Dyno light installation, which side of the do you prefer?
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Jeffery S
Apr 20, 2020, 10:18:20 AM4/20/20
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I'm installing a Son Edelux light to a Nitto M12 front rack running with a basket and can't decide if the light should be mounted on the left or right side of the wheel. The mounts are a little low, so there is going to be a shadow from the wheel/basket on either side. A front center mount would sort this issue out by itself, but there isn't one on this rack.
Most lights I've seen on the web are mounted on the left (towards oncoming traffic in the US). However, I've also read about some who prefer it on the right (curb side) to be better seen by drivers stopped at the right of an upcoming intersection. I've had a driver only glance left and turn into me like this (in daylight) so this kind of makes sense IMO.
Most lights I've seen on the web are mounted on the left (towards oncoming traffic in the US). However, I've also read about some who prefer it on the right (curb side) to be better seen by drivers stopped at the right of an upcoming intersection. I've had a driver only glance left and turn into me like this (in daylight) so this kind of makes sense IMO.
Any experience/thoughts/preferences for this situation?
Thanks, Jeff
ted
Apr 20, 2020, 10:57:10 AM4/20/20
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When faced with this situation I’ve gone with mounting on the left side. This lights up more pavement since one rides on the right side of the lane. However mounting on the right would give shadow free illumination of the road edge, so you might prefer that.
This is why I’m so disappointed they stoped putting the plate with a mounting whole on the front center of the marks and mini front racks. Personally, I really really want my front light dead center. Not having the tire centered in the beam drives me crazy.
This is why I’m so disappointed they stoped putting the plate with a mounting whole on the front center of the marks and mini front racks. Personally, I really really want my front light dead center. Not having the tire centered in the beam drives me crazy.
Eric Norris
Apr 20, 2020, 11:20:00 AM4/20/20
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The great French constructeurs (Singer, Herse, etc.) mounted the light on the left side of the small front rack or on the front fender. Never on the righthand side. Trust the experts.
On Apr 20, 2020, at 7:57 AM, ted <ted....@comcast.net> wrote:
When faced with this situation I’ve gone with mounting on the left side. This lights up more pavement since one rides on the right side of the lane. However mounting on the right would give shadow free illumination of the road edge, so you might prefer that.
This is why I’m so disappointed they stoped putting the plate with a mounting whole on the front center of the marks and mini front racks. Personally, I really really want my front light dead center. Not having the tire centered in the beam drives me crazy.
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somervillebikes
Apr 20, 2020, 1:37:20 PM4/20/20
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If you have a fender that's supported by a front rack, ,you can use the Velo Lumino fender mount for headlights, which will center the headlight. But having the fender supported behind the headlight is essential to prevent the beam from bouncing, and to prevent the fender from getting stressed.
Anton
Scott G.
Apr 20, 2020, 1:38:13 PM4/20/20
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On Monday, April 20, 2020 at 11:20:00 AM UTC-4, Eric Norris wrote:
The great French constructeurs (Singer, Herse, etc.) mounted the light on the left side of the small front rack or on the front fender. Never on the righthand side. Trust the experts.--Eric Norris
The Brits put the lamp boss on the right fork leg, one of the very few things the French & English
ever agreed on, since that unfortunate business at Hastings.
Tom Palmer
Apr 20, 2020, 2:24:49 PM4/20/20
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Hi Eric,
Would it matter what side of the road was ridden for a side rack mount? I am sure they folks you reference knew what they were doing, do not know what side of road the French drive. I know GB is left and another poster said the French and English builders agreed on the left. I personally want more light on the road shoulder so mount on right as far forward as I can.
Tom Palmer
Twin Lake, MI, US
On Monday, April 20, 2020 at 11:20:00 AM UTC-4, Eric Norris wrote:
The great French constructeurs (Singer, Herse, etc.) mounted the light on the left side of the small front rack or on the front fender. Never on the righthand side. Trust the experts.
On Apr 20, 2020, at 7:57 AM, ted <ted....@comcast.net> wrote:
When faced with this situation I’ve gone with mounting on the left side. This lights up more pavement since one rides on the right side of the lane. However mounting on the right would give shadow free illumination of the road edge, so you might prefer that.
This is why I’m so disappointed they stoped putting the plate with a mounting whole on the front center of the marks and mini front racks. Personally, I really really want my front light dead center. Not having the tire centered in the beam drives me crazy.
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Steve Palincsar
Apr 20, 2020, 2:34:34 PM4/20/20
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French drive on the right, like us.
On 4/20/20 2:24 PM, Tom Palmer wrote:
Hi Eric,Would it matter what side of the road was ridden for a side rack mount? I am sure they folks you reference knew what they were doing, do not know what side of road the French drive. I know GB is left and another poster said the French and English builders agreed on the left.
British fork blade lamp mounts are on the right fork blade.
I personally want more light on the road shoulder so mount on right as far forward as I can.
Actually, with an Edelux or Edelux II it really doesn't make any
difference which side of the bike you mount the light, the beam is
so broad a few inches displacement of the mount doesn't mean
anything. Now with an old-style Halogen lamp, where the beam is
as narrow as a light saber, it might matter - and of course the
original lamps these mounts were made for were far worse than
that.
--Tom PalmerTwin Lake, MI, US
On Monday, April 20, 2020 at 11:20:00 AM UTC-4, Eric Norris wrote:The great French constructeurs (Singer, Herse, etc.) mounted the light on the left side of the small front rack or on the front fender. Never on the righthand side. Trust the experts.
On Apr 20, 2020, at 7:57 AM, ted <ted....@comcast.net> wrote:
When faced with this situation I’ve gone with mounting on the left side. This lights up more pavement since one rides on the right side of the lane. However mounting on the right would give shadow free illumination of the road edge, so you might prefer that.
This is why I’m so disappointed they stoped putting the plate with a mounting whole on the front center of the marks and mini front racks. Personally, I really really want my front light dead center. Not having the tire centered in the beam drives me crazy.
--
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-- Steve Palincsar Alexandria, Virginia USA
Eric Norris
Apr 20, 2020, 4:35:03 PM4/20/20
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Yes. I imagine if Singer was located in London they would mount the headlight on the righthand side.
On Apr 20, 2020, at 11:33 AM, Steve Palincsar <pali...@his.com> wrote:
French drive on the right, like us.
On 4/20/20 2:24 PM, Tom Palmer wrote:
Hi Eric,Would it matter what side of the road was ridden for a side rack mount? I am sure they folks you reference knew what they were doing, do not know what side of road the French drive. I know GB is left and another poster said the French and English builders agreed on the left.
British fork blade lamp mounts are on the right fork blade.
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Peter White
Apr 20, 2020, 6:39:14 PM4/20/20
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It's only been a very few years that we've had sufficiently bright emitters to allow a wide beam to be projected that was bright enough to be useable. Back when Singer and Herse were building bikes the beams had to be very narrow to be at all useful. So there was no meaningful shadow, on either side. Mounting the light on the left made perfect sense.
These days, mounting the light on either side creates a huge and obnoxious shadow. If at all possible, mount the headlight on center. Why waste photons illuminating your tire?
PJW
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Peter White
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Jeffery Shepherd
Apr 22, 2020, 3:15:52 PM4/22/20
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Thanks for all the input. For now, I have a left side nitto light mount on the way. When the local bike co-op opens back up I'm going to sift through the parts bin and try the centerpull brake arm hack. Maybe the light can get far enough forward to clear the basket/tire and I can play around with mounting left or right side.
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masmojo
Apr 23, 2020, 7:28:35 PM4/23/20
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If I can't mount it on the fork crown, stem, handlebars or rack I mount it on the right side. The lights these days are bright enough that cars can see it wherever its mounted, but most roads tend to get choppier the closer you get to the curb, with the light on the right I can see the curb, Apex of right turns, road debris and potential bail out spots much better with it on the right.
Philip Williamson
Apr 25, 2020, 3:22:47 AM4/25/20
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With modern lights and a forward position, it doesn’t matter to me.
I have one bike with the mount on the right side of an m12(?) under a basket, and two bikes with the light on the left side of custom racks under a basket. With the forward position, the tire shadow is close enough to the bike that I don’t notice it.
I’m right handed, so I slightly prefer the action of turning the light on when it’s on the right. That one is a cyo(?) with a knob, though, which I much prefer to to three-stage pushbutton of the IQ-X.
Philip
Santa Rosa, CA
I have one bike with the mount on the right side of an m12(?) under a basket, and two bikes with the light on the left side of custom racks under a basket. With the forward position, the tire shadow is close enough to the bike that I don’t notice it.
I’m right handed, so I slightly prefer the action of turning the light on when it’s on the right. That one is a cyo(?) with a knob, though, which I much prefer to to three-stage pushbutton of the IQ-X.
Philip
Santa Rosa, CA
Metin Uz
Apr 26, 2020, 1:43:35 AM4/26/20
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Depends a little on your dynamo hub. Some hubs have the connector on the right side, so mounting the lamp on the left requires a longer cable run, and potentially exposes it to damage. Latest SON hubs can be flipped, so the connector can be on the left.
--Metin
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