Introduction: Helmet Bike Light Front and Rear in 30 Mins.
I wanted some flashing lights on my bike helmet, as anyone who cycles will know that the more lights you are showing the greater the chance of being seen before you are hit. Hmmm, depressing eh, but there are no garuntees with this instructable :) .
What you will have in about 30 minutes (it actually took me about 22 minutes from first photo to last) is a set of flashing lights on your helmet, showing red at rear and white at front. It will also be waterproof and scuff proof :) .
Oh... and it is non destructive so all parts can be repurposed and there is no drilling of holes in the helmet.
You will need,
- Pair of pliers
- Braddle (or bradawl or awl - basically a sturdy pointy thing.)
- Some bits of wire - I used Copper as that was in my tool box.
- Pair of scissors
- Some old innertube - here for a narrow type of tyre (about 3.5cms wide when deflated)
- A pair of little LED flashing lights. I got mine from a supermarket for £4.25
What you will have in about 30 minutes (it actually took me about 22 minutes from first photo to last) is a set of flashing lights on your helmet, showing red at rear and white at front. It will also be waterproof and scuff proof :) .
Oh... and it is non destructive so all parts can be repurposed and there is no drilling of holes in the helmet.
You will need,
- Pair of pliers
- Braddle (or bradawl or awl - basically a sturdy pointy thing.)
- Some bits of wire - I used Copper as that was in my tool box.
- Pair of scissors
- Some old innertube - here for a narrow type of tyre (about 3.5cms wide when deflated)
- A pair of little LED flashing lights. I got mine from a supermarket for £4.25
Step 1: Remove the Elastic From the Lights
Remove the elastics and the little wire circlet from the light bodies.
Step 2: Wedge the Lights in the Inner Tube
Cut a piece of inner tube that is a couple of centimeters longer than the length of the two lights.
You can give your fingers a nice workout by stretching the inner tube over the bike lights. It's a bit fiddly, and the pliers helped for getting a grip on the rubber, but one they are in they are nice and tight.
The nice thing about this is you can still operate the buttons through the inner tube.
You can give your fingers a nice workout by stretching the inner tube over the bike lights. It's a bit fiddly, and the pliers helped for getting a grip on the rubber, but one they are in they are nice and tight.
The nice thing about this is you can still operate the buttons through the inner tube.
Step 3: Make Holes in the Rubber
I made holes in the rubber using the braddle. I did this because the wire was more likely to bend than make a hole, but if you use thicker wire that might be easier.
I also bent the wire into a U shape ready to attach to the helmet.
You can see, in the second picture on this step, where I have just made sure that I had somewhere to attach the wire to on the helmet. Under the inner tube middle is a cross beam between the air vents. It is to this cross beam that the assembly is attached. Your milage may vary with your own helmet.
I also bent the wire into a U shape ready to attach to the helmet.
You can see, in the second picture on this step, where I have just made sure that I had somewhere to attach the wire to on the helmet. Under the inner tube middle is a cross beam between the air vents. It is to this cross beam that the assembly is attached. Your milage may vary with your own helmet.
Step 4: Tighten Everything Up
You can just about tell from this photo, that I actually put the wire through the little holes where the old elastics were attached.
I am now completely sure that with the wire and the rubber, there is no way these are falling off when I ride or when I bump my helmet while it is attached to the bike (I have a folding bike and attach the helmet to the seatpost while the bike is folded to keep my hands free while getting on and off trains :) ).
I am now completely sure that with the wire and the rubber, there is no way these are falling off when I ride or when I bump my helmet while it is attached to the bike (I have a folding bike and attach the helmet to the seatpost while the bike is folded to keep my hands free while getting on and off trains :) ).
Step 5: All Done
That's all there is to it. One DIY helmet light for less than 5 GBP.