Bike lights are an essential accessory for your bike if you are a cycler who tends to go out to ride at night. After dark, it is much more difficult for drivers on the road to see you from their vehicles, so you should take precautions to ensure you remain safe.
You can purchase bike lights to mount to your bike to ensure that drivers on the road can see you in the bike lane. You can buy headlights, taillights, frame lights, or spoke lights. All of these types of lights need to be mounted to your bike so that you can use them to light your way on the road.
In addition to bike lights, you can take extra precautions and wear reflective clothing. Reflective clothing will do precisely what it sounds like; it will reflect the light from oncoming vehicles to them so that they can see you in the dark—taking as many precautions as possible when out on the road is essential.
Should You Make your Own Bike Light Mount
Whether or not you should build a DIY bike light mount as opposed to purchasing one is up to you and your needs. If you are in a bind and are low on cash, then a DIY bike light might be your best option.
If you are concerned about the stability and quality of your bike mount, then you should consider buying one. Individuals who go on long bike rides or go biking off-road might need a bike light mount meant to stay on through a bumpy ride. Even if you are good with DIY projects, you can’t guarantee that a homemade mount will last as well as a store-bought mount.
What Preparations Do You Need to Make?
The key to any DIY project is to make the proper preparations. You want to ensure you go into your task with all the necessary tools to get it done correctly. You should first make sure you know where you plan to mount your light.
If you have headlights, you are going to want to mount them on the front of your bike, preferably on the handlebar somewhere. You’ll need to find a place on the back if you have taillights. Spoke lights will go on the spokes, and frame lights can be mounted anywhere on your bike’s frame.
Next, make sure you have the right tools. The tools depend on what method you plan to use to mount your bike lights on your own. The easiest way to get lights to mount to your bike would be to use either zip ties or duct tape. Once you have the proper tools, you can begin your DIY project.
How To Make A DIY Bike Light Mount
If you are looking for a quick fix and are in a pinch, you can mount your bike lights using zip ties or duct tape. These are not long-term solutions to your problem, but they will keep your lights attached to your bike for a ride or two.
If you are mounting your bike lights to your handlebar or frame, you can get a handful of zip ties and secure the light with as many as you need to make it stable. You could accomplish the same thing with duct tape.
Simply place the light where you want it to be and wrap duct tape around the frame and the morning until it feels secure. This is a good solution if you are getting ready to ride in the dark and have no other way to mount your bike lights.
Duct tape or zip ties are not a permanent solution. If you ride in inclement weather, duct tape will likely peel off over time. Zip ties could last a while, but they are not meant to be permanent. If you are going to be riding at night, often you might want to consider finding a mount for your bike lights.
Where to Buy a Bike Light Mount
If you have used your DIY bike light mount for a while and are ready to replace it with a store-bought bike light mount, you can find one at any sporting goods store. Simply go to their bike section and look for a mount. Walmart is an excellent place to look.
You can also look at your local bike shop. They will have the accessories you need to get your bike safely lit for your nighttime rides. If they do not have the bike light mount that you need, then they will be able to point you in the right direction.
If all else fails and you can wait a few days, you could always look online for a bike mount. You can find a bike light mount online if you can’t find one at your local sporting goods store or bike shop. Amazon is a great place to look for things when you are unsure where to find them.
Final thoughts
You can accomplish any DIY project as long as you have the right tools and have prepared properly. In order to create a DIY bike light mount, all you will need is your bike lights and duct tape or zip ties.
Once you have decided where you wish to mount your lights, you can use duct tape or zip ties as a temporary solution to needing to have your lights mounted. If you often plan to bike at night, you should consider purchasing a bike light mount for a more permanent solution.
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Your safety is the most important thing to keep in mind in any situation. Ensuring that you have lights on your bike when you cycle at night is imperative to keeping you safe. If you are in a hurry, you can DIY a bike light mount, but you should look at replacing it with a permanent mount as soon as possible.