Bike fog lights???

Sarah Tisdale

2013-10-25

Randonneur riders often do exactly this - mount lights low on the front
fork.

Example pictures here:
http://t-cycle.com/accessory-mounting-c-71/accessory-mounts-c-71_73/randonneuring-light-mount-for-diamond-frames-p-32.html

Discussion from Jan Heine:

http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/BQRandonneurBike.pdf

"*Front light placement: *Lower generally is better, because a beam
parallel to the road surface means you can see further. Also, potholes and
undulations will show up as shadows, making them easier to see. With a
light mounted near the right front dropout (Rivendell), the front tire
casts a
shadow to the left. Turning left means riding into a shadow. The best
locations is at the front of the rack (Singer). The light is placed low,
but forward,
so the tire won’t cast a shadow. If you do not use a handlebar bag, you can
mount the light on the fork crown. NEVER clamp a light to the fork blades.
The light may slide down the tapering blades and get caught in the front
wheel, with potentially disastrous consequences."

On Thu, Oct 24, 2013 at 11:20 AM, Gil Ormerod <
gilbert.ormerod@providence.org> wrote:

> Riding down through Riverview Cemetery at 6:30 this morning was not too
> easy. The fog was super thick! My helmet lamp just made a bright cloud in
> front of me that obscured more than helped my vision. I tried turning it
> off, but my blinky handlebar light didn't work well enough to allow me to
> see. I ended up removing my yellow glasses, which helped somewhat, and
> just coasted through the thickest parts of the fog, waving my head and
> helmet lamp left and right to try and keep track of the edges of the road.
>
> Got me thinking, though. Has anybody tried cobbling together fog lights
> for bikes? I'm thinking lights on both left and right front fork ends,
> pointing them outward more so than forward and aiming them low towards the
> pavement... maybe splashing the light field forward from right in front of
> the bike to something like thirty feet ahead?
>
> Any other ideas on how to deal with visibility issues while riding in the
> fog?
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Gil Ormerod

2013-10-24

Riding down through Riverview Cemetery at 6:30 this morning was not too easy. The fog was super thick! My helmet lamp just made a bright cloud in front of me that obscured more than helped my vision. I tried turning it off, but my blinky handlebar light didn't work well enough to allow me to see. I ended up removing my yellow glasses, which helped somewhat, and just coasted through the thickest parts of the fog, waving my head and helmet lamp left and right to try and keep track of the edges of the road.

Got me thinking, though. Has anybody tried cobbling together fog lights for bikes? I'm thinking lights on both left and right front fork ends, pointing them outward more so than forward and aiming them low towards the pavement... maybe splashing the light field forward from right in front of the bike to something like thirty feet ahead?

Any other ideas on how to deal with visibility issues while riding in the fog?