High-Light.... Quite Literally

[Richard A Thackeray]

Not really for me, but looking for ideas for 'Senior Managements' bike

As far as I know, she's intending commuting throughout autumn/winter, when she can

However, due to a perfect storm, of pannier rack/bags, frame-size, saddle-height
There's not a lot of room to mount rear-lights, that are visible to the sides too
I can find one to mount on the vertical plate, at the rear-face of the rack, but then, the bags block lateral light to a certain extent

Granted, I've not experimented yet, it's just how it looks (to me)

I was thinking of a (Maplins, or such) 'Project Box' attached to the rack, with multiple LEDs mounted in it, so it sits high & visible
Complete with a few sideways facing too (orange?) & a decent battery pack in there; a 4 x AA holder?
Sadly, in the case of a (hopefully 'it's not going to happen'!!) RTC, there's the legality aspect



I know that the trailer reflector could come off, to mount a light (as mentioned above)

Since this photograph was taken, it's had a front mudflap 'made' & fitted

Ideas folks??

I was looking at LEDs from this guy (as we have a few of his products, for the model railway)

https://www.kyteslights.com/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=140
https://www.kyteslights.com/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=142

Also;
https://www.componentshop.co.uk/leds/standard.html
https://www.componentshop.co.uk/1m-standard-high-density-led-strip-red.html (frame 'wrap'?)

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Fibre flares on the seat stays?

 

[CXRAndy]

Go with dynamo lights. A Shimano 3W 6volt
dynamo either in QR or spindle. Best dynamo lights are German Busch& Mueller.

They come with side illumination even whilst waiting at traffic lights. You could add some LEDs to the circuit for further illumination

Pretty much fit and forget

 

[classic33]

You been to any model railway shows. If it's who I think it is, he does fibre optic lighting kits.

 

[DRHysted]

I’ve got a dynamo light that fits on the mudguard, thus has good side visibility and isn’t obscured by the panniers.

 

[MichaelW2]

My mudguard mounted dynamo light was a bit vulnerable to smacking in a small shed, the rear rack mounted location is much better protected.
But the pannier bags are mounted to the extreme rear and cover up the sides of an under rack light.
The mudguard location may work. Wires can be under or on top of mudguard.

 

[MichaelW2]

For reference, the integration problems are caused by trying to squeeze big wheels and big cranks into a small frame.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Thanks all

@classic33
Yes, probably same guy


Will have a think about it, & keep eyes open, I've got a few weeks left to sort it

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Could you simple not mount one of these at the bottom of the triangle https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Cyc...430050?hash=item521b9a8662:g:1GkAAOSwolBdDzMI

 

[fossyant]

A couple of cheap blinkeys on the pannier straps should do it.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Could you simple not mount one of these at the bottom of the triangle https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Cyc...430050?hash=item521b9a8662:g:1GkAAOSwolBdDzMI

Those look like my initial thoughts (different make though)
The Pannier bags will hide them from a 3/4 view

A couple of cheap blinkeys on the pannier straps should do it.

As additions, maybe?
I've been looking through my bits & pieces, & have found some old (circular) orange, & (recttangular) white reflectors, that probably came from Towsure, during my 'Big White Shed On Wheels' & trailer-towing days
I'll look at adding them to her panniers, as an extra precaution

 

[roubaixtuesday]

As your senior manager seems to wear a helmet, I'd go for rear rack mounted main light with a helmet mounted backup.

I use one of these, pricey but perfect. Cheaper options are available, particularly if you only want rear facing.

https://www.evanscycles.com/exposure-link-light-set-100-35-lumen-EV250143

 

[Dogtrousers]

How about an under saddle mount? I have one of these https://www.rutlandcycling.com/accessories/lights/cateye-rm-1-rear-saddle-mount-bracket_104593 The bags won't obscure that (unless the viewer is lying in the road behind the bike). And a cheapie cateye Omni mounted there would throw light sideways too. Pair of rechargeable AAAs in there I find lasts for a long time.

That should complement a light on the rear plate of the rack (which you say is partially obstructed) I use a "Busch & Muller 4D Toplight Permanent" on the back of my rack. Takes 2xAA that last for ages. Coupled with a cateye under the saddle to cover side visibility.

Fibre flares are a bit pricey but I think they look really good. You can get small ones that I've seen people attach directly to their luggage.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

@Dogtrousers
An interesting bracket

Although, it's confession time, as Simon Mayo used to say about 17:40, in his Radio 2 show

All of my previous thinking/querying has been based on what I assumed would be the correct pannier placement for her

When she'd ridden home today, before I put it away, I asked her to sit on it & back-pedal, so I could check for any heel-strike
I then moved the bags as far forward, on the rack as I could, even to the extent of holding one open to simulate a reasonable load (rarely happens!!)
Still clearance, against my expectations

So...………………………...


It appears that there is sufficient clearance at the rear of the rack for lighting, that could be viewed at a right-angle, if the light allows it
Plus space for side-reflectors on the rack itself

Thus, I throw myself onto your mercy, for over-thinking this (& just presuming)

That said, you've all offered constructive ideas

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Fibre flares are a bit pricey but I think they look really good. You can get small ones that I've seen people attach directly to their luggage.

The short ones use a watch battery type cell, the longer ones use two AAAs, one at each end. If used in flashing mode, the AAA ones will last a full winter of 1.5 hour commuting of five days a week. I have two, one for each seat stay. My current road bike has a rack mounted but my imminent recumbent build will have suitable struts to attach them to. They give really good alround visibility. My wife made this comment when she'd driven past me one dark night when I was riding home and she was coming home from the supermarket.