How to Use a Hell Fire ATV Light As a Bicycle Light

boy mountain bike lake reservoir sunset bicycle image by david hughes from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

Just because the sun is setting doesn't mean the riding has to stop. Night trail riding gives you a new feel for the bicycle and how you react to the trail. Night riding also hones your skills. However, you can't do it without a good headlight. If you ride ATVs and already have an ATV headlight, such as one in the Hell Fire series, you can retrofit the clamps to fit the mountain bike handlebars. This light will illuminate the trails for you as you keep the rubber side down well after sunset.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Air gun
Flathead screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver
Small backpack
Duct tape or Velcro straps
Allen wrenches

Step 1

Pry the end caps off the butts of the handlebars and with the flathead screwdriver, then pry off a handle grip taking care not to rip it. Insert the nozzle of the air gun into this small gap and turn on the air. When the rubber grip is pushed up and off the handlebar, grab it and pull it off the end of the handlebar. Now do this to the other grip and set them both aside.

Step 2

Slide the Hell Fire ATV light clamp mounts onto each side of the handlebars. Try to align them so that they are equidistant from the respective ends of the handlebars. Make sure the mounts are pointed so that when the lights are slipped onto them, the lights face out toward the front of the bicycle.

Step 3

Slide a shim under the clamp attachments if they are too big for your handlebars. You can make a shim out of a discarded aluminum can by cutting a small strip with tin snips and coiling it around the handlebars. Slide the clamp attachment over the shim if needed. Tighten down the clamps with the Phillips screwdriver. Tighten the screws by turning them to the right until firm.

Step 4

Push the handlebar grips back onto the handlebars. Place them at the desired position, then push the butt end caps back into the ends of the handlebars.

Step 5

Slide the Hell Fire lights onto the clamp attachments. Start from the front of the clamps and push the lights back into the attachments until the plastic locking mechanism clicks them into position. Attach the light wiring to the Hell Fire battery pack. Because of the size and weight of the Hell Fire ATV battery packs, it is not advisable to mount them to your bicycle. Instead, loop the wires over a shoulder and then put the battery pack into a small backpack. Use Velcro straps or duct tape to push the wires firmly against your arm. This prevents the wires from getting tangled.

Step 6

Turn on the lights and point the front of the bicycle toward a solid wall, such as the back end of a garage or garage door. Align the lights using their position on the wall as a guide.

Article Written By Eric Cedric

A former Alaskan of 20 years, Eric Cedric now resides in California. He's published in "Outside" and "Backpacker" and has written a book on life in small-town Alaska, "North by Southeast." Cedric was a professional mountain guide and backcountry expedition leader for 18 years. He worked in Russia, Iceland, Greece, Turkey and Belize. Cedric attended Syracuse University and is a private pilot.

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