I’ve got a new rack for my bike, and while I have the option to swap in the large rear reflector from my old one, I’d like to get a mounted light instead.
I’m currently using either clip on or strap mounted lights, and take them off my bike when not in use, so they don’t get stolen or to recharge them.
I like the idea of a more permanent light on the rear rack.
Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated. Currently looking at the “Planet Bike Grateful Red” light.
CatEye Volt mounted via CatEye’s bolt mount:
It works. 🤷
I might actually consider that for my front light! Clever idea!
Get something brighter. Years of commuting in traffic have made me leery of wimpy lights. An extra $20 is totally worth it to not die.
The Grateful Red outputs 13 or 20 lumens depending on the version. For slightly more money you could get the Planet Bike Superflash 65 and have 3x-4x the light output. Or a Niterider Solas 250 and really be noticed by drivers, even on a sunny day.
You’re right about brightness. I use the Olight RN120 (120 lumens) and i couldn’t imagine something that’s a fraction of the output.
The solas 250 looks pretty nice, too.
I have an ebike that comes with a rear light affixed permanently to the rear of the frame. I think it would be more trouble than it’s worth for a thief to steal, since it’s wired to the electronic components and the connector is not situated in an obvious spot.
But I still get nervous about leaving the bike unattended for too long, lest someone get any ideas. Heck, someone actually broke into my storage locker a couple of weeks ago and just broke the affixed front light off my bike, not to steal it but just to be a dick. (They’d probably have taken the bike itself if I’d left the battery on it.) So now I use an old strap-mounted front light.
All this to say, I think the advantages of strap/clip-mounted light outweigh the advantages of an affixed one. But YMMV.
Yeah, vandalism would piss me off as much as theft would. Perhaps I should just put the rear reflector on and keep using what I’ve been using for a rear light 😂
IMO the ultimate is a permanently mounted dynamo light, then you never need to worry about it again. But it’s a bit more expensive of course.
While they’re never cheap you can get great deals from German sellers where they’re a legal requirement for non off-road bikes. You can get a decent quality wheel and pair of lights for well under $200.
I like the idea of a dynamo, and perhaps I’ll go that route on my next bike. 👌
