it was blinding oncoming traffic/cyclists. About 8 miles of my daily commute is on a two way MUP so I can't have that, long-term.

jadocs

Why cant you just rotate the light in the mount itself? It’s hard to believe a few inches in mount height with the light aimed appropriately would make any difference in beam pattern or aiming.