Cycling UK Forum

Mick F wrote:Hi Colin,
Nice bike!

Here's a shot of my front brake/headset/fork crown.

PICT0035.JPG

You can see that a bracket like yours wouldn't fit.

The brake boss where the spring goes doesn't come off.
It might, but I have no idea how. My Campag Chorus brakes seem unable to be stripped.

You can fit the B&M steel bracket by using a spacer of appropriate thickness to move the calliper assembly forwards. I used a nice one that came with my Tubus racks, but brake pad spacers would work fine as well. It's about 6mm, I'd say. Then you'll need an extended nut (if Campag use the same hex head as Shimano. In fact it might be the first Shimano part on your bike. Please don't let it put you off. You'll find one here. It may also be necessary to bend the wire bracket forward for better cable clearance - it's what I had to do.

i have modded my cateye 530, upgraded the LED, to a higher output, tighter beam, but i only use it off road at Llandelga

magicshines are very good ££££ very bright for £60-ish

CREPELLO wrote:You can fit the B&M steel bracket by using a spacer of appropriate thickness to move the calliper assembly forwards.

It would have to be quite a bit forwards.

If you compare Colin63's forks to mine, you'll see that the hole for the brakes is further below the headset than on mine.
(and his is cleaner!)

Mick F wrote:

CREPELLO wrote:You can fit the B&M steel bracket by using a spacer of appropriate thickness to move the calliper assembly forwards.

It would have to be quite a bit forwards.

If you compare Colin63's forks to mine, you'll see that the hole for the brakes is further below the headset than on mine.
(and his is cleaner!)

I can't see the problem Mick. The height of the brake stud hole wouldn't have any bearing on the fitment. But not to worry. As you don't use a bar bag, just mount the light up there.

But save yourself a packet on the B&M and get an LED flashlight. I acquired two from Big f d d off ebay. He's really helpful in helping you get the right light. They are alu bodied, more robust than the B&M light, which is plastic bodied and fully they upgradable and repairable should you need to do so.

The second I got from big fdd is a CREE immiter that has the warmest white light of any LED I've seen, that I don't think I tell it apart from a halogen light. Yes, it's a little more dim than cool white LED light, but the colour means it performs much better in wet conditions. Cool white LED light is absolute pants in these conditions.

CREPELLO wrote:I can't see the problem Mick. The height of the brake stud hole wouldn't have any bearing on the fitment.

Yes it would.
There is insufficient clearance to allow for the bend in the clamp.

As I have my mudguards screwed in from below, I don't have a problem with them. I have tried to use the normal clamp system that is held in place by the brake bolt, but I had to 'modify' it to fit as the tab fouled the headset.

Either way, although it could be neater held on the brake, I'm happy with a clamp on the 'bars. it can be removed in a jiffy without tools.

Your eBay link was quite interesting! It showed me that I can buy a clamp to fit a torch.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bike-mount-flashl ... 45f5003e13

As I have one of these:
http://www.zweibrueder.com/ENG/produkte ... .php?id=l7 and it's awsomely bright, I could simply buy a clamp and use my torch!

Food for thought.

lesz42 wrote:magicshines are very good ££££ very bright for £60-ish

But not built to last and their design means their actual output is nowhere near their claims of 900 lumens.

Problem solved then Mick. If you can get a bracket for a few quid you don't need to buy a new light.

gilesjuk wrote:

lesz42 wrote:magicshines are very good ££££ very bright for £60-ish

But not built to last and their design means their actual output is nowhere near their claims of 900 lumens.

well the lastest version is a bit different, and its the led thats 900 lumens, you will have some loss due to optics and so on

Compared to a hope 2 ( which is built far better) its ok


my cateye 530 cost £40, for £20 more or so, you get a FAR blighter light...

lesz42 wrote:you get a FAR blighter light...

Ah, so it is made in China, then

CREPELLO wrote:I can't see the problem Mick. The height of the brake stud hole wouldn't have any bearing on the fitment.

Mick F wrote:Yes it would.
There is insufficient clearance to allow for the bend in the clamp.

As I have my mudguards screwed in from below, I don't have a problem with them. I have tried to use the normal clamp system that is held in place by the brake bolt, but I had to 'modify' it to fit as the tab fouled the headset.

Just found my old mudguards in the workshop!

Here's what I had to do to the front one to get it to fit.In the past, I had flimsey metal fittings, but these newer SKS ones are fully SS. The bracket wouldn't bend sufficiently, so I cut off the tab a little.
I drilled the ones I have on now so I could screw it on under the fork bridge. My Mercian had the bosses fitted as original.

This is an interesting thread, I've been making notes for a new front light purchase
My main cateye light went walkies over the summer so I'm on the lookout for a new one.

The one thing I do not see mentioned here lot is the rear lighting. I've just ensured that I have 3 red LED lights in a pyramid shape (seat the the 2 side bar thingies that go down to the back wheel). One thing mentioned to me that made a lot of sense is that multiple rear lights allow people to draw perspective as they approach you. Car drivers can appreciate they are "closing" on you. Having driven behind a cyclist with one poor led light I can appreciate that.

mmm... rear lights. I have another Busch and Muller at the back. A big thing with built in reflector which attaches to the rear rack. It looks very European. I like it because it has two main LEDs and two side ones that also catch the reflector and make the light look huge when on. It's very bright. On busy roads I supplement this with a small flashing Blackburn Mars ( I think a No3 )

Here's a poor shot to show what I mean about the side lights illuminating the reflector:

Ok everyone, as you were, forget all the suggestions, there's another way

...this weekend I saw Greybeard's acetylene lamp in operation on his bike "Christine" - you really don't need anything else

T'was bright, and no batteries and just the thing for stopping to warm the hands on a cold winters commute

The future cycle lighting may look like a video game >>> Monkeylectric
I quite like them and kids will love them.

I don't think it's possible to beat the Cherry Bomb rear light from NiteRider. It's awesome. Has a decent clip which doesn't mean it jumps out of seatpost bag loops (like the Cateye clip does) and seatpost bracket which allows the light to be vertical or horizontal with a twist. Incredibly bright, has a flashing or steady mode and disperses some light sideways in either position. It does have a built in reflector but don't get too excited by that, it's not as good as the B&M one for reflection but probably enough to be 'legal'. Recently got best buy in Cycling Active magazine. It's a billion times better than the Cateye TL-LD1100 I bought which is bulky and comes with a crappy bracket and a crappy clip.

http://www.niterider.com/prod_cherrybomb.shtml