freckles

I successfully installed a new edelux II headlight on my oma'scenter fork mount. I love the new light but it casts a huge shadow of the front wheel/fender. I've gradually tipped it up to see if it clears but it does not unless I want to light up the sky and blind pedestrians/car drivers.

I tried the standard mount and the XL mount but still has the annoying shadow. light is 32" from the ground.

Original halogen light was mounted on left side of fork- where a rim dynamo would be. I read that would cast a shadow too?

What are my options? I read these lights are supposed to be mounted on the center fork mount for optimal lighting without dazzling pedestrian/car drivers?
Bend the mount to go up higher?
Handlebar mount?

jadocs

A picture would help.

base2 

If you use a much, much longer bolt and a bushing/stand-off/stack of 40 washers/etc... you should be able to move the light further forward away from the fork crown.

tyrion

If you have a front rack, that's a good place to mount a light.




https://problemsolversbike.com/artic...-see-the-light

Wilfred Laurier

As above, a rack. Or modify or add to the existing bracket to move the light up and/or forward a few cms. Or figure out some way to mount the light on the handlebars or under the stem or something.

pdlamb

I'd suggest ride with it as is for a week or two. I've got a similar setup. It was a change, coming from a circular beam on mounted on handlebars, and pointed down to minimize lighting up the sky, which gives you a lot of light on the pothole you're about to (thwap!) hit. After a short acclimatization period, though, I've come to appreciate the shadow that's about a yard in front of the wheel. Looking a bit forward of the wheel, I've got a better chance to miss that pothole, stick, or rock, and there's a nice side effect: lifting my eyes and head a bit gives me much better situational awareness at night.

rumrunn6

yes

freeranger

Maybe put an "extender" on to move it further forward from the handlebar--Amazon has them also, here's on from DX: https://www.dx.com/p/multi-functiona...l#.Xj2Gtm5FyP8

rumrunn6

I have extenders on 2 of my bikes. it's good for lights & cameras. I probably have better pics of it in use but these were handy. I prefer the camera on my helmet, but it's good on the bars if the road or bike trail is smooth. the light is always great on the extender



also useful for 2 lights, one steady, one flashing



this is the one I have have 2 of. I tried using it sticking out forward but it's more secure & stable standing upright

Vinqliq Bike Cycling Lightweight Carbon Fiber Handlebar Extender Extension Lamp Holder Mount with Aluminum Alloy Bracket for Bike Mounts, GPS Units, Headlights, Cameras

this clip is with a wide angle diffuser on the light & a DIY beam cutoff hood

without the diffuser

BobbyG

Long ago I had a headlight mounted to my fork crown with a bracket that lifted it high. NOw I use an LED light on the bars, but if it rains I strap it to the left front fork so I can drape my rain cape over the bars. From the fork mount the light casts a bow-shaped shadow to the right, but straight ahead is clear.
Anyway, I found this:

https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/schmidt-headlights.php

Digger Goreman

Given the suggestions, I will try my cygolite on my front rack

freckles

moved it up to the handlebars and it clears the front wheel- no shadow! and i like it!

I had a handlebar mounted "flashlight" kind of headlight set to flash before. always kept it aimed down because it did not have a cutoff beam and the flashing lit up the front wheel too- i hoped it made me more visible without causing anyone seizures from the light!

since the edelux has a cut off, i raised the light a bit. its weird but even though its physically higher (on the handlebar vs center fork) the high beam part of the light is lower than it used to be on the center fork so it lights the path ahead of me really well.

when on the center fork, i kept tilting up the light to try and try and get over the shadow and ended up lighting the sky instead of the road ahead.

OldTryGuy

Rarely use my drops so I have a NiteRider mounted on inside of each drop. Solid, no extension, minimize vibration -- just a different approach

JaccoW

The Edelux should be positioned in such a way that, when riding and pointed at a wall, the bright part of the light beam does not go any higher than the light itself so that it doesn't blind other riders.
There is always a bit of a shadow when mounted on the fork crown but nothing that is too bad.

rumrunn6

that sounds cool, got a pic?

rumrunn6

lol, I can relate. my light, before adding a DIY beam cutoff hood. used to do this (aiming it lower, helped a little, but didn't solve the blinding problem entirely)


then I did 2 things, 1, added wide angle diffuser &2, added a DIY beam cutoff hood (this spread the light sideways & cut off the beam from blinding oncoming traffic)


currently, I removed the wide angle diffuser but kept the hood & just play with aiming lower or higher depending on where I'm riding



aimed a little higher

JaccoW

FYI, my B+M IQ-X that's mounted to the front rack still casts a shadow.

Below are pictures of the IQ-XS before I replaced it with its brighter brother, the IQ-X.
I switched to the IQ-X because I didn't like the XS's beam shape for long-distance riding. The IQ-X has a much better beam that's less blotchy.





Beam shots:

rumrunn6

Oh that’s a great mount, wild looking lights & sweet beam

63rickert

An oma bike? Those have fenders. Fender mount always looks great. Easy with some lights, hard with others.

In home of oma bikes they believe the crown mount is best and the lights are designed to work best with that height. The shadow is there for everybody and they just accept it and work with it. If you can't accept it well you have some work to do.

Thank you for being aware of other road users and not blinding them.

Flip Flop Rider

use something to extend the top edge of the light housing, like a playing card or piece of plastic and tape it on there. Just make it for the top half of the light, like a small hood