# LED Bicycle Handlebars ## Overview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIwcYmOzLoE Light up your ride with some LED handlebars! You will need: - [Cool white LED strip](http://adafruit.com/products/887) (1m or 2m - available as a [project pack](http://adafruit.com/products/932) in the Adafruit store) - [Waterproof DC Power Cable Set](http://adafruit.com/products/743) - [8 x AA battery holder](http://adafruit.com/products/449) - [Heatshrink tubing](http://adafruit.com/products/344) - [Clear handlebar tape](http://www.amazon.com/Cinelli-Jelly-Ribbon-NaturalTransparent/dp/B0016G7MP8 "Link: http://www.amazon.com/Cinelli-Jelly-Ribbon-NaturalTransparent/dp/B0016G7MP8") - Scrap fabric - Tablecloth vinyl or other waterproof fabric - Velcro closure tape - Electrical tape - Zipties Tools: - Soldering iron and solder - Wire strippers - Scissors - Needle and thread - Sewing machine (optional) - Measuring tape - Multimeter - Lighter (or heat gun-- for shrinking heatshrink tubing) - Utility or craft knife ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/001/135/medium800/leds_LED-handlebars-adafruit-11.jpg?1396769129) This project was inspired by [Mitchell Silva, who created GLOBARS](http://www.coroflot.com/mitchellsilva/GLOBARS) with LEDs inside the handlebars. # LED Bicycle Handlebars ## Solder LED Tape ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/001/114/medium800/leds_LED-handlebars-adafruit-01.jpg?1396768901) Scrape away the plastic coating over two solder pads at the center of your LED strip. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/001/115/medium800/leds_LED-handlebars-adafruit-02.jpg?1396768908) Grab the jack side of the waterproof power connector and solder the red wire to the positive (+) pad on the LED strip, and the black wire to the negative (-) pad. Slide a large piece of heatshrink tubing over the LED strip and the newly formed junctions. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/001/116/medium800/leds_LED-handlebars-adafruit-03.jpg?1396768917) Add a ziptie, some epoxy, or both to provide strain relief and added waterproofing at this delicate spot. # LED Bicycle Handlebars ## Affix to Handlebars ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/001/119/medium800/leds_LED-handlebars-adafruit-04.jpg?1396768957) Secure the center of the LED tape to the center of your handlebars, positioned around your stem. If your handlebars aren't attached to a stem when you do this project, add something to occupy its place, like rolled up cardboard and a velcro tie. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/001/120/medium800/leds_LED-handlebars-adafruit-05.jpg?1396768969) Cut the backing strip near the stem to expose the LED strip's adhesive. Peel away the backing as you affix the strip in position on the handlebars. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/001/121/medium800/leds_LED-handlebars-adafruit-06.jpg?1396768983) 1m of LED tape covers these drop bars nicely. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/001/122/medium800/leds_LED-handlebars-adafruit-07.jpg?1396768990) Clip off any extra LED strip with your snippers. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/001/123/medium800/leds_LED-handlebars-adafruit-08.jpg?1396769010) Repeat with the other side. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/001/132/medium800/leds_LED-handlebars-adafruit-10.jpg?1396769080) Wrap handlebars with clear grip tape. I found it on [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Cinelli-Jelly-Ribbon-NaturalTransparent/dp/B0016G7MP8) in [two colors](http://www.amazon.com/ACTION-TAPE-CINELLI-JELLY-CLEAR/dp/B0012K8I5Q/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_2/185-8334878-4672831) (neither of which gave the LEDs any discernible tint). ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/001/133/medium800/leds_LED-handlebars-adafruit-11.jpg?1396769096) Test out the LEDs with a reliable 12V power source. These drop bars were adorned with 1m of LED strip, while the bullhorns below have 2m spiraled around them. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/001/219/medium800/leds_LED-handlebars-adafruit-spiral-bullhorns.jpg?1396770149) # LED Bicycle Handlebars ## Battery Pouch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIwcYmOzLoE&hd=1&t=2m41s Sew a pouch to house your batteries. I made mine from two rectangles of fabric stitched together along their centers, creating flaps that will wrap around each the battery holder and the bike's top tube. Use vinyl to line the battery compartment for added water resistance. Watch the video above-- it's set to start at the battery pouch segment. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/001/218/medium800/leds_P7181344.jpg?1396770134) Take your bike out for a nighttime ride! # LED Bicycle Handlebars ## Frequently Asked Qs ### Each meter of LED strip draws about 1 Amp - so a one-meter strip will last about 4 hours on 8 AA batteries (3 hours for rechargeables). A two meter strip will be half that. ### Yes! We suggest using NiMH rechargeables! They'll do a great job at driving the LED strip. ### The easiest way to make it dimmer is to go with a [6xAA battery holder](http://adafruit.com/products/248) - the lower voltage will still light up the strip but not as much as 8 AA's ### Use 6 to 8 C or D cells for extra power. A 12V lantern battery will also do a good job, or a 12V lead acid battery. # LED Bicycle Handlebars ## Project Pack ## Featured Products ### LED Bike Handlebar Pack - 1 meter [LED Bike Handlebar Pack - 1 meter](https://www.adafruit.com/product/933) This pack contains supplies for making your own LED bicycle handlebars! This project is easily completed in a weekend and requires a small amount of soldering and some sewing, too. Pack includes:   - [Cool white LED strip](http://adafruit.com/products/887)... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/933) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/933/guides) ### LED Bike Handlebar Pack - 2 meters [LED Bike Handlebar Pack - 2 meters](https://www.adafruit.com/product/934) This pack contains supplies for making your own LED bicycle handlebars! This project is easily completed in a weekend and requires a small amount of soldering and some sewing, too. Pack includes:   - [Cool white LED...](http://adafruit.com/products/887) No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/934) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/934/guides) ### Cool White LED Weatherproof Flexi-Strip 60 LED - 5m [Cool White LED Weatherproof Flexi-Strip 60 LED - 5m](https://www.adafruit.com/product/887) These LED strips are ultra bright, fun and glowy. There are **60** cool white LEDs per meter, and you can control the entire strip at once with any microcontroller and [a power transistor](http://www.adafruit.com/products/355). The way they are wired, you will need a 9-12VDC... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/887) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/887/guides) ### Waterproof DC Power Cable Set - 5.5/2.1mm [Waterproof DC Power Cable Set - 5.5/2.1mm](https://www.adafruit.com/product/743) Outdoor enthusiasts rejoice! We now have standard 5.5/2.1mm DC power cable sets in a waterproof variety. These cable sets are ideal for projects that must weather the weather: dust, water, rain, snow, tornado (not volcano proof!). They are a little bulkier than normal DC jacks because of the... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/743) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/743/guides) ### 8 x AA battery holder [8 x AA battery holder](https://www.adafruit.com/product/449) When you need a portable 12V power pack, this big holder will do the job! The holder will store 8 AA batteries end to end, to give approximately 12VDC output with up to 2 amp peak current draw. We like this configuration in particular because it holds the batteries securely, even if being... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/449) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/449/guides) ### Heat Shrink Pack [Heat Shrink Pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/344) Heat shrink is the duct tape of electronics, it keeps your stuff all safe and kept together. Especially when wiring and soldering, use heat shrink to add mechanical strength to cables. We use this stuff all the time and having a zip-lock bag of all the possible sizes is super... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/344) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/344/guides) ## Related Guides - [Halo Energy Sword by Mattel NeoPixel Upgrade](https://learn.adafruit.com/halo-energy-sword-by-mattel-neopixel-upgrade.md) - [Guardian Robot with LEDs](https://learn.adafruit.com/guardian-robot-with-leds.md) - [MagicLight Bulb Color Mixer with Circuit Playground Bluefruit](https://learn.adafruit.com/magiclight-bulb-mixer.md) - [Digital Circuits 2: Some Tools](https://learn.adafruit.com/some-digital-tools.md) - [Bo-Katan LED Headband](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-headband.md) - [NeoPixels with MakeCode](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixels-with-makecode.md) - [IRIS LED and Prop Guards](https://learn.adafruit.com/iris-leds-prop-guards.md) - [Zelda Echoes Of Wisdom Tri Rod](https://learn.adafruit.com/zelda-tri-rod.md) - [LED Noodle Shop Sign](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-noodle-shop-sign.md) - [Intro to DMX](https://learn.adafruit.com/intro-to-dmx.md) - [Trinket NeoPixel LED Longboard](https://learn.adafruit.com/trinket-neopixel-led-longboard.md) - [Snow Globe with Circuit Playground Bluefruit](https://learn.adafruit.com/snow-globe-bluefruit-cpb.md) - [Luminous LED Flowers](https://learn.adafruit.com/luminous-led-flowers.md) - [Wireless LED Maracas](https://learn.adafruit.com/wireless-led-maracas.md) - [CircuitPython LED Animations](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-led-animations.md)