The Chainlink

Query about lights on your bike . . .

Last night I did a leisurely round trip between Rogers Park and Pilsen, to meet a friend for a beer and to put some miles on in the nice weather.  On the after-dark ride home (Halsted to Clybourne, Clybourne to Racine to Clark, Clark to Argyle, Argyle to Glenwood to Loyola) I saw ten or twelve cyclists riding without lights.  No front light, no back light, nothing.  About half of them were decked out in serious lycra-and-aerodynamic gear, the other half in more mundane fenders-and-chain-guard rides with racks and panniers.  All were dressed in dark colors and so, without lights, practically invisible.

So, my question: if you don't have lights on your bike, why not?  It seems so basic and common-sense, yet riders who obviously spend a lot of time and money on their bicycles don't have lights.  It just makes no sense to me.  Trying to figure it out.

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Permalink Reply by lauren eg on October 23, 2012 at 1:25pm

Thanks, Sarah.

Sarah D. said:

Another thing I've seen on some lights is zipties - easy to cut off to change batteries but not so easy to steal from a bike quickly if it's parked in a visible public spot. I always have been annoyed with the thieves who take the light and leave the mount - how are they gonna use my light? The newer velcro or rubbery on-off ones are much easier to take with you, but also easier to steal. And less bright, usually, than ones with mounts.

Lauren, there was a discussion of good lights a while back - link below - but they didn't mention theft-proof-ness or garishness. I too would love to find a lower profile but bright winter mountable light - one that doesn't look like some kind of gun-thing. 

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/head-light-revisted?xg_sou...

Sarah


Kelvin Mulcky said:

Don't tell anyone, but when I park my bike I just unclip my lights and stash them in my saddle bag. I've been doing this for years and haven't ever had anything taken from my bag. I also keep a tool kit, plastic bag, and patch kit in the bag at all times.

if you want to make make ordinary clip on lights "theft-proof," super glue the lights to their mounts and use nuts 'n bolts instead of quick releases.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on October 23, 2012 at 1:48pm

A hlemet-mounted light is hard for a thief to steal, unless armed with a machete, sword or axe.

Permalink Reply by Jamais716 on October 23, 2012 at 4:23pm

My old rack didn't have a place to mount a light, so I pulled a ziptie through 2 of the holes on the back of my Bern helmet.  My Superflash blinky clipped onto it very securely.  

Of course, if you lock your helmet with your bike, the light could still be stolen, but that was fortunately not a problem I ran into.


Gene Tenner said:

A hlemet-mounted light is hard for a thief to steal, unless armed with a machete, sword or axe.

Permalink Reply by Bill Savage on October 23, 2012 at 5:22pm

The Planet Bike line is what I go with.  Reasonably priced, and as theft-proof as anything: you mount the clips front and back, the lights slide in and out of the clips.  But as I say above, I've just left mine on and no thefts yet. 

lauren eg said:

As a person who doesn't have lights on me every time I ride... I seriously have lost three lights now (of the Knog and Planet Bikes clip on variety) and have yet to put anything mounted on my bike. I will do the latter, especially as winter comes with the time change, but I figure that's something that applies to many. Not a stupid person, not trying to commit cycling suicide.

I will also take suggestions for good mounted lights here that are as theft-proof and water-proof as possible and not too garish in appearance.

Permalink Reply by Bill Savage on October 23, 2012 at 5:24pm

Mount that real light on the seat post, not the rack; if it's on the rack, it's much likelier to get accidentally banged into by something and broken off.  On the seat post (unless you pile a lot of stuff high on your rack) it's just as visible to people behind you, but much less likely to get dinged off.

David Barish said:

I have lost lots of lights if I bounce on a pothole or whatever.  It once happened and immediately got run over.  I rode the rest of the way home like one of those guys Bill saw. I try to remember to bring a rubber band with me to wrap around the bottom if I am putting the light on a bag. This usually secures it. (at the risk of thread drift...) I usually strip everything, bags, lights, computers when I lock up. I am going to get a rack mounted rear light and that will sit there all day waiting to be poached unless I get one of those zip tie lights Sarah mentioned.

Permalink Reply by Bill Savage on October 23, 2012 at 5:25pm

Or a tractor beam or light sabre.
Gene Tenner said:

A hlemet-mounted light is hard for a thief to steal, unless armed with a machete, sword or axe.

Permalink Reply by David Barish on October 23, 2012 at 5:42pm

So politic during this political season. You have appealed to both Star Trek and Star Wars afficionados.  touche!

By the way, I can't use a seat post light as I am too short and if I have anything on my rack its obscured. I currently have a blinker duck taped to my helmet.  The mounting attachment came off but the light was still good. Its being put to good use.



Bill Savage said:

Or a tractor beam or light sabre.
Gene Tenner said:

A hlemet-mounted light is hard for a thief to steal, unless armed with a machete, sword or axe.

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