Commuting - Planet bike Blinky Superflash?

Anybody know where I can pick up one of these in Canada or online in the US/Canada?

Anybody know where I can pick up one of these in Canada or online in the US/Canada?


right here (http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=PBBSF&tnum=3445143&c=4590853&ref=pd)

Is there something super-special about this light that I don't know about?

OUCH! Almost $17 USD shipping for a $20 USD light. That adds up to close to $45 CDN! Anybody know of a place with cheaper shipping to Canada?

Is there something super-special about this light that I don't know about?

They are VERY bright.

Is there something super-special about this light that I don't know about?It's so bright that it's daytime-visible from the rear like a Cateye LD1000, but smaller and lighter. I use them in the daytime to help make motorists aware of me, and naturally in dusk and darkness too. One of my bikes has an even more powerful blinkie, but that's another story... :D

OUCH! Almost $17 USD shipping for a $20 USD light. That adds up to close to $45 CDN! Anybody know of a place with cheaper shipping to Canada?I was going to say MEC, but they don't show the SuperFlash on their site: http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_listing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692875&currentPage=2&bmUID=1161789184743 But maybe you could ask them to special-order it?

Yes, I was hoping MEC would carry it but it is not listed yet. I should inquire and see if they can order it.

Any other options in the mean time?

MEC has it in stock in Calgary. It may be too new to be on their most recent catalogue. I picked mine up yesterday for $17.95 CDN. Why are the US sites charging $20 US (over $22 CDN?)???

It's really cool - as long as it doesn't induce seisures in motorists :eek:

I'm trying to figure out if I should have it on during the day - it's certainly bright enough to be seen.

MEC has it in stock in Calgary. It may be too new to be on their most recent catalogue. I picked mine up yesterday for $17.95 CDN. Why are the US sites charging $20 US (over $22 CDN?)???

It's really cool - as long as it doesn't induce seisures in motorists :eek:

I'm trying to figure out if I should have it on during the day - it's certainly bright enough to be seen.

Are you sure you got the Blinky Superflash and not the 7 LED version?

I have to say,I'm on the fence concerning these. I recently purchased one,and while the .5W flasher is really bright,the blink rate seems pretty slow to me. I put the Superflash next to my Serfas TL-1000,and the Serfas actually seems like it draws more attention due to the greater flashing rate. I don't care for the Serfas's mount though,which seems a little weak to me.

Have you checked the Planet Bike website? Maybe their shipping is more reasonable.

I guess I should have looked first. For some reason the PB website doesn't have their own Superflash!

Are you sure you got the Blinky Superflash and not the 7 LED version?

I grabbed three from the Calgary MEC - they are the Superflash model. I think I only paid $14.95, but they were priced higher a few days later.

It's so bright that it's daytime-visible from the rear like a Cateye LD1000, but smaller and lighter. I use them in the daytime to help make motorists aware of me, and naturally in dusk and darkness too. One of my bikes has an even more powerful blinkie, but that's another story... :D

Did you buy three Superflash lights ? Do you put them all on the bike at one time?

Where did you post the video? :)

Did you buy three Superflash lights?Yeah :)


Do you put them all on the bike at one time? I've used two at a time, one on the mountain bike and the other clipped to my back pocket on my denim shorts, but not all three on the same bike. Yet. But give me time ;)


Where did you post the video? :)Well, there's this one... http://freepages.thesecretlabs.com/~mechbgon/SuperFlash.wmv It shows the SuperFlash alone, the SuperFlash compared to a NiteRider, and then the SuperFlash compared to... something else. :)

Yeah :)

I've used two at a time, one on the mountain bike and the other clipped to my back pocket on my denim shorts, but not all three on the same bike. Yet. But give me time ;)


By comparison that almost makes me look reasonable. :D

I asked this in the other thread before I found this particular one. In any case....how does the Planet Bike Super Blinky compare to the Blackburn Mars 3.0? Which is the better buy?

I asked this in the other thread before I found this particular one. In any case....how does the Planet Bike Super Blinky compare to the Blackburn Mars 3.0? Which is the better buy?

The Planet Bike Superflash and the Cateye 1000 are both better than the Mars 3.0.

I asked this in the other thread before I found this particular one. In any case....how does the Planet Bike Super Blinky compare to the Blackburn Mars 3.0? Which is the better buy?

I've concluded that the MARS is a p.o.s.

I was out riding today, and apparently when I hit a large bump it broke off. It wasn't until later on that I discovered the light missing with the clip left hanging there. I thought that was a poor design when I first bought it. Guess I was right.

I'd only had it about three weeks. Now I guess I'm stuck riding with nothing until the superflash gets here.

I've concluded that the MARS is a p.o.s.

I was out riding today, and apparently when I hit a large bump it broke off. It wasn't until later on that I discovered the light missing with the clip left hanging there. I thought that was a poor design when I first bought it. Guess I was right.

Thanks for the input, Jeff.

@2manybikes, which is bigger....the Super Flash or the Mars?

I bought one of those lights yesterday actually at the MEC in Montreal, Canada. They were about $16 or so. The girl working there had just received them. I took my bike out for a spin tonight with the blinking/strobe LED option, and wow, people definitely noticed me!

I wonder if wearing one on my helmet and one on my bicycle isn't overkill. Now I need to find a nice efficient light for the front.

I bought one of those lights yesterday actually at the MEC in Montreal, Canada. They were about $16 or so. The girl working there had just received them. I took my bike out for a spin tonight with the blinking/strobe LED option, and wow, people definitely noticed me!

I wonder if wearing one on my helmet and one on my bicycle isn't overkill. Now I need to find a nice efficient light for the front.


Definitely not overkill. I have a Superflash on my helmet with an LD 1000 on the bike. :)

Thanks for the input, Jeff.

@2manybikes, which is bigger....the Super Flash or the Mars?

The Mars is a little bigger, but at a distance the Superflash looks bigger because of the power.

MEC Toronto has them, I'd think the Ottawa location would too.

MEC Toronto has them, I'd think the Ottawa location would too.

Does anybody have a UPC code or MEC stock code/sku that I can have so I can call the Ottawa MEC store and find out if they have any please? Thank

I've already lost my receipt. If I can find it tonite I'll post it.

I've got both a Mars 3.0 and a Superflash. I bought the Mars when I got back into commuting in September, and discovered that my old Vista wouldn't fit on the new bike. The Mars looked like the best choice at the time. Then I noticed that it was going through batteries really fast, and seems to have lost one of its LEDs (the "bottom" of the triangle, which points down at the other two inline LEDs). I found the PBSF at the LBS and set it up. I run both now, since the Mars has the sideways-facing amber LEDs. If the Mars keeps eating batteries like the first set, it's getting replaced by another PBSF.

The Mars did seem to go through batteries quick - well, in the short time I had it that is.

After at most a month, the clip broke off and it's laying out on the road somewhere. Definitely disappointing. Waiting on the superflash to arrive. In the meantime I've got to be careful. I almost got caught in the dark tonight without a rear light.

The Mars did seem to go through batteries quick - well, in the short time I had it that is.

After at most a month, the clip broke off and it's laying out on the road somewhere. Definitely disappointing. Waiting on the superflash to arrive. In the meantime I've got to be careful. I almost got caught in the dark tonight without a rear light.

I'll have to watch out. Pity it's such a poor design. It looked fairly promising in the store, but I've been dissappointed with the Mars 3.0 so far. At least I've got the PBSF as an alternate (I always ride with both running).

The Mars did seem to go through batteries quick - well, in the short time I had it that is.

After at most a month, the clip broke off and it's laying out on the road somewhere. Definitely disappointing. Waiting on the superflash to arrive. In the meantime I've got to be careful. I almost got caught in the dark tonight without a rear light.

Mine broke at the clip, too. I replaced it with a Planet Bike blinkie, which came unclipped on my last ride. It bounced off the road, past my wife who was riding behind me, then over a bridge railing down into a creek. I thought of retrieving it, but it was underwater between the remaining half of a styrofoam burrito carton and a rotting armadillo tail.

KS

I ordered mine last night from Nashbar.. I like the fact it clips to the seat pack, one thing I did not like about the Cateye LD1000... I have been using the PB Blinkie 7 for the last year and it looks to be the same size as the superflash..

I picked this one up. It's excellent, very well constructed. I also have a Mars 3.0 which is bolted to the back of my rack.

My Daughter in Calgary has picked one up for me at MEC

does anybody know if the superflash fits onto the beacon slot on a chrome citizen messenger bag? I'm thinking of getting one only if it fits.

I found them at the Ottawa MEC today for only $15 CDN!

does anybody know if the superflash fits onto the beacon slot on a chrome citizen messenger bag? I'm thinking of getting one only if it fits.

Not sure about that specific bag, but its clip is designed to slip onto most anything (including clothing, the little fabric tabs on seat bags, etc.).

FWIW, I would not recommend using any light mounted to a messenger bag. The light from most LED's is highly directional in nature - by mounting it on your bike you can accurately aim it for maximum effectiveness. On a messenger bag the light might sometimes be pointing off to the sides, sometimes towards the ground, etc.

FWIW, I would not recommend using any light mounted to a messenger bag. The light from most LED's is highly directional in nature - by mounting it on your bike you can accurately aim it for maximum effectiveness. On a messenger bag the light might sometimes be pointing off to the sides, sometimes towards the ground, etc.

Agreed. Have a few friends who mount thier blinkies to their bags. When they're empty,it's not too bad,but as soon as it fills up the light starts pointing skyward. Esp if you tuck down into your drops.

FWIW, I would not recommend using any light mounted to a messenger bag. The light from most LED's is highly directional in nature - by mounting it on your bike you can accurately aim it for maximum effectiveness. On a messenger bag the light might sometimes be pointing off to the sides, sometimes towards the ground, etc.

My messenger bag is to be worn like a backpack strapped tight to my torso like a squid. it doesn't move. would it still work?

My messenger bag is to be worn like a backpack strapped tight to my torso like a squid. it doesn't move. would it still work?

Work? Yes. Work well? Maybe not.

Compared to car tail lights, LED blinkies don't put out a whole lot of light. They're most effective when they are aiming right at their intended target. On a backpack, the LED will be moving around as you change hand positions and pedal, so making sure it's properly aimed will be difficult.

This may not be as much of an issue with the SuperFlash, because the 1/2 watt LED is very bright anyway. But, I still think it's better to have it aimed from a stable position (i.e., the seatpost).

Note: if you're worried about theft where you park your bike, the SuperFlash can easily be removed from the bike mounting bracket without tools.

Note: if you're worried about theft where you park your bike, the SuperFlash can easily be removed from the bike mounting bracket without tools.

Oh, cool that was actually the answer I was looking for :D So how exactly is the clip on the superflash like? Is it a belt clip or is there a seatpost clip also?

Oh, cool that was actually the answer I was looking for :D So how exactly is the clip on the superflash like? Is it a belt clip or is there a seatpost clip also?

Both.

The SuperFlash itself has something like a belt clip on it...you could use this to attach it to clothing, a bike bag, etc.

It also comes with two mounting brackets for your bike - a larger one for seatposts, and a smaller one for seat stays. The bracket has a vertical tab that you slide the clip on the SuperFlash onto. It "clicks" in and seems quite secure (though I did hear of one poster who had his bounce off).

Removal is easy - just push the tab on the bracket, and slide the SuperFlash up and off the bracket.

If you want your SuperFlash to be extra-secure, go to the hardware store and find an O-ring that fits around the SuperFlash and the clip, like this.

By the way, the photo happens to show the SuperFlash clipped into a bracket that it did not come with, before anyone gets confsued by the orientation of the band. That's actually a handlebar bracket, which came with one of my amber front PB blinkies.

^^ Word. I had one of the older PB blinkies with the same housing rattle apart and fall off a few years back, and was using an elastic for a while.

Instead of an O-ring, why not tie a rubber band around the clip? That way, nothing gets in the way of the blinky's face. Or, use electrical trape on the open end of the clip after it's clipped to the mount. Or didn't I make sense?

The Superflash seems to have some lens on the big LED. I'm sure it's crazy bright looking at it straight on, but how much does the brightness drop off with viewing angle on either side? Sharp drop-off of brightness off center has always been a concern of mine w/ LED blinkers, although Planet Bike's BRT-7 cleverly has LEDs pointed in different directions (laterally) for better coverage...

FWIW, I would not recommend using any light mounted to a messenger bag. The light from most LED's is highly directional in nature - by mounting it on your bike you can accurately aim it for maximum effectiveness. On a messenger bag the light might sometimes be pointing off to the sides, sometimes towards the ground, etc.

I got a Lightman xenon strobe for just this reason. Their blinking frequency is low, but they're very bright and don't suffer nearly as much from the directionality problem of LED-based blinkers.

The Superflash seems to have some lens on the big LED. I'm sure it's crazy bright looking at it straight on, but how much does the brightness drop off with viewing angle on either side? Sharp drop-off of brightness off center has always been a concern of mine w/ LED blinkers, although Planet Bike's BRT-7 cleverly has LEDs pointed in different directions (laterally) for better coverage...

It's better than most LED lights in that respect. There is a wider "bright spot" as you move sideways while observing the light. It's still directional but better. Still not good to mount on a bag that moves around. But quite a bit better than the BRT-7.

The BRT 7's are good if you line up with the sideways LED's, but if you're off a little they're not as good as the Superflash. The red lens in the Superflash is more transparent, the face behind the LED's is white instead of black, and the LED's are more powerful. I'm retiring 2 BRT-7's and replacing them with 2 Superflash.

I think the side visibility of the Superflash is one of the better I've seen. the main strobe LED fires in a red transparant part of the housing and the whole side of it lights up in a large, medium intensity red. much bigger than the small side LEDs of the Cateye1000.

(the safety triangle is pointing out towards the camera on a spoke I have ziptied to my rack, that explains the odd hanging perspective.)

Instead of an O-ring, why not tie a rubber band around the clip? That way, nothing gets in the way of the blinky's face. Or, use electrical trape on the open end of the clip after it's clipped to the mount. Or didn't I make sense?A small O-ring just around the tab on the mount, and the clip on the blinkie, would also do the trick. I've been doing some off-roading with two SF's on a fully-rigid bike and they've stayed put without help.