Commuting - Bike like a christmass tree. Reflective tape.

Well, during my visit of the Netherlands, I noticed and liked how most bikes have big bright reflectors.

I realized that my bike was like a black hole in the dark. My rear blinker gave up and fell off so I put few

little stripes of reflective tape on the rear rack.

Then I put few white color tape on the front fork and head tube.

Then I liked it so much that I finally decided to have the whole bike pasted with silver and red tape.

Here are some pictures along the process. Eventually I am going to cover most or all surfaces of the

frame with this kind of tape.

I do ride at night fairly often and realize the importance of being visible.


Anyone done anything similar? What do you guys think of the idea/looks of the bike? :) :D

looks like something out of Close Encounters. I am adding a bunch of red tape this week to my winter bikes, as I do a lot of commuting at dusk and late at night.

Where's a good place to purchase such reflective tape? My bike is black and commuting home from work @ 2am and not being able to be seen is probably not a very good idea. My camelbak has reflective strips on it, and my helmet is blue/white metallic but i doubt that is terribly bright to fast-moving traffic. I do have a rear LED as well, but I would like the bike to be visible from the side as well as from the front and rear.

Cryogenic, well, they sell different types of tapes in different places:

autoparts stores like Autozone, Advanced, Kragen...

I also heard they sell them in hardware store. Wal-Mart sometimes has it, K-mart... pretty much most automotive departments.


Yeah, the brighter you are, the safer you are. Plus I think it looks cool.

Every time you approach your bike in the evening. You actually SEE it. :D

That's totally awesome! I just went and ordered some red, white, and yellow reflective tape. Pictures to follow when I get it on the bike! :)

Where's a good place to purchase such reflective tape? My bike is black and commuting home from work @ 2am and not being able to be seen is probably not a very good idea. My camelbak has reflective strips on it, and my helmet is blue/white metallic but i doubt that is terribly bright to fast-moving traffic. I do have a rear LED as well, but I would like the bike to be visible from the side as well as from the front and rear.
http://www.identi-tape.com/ sells black reflective tape. I just ordered some friday.

There's another recent thread with info on reflective tape, stickers, and sew-on stuff, and places to buy:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=70098

Would a couple layers of clearcoat help preserve the tape in the long run for a more permanent installation?

You may also want to consider reflective bartape. I think they even have glow-in-the-dark bartape and tapes too. Other great places to put reflective/luminescent tape is on any part that rotates such as the crankarms and the wheels (make sure not to tape over braking surfaces) in the space on the rim between the spokes.

However, I personally am not a big fan of relying just on reflective devices. I prefer active lighting to passive. If you don't have them already, consider also getting a set of blinkers and headlight. Also, things like active lighted vests and blinking wrist/ankle straps are quite effective.

http://www.planetbike.com/images1/strap.gif

I will probably add some additional reflective material when I get a chance. It is still a new bike. I have had it a month and have not had a chance to add more. I might add some on the rims between the spokes. The Arkel F&R panniers also have fair amount of reflective material.

The bar tape is Cinelli Lux.

http://patch29.smugmug.com/photos/9193396-S.jpg

http://patch29.smugmug.com/photos/9193392-S.jpg

I've used 3M reflective tape on my bikes for years- a few stripes on the forks, then some stripes on a couple angles of the rear triangle somewhere. it really lights up the bike. Easy to find this tape most any big box store. I still use lights and flashers, but find reflective tape a nice supplemental safety measure.

Hey, cool bar tape!

The reflective stripe on the tires is surely one of the most effective things helping drivers to realize it's a bicycle faster.

http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s2/nr.gif

Hey, cool bar tape!
I have to agree!

Hey, cool bar tape!

The reflective stripe on the tires is surely one of the most effective things helping drivers to realize it's a bicycle faster.

http://chat.russianamerica.com:8080/pics/smiles/s2/nr.gif

I wish more tire makers would add it. I have one on the rear of my new bent.

back when I was wrenching bicycles...and was a student (i.e. my time was worth NOTHING) I had a zebra bike (black with white reflective stripes) and a tiger bike (orange with black reflective stripes) Of course, the tiger bike turned into a zebra bike at night...<g>

Now I don't have that anymore, but I've got lots of lights and look like a Xmas tree.

happy trails,
Tom

Hehehe. Wow, great to hear someone from the Switherland.

I am sure you have a little different settings there, i.e. most tires sold have the stripes on them (at least in Holland), and also bike paths are much safer than roads cyclists often ride here on. :) (scooters in Holland is a whole new issue).

Thank you for the comment and cool idea about zebra/tiger bike schemes. Maybe I would pass it on to my kids if I ever have any. ;) :D

that's SWITZERLAND...<g>

I stay off the paths as a rule...just go too fast. Cars, are however, much nicer here than back home...

happy trails,
Tom

Great stuff - just one extra idea though...
I would definitely recommend that you try adding some reflective material on the wheel rims - 4 or 8 large patches between spokes. There is nothing like a moving light source to attract attention. Also this will help you to be seen from behind, since drivers will approach from a slight angle, so the rims will catch and reflect light from headlamps. I have done this and I think is was a worthwhile attention to detail.

Cheers,

Ed

[QUOTE=Inoplanetyanin]Hey, cool bar tape!

The reflective stripe on the tires is surely one of the most effective things helping drivers to realize it's a bicycle faster.


Anybody have any recommendations for a puncture resistant city tire with reflective sidewalls?