Reflectors

[traes26]

I think it's a good idea to keep the reflectors on the front and back of my new bike, but what about the reflectors on my wheels? I'm training for a tri and haven't seen a lot of bikes with anything on the wheels? Advice?

[John E]

I do not use wheel reflectors. You might either try to find tires with reflective sidewalls or put some reflective tape on your rims. Front and rear reflectors are far less helpful than good lighting systems.

[randya]

only freds leave their wheel reflectors on the bike, and you will be able to ride substantially faster without them.

[JeffB502]

Check the laws in your state. I didn't know which Kansas City to look up the laws for :). Where I am (California) the following is required at night:

-Front white light visible from 300 feet from the front and sides
-A rear facing red reflector visible from 500 feet when illuminated by lawful high beams
-White or amber pedal, shoe, or ankle reflectors facing front and rear
-A white or amber reflector facing each side on the front half of the bicycle (not required if reflectorized tires are used)
-A white or red reflector facing each side on the rear half of the bicycle (not required if reflectorized tires are used)

In California the front reflector is not required.

Even though a rear light is not required by law in California, I think everybody should use at least 2 rear lights. Occasionally lights will run out of batteries or break, and it is possible for the rider not to notice when a rear light has stopped working. Having 2 lights fail on a ride is much less likely than one light failing. I use a minimum of 4 rear lights and 3 front lights on my commute, but I'm a light fiend like that :). Note that California law does not make an exception to the required rear reflector no matter how many rear lights one uses, so if you do add one or more rear lights check your local laws before removing any rear reflector.

So by California law, one could remove the spoke reflectors, as long as you substitute by using tires with reflectorized sidewalls or put additional reflectors on your frame.

3M makes black reflective tape that shines white when hit by light. If you have black areas on your frame or black rims you could apply some of that tape in those places.

Of course if you just ride during the day, the law doesn't require any visibility equipment at all.

Here's a picture of my current commuter rig. The rear spoke reflector fell off, but since I have the reflective material on the frame I'm still legal. I also added some reflective tape on the rim between the spokes on the rear tire just to be safe :).

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/jeffb502/Jan170872FXPictures003-1.jpg

[CommuterRun]

Only one of my bikes still has the stock wheel reflectors. All my trailers still have them. None of my bikes has front nor rear reflectors. All the bikes but the one with the wheel reflectors has reflective tape on the rims. All my bikes have reflective tape on the frames, forks and seat stays.

At night, no reflector is a replacement for active lights and redundant active lights.

If your state requires a CPSC certified, red, rear reflector in addition to lights; the Cateye TL-LD500 covers this. Which is why I use these as my redundant taillights and as my primary taillights on my trailers. Enough though FL doesn't have the reflector requirement.

[traes26]

Thank you all! I sure don't want to be a "fred" (am I that old... or that young?) and I hope not to ride at night too much. But, a life with work and kids is going to require some evening training, so I'll take all this into account. I appreciate the words.

[dmac49]

only freds leave their wheel reflectors on the bike, and you will be able to ride substantially faster without them.

Are you serious ! ?

[dmac49]

If you want reflectors to the sides you also might consider some reflector tape in the form of pin striping. You can pick it up at most automotive supply stores. It's easy to apply and you can do some creative designs. As posted above 3M has various types one of which is the black. Here's a link to a sight that has some of the stuff : http://www.identi-tape.com/index.html

[ChipSeal]

Night or day, I most often ride my CF road bike. I have a lot of reflective tape on it and use blinkies after dark. I do not have spoke reflectors on this bike.

I have a single-speed I use in bad weather, with fenders. On that bike I took the spoke reflector off of the rear wheel and put it on the front wheel opposite the other reflector. (To balance out the wheel!) In the dark and rain or fog they can be seen sooner from side angles as they have better reflectivity than tape.

Keep in mind that reflectors are marginal for visibility. Much depends on the light source and angle to the motorist's eye. Do keep your reflectors clean.

Best is to have a positive light source on your person or bicycle. Reflectors are extra! ;)

[Allister]

Wheel reflectors serve no useful function whatsoever. They should be removed forthwith, and replaced with spokey-dokes.

[iltb-2]

Wheel reflectors serve no useful function whatsoever. They should be removed forthwith, and replaced with spokey-dokes.

Or baseball cards (or an inflated balloon), preferably clamped with a clothes pin to the frame and the other end of the card Vroom-Vrooming in the spokes. Now that is a Real Hip function.

Actually I like wheel reflectors for they do show up well to motorists at (or approaching) intersections who may be turning into the street I am already proceeding on; the sooner motorists are aware of my presence, the better. Wheel balance, weight, or efficiency considerations? Pshaw!!

[dynodonn]

My winter commuter has spoke reflectors on both front and rear wheels, and I'm sure there has been at least a couple of times this winter that they more than made up for their disadvantages. My summer bike doesn't have any spoke reflectors though, since it has areo type wheels that have reflective decal tape on them, plus it would "freddisize" the bike, and ruin it's sleek appearance. :D

[John E]

Reflective tape really does work. When I was doing a lot of day and night commuting in Los Angeles, I had alternating strips of orange dayglow and red/white striped reflective tape on my trusty old Armstrong klunker, and folks commented that they could really see me coming or going.

[ken cummings]

Most every time spoke reflectors come up someone worries about a smart lawyer spotting your "violation" and claiming it reduces the liability of your opponent in a lawsuit. Anyone ever seen an actual case? If I were in an area where the Law had a ----on for cyclists I'd have all the stuff even remotely required. Even in the day time.

[iltb-2]

Most every time spoke reflectors come up someone worries about a smart lawyer spotting your "violation" and claiming it reduces the liability of your opponent in a lawsuit. Anyone ever seen an actual case?
Better yet, can any of the lawyer wannabes point out examples of a bicyclists' reflector violations used in a [B]successful defense by a motorist or an insurance company in a civil lawsuit, or insurance claim?

[BarracksSi]

Most every time spoke reflectors come up someone worries about a smart lawyer spotting your "violation" and claiming it reduces the liability of your opponent in a lawsuit. Anyone ever seen an actual case? If I were in an area where the Law had a ----on for cyclists I'd have all the stuff even remotely required. Even in the day time.

I haven't seen the particulars of ANY case, but if the lawyer is anything like a (former) friend of mine, they'll go through absolutely every little detail that they can find to see if you did everything that the law requires.

[iltb-2]

I haven't seen the particulars of ANY case, but if the lawyer is anything like a (former) friend of mine, they'll go through absolutely every little detail that they can find to see if you did everything that the law requires.

And maybe even go through some details that the law doesn't require - like helmets. But what some grasping character might do, doesn't necessarily amount to diddley, and I hardly think a sensible person would limit their actions based on what a mythical shyster might do.

[ianjk]

I rock reflectors on my main ride. Actually, I think all my bikes except for MTB and Track bike have them.

[BarracksSi]

No, the email notifications don't hide posts from people on my ignore list...

And maybe even go through some details that the law doesn't require - like helmets. But what some grasping character might do, doesn't necessarily amount to diddley, and I hardly think a sensible person would limit their actions based on what a mythical shyster might do.

The problem is, shysters aren't sensible, and they'll do everything they can to screw the person on the other side of the aisle.

There are a few lawyers that are in the profession to help people, yes -- but I'm willing to bet that they're partly trying to help protect people from the jackholes who also passed their bar exams.

[iltb-2]

The problem is, shysters aren't sensible, and they'll do everything they can to screw the person on the other side of the aisle.

There are a few lawyers that are in the profession to help people, yes -- but I'm willing to bet that they're partly trying to help protect people from the jackholes who also passed their bar exams.

And of course you keep ignoring the concept that just because your jackhole comrades might try anything, it doesn't mean any of them have been ever been successful in winning a suit based on the presence or absence of a bicyclist's reflectors or some other equally bogus argument. But feel free to continue choosing to ignore the inconvenient truth (and brag about your ignorance too:rolleyes:) and keep harping on your contempt of your professional colleagues.