How To Illuminate And Decorate Your Bicycle With Lights

Before going to Ocracoke this year, I was looking at a tricked out hip hop gangsta car and had an inspiration. Why not do that to my bike? I went to the auto supply store and was surprised that a short string of decorative lights were $20.

I rummaged around the attic and basement and created a solution from materials on hand. I found a string of LED Christmas lights, and was pleased to note that a 25 foot string only drew one watt. However, they were powered by house current- 110volts. That meant I either needed a real long extension cord, or another plan.
I spotted my 12 volt to 110v inverter that I bought some time ago so I would never have to pay for another 12 volt cell phone charger for travel ($14 at Walmart, a bargain ). This is energized by a automobile cigarette lighter style 12 volt male plug.

Now I just needed a portable 12 volt source. I considered getting a small lead-acid tractor battery, but I was still trying to do this off the shelf and on the cheap. Two 6 volt lantern batteries that we keep for power outages were the solution. I wired these in series with a short piece of wire by connecting the positive terminal of one battery to the negative terminal of the other. I then attached the two unconnected terminals to a female 12 volt outlet, by attaching the center post of the 12 volt outlet to the positive terminal, and the outside or shield to the negative post.

The batteries were hooked to the inverter and placed in my bike basket. The lights were hooked to the inverter, and draped about the bike frame, and attached with twist ties.

I rode around Ocracoke at night, and the effect was electric. People couldn't figure out what was approaching at first, then cries of "awesome bike man" would ring out. Two rock bands at two bars even stopped mid song to exclaim!

The old batteries lasted about 2 hours. This is the second year Ocracoke has had an ordinance requiring lights on bicycles. I think I am in full compliance.

Wick Hunt