Blinky light recommendation

[cynergy]

Hi There,

I have recently started riding again and would like recommendations for a good rear blinky light. My wife has a Trek Disco TEch (3 LEDs) and it's pretty good, but I don't like the mounting hardware that is included with the light. It has a cheap plastic band that you tighten around the seat post using a screw. It seems to work OK, but doesn't look very sturdy.

Which blinky do you like? How is it mounted to your bike?

I have a Giant road bike and I'd like to stick a blinky on it for those grey days and early morning/late afternoon rides. I wear an orange relective vest when I ride, but I'd like a bright active light source.

Thanks!

[donnamb]

Planet Bike Superflash. You will be seen. It comes with brackets for a seat post and chain stay. You can order a rear rack bracket through your LBS.

[CommuterRun]

I run a Cateye TL-LD1000 on the seatpost, a TL-LD500 on the rear rack, or a pair of 500s on the back of the trailer, a Blackburn Mars 3.0 on the back of my helmet, and recently began wearing a lighted reflective vest.

The vest and one bank of the TL-LD1000 are run in flash mode. Everything else is run steady on. I also have DOT C-2 reflective tape on my bikes.

Counting the two independantly controlled banks of the TL-LD1000 as two lights, that gives me up to 6 taillights...Think it's enough? :D

[CommuterRun]

Up to three, counting a helmet light and if I'm riding with two 'bar mounted lights. Normally though, I only use the helmet light and a single 'bar mounted light, with a spare loaded with fresh batteries and ready to go, in a pannier or the frame bag.

I could have up to five, if I wanted to run them all at the same time, but I could also add another TL-LD1000 and a TL-LD500 if I wanted. :D

That's not counting the vest, which also has lights on the front, but they're red and flashing, and worthless to see with, but useful for being seen.

[markf]

I use the Cateye TL-LD1000 in steady mode on my rear rack and a Planet Bike Superflash in flashing mode on the back of my helmet. Putting the TL-LD1000 on my rear rack took a little improvising, I bought a mounting bracket from Peter White Cycles and used the sheet metal screw that comes with the TL-LD1000 to attach it, then I had to file down the inside of the battery compartment where the screw pushed the plastic in. Putting a taillight on the back of my rack more or less guarantees that the light won't be blocked by my legs or by my seatbags, so I'm always to cars approaching from behind.

I use DOT C-2 reflective tape (the kind they put on big trucks) all over my bike. I wrap the red tape barber pole style on the upright struts of my rack, and I put the silver on lots of moving parts. The silver is on crank arms, pedals, and rims, so that a car coming up behind me sees the red taillight, the red tape on my rack, and lots of flashing silver from the wheels and the pedal/crankarm assembly. I also have spoke reflectors, so I'm pretty visible from the side.

[ken cummings]

Consider a Xenon strobe unit from www.Allelectronics.com Blindingly powerful, flashesin all directions not just to the rear and can be adapted for vibration service. Good idea to use a rechargeable battery system. Amber. red, green, clear and blue for police.

[MSUcommuter]

not the most powerful out there, but still helpful. the supermarket here has helmets in the bike section which have a red strobe built into the size adjustor in the back. nice looking schwinn, only $20.

[deputyjones]

Planet Bike Superflash. You will be seen. It comes with brackets for a seat post and chain stay. You can order a rear rack bracket through your LBS.

Yup, my partner told me he saw me in his rearview mirror the other day as I was riding away from him about a mile away :eek:

[NoNaYet]

Nothing is better than DiNotte lights.

I run two red flashers in the back and a white flasher in the front on my Catrike Road.

http://www.dinottelighting.com/

NNY

[Ziemas]

Nothing is better than DiNotte lights.

I run two red flashers in the back and a white flasher in the front on my Catrike Road.

http://www.dinottelighting.com/

NNY
FWIW the light is bright, but many people have issues with the mount. The light often rubs on peoples' legs while pedaling and you are not able to adjust the angle of the light. If the DiNotte had a decent mount I'd buy on in a heartbeat, but as it is now it just doesn't seem to be a well designed product.

[wahoonc]

I second the PlantBike SuperFlash. The stock brackets have stood up well for me.

Aaron:)

[NoNaYet]

Rubbing legs is not an issue on the Trike. I was skeptical about the O ring mounts staying put, but have found that the pretty much stay aimed where I put them unless I been over a really rough patch of roadway.

NNY

[cynergy]

Thanks all for the great recommendations. I think I'm going to try both a SuperFlash and a Cateye LD1000. The brighter the better! One I'll mount on the bike, the other I'll fasten to my buttpack or helmet.

I had a nice Trek 5 LED blinky, but it popped off my seat pack during a ride on some rough roads.

[scubajim49]

You might check out the 5 LED by Cateye. Has 5 LED's and 3 flashing modes plus a non-blinking. It mounts on a band mount on seatpost or seat upright.

[narr33]

+1 on the Cateye Opticube. Mounted to single hole on the rear rack with an "L" clamp. Also have blinky on the helmet, and reflective tape on the fenders.

[invisiblehand]

Most of my route home is relatively well lit. I use the following:

FRONT:

Cateye Compact Opticube (blinky) http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/341
Cateye Power Opticube (during the few spots where additional light is needed) http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/261

REAR:

Blackburn Mars Tailight on the SQR Bag http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19994&subcategory_ID=4322
Cheapo Tailight attached to the back of my helmet ($2.50 with batteries)

ANKLES:
Two lighted armbands/anklebands similar to this http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=15324&subcategory_ID=4323

-G

[SingingSabre]

Planet Bike Superflash. You will be seen. It comes with brackets for a seat post and chain stay. You can order a rear rack bracket through your LBS.

+1. That light is bloody amazing.

[Blue Jays]

+1 to doing a "helmet-mount" for the blinkie with clear plastic zip-ties. Getting the light raised an additional foot or two higher seems to really get one noticed a bit more in traffic.