Commuting - hi-viz tape installled on my ride

Hi guys & gals, I ordered some EXTREMELY hi-viz reflective tape from a link I found on this forum (http://www.identi-tape.com/hi-intensity.htm)...My bike commute requires that I leave around 6:00 am every morning, so I'm guaranteed a partially dark ride for most of the year. Well, I installed this tape on my commuter bike last night...OH MY G-D is it BRIGHT. I love the stuff. It's *near* transparent in the day time too. I realize this is a bit geeky, but hey, it's a commuter and the more safety the better, right:

http://photobucket.com/albums/b348/04sctj/?action=view&current=hi-vizbike2.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/b348/04sctj/?action=view&current=hi-vizbike1.jpg

I've gotta get some more of this stuff.

Can you take some daytime pics to show off the transparency. Thanks.

Looks good, I would suggest putting the same tape on the chain stay and other support [forgot name] to rear wheel backet. Then you'll have a diamond frame outline which will be instantly recognized. Some may not immediately recognize the triangle.

Looks good, I would suggest putting the same tape on the chain stay and other support [forgot name] to rear wheel backet. Then you'll have a diamond frame outline which will be instantly recognized. Some may not immediately recognize the triangle.

Yeah, I plan on doing just that. I only ordered 10 feet of it and that's all it covered. It's relatively expensive ($14.00 w/shipping for just 10 feet), so I wanted to see how it worked out first. I plan on covering the rest of the bike :) :)

Oh, and I'll try to get some daytime pics for everyone.

Is that a budweiser strapped to your handle bar?
I say visibility's the least of your problems if you can't go for a ride without getting wasted..

That is really cool! I'd totally make myself a Tron suit for night riding...

Heh, I was thinking of finally putting in an order from the place. How well does the stuff peel off? (for replacement, for example, of ripped tape). Which type of tape did you get from that page? (I don't see a transparent one)

I like the tape on the cranks, nice touch.

Is that a budweiser strapped to your handle bar?
I say visibility's the least of your problems if you can't go for a ride without getting wasted..

Funny! No, unfortunately it's not a budweiser can. It's a can of Halt! ...pepper spray stuff used to stop dogs and other mammals that might give you a hard time :) I live in a really rural area and there are farm dogs everywhere that love to chase and nip at your heels. I've only used it once, but it's very effective.

Is that a budweiser strapped to your handle bar?
I say visibility's the least of your problems if you can't go for a ride without getting wasted..

Alcoholism is not your problem if you get wasted off one budweiser. :p

Cut some tape into squares and affix to your rims in between spokes. Use it about 1/3 to 1/2 way around and motorists will get a blinking effect as the wheels spin.

Put a strip of tape on the front and rear facing sides of your crankarms (you already have it on the sides) to create another blinking effect.

Heh, I was thinking of finally putting in an order from the place. How well does the stuff peel off? (for replacement, for example, of ripped tape). Which type of tape did you get from that page? (I don't see a transparent one)

I like the tape on the cranks, nice touch.

I'm not sure how well it will peal off; it seemed to stick VERY VERY well. In fact, the online copy says, "...high tack adhensive..." I don't think it will come off very easily...

I ordered the white, and I stated it's "near transparent..." It's difficult to explain...you can nearly see through it, but there's a white tint to it. If you're more than, say, 10 feet away, I don't think you'd notice it. I don't even mind if it's seen...I thought about even ordering a different, brighter daylight color (like orange or yellow). I'm anixous to see how it reflects in the bright sunlight on the way home. I'll report back and try to get some pics this afternoon when I get home.

Oh yeah, and the crankarms...I thought it was a good idea. I don't have reflectors on my spokes and I thought the crankarms would be a good moving part to light up.

That is really cool! I'd totally make myself a Tron suit for night riding...

I'm really close to this already...I have Illuminite jacket & pants...and I've had hi-viz stickers on my helmet for years. Plus, I have a Niterider lighting system. I'm lit up like a carnival going down the road :D :eek: :D

Seriously though, despite all my geekness I've noticed at night that cars behind me (I have a side mirror) start moving over to the other lane like 500 feet back...bottom line: EVERY VEHICLE knows I'm on the road.

It looks like you have a black frame. There's also the black tape which reflects white at night and is hard to see that it's there in the daytime.

I'm not sure how well it will peal off; it seemed to stick VERY VERY well. In fact, the online copy says, "...high tack adhensive..." I don't think it will come off very easily...

I ordered the white, and I stated it's "near transparent..." It's difficult to explain...you can nearly see through it, but there's a white tint to it. If you're more than, say, 10 feet away, I don't think you'd notice it. I don't even mind if it's seen...I thought about even ordering a different, brighter daylight color (like orange or yellow). I'm anixous to see how it reflects in the bright sunlight on the way home. I'll report back and try to get some pics this afternoon when I get home.

Oh yeah, and the crankarms...I thought it was a good idea. I don't have reflectors on my spokes and I thought the crankarms would be a good moving part to light up.

So I see silver, gold, orange, red, green blue and charcoal black, no white. ??? I've heard that the charcoal black is pretty awesome.

So how much and which size did you get?

So I see silver, gold, orange, red, green blue and charcoal black, no white. ??? I've heard that the charcoal black is pretty awesome.

So how much and which size did you get?

I meant silver (sorry!)...the silver is still nearly transparent. I got 1" thick and 10' in length...just to try it out. I'm going to order another 10 feet to finish it up.

Now that I think about it, since I have a dark green frame, I probably should of gotten the charcoal black. However, I don't care about the appearance as long as I'm seen/safe.

I figure I'd get the charcoal black to put on the black parts of my folder, like the handlepost and cranks, and then on the black parts (e.g. straps) of my backpack.

Cut some tape into squares and affix to your rims in between spokes. Use it about 1/3 to 1/2 way around and motorists will get a blinking effect as the wheels spin.

Put a strip of tape on the front and rear facing sides of your crankarms (you already have it on the sides) to create another blinking effect.

I love these ideas. I think that anything that mixes motion with the reflection would be good. I had considered a couple of strips of reflectorized tape folded over on itself hanging off of the back of my seat just flopping around in the breeze...

Another idea that came to mind based on your idea with the rim... Put a strip on the hub as well.

Another idea that came to mind based on your idea with the rim... Put a strip on the hub as well.



Great minds must think alike. I have maybe 6 inches of the tape left. I was thinking of doing this tonight. I'll let you know how it turns out.