Fitting lights to carbon seat post

CiB

I posted this over in commuting but there's a good depth of knowledge here too.

Got the new bike then. Lovely jubbly, all the stuff. Went to swap lights last night from current to new bike and found that they just ain't gonna fit. The old bike has a normal size seat tube & rear forks, the new one being carbon is totally different and off the scale as far as fitting lights is concerned. I plan to do what I've done before and prowl around toy shops etc to see if I can spot anything that might do the job - it's amazing how many kids toys that cost a pound or so are built around light plastic tubing of the correct diameter. Trouble is you end up with a bit of lurid coloured plastic on a nice bike.

Is anyone aware of adapters / oversized light fittings for carbon seat posts & rear forks? Anyone else been in this position and found a good workaround?

Wooliferkins

What make is your rear light?

timb64

You could try Knog lights .Their range fits using stretchy rubber fittings which won't mark carbon and are a bit more flexible:-

http://www.knog.com.au/

CiB

Wooliferkins wrote:

What make is your rear light?

Cateye TL LD1100 x 2; not keen to bin them as they're v good.

ride_whenever

have you got the new cateye bracket with the flexible strap and worm gear?

tri-sexual

use a drill to make a hole just below the seat clamp so that the hole goes through both the carbon seat tube of the frame and the seat tube. then use a wood screw and screw the light through this hole. one hole is usually sufficent, if not then by all means drill another to make sure that it is fixed securely. problem solved, no unsightly bits of plastic to spoil the look of your new bike.
























just kidding, you know its a joke right? PUT DOWN the drill

CiB

ride_whenever wrote:

have you got the new cateye bracket with the flexible strap and worm gear?

No - it's a P clip type with a nut & bolt through the clamp.

Tri-s. Thanks; tried that but it didn't work. No damage done tho - I filled the seat tube with quick dry concrete to stop water getting in. Worked a treat, and the frame stiffness is awesome. You should try it.

will3

this
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Catey ... 300003973/

or this

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Catey ... 360030036/

should sort you out

timb64

tri-sexual wrote:

use a drill to make a hole just below the seat clamp so that the hole goes through both the carbon seat tube of the frame and the seat tube. then use a wood screw and screw the light through this hole. one hole is usually sufficent, if not then by all means drill another to make sure that it is fixed securely. problem solved, no unsightly bits of plastic to spoil the look of your new bike.
























just kidding, you know its a joke right? PUT DOWN the drill

Watch out or you'll be in trouble with the humour police!

will3

tri-sexual wrote:

use a drill to make a hole just below the seat clamp so that the hole goes through both the carbon seat tube of the frame and the seat tube. then use a wood screw and screw the light through this hole. one hole is usually sufficent, if not then by all means drill another to make sure that it is fixed securely. problem solved, no unsightly bits of plastic to spoil the look of your new bike.


:

Sounds a bit long winded - why not just use a nail?

APIII

How about taking the nut and bolt out of the clip and replacing it with a zip tie?

will3

Blu tak 8)

timb64

Gaffer tape always enhances!

Wooliferkins

http://www.cateye.com/store/parts.php?cid=3_79 Unfortunately US only but I would hope Zyro the UK distributor could help.

CiB

Cheers all. Will look into the suggestions.

Stellite

www.sjscycles.co.uk/category.asp?cat_id ... 4&sfile=1=

Try this, I got a spare from here, and also the Edinburgh Bike Coop stock the spares too

keef66

My Cateye LD1100 attaches to my carbon post (Deda something) with the standard clip so I guess your post is different. Thinner? Fatter? Funny shape?

Actually, most of the time it's clipped to the loop on the back of my seatpack, which luckily holds it at just the right angle.

Tonymufc

Will the clamp fit the seat stays or is it too big. If not stick it on the stay.

MattC59

tri-sexual wrote:

use a drill to make a hole just below the seat clamp so that the hole goes through both the carbon seat tube of the frame and the seat tube.

just kidding, you know its a joke right? PUT DOWN the drill

You almost got me with that !! I was just about to reply expressing my doubt at this

CiB

Answer:

Get a decent sized pot of baby cream (Zudo Cream will do), ideally empty, about 3" diameter. It needs to be made of plastic thick enough to carry a light on an English road at 30+mph, but flexible enough to wrap round the seat post.

Cut the screw top section off, then cut another circle from its diameter on the smooth part of the tub. You're now holding a circular strip of plastic about ½" wide & 3" dia. Cut it across its width so that you now have a strip of plastic ½" x 3".

Wrap it round the seat post to eyeball the necessary length - trim off the surplus. Eyeball where the hole needs to go. Too close to the seat post and it won't close up properly, too far away and it'll just wobble. Drill a hole through the ends big enough for the light bracket screw.

Clean the edges, round the ends off so that they look nice and don't foul the inner dimensions of the light bracket. Assemble, stand back, admire. Place original P clip in safe place never to be seen again.

They look smart ( I did 1 for each of the rear lights). The white complements the white bling on the bike, and they look the part - slim, trim, meaningful bits of kit.

hopper1

ChrisInBicester wrote:

Answer:

Get a decent sized pot of baby cream (Zudo Cream will do), ideally empty, about 3" diameter. It needs to be made of plastic thick enough to carry a light on an English road at 30+mph, but flexible enough to wrap round the seat post.

Cut the screw top section off, then cut another circle from its diameter on the smooth part of the tub. You're now holding a circular strip of plastic about ½" wide & 3" dia. Cut it across its width so that you now have a strip of plastic ½" x 3".

Wrap it round the seat post to eyeball the necessary length - trim off the surplus. Eyeball where the hole needs to go. Too close to the seat post and it won't close up properly, too far away and it'll just wobble. Drill a hole through the ends big enough for the light bracket screw.

Clean the edges, round the ends off so that they look nice and don't foul the inner dimensions of the light bracket. Assemble, stand back, admire. Place original P clip in safe place never to be seen again.

They look smart ( I did 1 for each of the rear lights). The white complements the white bling on the bike, and they look the part - slim, trim, meaningful bits of kit.

Admittedly, it was a long time since I went to school, so things may have changed, but, surely Diameter and Circumference are still different?...

Surely this at £1.19 would have been a much neater and more professional looking. Probably less stressful, too...

strodey

I messed around for ages with this, then i just went for simplicity, 4 cable ties on the saddle rails, sturdy and easy! lightweight too!