← Forum

Login or Register to join the discussion!

• ← Group Forum | Forum Topic Directory

  How To Be Visible on your Bike (48 posts)

• Joe T. said 6 months ago:

  It's important to stay visible when you are biking.

  Using lights at night and/or when weather is bad and wearing light coloured clothing both help.

  What are the lighting/clothing/other visibility strategies you use to make sure you are seen and are safe while on the road?

• Ben Elling said 6 months ago:

  I have to admit, I only use my MEC front and rear lights. Wondering if there is something more, something solar-powered that could illuminate the frame. I still love this concept…

  http://dustbowl.wordpress.com/2009/01/09/light-lane-concept-from-altitudes-alex-tee-and-evan-gant/

• ryazwinski said 6 months ago:

  I wear bright yellow cycling jacket with reflective material. My panniers are also neon yellow with reflectors. If there's any chance that I won't be visible enough, my rear light is on (blinking *note below) and if it's not full daylight (raining, dusk, fog, etc.) I have helmet mounted DeNotte super-bright LED lamp that gets connected and powered up.

  I love the helmet mount because it allows me to shine the light in a drivers window/mirror/face, independent of where my bike is pointed, if I am concerned they aren't registering my presence.

  RE: blinking- there is some controversy about blink vs. solid lights. Some research says that some people have a hard time judging distance to blinking lights. I can believe this; however, since I have so much other reflective and visible gear, I feel that the visual stimulus of the blinking is more valuable in my situation than depth perception. Once they know I'm there, they can get distance from my reflective clothing or all the yellow.

  Rick…

• AnnieD said 6 months ago:

  I have reelights (lights on my wheels that run from magnets) but they aren't the brightest and right now, the front one doesn't seem to be working at all. I think of them as my backup lights in case all my batteries die.

  I have MEC turtle lights hanging off my helmet – white flashy in front, red flashy in back. I like the fact that the batteries are cheap and easy to replace, so I should never be without these.

  One of my paniers has a larger red light running off two rechargeable batteries, I put this one roadside, and the other has a turtle light.

  Finally, I have a very bright white light that I put on my handlebars. This one gets recharged using a USB port, but can only hold a 3-hour charge. Although it's my brightest light, because of the need to recharge frequently it's probably also the one that I'm most likely to be without. But with the number of lights I have, I can afford to have a couple not working and still end up being lit up like a Christmas tree. Some people seem genuinely amused when they see me flashing away and I get the occasional "Love your lights!" comments, so not only am I more visible, I'm cheering people up too.

• Ben Elling said 6 months ago:

  Wow, I feel like I need to buy more lights now!

  @ AnnieD – any link for that usb light? Sounds kinda cool, but I would totally forget it all the time.

• HappyStuffing said 6 months ago:

  I personally use the Backbrun Flea ( http://www.blackburndesign.com/flea_solar_rear.html ) on my rear rack and a Filtzer UFO ( http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442622482&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692895&bmUID=1264608023416 ) from MEC on my helmet.

  I use a MCE P7 flashlight from dealextreme.com and one of those turtle lights from MEC.

  I have been debating the last few days actually, about upgrading my rear Flea light to the new Mars 4.0 possibly. It even has side amber lights. Also been thinking about the PlanetBike Superflash from MEC, but i've been hearing it has such a narrow beam.

  @Ben Elling
  I've seen that laser lane making device you linked to. It looks like and it is a great concept, but they need to add some sort of gyroscopic stability to the lane it makes. Look closely at the video and checkout how much the lane just wiggles around. As a driver, that would confuse me more than the cyclist himself.

  Furthermore, i do think the lane it makes is much too small. It seems to extend itself from the bike only a few meters beyond the bike. Think of how fast a car will cover that distance one the driver sees the artificial lane. No add to that that you have to assume the driver is even paying enough attention to "see" such a thing.

  It would also be super cool if the laser projected the image of the bike lane symbol that is shown in the advertisements rather than just a straight line.

  Basically, as of now, i believe money would be better invested in better lighting. I will keep tabs on this product though, it shows much promise.

• Todd Tyrtle said 6 months ago:

  We've seen a bit more activity on this subject over in "News" so perhaps now that Joe has linked over here we can bring the discussion here.

  OK – so I've got a pretty crappy headlight. It seemed really nice when I got it – 5 LEDs, pretty bright. But lately I've been seeing a number of *really* bright headlights. It's probably time for me to upgrade – anyone have any recommendations?

  As for clothing – if it's warm enough for a jacket I go with a neon green shell with reflective stripes I got at MEC. I think this is another thing I'd like to upgrade. It's visible but not as visible as those that I've seen with really bright yellow jackets.

  And I'm still thinking seriously of going with the Bright Bike stickers: http://www.brightthread.com/ – I wonder if we can get enough folks together on here to buy in bulk and save a bit of money and shipping. Any interest?

• Ben Elling said 6 months ago:

  @ Todd Tyrtle, I'd be interested in getting in on that if there is interest.

• ryazwinski said 6 months ago:

  @Todd Tyrtle: I'd definitely be into a group by of brightbike stickers – I'd want a lot of the 1" black reflective.

• HappyStuffing said 6 months ago:

  @Todd and reflective sticker club.

  I have bought amber/white/red from Canadian Tire. They are the same super reflective Scotchlite type material. They also sell that cool black kind that turns white when shinning a light on it. It's awesome. These all come in various sizes. Check it out.

• Todd Tyrtle said 6 months ago:

  OOh – maybe that's a better option. And as an added bonus: Instant gratification! I'll have to take a look to see. The reflective black ones are the ones I want as well.

• Joe T. said 6 months ago:

  Wow… I love that I posted a How-To forum on this, and you guys instantly filled it up with good info. Will be very useful to anyone looking for lighting advice.

• HappyStuffing said 6 months ago:

  Don't forget! I read that this Saturday at the "coldest bike ride of the year" event MEC is suppose to be giving us all a turtle light

  Imagine all the blinkyness!

• SD-B59 said 6 months ago:

  I have to ask, WHAT is a turtle light??? Can anyone link to a photo of one if a description is difficult.

  I just started riding 2 years ago and my husband threw me a surprise quirky party once where everyone had to bring a bike gift a few months ago…..LOL……and it was cool for people decided to donate ALL of their second hand equipment to me and went way overboard where its now time for me to pass things on to others. But i was given quite a few lights.
  However, I haven't had the need to ever step into a bike store yet so I am unfamiliar with the terminology of items.

  I have a few really good white lights….made by Trek or some such company, although i have only been using one on the front of my bike………and I have a typical red light that is on the back, and both I press a button and they can blink which is the setting I have them on and I do hav a few little cheap looking lights…….they are sort of round with an elastic so you can tie it onto your bike ( dont know what they are called though ) but it appears after reading this thread, I both need to put on ALL of my lights or at least several more—–on both front and back i assume.

  I like the idea of the reflective tape someone mentioned here that could be purchased at Canadian Tire but DOES it ruin the paint job underneath?
  I wouldnt want it put on a high end bike if it makes it harder to sell later on should I wish to do so, or if it is all sticky.

  I have seen on bikes, things that people wrap around the top pole and velcro close so that pole doesnt get scratched, I suppose from a lock, or everyday wear an tear and something like that you could take on and off that was reflective I think would be great?

  Perhaps not even a bad idea to wrap some reflective tape around ones bike helmet.

  But after reading all of these comments, I realize now that i am very likely as close to invisible to drivers as can be, although I didnt believe i was earlier.

  The only other problem with so many lights and do dads attached is that when you lock up your bike you have to undo and take each one with you OR they are likely to be pinched from your bike.

  Where is this Saturdays coldest ride of the year being held?
  Any info, web page, etc explaining more about it please?

• SD-B59 said 6 months ago:

  Never mind. I followed a link to MEC and saw the turtle lights. Those are quite similar to a few I have.

  Quick Question: Doesn't one need to be a member of MEC to shop in there? Am I correct?