Where to buy some small bolts

[tonyjeffs]

They sell an excellent torch in B&Q, shaped like a headlight, 24 LEDs. A 3cm deep 7cm dia cylender. It is much better than any bicycle front light I've seen and only =A34.99. So I want to adapt it.

I need 4 bolts, like those used to screw an electric plug face to the back box, but a size or two narrower, 20mm long.

Buying online by trial and error until I get the right size seems disproportionately costly. Any thoughts on a diy store Liverpool where I could browse before buying? B&Q don't sell any that thin. The size is possibly M3 or M2.

Tony

[Laurence Payne]

are other assortments, some with larger sizes. They're so cheap, you may as well stock up.

[tonyjeffs]

Wow - perfect answer - ideal - I'll go straight there monday. Thanks

Tony

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Maplin would be a likely retail source. They certainly have such things mail order - but it's a bit of a gamble if your local store stocks them. Other source would be a decent model shop.

[PeterC]

Please bear in mind that it won't be to the relevant spec. for bike lights, so it could be used in addition to such a light. The law is stupid on this (and most things): if a cretcan pulls out in front of you or overtakes directly in to you, it'd be 'your' fault for not having the correct light, even if it is better than the legal one. Law and courts are total barriers to truth and justice.

[Bolted]

People who make up stuff in order to make a fantasy point are a bigger barrier to truth and justice.

If you disagree, please provide the precedent you claim to be relying on.

[Lobster]

Just trying to remember the last time I saw a cyclist at night who had any light at all on his bike...

David

[Dave Liquorice]

Technically if the light(s) being used on a bicycle are not marked with the relevant BS (or EU equivalent or better) standard you should also have such lamps fitted and working.

Any lawyer worth their salt would pick up on the use of "unapproved" lights only to make a case of "contributory negligence".

At least these days it appears that you can legally have flashing lights, which IMHO are easier to spot, even if the BS hasn't yet caught up. But that may be a bit grey...

What might be a problem with this lamp is dazzle to on coming traffic. dipped car headlights have a definite cutoff. This lamp won't have that and just angling in down a bit might not be sufficient, some form of hood may also be required.

[Bill Wright]

I need 4 bolts, like those used to screw an electric plug face to the back box, but a size or two narrower, 20mm long.

Buying online by trial and error until I get the right size seems disproportionately costly. Any thoughts on a diy store Liverpool where I could browse before buying? B&Q don't sell any that thin. The size is possibly M3 or M2.

Tony

Back to B & Q to use their small fixings pick n' mix service.

Bill

[Frank Erskine]

On Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:07:41 +0100, Lobster had this to say:

Last night I was amazed to see a cyclist (at around 11.00pm and on the wrong side of the (unlit) road) with a reasonably effective tail lamp :-)

As I passed him I noticed that he had no lighting at all to his (?) front, which I suppose is more critical for his riding position, but hey..!

Why is it that nighttime cyclists always ride dark-coloured unlit bikes, seem to have a preference for dark footpaths and breakneck speeds and wearing black clothing (usually with a hood)?

Not that I'm one to complain, you know...

[Derek Geldard]

They were playing Del Shannon singing "Runaway" on the dodgems at the local feast, and Fish n' Chips were 3d to take away.

Derek

[Clint Sharp]

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes

But of course you can use the online store stock checker (can't believe I'm standing up for Maplin) it's usually pretty good and the OP should be aware that Maplin open Sundays as well if he isn't already.

[Laurence Payne]

That is unless you have a good local hardware shop. There's still one near me who would just pull out a cardboard box and sell me one nut and bolt for a few pennies.

[Laurence Payne]

The purpose of a bicycle light these days is not to illuminate the road ahead, but to make yourself visible to other traffic. Angle them to be visible, but don't choose a beam light that might dazzle.

So I'm wondering if this whole thing is a good idea at all?

[Calvin Sambrook]

Hee, hee. An amusing story from last winter...

My cycle route takes me across an unlit common on a narrow-ish path with a ditch alongside, at one point there is a dog-leg and two cattle grids as the path crosses the ditch. On one occasion it had been raining hard for days and the common was flooded to about 10cm but the path is a little raised and so was fine although had water on both sides. In winter I ride with a home made 20W 12V halogen front light (which has a very sharp cut-off so it doesn't dazzle) and I have no visibility problems at all, even at 30kph. As I approached the bridge I found that the path was blocked by cows and I was forced to get off and push my way between them. I got back on and crossed the bridge where I met an unlit cyclist going the other way at some speed. I shouted a warning "look out, there's cows on the path" but I suspect that the guy had his iPod ears in and misheard as the response was obscene and biological (he probably thought I was complaining that he didn't have lights). Satisfyingly I then heard two rattles as he went over the grids really quite quickly followed by a pained cry and a splash. I did think of going back to check the cows were alright...

[Calvin Sambrook]

That might be true in town and if you ride slowly but it certainly isn't true in unlit areas and certainly not if you want to travel reasonably quickly. I have both a "make myself visible" standard LED bike light and a BFO halogen which lights the path ahead. On the rare occasions that one has failed I've felt very vulnerable or been forced to slow to a crawl depending on which one it is.

[Donwill]

I think the ones you refer to which attach a 13 Amp wall socket to the back box are (Metric) M3.5 so maybe what your'e after is an M3 thread Don

[Clive George]

The purpose of my bike light is to illuminate the road ahead, something it fortunately does quite well. Being a proper bike light from Germany, where they have laws about this sort of thing, it's got a beam pattern designed to illuminate well but not dazzle.

There's also a significant market for bike lights which illuminate the entire area ahead, and do it very brightly - but these are aimed at off-road use.

The advent of decent cheap LED torches like the one the OP mentioned has provided another fairly popular route to bike lighting. There are handlebar mounts for them - Fenix make one for example, though the OP's route is obviously more suited to this NG :-)

As Laurence says, you just need to take a little care with aim - keep the brightest spot away from driver's eye level, and you'll be fine.

[<me9]

Depends where you're going. I use a 12w halogen on country roads. It's bright enough to get cars to dip.

[PeterC]

MY last GF, when a doc. in A&E at poole, came up to the flat and told me that there was a cyclist in for the night who'd hit a pony in the New Forest. She told me that he wasn't bad but she'd let him have a bed for the night, told me his name and ward, so I went down for a chat and to take the piss. The pony was uninjured and not even concerned - wandered to the grass and started grazing. Cows are even tougher!