Commuting - PDW Radbot 1000 for How Much?!!

Well whaddya know?... My favourite outdoor store, MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op; Canada's REI) just announced it's new line of bicycle gear and the Portland Design Works Radbot 1000 made the list. It's selling for... wait for it... only $17.50 CAD!!!

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442633647&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692895

I've almost bought this light when I recently ordered a rack for my new bike (I couldn't find the rack anywhere in Canada). I'm glad I didn't because it was retailing for over $30 USD.

I guess a trip to IKEA is in order - the closest MEC to me is 1.5 hours away by car, but it's right down the street from IKEA. It's a win-win; my wife gets to shop at her favourite store, and I don't have to go with her! :D

Of course I could always order $75 worth of stuff from MEC to qualify for free shipping... now where did I put that list of new products?

p.s. The only real drag about this is that MEC is able to undercut my LBS almost every time for accessories. I'm all about supporting the Little Guy but c'mon... it's only $17.50! How can I say no? :o

Thanks for the info.

Quote from friend the first time I brought him to MEC, "its like they don't want your money." Me: "they don't, I own them."

Too bad they don't deliver to the US!

Well... We have REI in the US, but MEC does seem to have much cooler stuff, usually.
-Gene-

Looks like a sweet little light. Can anybody comment on how it compares with the pb superflash?

I do love MEC, although their market dominance makes the standard dress code on our bike paths look awfully monotonous.

I hope they fixed the switch problem that it had...

I bought one from my LBS, but it turned itself off while I was riding... LBS replaced it. Then the replacement did the same... So, they offered me the "improved" version (after they "fixed" the switch). I gave the light a simulated jolt (as if coming off a 3" drop at speed), and it failed. I got my $$$ back.

Too bad they don't deliver to the US!
I'm not sure why MEC won't ship this particular product to the US... they will ship other stuff: http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302887359#usa


Looks like a sweet little light. Can anybody comment on how it compares with the pb superflash?
Here's a recent thread about taillights that includes discussion on the Radbot 1000 vs. PB Super Flash: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?667967-Need-a-Taillight-Suggestion

And here's a video comparison (Super Flash on left, Radbot 1000 on right):


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxnYHRINovU


I hope they fixed the switch problem that it had...

I bought one from my LBS, but it turned itself off while I was riding... LBS replaced it. Then the replacement did the same... So, they offered me the "improved" version (after they "fixed" the switch). I gave the light a simulated jolt (as if coming off a 3" drop at speed), and it failed. I got my $$$ back.
PDW claims to have addressed this issue, but I guess I will give it your "jolt" test when I go to MEC to find out for myself. If it fails I will buy another Super Flash for the same price since I'm pretty happy with the one I have.