Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Post your side-lighting ideas here

A forum search comes up with few results for side lighting.

I just found these from Google and am thinking about giving the 9-volt versions a try.

http://toolsforstagecraft.com/ledaccessories-ledstagemarkers.htm

Post your side-lighting ideas in this thread...

Reflective tire sidewalls and just mount two inexpensive red bike blinkies on the sides. Those lights in your post are not waterproof, therefore not good for cycling.

Adam

I use reflective tape on the frame and a bikeglow (http://www.bikeglow.com/).
The bikeglow is not that bright, but it helps illuminate the frame shape from the side.
I also have a helmet with a wide angle "be seen" LED headlight, it partly lights up my arms and front of the bike as well as being visible from the sides (+/-90 degrees).

Sometimes I would like more light to the side for cars to see before they intersect my route, but I don't want just another point source red light.

An option: Bike BrightZ (http://bikebrightz.com/meyebr.html) @ $19.99 each / free shipping for orders of three or more

137993

...just mount two inexpensive red bike blinkies on the sides.
Do you have an off-the-shelf, sideways mount for the inexpensive red bike blinkies, or how do you point them to the sides at points on the bike where they will be seen?

Reflective tire sidewalls and just mount two inexpensive red bike blinkies on the sides. Those lights in your post are not waterproof, therefore not good for cycling.

Adam

I don't ride much in the rain and I would think a bit of heat-shrink or electrical tape would be a good-enough.

Do you have an off-the-shelf, sideways mount for the inexpensive red bike blinkies, or how do you point them to the sides at points on the bike where they will be seen?

Some mini blinkies comes with velcro strap which in my opinion are garbage as they will have a tendancy to lossen up. Throw the velcro away and slip two small or one medium cable ty wrap and tighten it to the frame or whatever you want to mount in at. I've have two white mounted on my helmet each one facing side ways and one red on my seat stay face slightly sideways and toward the pavement lighting up the road behind me. It get me notice from low and high view. However, I've also notice that car from side street in crossway can judge my distant and position better but it is not always the best thing. Now that they can relate my position and speed better, some jerks will gun through the intersection closer to me from behind before passing me. Good thing or bad thing? You'll be the judge.

If you have flat handlebars, one option would be to get the road version of the Trek Beacon or similar Soma bar-tip lights. The road versions aim in-line with the handlebar, so on a flat bar they'd point directly sideways. They take 1 AAA each and have flashing or steady modes. The flat-bar versions of the Beacons are also visible from the side, but aim most of their light output 90° from the bar's axis so they shine backwards.

Those Bike BrightZ look interesting, especially since they take AAA cells. I wonder how weather-resistant they are. Some folks wire up an amber Xenon strobe and mount it on their rack so it fires in all directions. I've clipped small generic amber blinkies to the outer pockets of my front and/or rear panniers before.

If you have a hi-vis outer layer, one eye-catching tweak is to put one of those little keychain lights on your jacket zipper so it dangles downward and swings at random. Having your jacket's front and arms illuminated by a moving light on its zipper pull has to be an eye-catcher. Illuminated legbands like the Planet Bike BRT-STRAP, or the Nathan or Nite-Ize equivalents, are another omnidirectional active light you can use.

In the passive-visiblity area, I have substantial amounts of high-end reflective tape on my commuters, and often run reflective-sidewall tires too (yes, these photos again):

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff237/mechBgon/tape.gif

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff237/mechBgon/v82.gif

The downfall of passive reflective stuff is that it only works when the viewer has lights, which are turned ON, which are aimed at YOU, and which line up closely with the viewer's line of sight. So it has strong limitations.

I use a Planet Bike BRT Strap on my ankle, it's pretty noticeable. Nite Ize makes similar products, with different mounting options, the Magic Marker is designed to mount along something with a pair of straps wrapping around, It would probably wrap around a seatpost or toptube. They also make a lighted spoke reflectors.

I use a Superflash on the rear and a Nathan Acid Reflex Snap Band LED around the rear triangle just above the rear brake.. Gives me a reflective view of 360 degrees + flashing leds.. These can also be used around your wrist for better nightime visibility

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/16995-502_NTHAR7-43-brands-645-Nathan/Nathan-Acid-Reflex-LED-Snap-Band.htm

Do you have an off-the-shelf, sideways mount for the inexpensive red bike blinkies, or how do you point them to the sides at points on the bike where they will be seen?

Why does it have to be off-the-shelf? A little imagination and improvisation and you can mount anything anywhere :D Don't underestimate zip ties!

Adam

Although in general I'm a big fan of reflective material, ISTM that for side lighting it's not optimal. Reflectors only work when there's a light source near the observer's eye (like a headlight) that is hitting the reflector, and for side lighting, you're not in the headlight beam until it's too late to be useful.

I think side lighting needs to be active as well.

Personally I think I'd mount two PBSF's on my seat post, pointing nearly straight out to either side (a little to the back). Right now I'm running a Dinotte straight back and a PBSF on my helmet.

I'm not going to do anything myself though, because my route is almost entirely rural and there simply isn't any side impact threat on my route. I do not pass any significant side street or other road entrance where it's a factor. I run the Dinotte because what IS a factor on my ride is cars coming up from behind at 60 MPH.

I clamp this amber strobe to my left bar end so that those that pass me may have additional encouragement to provide some courtesy room. however I'm thinking of changing this mediocre strobe to a PB/SF as I have on the rear rack.

The downfall of passive reflective stuff is that it only works when the viewer has lights, which are turned ON, which are aimed at YOU, and which line up closely with the viewer's line of sight. So it has strong limitations.

The great thing about wrapping a tube with reflective tape is it presents a target 360*. So from the side, the tape will always reflect back. Personally I wrap the tubes at strategic points with reflective tape (though I need some of the stealth tape for a more aggressive profile). And I have 2-3 Spoke-Lits on both wheels for passive lighting. My rear fender sports a reflector and on the seat-tube I have a Radbot 1000 which also helps during daytime use. My pack sports LOTS of white reflective tape as well as a PDW Red Planet blinkie. On my upper right arm I wear a safety green Nite-Ize reflective marker band which blinks when I turn it on.

On my body I have safety green reflective snap bands on both my wrists and my legs (for day and night use). Both my jacket and shoes both have reflective piping.

And of course, at night I'm running a 500 lumen light on both my bars and my helmet. The helmet one is important as you can flash a driver directly to let them know you're there. Often in low light conditions I will just run one on the bars in flashing mode.

With the exception of doing a kick-ass stealth tape job, I think I'm covered.

I clamp this amber strobe to my left bar end so that those that pass me may have additional encouragement to provide some courtesy room. however I'm thinking of changing this mediocre strobe to a PB/SF as I have on the rear rack.

I never thought to use the drops for mounting. Any issue with distraction for yourself?

no, no distraction at all because my arm blocks it from view. there's a very slight inconvenience of not being able to ride with my hands way at the end of the bar cuz of the crummy clamp I have. I need to make my own custom clamp. but I have plenty of other hand positions. I mostly use strobes for commuting and less for joy rides in the summer

I use the Nite Ize spoke lights in red and blue to match the colors of our local law enforcement officers. When I see another bike with these or something similar I am quite impressed with their visibility.

http://www.niteize.com/products/spokelit

The great thing about wrapping a tube with reflective tape is it presents a target 360*. So from the side, the tape will always reflect back.

but WHAT will it reflect back? If you're approaching an intersection and there's a car coming down the cross street, his headlights aren't shining on you until you're right in front of him, at which point you may be screwed if he is only just then seeing you; you'll be flat before his reaction time gets his foot on the brakes.

I'm a big fan of front strobes and find the traffic from side streets can see it as well. Some front strobes have better lateral spread than others. I have a MagicShine now but this PB front strobe always did a perfectly adequate job alerting side traffic:

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/ppbpjw/planet_bike_blaze_one_watt_headlight_with_superflash_mode/pp.htm

but WHAT will it reflect back? If you're approaching an intersection and there's a car coming down the cross street, his headlights aren't shining on you until you're right in front of him, at which point you may be screwed if he is only just then seeing you; you'll be flat before his reaction time gets his foot on the brakes.

The lights don't have to shine directly at you. Even the side spill of a light beam is enough to make a strongly reflective material visible. As I'm sitting here, looking at my bike through the door, the Axiom logos on my panniers glow just from the light that goes through the door, there is no focused beam of light aimed at the bike.

Still, I like to have both: good reflective materials and powerful lights.

Adam

Amber 3-led AAA powered lights mounted on both sides of a straight handlebar just inside the brake lever mounts. Some similarity to the location of amber lights at the front of a moped/motorcycle. Reflective tires, reflective me (vest + IllumiNITE jacket).

I've done a few builds (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=186066) with amber side windows on the LED housing. Very effective.
http://idisk.mac.com/timonz/Public//oldlight.jpg

http://idisk.mac.com/timonz/Public//beam2.jpg

Also looked at side lighting effectiveness for a few common rear blinkies.
See my tests in this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?545024-Blinkie-testing-PBSF-vs-MARS-4-0-vs-Cateye-LD1100).

http://idisk.mac.com/timonz/Public//CPF/Blinkie/doortest2.jpg

I ordered a yellow Bike BrightZ to try out. It appears to be close to what I've been wishing for: a yellow/amber LED light bar that runs on AAA (AA would've been fine too) and can attach to the underside of a frame tube, and not as pricey as some of the fancier alternatives like the DLG. Hopefully the quality is adequate to hold up for a while.

Side lighting, what's that? Just messin. My side lighting consist of Vista Xenon amber front flasher from the side is just ok; bar end lights which are very easily seen from the side; and the rears consisting of a Mars 4 and two Cateye LD600's both of which have really superior side lighting. I don't use reflective sidewalls but do wear reflective clothing and leg bands.

Cateye LD-1100 and reflective sidewall tires.

I understand the limitations of reflective tape - but for those of you using it, what is the best kind and where do you source it?

Reflective sidewalls -- these are effective.

I have them on two bikes and they really stand out.

The Panaracers have a short section -- about 4 inches -- that don't reflect. This turns into a rotating spot that signals "bike on the move."

It doesn't take a lot of light for reflective sidwalls to shine.

I bought a roll of white reflective tape from the hardware store, 2" wide, a few dollars...
I cut strips and made bands around the frame tubes, using a layer of clear tape to secure each strip so that I was not having adhesive stick directly to the bike frame.

Bright when you shine a light on it, but an observer off axis will not see that reflection unless they shine their own light on it. I prefer to rely more on active side lights.

Bright when you shine a light on it, but an observer off axis will not see that reflection unless they shine their own light on it. I prefer to rely more on active side lights.

Here here!

I 've tried several of the valve cap LEDs- Don't waste your money. Great concept but the are not durable and require specialty batteries.

My latest side light is a single AAA LED flashlight pointed at my front spokes. I an still looking for better side illumination,

my criteria: 1) durable 2) AAA 3) Prefer rotating with the wheel 4) Safe (rigging something unsafe to the front wheel can disastrous).

I wrap the tubes at strategic points with reflective tape.... And I have 2-3 Spoke-Lits on both wheels for passive lighting. My rear fender sports a reflector and on the seat-tube I have a Radbot 1000 which also helps during daytime use. My pack sports LOTS of white reflective tape as well as a PDW Red Planet blinkie. On my upper right arm I wear a safety green Nite-Ize reflective marker band which blinks when I turn it on.

On my body I have safety green reflective snap bands on both my wrists and my legs (for day and night use). Both my jacket and shoes both have reflective piping.

And of course, at night I'm running a 500 lumen light on both my bars and my helmet. The helmet one is important as you can flash a driver directly to let them know you're there. Often in low light conditions I will just run one on the bars in flashing mode.

With the exception of doing a kick-ass stealth tape job, I think I'm covered.

Wow! I think you're pretty covered even without a kick-ass stealth tape job.

I understand the limitations of reflective tape - but for those of you using it, what is the best kind and where do you source it?

Reflexite V82 is the best I've found. It has very high reflectivity, and it's thin so it doesn't try to flatten itself out and peel itself off of curved surfaces. night-gear.com carries it and doesn't have a minimum order charge. Silver is the most reflective color since it returns all wavelengths of light.

http://shop.reflectivestore.com/

Also for an inexpensive solution, consider the Planet Bike Blinky 7. It has like 220 degrees of visibility, although it's weaker backwards than the Superflashes. If a superflash can be paired with a Blinky 7, they can complement each other nicely.

Wrap a blinky around each hub. They are very visible from either side. They light up and reflect off the rim, and they spin making it pretty apparent that you are a bicycle.

Monkey Lectric spoke lights. Get two. Expensive, but fun.

I love my bikeglow.

I get a lot of positive attention for it and it's pretty obvious that motorists acknowledge my presence much much more often.

Also it looks super cool, makes other cyclists jealous. :P

My Bontrager rack has a slot on each side at the lower end of the rack, and flashers like Planet Bike hook right on them. I put some electrical tape over the slots' edges to provide a snugger fit and put a tie around the light-rack to help keep the light attached. It's an easy solution for attaching lights to the sides if your rack has those slots.

Another vote for reflective films...

Day...
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/6190694691_b540a3e3e1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ufobike/6190694691/)

Night!
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6199/6149466726_b946231279.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ufobike/6149466726/)

My Bontrager rack has a slot on each side at the lower end of the rack, and flashers like Planet Bike hook right on them. I put some electrical tape over the slots' edges to provide a snugger fit and put a tie around the light-rack to help keep the light attached. It's an easy solution for attaching lights to the sides if your rack has those slots.

A few photos

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/jelb/HIKING/IMG_0547.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/jelb/HIKING/IMG_0552.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/jelb/HIKING/IMG_0553.jpg

A forum search comes up with few results for side lighting.

I just found these from Google and am thinking about giving the 9-volt versions a try.

http://toolsforstagecraft.com/ledaccessories-ledstagemarkers.htm

Post your side-lighting ideas in this thread...

I agree that the search words do not bring up much. But Google "Serfas TL-ST." These silicone strap attached lights easily go anywhere on the frame that leads to the rear axle. Get one for each side of the bike. They are small, light, aerodynamic and super bright LEDs with several settings. I lost two of these when my first road bike was stolen. After I got a new bike, I searched hundreds of pictures of bike lights on the web and could not find a one of these under "bicycle side lights." That search turned up a lot of c--p that goes all over frames and bike wheels--probably OK for beach cruisers but none of that stuff is any good for a fine road bike. I went into a small sporting goods store today, described the light, and Bingo-- they had them. Now that I know the name of the light, they are really easy to find on the web when you search the name and model.

An option: Bike BrightZ (http://bikebrightz.com/meyebr.html) @ $19.99 each / free shipping for orders of three or more

137993

In my opinion, and my experience, the BikeBrightz are not worth $19.95. I bought two of them to replace my Down Low Glow; after I killed the battery.

Mine will not stay lit, in steady mode, if it is cold or wet. I did get a little better winter performance in blinking mode; at least for a couple of days.

I loved my Down Low Glow; it was a hella good light, I noticed that cars gave me a lot more room when I was using it. The down side is the price ~$150ish (If Memory Serves).
Actually, I am not even sure that you can get the DLG any more. Last time I checked, the site only listed the batteries and charger, not the light its self.

I am playing with the idea of getting a couple more Larry lights, (I have two of them, purchased as general use lights, a role they fulfill quite nicely), and a couple of rolls of tail light repair tape.
The Larry light is very similar to the BikeBrightz; except the Larry light is only available with white LEDs.

I am thinking that I can take one of the Larry lights, and cover the lens with amber tail light tape, and cover the other one in red. I think that the lens repair tape will diffuse the 60 lumens some what, kinda taking the edge off, resulting in two BikeBrightz type side lights.

I can get 2 Larry lights and two rolls of tail light repair tape for under thirty dollars, two BikeBrightz will be in the neighbor hood of forty dollars...
Thus, the reasoning for my opening statement.

BTW, anyone interested in a yellow and/or a red BikeBrightz, slightly used? ;)

In my opinion, and my experience, the BikeBrightz are not worth $19.95.
The market speaks. They're now available for $14.99 (http://www.amazon.com/Unknown-Bike-Brightz-Mellow-Yellow/dp/B0030DDB3M/).

Bike Brightz are not elegant. But mine have been functional for a couple of years; they mount easily on any tube in the triangle and put a good bit of flashing amber light out to the side. I still don't see anything else on the market that is more elegant and more functional that also does not cost a lot more.

My tires have reflective sidewalls (Schwalbe Greenguard 26'') and light up very well when a light source is directed at them. I also put reflective tape on both fenders and on the sides of them. The rear rack is also covered in reflective tape, as well as the Ortlieb messenger bag. My Showers Pass jacket and pants also have reflective strips on them. No side lightning system at the moment, but I've been thinking about using zip ties to hold a Hotshot on the chainstays. The side of the rack won't work because the panniers get in the way.