What is it with bags and rear lights?

[Unsteady]

Newbie question here - sorry if it's a dumb one... You need a rear light - you probably want a small bag for tools, puncture repair kit etc. What do you do?

I've seen cross-bar bags but they don't look to be very stable - others experience with these would be welcome though.

If the bag covers the whole of the seat post then I've got nowhere to put the rear light. What do you guys do about this?

Cheers,

Mark.

 

[calibanzwei]

Some seat bags allow you to mount the rear light to them.
Either that or use a frame bag for your tools ;D

 

[sabian92]

I've got this problem too. I just stick my stuff in panniers now as they've got little zip pockets.

On racks you can get an adapter and fit a light on there - do you have a rack?

 

[ianrauk]

most saddle bags/packs have a sewn in loop to attached a light to.

 

[tyred]

A rack mounted light is best imo but if you don't use a rack, try and get a lamp that mounts to the seat stay or modify your own lamp so it does.

 

[Unsteady]

OK sounds easy enough but wouldn't the light be jumping around all over the place or are the attachment methods fairly stable? Do you have any recommendations?
Thanks.

 

[Peteaud]

The Topeak saddle bag has a little loop that most lights can fit to.

Some are very tight to fit, although i think thats a good thing.

You can see the lopp on this one.

 

[Sara_H]

Me and my son both have a small seat post bag for inner tubes that has a light loop on it, however my light jumped off and was lost forever. My sons light is now tied on with string to the loop so it doesn't get lost if it jumps off.

 

[Unsteady]

Sorry guys - don't have a rack and not likely to be doing any touring in the short term. Pure road only for the time being.

Seat stay sounds a possible option but maybe the frame bag is the way to go...

 

[Scruffmonster]

most saddle bags/packs have a sewn in loop to attached a light to for a light to bounce out of

Fixed that for you.

For real though, never trust those loops unless the fit is ridiculously tight.

 

[ianrauk]

Fixed that for you.

For real though, never trust those loops unless the fit is ridiculously tight.

It's what cable ties were invented for...

 

[oliglynn]

+1... after my light fell off I drilled a hole through my clip and cable tied it on.

 

[Boris Bajic]

I've smashed so many lamp brackets during dynamic dismounts from MTBs that I've taken to clipping my rear light to my woolly hat.

I have no idea whether it's legal, desirable, frowned upon or brilliant. It works, it's cheap and it leaves one piece fewer on the bicycle to be smashed when I tumble while riding off-road. I've never had a lamp (front or rear) fall from my woolly hat.

I can't do it with a cotton cap, sadly.

 

[HovR]

I'd be cautious of using saddle pack light loops.. As others have said, the lights bounce off them unless they are very well secured, in which case the light may no longer be quick release (if you have had to use cable ties, for example).

Further more, in my experience these loops often leave the light angled far down towards the road - Not where you want it to be pointing!

Instead, many lights come with seat stay mounting, or you can modify a current light for this purpose. You can get some lights that mount to the saddle rails, however a saddle bag may get in the way. On older road frames, you can often mount the light on the seat tube (not seat post) and it can be seen through the gap in the seat stays. I use this method.

 

[Unsteady]

Thanks guys - seat stay is looking favourite at the moment but I'll take a look at the seat rail option.

Anyone managed to attached a light to the rear a-frame and avoid it getting in the way of the rear brake assembly?