Adding lights to a TT bike

daxplusplus

Anyone got any ideas\advice on the best way to fit lights to a TT bike (it's so that I can cycle home after a race and not worry about the darkness setting in).

Also any recommendations on lights for said bike.

They've got to be easy to add\remove from the bike.

The back light will be attached to the seat post - I'll probably be able to figure some way. Looking at a Flare or similar.

But stumped on the front light.

I do have a stack of Chinese torches but can't see them being much use for this.

Thanks

Colinthecop

Head torch...?

Bobbinogs

Colinthecop wrote:

Head torch...?

Good idea, although I suspect Daxdaxplus has a pointy pointy helmet. If not, the Exposure Diablo/Sirius torches are fantastic (super-lightweight, well made, will give great light for 3 hours and come with a helmet and bar attachment...but they are fecking expensive).

brettjmcc

Easy peasy for you, if you also use a Garmin or similar

Raceware direct. They may even be able to make just a light mount up for you

https://twitter.com/racewaredirect/stat ... 08/photo/1

daxplusplus

Yep I'll be wearing a pointy hat so helmet mounted systems are out. Maybe I could wear some glasses ala Orbital

That raceware attachment looks cool but that plus the exposure light is pushing the costs up.

Hmm, has got me thinking though .. if I can reuse the Chinese torches then that'll cut back on the costs.

neilo23

I have a back light which is attached with rubber bands which is dead easy to put on and take off. I'm sure there must be something similar for the front light.

cougie

I've got a saddlepack with a clip on the back for my TT bike so its dead easy to put a light on if I need it.
Or could you perhaps take a backpack with you and attach lights and reflectives to that ?

I'm sure you can get a lockblock to mount your torch at the front to the tri bars. It just needs to be 90 degrees turned from the normal lockblock.

mfin

Exposure Flare you can get a bracket for that allows it to attach to the back of the seat rails for under the saddle placement. Be careful if you do this that the O-ring is always in good condition on the back of the light as this is what stops it from falling/pulling out rearwards. Replacing this with a thin Zip-Tie also works and the Zip-Tie can be positioned so that the nobbly bit sits against the plastic of the mount the light goes in.

Flare is a bright light and being under the seat I suppose it is aero and will work on most bikes. Downside is that if you are riding with a jacket with a long tail it will obscure it.

daxplusplus

Thanks for the ideas\advice .. all good stuff.

I got there in the end.

I've taken a punt on a pair of these universal mounts: http://dx.com/p/universal-nylon-mount-for-flashlights-and-lasers-12000 .. at just under £3 for the pair (and shipping) I reckon they'll provide the base from which I can bodge a solution for the front using my torches. It'll be quick release so that I can take take them off for racing and then whip them back on when I need to cycle home clutching all the trophies I've won (in my own mind).

I'm currently look at various rear light solutions (Blackburn, Flare, etc) but all look like they'll be easy to sort out with rubber o rings or similar.

Cheers.

brettjmcc

My flare fits round my Quintana Roo aero seatpost just fine. Can take a pic if required. Used it all last season like that and no issues.

As for the point hat. When I ride out, I go with a back pack with the pointy helmet in it and ride with my road helmet. I leave the rucksack in the timekeepers car, so surely you could do that?

If you just want it for to be seen i.e. small flashing light, then I used a Cateye loop over my base bar just fine. However, it won't do if it's completey dark and you need an actual light.

Other thought, use some old school pump mounts and then strap on your chinese torches to the bull horns. If you need a pic, I can do that too

Jon_1976

topeak redlite aero for the seat post?

LegendLust

I use one of these with a Flare

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/exposure-flare- ... g-bracket/

dave in swansea

I have seen a post somewhere (maybe DIY who does a lot of lights) instructions for fitting torches to handle bars. Essentially using old inner tubes, first one piece to sheath the torch and make it non slip. Then using mtb tube offcuts to bungy the torch to the drop bar. Something similar might work on the aero bars.

pilot_pete

Try one of these from Cateye on the rear;



It's a Cateye Rapid 3 Rear LED

With one of these;



Here is one in use on my TT bike;









Works a treat; brilliant high visibility flashing mode, even in daylight. Fit is neat and very tidy. Be warned, I don't know if it was a faulty light, or not put together properly or my incompetence but the light fell apart on my first TT when I hit a pothole. Shop gave me another and as you can see in the pictures I made sure it would not come apart again by sealing it at the join with electrical tape. Been perfect ever since.

PP

brettjmcc

Ha, I've just clicked on the link for those mylon mounts, and that's exactly what I meant. Here's what I meant by using the Chinese torch with an old pump mount. I'll move the other bikes to show you how I do the Flare tomorrow


Untitled by Brett-GT40, on Flickr

daxplusplus

Liking all the pictures and info.

When I get the nylon mounts I'll grab some photos too and a review on how they get on.

As for the rear .. I have an old cateye rear light that might work with that RM-1 Rear Saddle Mount Bracket :-)

brettjmcc

Here's what I do with the Flare on the rear, this also allows me to tuck a Topeak Aero Wedge right up into the Adamo for 25s just in case. I also sometimes put a Cateye loop rear onto the tab of the Topeak if I want a (not as bright) backup


Untitled by Brett-GT40, on Flickr

johngti

Pilot Pete wrote:

Try one of these from Cateye on the rear;



It's a Cateye Rapid 3 Rear LED

With one of these;



Here is one in use on my TT bike;



Works a treat; brilliant high visibility flashing mode, even in daylight. Fit is neat and very tidy. Be warned, I don't know if it was a faulty light, or not put together properly or my incompetence but the light fell apart on my first TT when I hit a pothole. Shop gave me another and as you can see in the pictures I made sure it would not come apart again by sealing it at the join with electrical tape. Been perfect ever since.

PP

I've just done EXACTLY the same thing but on my road (ok, only) bike. Hoping the light being a bit higher up will show up better. And it looks a ton better than attaching the light to the seat post!

ViperS15

Another option on the back is the Cateye Rapid X. One of the best rears I have seen and it's made to fit onto an aero post. http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cat ... t-ec053177

diy

I just use a couple of loops of mtb inner tube around the extension bars on a couple of XM-l2 Cree torches. Gives me at least 1000 Lumen with 2. total cost about £15


see video of some older XM-L T6 lights about 550 Lumen. Easily adjusted too as you can see about half way through vid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kQL6UnNmjk