Lights that will attach to the light mounting holes on racks

[John Grossbohlin]

I searched the forums for recent posts about LED battery lights that will attach to racks using the mounting holes on the racks. My sons and I have Surly front and rear racks on our Trek 520s and Surly LHT but I haven't found (yet?) front and rear lights that will mount on the rack. Does anyone know of any that are currently available?

[John Nelson]

I don't know about a headlight, but it sounds like you need one of these $5 brackets for your tail light.

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3108.html

Then you can put pretty much any tail light you want on it.

[BikeFreak]

Take a very close look at this page

http://www.bumm.de/

Lucas

[staehpj1]

I was always disappointed that rack bolt patterns and light bot patterns never seem to be the same, but I have always been able to manage something using bolts, tywraps, or both.  Sometimes I have drilled on or more new holes in the bracket but most often improvised something with no drilling.

It is annoying that there isn't some kind of standard pattern routinely used for the holes in both that would allow most lights to bolt to most racks without any tinkering.

[BrianW]

It seems there is a German "standard" to a degree, at least for Tubus racks. Many of the lights developed for the German market seem to adhere to that bolt pattern.

[Iowagriz]

Something like this?  http://www.paulcomp.com/ginolightmount.html

And then the bike-hack version of the same idea:  http://www.bikehacks.com/bikehacks/2012/03/alternative-bike-light-mount.html

[JayH]

Many of the lights come in two parts, a plastic ring meant to go around a seatpost and then the light itself which slides onto the ring part. Well I have an old cateye light and simply used an L bracket that is probably under a $1 at your local hardware store and a spare bolt and nut and I mount the light using the L bracket and not the ring part. Works fine and is a cheap solution.  You'd have to be willing to tinker though...

Jay

[John Grossbohlin]

I've been trying to avoid the tinkering... While on the road for 7-15 weeks at a pop I generally only put the lights on the bike when I need them, otherwise they are stowed in a panier. I've found they are less prone to damage/corrosion by doing this.  As such being able to install/remove easily without tools is desirable.

As I was placing an REI order yesterday for wool hiking socks I checked on the Planet Bike mount. They do not carry that item... I'll check with my LBS as that mount looks like a viable solution.

As suggested by others, it would be really handy if there were a standard, or even two, for the rack hangers and lights!

[staehpj1]

I use inexpensive blinkies like the 5 led $10 ones from Performance.  I sometimes have found them on sale for $6.  They have a bracket that bolts on and the light clicks into and out of  the bracket.  The last one I installed I used one bolt and two tywraps.  I'd post a picture but that bike is in Florida at my daughter's house.

[BrianW]

My Planet Bike rear light has a clip that looks a lot like a belt clip for a cell phone case. It slips easily onto the light bracket on my Tubus rack and seems fairly stable there. I only put it on the rack when needed (rarely). Many other lights beside Planet Bike have similar brackets.

[Miller]

The Cygolite Hotshot is very bright, USB powered and can be mounted to the rear rack with the optional bracket.

[mdxix]

I use Portland Design Works RADBOT 1000, with 1.0 watt red LED, that includes a bracket for rear racks. It fit ones from multiple manufacturers.

[Old Guy New Hobby]

The Cygolite Hotshot is very bright, USB powered and can be mounted to the rear rack with the optional bracket.

This is a great light, very bright, and does well in rain. The optional bracket is quite cheap on their web site. I use it myself and have had no problems. There are several flash modes, and battery lasts over 20 hours on flash. (I measured it.) However, if you tour, keep in mind that if you can't get to USB power for recharging, you won't be able to just stop at a convenience store and buy a couple of AAAs for the next day or two. This company also has some great front lights. Some of them have large batteries that give 20 hours or more of flash time. Others have smaller batteries that are good for about 6 hours. Read the fine print.

[OldDogBC]

Sort of related to this post and while y'all are thinking about lights, I'm looking at options for mounting my front light. The bar bag obstructs a handlebar mount and the high-rise solutions are not something that I prefer. I have seen the custom mounts for the front of my Cosmos rack and that is under consideration (if I can make one elegant enough...) but what I think I would prefer is mounting the light to the head tube. That would enable me to reach the switch while riding and I think it would reduce the beating the light would take if mounted to the leading edge of the front rack.

I've thought a stainless pipe clamp with a "shop built"  mounting bracket would work but I was wondering if any of you have every done something like that or have seen other solutions. Ideas?

Todd

[John Grossbohlin]

Sort of related to this post and while y'all are thinking about lights, I'm looking at options for mounting my front light. The bar bag obstructs a handlebar mount and the high-rise solutions are not something that I prefer. I have seen the custom mounts for the front of my Cosmos rack and that is under consideration (if I can make one elegant enough...) but what I think I would prefer is mounting the light to the head tube. That would enable me to reach the switch while riding and I think it would reduce the beating the light would take if mounted to the leading edge of the front rack.

I've thought a stainless pipe clamp with a "shop built"  mounting bracket would work but I was wondering if any of you have every done something like that or have seen other solutions. Ideas?

Todd

I'm not sure I understand how mounting on the headtube gets around the problem of the bar bag???

I'd like to mount a light on the front Surely rack but behind the front edge of the rack so it doesn't get whacked... Fabrication would be OK but I'd rather find an off the shelf solution. This as on my first major trip (3,142 miles) I had a custom sized Silca frame pump and it cracked at the pump head. It was a real problem trying to replace it while on the road... that experience led me to stick with readily available accessories and components!