How use a flashlight for a bicycle headlight

Need to ride at night once in a while? Don't want to spend big bucks for a bike specific headlight? This instructable is for you!

Step 1 Here's what you need

A bike helmet. Riding without one is silly, riding in the dark without one doubly so! I like having a light on my helmet because it points where I am looking and can be pointed at drivers on cross streets at intersections. Get a helmet that fits you properly and make sure the straps are adjusted to keep it in place if you go down. A helmet that doesn't stay put when you crash is as bad a no helmet at all!

I like my Giro for the good buckle/strap system and the ventilation. You can get good helmets cheaply by buying last year's model closeouts at places like Nashbar, Pricepoint, etc.

Just about any helmet will work- almost all have plenty of vent holes- you'll see why that is important in a minute...

The other things you need are a flashlight- this thing is going to be on your head, so a small one is best. I used a "River Rock" flashlight that I bought at target for $20. It uses two AA batteries, it's weather proof and VERY bright. A pair of alkaline batteries will give full output for 4-5 hours. Rechargeable NiMH will provide full output for 2-3 hours. That's plenty for most bike commutes in the dark.

Oh yeah, you'll need a couple rubber bands too. I used whatever I had around. Just make sure they'll fit...

Comments

[admin]

This is a great Instructable, but you need to add a main image of the final project to the intro step. Please do that and leave me a message when you have so that we can publish your work. Thanks!

[jemerson1]

I use a L2D face to face and it's wonderful. Sometimes I find useful for a variety of light to escape, but can be mitigated by slowing down.

Yamah R15

[Advar]

Neat. I did something similar with two small lights & epoxy. One light on each side, and they merged into a much wider beam and extra bright in the center. Regular epoxy didn't work so well, but the silicon is still on after three years & a lot of rain.

[Haielgo2]

I use a similar arrangement on the front of my helmet. I've always been a little concerned about the possible effect on the protective value of the helmet if you took an impact over the torch.

[Pumpkin$]

It's called Ducttape! XD

[tstartrekdude]

hey, is the a cree led flash light or an incandescent?

[Mark Rehorst]

I don't recall exactly what was on the package, but I think it is a Luxeon K2. It has a DC-DC converter to keep it at constant brightness as batteries discharge. It is plenty bright for riding home on streets in the dark but I wouldn't try barreling down singletrack with it in the dark.