Advice on lights on forks randonneur style

Posted on
  • Hey,

    Picked up a rando bag at a jumble and have gone back down a rando wormhole so have a Nitto M18 front rack, decaleur and light bracket and I’m planning to mount my Son Edelux rando style on the rack strut. Is this actually a good idea? I’m wondering whether positioning the light there which will probably be parallel to the tyre is a bad idea… if it’s on the right of the tyre and I’m riding past a junction on the left is there a chance if they pull up just as I’m going close to the junction my light will be obscured or am I over thinking it and the throw means they’ll see me easy?

    This nice crust bike demonstrates my thinking here.

    Thanks and Merry Christmas y’all


    1 Attachment

    • 45B64D9E-D84D-453A-B9BC-F79DA9B588F4.jpeg
  • I mounted my Edelux a bit higher, but that was to avoid tyre shadow on shitty roads.

    You could always fit another light on the non-edelux side, or on the bag to help be seen. Something like those little Blue Lug bolt on lights if you have a spare eyelet, or something like a fibre flare would clip on the bag (if they still make them)?

  • Thanks @atk I was thinking the same about a light on the other side, partly out of aesthetics because I was considering using some steel canti forks I have to mount a cantilever mount rack but still running callipers and a light on the opposite side attached to the canti lug. My thinking was it would would make the the canti lug look useful and good rather than sticking out without being used with a brake. For the time being I’ve decided to stick with the caliper forks I have and run smaller tyres than I’d prefer to.

    I could of course run a canti on the front but it wouldn’t match the rear caliper brake so that option with the canti fork felt like a potential compromise.

  • I'd fix the light off the front of the rack over the wheel.

  • It’s not a big blind spot. This was taken a few weeks ago.


    1 Attachment

    • 365882C3-1916-4E58-AEF9-9C099D83CAD6.jpeg
  • If you're using metal mudguards you could always attach the light to the mudguard in front of the bag. You can strengthen the guard by attaching that to the rack.
    Very neat, and gives you a central front light, so very little shadow and great visibility to other road users.

  • That’s really helpful to see, ta for posting that

  • Yeah that option does really appeal. I think I might give it a go

  • I’d probably go lower or further forward.

    There’ll definitely be a glow that’s visible from the other side of the wheel plus the illuminated patch on the ground but neither would be as good as having the lamp visible eh?

  • Mount the light below, above or in front of the rim/ tyre, particularly if it isn’t on the centreline, otherwise the shadow can be a real pain for half of your corners, let alone regarding visibility to others. A small shadow (rim nearly vertical in beam) is much less of a hassle than a big shadow (rim nearly horizontal in beam).

  • Thanks @LWaB and @M_V and @Skülly if the fender option isn’t workable then it sounds like putting the bracket further down on the strut might help. I’ve also looked at the Soma Wingman mount based on people using Mafac brake arms to put it well out front so I could tinker with something like that

  • Post a reply
    • Bold
    • Italics
    • Link
    • Image
    • List
    • Quote
    • code
    • Preview
About

Advice on lights on forks randonneur style

Posted by Avatar for teddy_stones @teddy_stones

Actions