Rear Light Positioning

[pjminton5]

Ok, so I'm new to road cycling/commuting and I am after some tips/advice please.

I have a saddle bag fitted but am unable to position my rear light on my seat post in a place which makes it visible, it is hidden underneath the saddle bag. So my question is do you guys not tend to bother with a saddle bag and if so where do you keep your spare tubes and tools etc. Thanks

 

[youngoldbloke]

You can clip (some) lights to (some) bags, but seldom end up with the light pointing in the right direction. The other place could be the rear offside seat stay, but it might mean a lot searching to find a bracket that works in that position.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I don't do seat bags.

Aside from attaching the light to the bag you can also clip some to yourself when I wear a helmet it has one on it.

One of the vertical cats eye style ones might show below a bag, there might also be options to attach to saddle rails.

 

[cyberknight]

You can clip (some) lights to (some) bags, but seldom end up with the light pointing in the right direction. The other place could be the rear offside seat stay, but it might mean a lot searching to find a bracket that works in that position.

Most lights you buy come with a bracket for seatpost and seatstay.

 

[fossyant]

Most Smart rear lights come with a chain stay mount. Worth running two though, in case one fails.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I've fitted lights to the seat stays before now.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Seat stay used to be the usual location.

 

[cyberknight]

Panniers are also a great place to clip lights, one on each along with one on the seatpost works a treat

 

[smokeysmoo]

I also used one of THESE when I very briefly used a rack and panniers.

 

[downfader]

I also used one of THESE when I very briefly used a rack and panniers.

I put one of those on Mother's bike. Does the trick

 

[400bhp]

Most lights you buy come with a bracket for seatpost and seatstay.

I'm not sure most do come with a seat stay. Most default to seatpost.

There's a fairly common standard bracket that if you look around you can find a type that has, what I can best describe as a watch type strap. They are ideal for locating on the seat stay. Example of bracket is here.

 

[Soltydog]

I normally fit mine on the lower part of the seatpost. That way its not obstructed by my small saddle bag or mudguards. It amazes me how many people have their rear light obscured, normally by a crud catcher style mudguard. Once saw a guy leaving the train station wearing a black leather trench coat that covered his rear light, I mentioned it to him, but he just replied that his light was on

 

[steveindenmark]

I wear a vis vest and have stitched a small piece of webbing between the shoulder blades where I wear a flashing Smart light. A light is also attached to the bike.

I think it is a good idea to have 2 lights to the rear, especially having one higher up as it can be seen by traffic if they are queuing behind you as they cannot see the light on the bike.

Steve

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Agreed on two lights, it also gives you a back up if the battery (or just battery connection) on one gives up.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I have a rear light clipped just below my saddlebag. It only needs to be just below the saddlebag to be easily seen by traffic behind you. The picture below shows my bike with its current saddlebag. The light I'm currently using clips to the seat post just above the reflector and below the saddlebag.