Saddle Bag Rear Light
03-15-20, 07:34 AM
#1
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Saddle Bag Rear Light
Rear light points down
This is my wife's 7.2 Trek, smaller framer shorter wife. Several years ago we put the bontrager saddle bags on. Gives her a place for her phone and a couple of items like Kleenex. Well the crazy it gets on the road the more we try and to be seen. So my daughter bought me a pair of these bontrager lights for fathers day a couple of years ago. No matter what I do to this bag the light continues to point down. She has to have the bag. Any advice or a better bag choice?
03-15-20, 07:42 AM
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That's the trouble with mounting lights on soft structures. I see a lot of lights mounted on saddle bags, seat bags and backpacks... almost always pointing down. It's better (IMO) to mount the lights on a rigid part of the bike: seatpost, seat stays, chain stays or fenders. Alternatives are lights mounted on the (left) ankle, the helmet; or high-viz clothing and helmet.
03-15-20, 07:56 AM
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Can you post a side shot of your bike?
03-15-20, 08:04 AM
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How about sticking a wedge or block of closed-cell foam to the light or the bag to tip the light upwards?
Or wire the light to the back of her helmet instead.
Or wire the light to the back of her helmet instead.
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03-15-20, 10:28 AM
#8
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If the light points too much down, you have to take steps to realign it. Put something under the bottom end of the light. Try adjusting the position of the bag itself (e.g. using a cable tie on the seatpost is a good way to prevent the front mounting strap of the bag from sliding upwards.)
Trying to solve this by replacing bags makes no sense whatsoever. There will never be a perfectly aligned bag. Unless you order one from a bespoke tailor.
Trying to solve this by replacing bags makes no sense whatsoever. There will never be a perfectly aligned bag. Unless you order one from a bespoke tailor.
03-15-20, 10:50 AM
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A different bagthat is more supportive. or shape so that you can mount the light on the seat post.
Last edited by GeneO; 03-15-20 at 12:51 PM.
03-15-20, 11:23 AM
#10
mechanically sound
I just keep the light in the bag. If it gets dark, take it out and clip it to my jersey pocket or camelbak. I personally have never NOT lost a bike mounted blinkie (actually except for those silicone knog lights) to rough sections of road. Best of luck!
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03-15-20, 12:26 PM
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I see badly mounted/aimed lights frequently. I show customers that their LED lights tend to have a very narrow angle of light emission. Hold the light at right angles to one's eyes to see the bright center, then rotate the light only 10-20 degrees and watch the brightness drop off significantly.
Last Fall I started what will become a series of lighting articles for the local bike club's newsletter. The first installment was a broad ranging three person view of lights in general. Chapter two will have examples of mounting methods, poor and good alike.
This is one of my pet peeves. The lack of bike/frame/component options to mount third party brand lights. So the light companies have to design a mount that sort of works with as many bikes and set ups that they can't control. The results are lights that aim in the wrong directions, are easily knocked out of line, can get tangled up in the wheels and generally come loose/rattle after some time. Having said that there are a few components (seats, racks, helmets) that do incorporate lights in them. Unfortunately many of these attempts are lacking in the light's performance given they are designed by a stylist more often then an engineer that actually rides (or so it seems).
Here's a shot of my station wagon's rear rack light. The copy of a Pauls Gino mount works really well and I have a few on various bikes serving both head and tail light needs. Note the reflective tape on the fender too. Andy
Last Fall I started what will become a series of lighting articles for the local bike club's newsletter. The first installment was a broad ranging three person view of lights in general. Chapter two will have examples of mounting methods, poor and good alike.
This is one of my pet peeves. The lack of bike/frame/component options to mount third party brand lights. So the light companies have to design a mount that sort of works with as many bikes and set ups that they can't control. The results are lights that aim in the wrong directions, are easily knocked out of line, can get tangled up in the wheels and generally come loose/rattle after some time. Having said that there are a few components (seats, racks, helmets) that do incorporate lights in them. Unfortunately many of these attempts are lacking in the light's performance given they are designed by a stylist more often then an engineer that actually rides (or so it seems).
Here's a shot of my station wagon's rear rack light. The copy of a Pauls Gino mount works really well and I have a few on various bikes serving both head and tail light needs. Note the reflective tape on the fender too. Andy
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03-15-20, 05:42 PM
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can you attach it to your helmet? putting it on your helmet is safer anyways since it brings the light up higher for motorists to see it better.
03-15-20, 07:33 PM
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I question this suggestion. As mentioned most LED have a narrow angle of emission so a moving mount, like a helmeted head, will have that bright center of emission move about all the time.
Now as a secondary or tertiary light I can see the value. But as the primary I don't agree. As a spot headlight a helmet if great, unless you're that guy's partner and he looks at you... at night and blinds you momentarily. Andy
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