[SMSAlmer]

Referring to the position where to mount a light...
I've heard putting them low makes holes more distinguishable...
Also, problems when goind offroad? (Mud, shocks....etc)

I can fix a light both just above the wheel, and on the bars.
Was thinking about putting a flood low down, with a spot on the bars...

P.S...My first thread here...HELLO!

 

[zen bicycle]

I prefer a flood on the fork and a spot up on the helmet. The more divergent you can make your light sources the better your depth perception I think.

 

[nugzboltz]

Hi there,

Try this experiment on a dirt path: hold a flashlight or your light source at waist height, then move it up to your head. You'll see a pretty significant difference as the lower the light is, the more shadows you get from objects on the path. If you only have a light on your helmet, you'll notice all the shadows will be washed out, and the whole path will look flat, making riding much more difficult.

 

[Turveyd]

I mount my lights upside down on the bars, purely cause it hurts less when you take the bars / lights in your stomach!!

Lower is better for fog and low cloud and stuff ofcourse, where helmet lights become useless.

 

[EFMax]

Surley this is dependent on what type of light you have. Cars have their lights around waist level for a reason. I would have thought that for must applications handlebar mounting gives a reasonable spread of both light in front and distance as shadows and highlights are as much a reflection of the the type of light used (LED or HID etc).

I have one LED set just below the handlebars and one HID just above the forks.

This is an OTT offroad setup but gives a complete picture of what is in front of you.

 

[SMSAlmer]

Thanks for the tips! I am looking over different options for a DIY light. At the moments, here's whats in my mind:

Should be in the DIY section I know. Couple of MCEs, the upper one is a medium optics, the lower a very narrow one.

I use a Headlock for the headset, and was thinking of mounting it on that screw; the rear bit is inserted in the fork tube...

 

[Turveyd]

Try a light attached to the frame so always pointing the direction of travel not where the bars are pointing, mixed with a bar light aswell, it's very nice, feels very strange at first to as it slowly moves to either side smoothly.

Hard to mount a torch there long term though with ease of battery changes and right direction, but I think i'll have another shot at doing that soon.