Front light with a bar bag?

[Crankarm]

For those who regularly use a bar bag, how have you got your front light rigged up, as having a bar bag makes mounting a front light quite difficult. I have Topeak and Vaude Aqua bar bags, but with both positioning of a front light is tricky. With the Vaude BB I can get away with having an extended space bar extending down from the handle bars 45 degs on the right side and mounting the light there as it just clears the bag. But with the Topeak I can't do this as it is slightly too deep so have slipped the space bar around so it is almost vertically upwards facing slightly forward so it clears the BB so it can be opened. There is just enough height for the light to clear the bag and illuminate the road.

I have been thinking of knocking up a mount for either the forks, the low loader racks or on a U bar that could link them. The latter would be the preferred option but would involve a bit of welding to attach a piece of old handle bar to mount lights at the top of the hoop above the wheel and tyre which would also need to be constructed as currently mine are not linked.

I think Tubus are missing a trick by not making a mount available for front lights on the top of the hoop on their front low loaders as everyone who tours seriously buys the Tubus front racks and fits a bar bag so will have difficulty finding a suitable spot to place their front light(s).

I can't see that attaching a front light to the front of a bar bag would work as the mounting would be so flexible as to be useless.

Any pics of how you have solved this would be appreciated. The only other option is not to ride at night which could be a little restrictive.

 

[Proud2Push]

My solution has been to use my headtorch round the bar bag - it's worked fine on the few occasions I've needed it.

 

[upsidedown]

The Super C bag has a removable light bracket underneath it, great idea.

 

[Amanda P]

Is there enough space between the fork crown and the bottom of the bar bag to get a light in there?

I made up a fork crown bracket from a bit of suitably bent steel strip, with a length of 25mm tube on the end. Lights designed to fit on handlebars would clamp onto the tube. Worked on Mrs Uncle Phil's bike (she's got a fork-crown mounted Fisha light now).

I can post a photo of the bracket if it helps. In fact, you can have it if you want it, since it's now redundant...

 

[numbnuts]

I use this
and this

 

[Paul_Smith SRCC]

On tour as a temporary light I use one on the bar end

It's a Cateye EL410, although note that the lastest version has a different bracket, the EL450 would be a better bet to fit in that location now

Paul_Smith
www.corridori.co.uk

 

[Crankarm]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Very useful.

Paul the light mounted on the drop looks neat. Unfortunately I have flat bars with bar ends.

Uncle Phil your bracket attachment is one of the permanent solutions I have been considering. I have some 3/4 inch wide 1.5mm thick stainless steel strip which I had considered bending and fashioning to fit the bolt at the crown of the forks that also secures the mudguard mount above the wheel. However not sure how to attach a piece of old handle bar tube 25.4mm to stainless steel, welding is out as they're two very different types of metal. Had thought of a U-bolt but these are like hens teeth to get hold of. A company I found on t'internet is no longer trading. But at the mo the verticalish space bar will do. Maybe I'll modify it by putting a single bolt through and a wing nut instead of the two side screws it currently has so it can easily be attached and removed thus it only need be attached when it gets dark.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-...ssory-Extension-Bracket--120-mm-Long-4101.htm

 

[PpPete]

The bar bag was the reason I started thinking about mounting the light on the rack bosses on the fork.
See this thread.

I've now got one each side..... but yet to try it out in anger.

 

[Paul_Smith SRCC]

The J82s rear lamp bracket, distributed by Amba marketing will fit on a pannier rack.

Paul_Smith
www.corridori.co.uk

 

[Amanda P]

Uncle Phil your bracket attachment is one of the permanent solutions I have been considering. I have some 3/4 inch wide 1.5mm thick stainless steel strip which I had considered bending and fashioning to fit the bolt at the crown of the forks that also secures the mudguard mount above the wheel. However not sure how to attach a piece of old handle bar tube 25.4mm to stainless steel, welding is out as they're two very different types of metal.

Mine is all steel, so welding or brazing the two parts together is no problem. Use thin-walled steel tube for the "handlebar" bit and the weight is OK - it doesn't need to be strong. The strip bit does need to be stiff, though, or a light of any weight bounces around.

This is a common enough problem that I'd considered getting a batch of alloy copies of my steel one made up locally, then flogging them on Ebay come the autumn.

 

[Crankarm]

There seems a definite gap in the market here for a specific bracket/clamp to mount lights elsewhere for cyclists who are unable to use their usual handle bars due to fitting a bar bag. I feel that most cyclists who use a bar bag will also have front low loader racks from Tubus so having a piece of tube of handle bar diameter on top of the wheel loop or either side would be a pretty good mod IMHO. Only prob though would be reaching the light to switch it on/off, dip it or redirect the beam.

Maybe a bracket to attach to the upper part of the fork? Again with a tube of handle bar diameter to mount a light as all lights seem only to come with a handle bar clamp these days.

Or a slightly longer space bar 150mm?

 

[Amanda P]

There seems a definite gap in the market here for a specific bracket/clamp to mount lights elsewhere for cyclists who are unable to use their usual handle bars due to fitting a bar bag.

Then I will put my little business adventure into action. I know a tame metal workshop begging for work at the moment.

I feel that most cyclists who use a bar bag will also have front low loader racks from Tubus

Not necessarily. I use a bar bag and have Bor Yueh or Blackburn low loaders on my bikes. Neither have that hoop over the front wheel.

Either way, a fork crown mount solves the problem, and makes it easier to reach the light's switch.

 

[ufkacbln]

I use two modifications.

1. A SpaceGrip, fit the metal u bracket to the crowna and then fit the end in the normal way.

[/img]

2. I usde dinotte lighting and the Abus "UGH" is meant for locks,but will happily supoort the Dinnotte or a Fenix torch on a rack - and is ideal when tightened properly for the "bow" of a low rider

 

[mr_hippo]

Minoura Space Grip SG1 - 120mm

 

[frank9755]

I have a Cateye bracket on the head-tube. The light mounts sideways. I had to snip one piece of plastic to allow me to aim the light in the right direction. I also angle my Klick-fix bracket up slightly to make sure the bar bag is well clear of the light.

In practice it works very well - there is plenty of room for the light to shine underneath the bag. It obviously wouldn't work on a bike with an extremely short head tube.

Frank