TwoFish Lockblocks and Bikeblocks on Differently Designed Helmets (Photos)

[varuscelli]

This is sort of a cross post to a thread on the Bike Forums (www.bikeforums.net) but it would apply to some of the same discussion here, of course. I took a bunch of photos of two different helmets (Bell Variant and Giro Flume), one of which is more suited to a lockblock and one of which is suited to a bikeblock if mounting a flashlight to the helmet.

So...if you're considering using a TwoFish bikeblock or lockblock to attach a flashlight to a helmet, these photos might help a bit in figuring out which one will work best for you.

TwoFish Lockblocks, Bikeblocks, and Bicycle Helmets

 

[Bogus1]

Thanks for posting this. I doubt I ever would have thought of using my TwoFish parts this way!

 

[greenLED]

Very nice setup and photography, Al!

Some helmets are not "lock" friendly.

 

[varuscelli]

Well, you're certainly welcome.

One thing, though -- I tend to put this stuff together rather hurriedly, so if anyone spots anything wrong in my terminology or descriptions, please point it out. I'd rather have the info as accurate as possible for anyone who might actually need to refer to it. So, if you spot any mistakes, let me know...

Thanks!

 

[alexlockhart]

Great work, Al! Your excellent photography makes it obvious that you're a professional. And this information is really helpful; I tried getting this info from several places before buying my lockblocks, and couldn't find it - I just bought it with faith in the positive reviews by people here.

I've been using a lockblock to mount my 18650 SSC flashlight on my Bell Metro helmet for a few weeks now, and it works great. It was easy to get it pointing the right direction, it's quick and easy to mount/unmount it, and it's very secure. It's mounted about in the middle of the helmet, and the ~8oz of light + mount is quite noticeable, and most of the extra weight is felt on my forehead, which is not ideal. But I don't have anywhere further back to mount it, and the excellent light I have is worth the slight discomfort. And I got the 3-pack of lockblocks from fenixstore, so I use one of them to mount the light to my bike frame during the day, so I don't have to have it on my helmet but I won't get caught out at night without it.

One thing you didn't mention on your page is that the strap on the bikeblock wraps around one of the foamy pads on the Bell Variant that's designed to touch your head, meaning that the strap would touch your head, feeling like a little lump there. I know because I tried mounting a bikeblock to my helmet and it did the same thing, and the little lump was pretty uncomfortable. Did you notice this on the Bell Variant? The strap from the lockblock on the Giro Flume in your pictures and on my helmet goes around a part of the helmet that doesn't touch the head, so I don't notice it.

Alex

 

[varuscelli]

Great work, Al! Your excellent photography makes it obvious that you're a professional. And this information is really helpful; I tried getting this info from several places before buying my lockblocks, and couldn't find it - I just bought it with faith in the positive reviews by people here.

Thanks for the comments, Alex. Yeah, like you I mostly bought on faith. It was very disappointing to me to see so few decent photos/artwork of the lockblocks/bikeblocks, even on the manufacturer's site. I'm often amazed at how little effort some of the manufacturers put into making their products look good (or even recognizable). So if these photos help anyone, hey -- so much the better for any interested cyclist.

One thing you didn't mention on your page is that the strap on the bikeblock wraps around one of the foamy pads on the Bell Variant that's designed to touch your head, meaning that the strap would touch your head, feeling like a little lump there. I know because I tried mounting a bikeblock to my helmet and it did the same thing, and the little lump was pretty uncomfortable. Did you notice this on the Bell Variant? The strap from the lockblock on the Giro Flume in your pictures and on my helmet goes around a part of the helmet that doesn't touch the head, so I don't notice it.

Yeah, even though it looks like I might feel the Velcro strap with the Variant helmet, the sensation is only minimally noticeable. If I wrap it well, I don't even really feel it. But I think that's just the way the Variant fits my head. (Definitely can't say it would be the same for all helmets -- or all heads... )

And I'm betting if it really bothered me and I wanted to stick with the Variant/bikeblock combination, I could easily find an inexpensive cosmetic surgeon who'd carve me a notch up on top to accommodate the Velcro bulge. I'd hate to have to throw out a barely used bikeblock... :thumbsup: nana

 

[greenLED]

I thread the straps under the helmet's pads - can't feel a thing.

 

[f22shift]

any of the twofish fits a maglite? like a 1D size?

 

[varuscelli]

any of the twofish fits a maglite? like a 1D size?

I do believe the bigger ones will...but it will depend on what you want to mount it to. (Some of the TwoFish work for parallel mounting, some for perpendicular mounting.) If for handlebar mounting (I'll assume that's what you want), I think the TwoFish Cyclopblock is the one that will work for something that size. Unfortunately, the Cyclopblocks seem to be a bit difficult to find. Lighthound.com supposedly carries them, but they seem to be currently out of stock.

 

[varuscelli]

I do believe the bigger ones will...but it will depend on what you want to mount it to. (Some of the TwoFish work for parallel mounting, some for perpendicular mounting.) If for handlebar mounting (I'll assume that's what you want), I think the TwoFish Cyclopblock is the one that will work for something that size. Unfortunately, the Cyclopblocks seem to be a bit difficult to find. Lighthound.com supposedly carries them, but they seem to be currently out of stock.

Let me amend my answer a bit. It's nice how much info a brief e-mail to the manufacturer or wholesaler can uncover.

Apparently, TwoFish at some time in the somewhat recent past changed the name of the Cyclopblocks to Cycle Blocks. With the name "Cyclopblocks" still occasionally floating around out there from a reference standpoint, it's easy to get caught up in doing a search by that term -- which results in old links to former sellers, etc. But even the term "Cycle Blocks" doesn't (I don't think) turn up much.

However...! From the TwoFish folks comes the link to BoomerDirect, who makes the former Cyclopblocks available under the Cycle Blocks name.

Cycle Blocks at BoomerDirect

I knew that I had seen that page before (probably from other discussion here on this forum) . . . but I just couldn't turn it up again using the "cyclopblock" term.

 

[greenLED]

The stock straps fit up to a C-size light. The attachment is not very stable due to those light's sizes, but it works. It's easy enough to make your own velcro straps too.

 

[Khaytsus]

Okay, I want pictures of a Mag D (any number of cells) attached to a helmet.

 

[varuscelli]

One more note from the TwoFish people on the Cycle Blocks:

The Cycle Block has a webbing strap sewn to the hook and loop fabric so it is stronger. The length of the both straps makes it so that both sides accept a 1.5" O.D. to 1.5" O.D. The block size remains the same.
​

 

[greenLED]

Balancing a light on the locks gets trickier with larger lights. A 2D ligth pretty much needs 2 locks.

 

[varuscelli]

Balancing a light on the locks gets trickier with larger lights. A 2D ligth pretty much needs 2 locks.

Yeah, I'd think that the small block would have difficulty with anything very large. Just not that much base to hold it very steady, I wouldn't think. (Not that I've played around with a Cycle Block or anything...but if the block is the same size as the Lockblock...hmmm...seems small for a large light.)

I wonder if that might have anything to do with the reason that not too many vendors seem to be making them available...(?). And that several vendors who used to sell them (like Nashbar) don't carry them any longer.

 

[f22shift]

they do make a D size holder but i think a D size flashlight is overkill.
http://www.electricscooterparts.com/headlights.html