vol

It used to be so, until one discovers and frequents these forums

I think colorful spoke lights are best for fun rides. They are not for serious rides for serious cyclists

bmthom.gis

My rear lights are pretty darn bright and have 180 degret visibility. Couple that with a helmet mounted light, if I am not seen, not much else is going to help me. By all means people should do what makes them feel safe, but it is easy to overthink and over complicate it

BobbyG

A few years ago I had added three spoke lights to the front wheel, plus valve-stem lights and two to the back rack in addition to front and rear lights and helmet lights front and rear. While the spoke lights were beautiful and dramatic, I ended up letting them go due to the inconvenience of turning them on and off and the inconvenience of replacing the batteries.

What I decided to do was make sure my front and rear lights (both bike and helmet) had 180-degree or better coverage, and on two bikes I mounted the front blinky on the front fork so that the spokes would further scatter the light to the sides. So I simply clamp my Niterider 500 to the handlebars of whatever bike I'm on, then five quick buttons and in 10 seconds I'm lit up like the eighth night of Chanukah.

wphamilton

If all that's a hassle then seriously, don't do it. It takes me 15 seconds to turn on the lights (when I do it), and I'm out the door in less than 30. Just a quick check of the bike, visual, touch the tires and quick releases and go. Brakes check in the parking lot on the way out.

vol

^^^
Spoke lights on the front wheel are great when crossing an intersection or making turns which enables the drivers (or others) to see you sooner. Also pedestrians almost almost let me pass before them while they admire the spoke lights . But they become dim after 3-4 rides. Once the spoke lights served me well when it became dark early and I didn't have any other lights.

Dave Cutter

I am retired now. So I find the "gearing up" aspect of cycling a little relaxing. I have my routine and enjoy following it as I prepare to ride.

I guess work is doing the things that has to be done... and fun is doing things you want to do... even when those things are the same.

SanSerif

I'm not so sure. A driver first needs to buy a car - (making up some arbitrary numbers) say a £30k car requiring a year's worth of post-tax income. Now, turning on a £2.99 lamp isn't hassle, but working an 8 hour day for a year - that really is a hassle.

Anyway, what websites are you that recommend such bother? I just put on a coat if raining and turn on lamps if dark. Simple.

loky1179

Just when I thought I didn't need any more lights, you have to go and post this .

Moe Zhoost

I keep everything in a morning go bag so it doesn't take much time. What gets me is trying to figure out what to wear (or take for the ride home). Winter adds 10 minutes of prep time.

I-Like-To-Bike

I'd say that hassles initiated by OCD-like rituals over excessive safety/security lighting and equipment is the issue here.

kickstart

Yes, overly complicated visibility through lights does seem to be the OP's issue, but special clothes, shoes, minimalist carrying capacity, higher maintenance drive trains, complicated computers, competitive apps, and the other trappings of performance cycling can add up to far more time, effort, and expense.
An issue that seems more prevalent here, and often IRL.

lost_in_endicot

What kind of spoke lights do you have? I have Monkey Lights on 1 bike, and Nite Ize SpokeLit on the other. I think I've only changed the batteries in both of them once since March.

vol

I have knockoffs of the Nite Ize bought from ebay.

Jim from Boston

The hassles before getting on the bike

I’m an early morning year-round commuter, and now that winter is approaching, one of the real downsides is the increased time and care in getting just getting dressed, besides the bike preparations:

• checking the weather
  
• deciding what to wear (and hunting for all the items); I try to anticipate, the night before
  
• layering
  
• going the bathroom just before [strike]liftoff[/strike], er... exiting
  
• making sure all the possible clothing gaps are sealed
  
• putting on the final jacket just as I leave to go downstairs, to avoid overheating.

I have previously described, and even enjoy the ritual, with the sense of adventure akin to an astronaut suiting up for a space flight. I do it in the early morning quiet, while drinking my coffee, and listening to the radio.

I posted to a similar thread on the Road Cycling Forum, ”Tips for riding early..”.

Turning on the lights are three simple switches, two rearward and one in front.

hyhuu

At least it's just button pushing. In the winter, getting the neoprene booties on my shoes is never fun for me. It's like wrestling but I'm not always sure that I will come out a head.

locolobo13 

Just part of the routine. The part that takes me the longest is checking the weather and trying to remember what I wore at those conditions the last time. Only 2 rear facing blinkies 1 headlight so they don't take long to turn on.

Mostly everything is ready to go as soon as I get dressed. Backpack packed, clothes laid out. That said I forgot to get my apples this morning. How can I remember to get the carrots out of the fridge and not the apples?!

Ray Lovinggood

Car drivers turn on their lights? Wow, you have better drivers than I do in my neighborhood. Damned cars with brightly-lit dashboards convince the drivers their headlights are on too, but in reality, they are as dark as a black hole. Or some cars will have their daytime running lights on AND the dashboard lights, but the headlights aren't on AND neither are the tail lights.

At least when we ride our bikes in the dark, it's really easy to know if the headlight is on. I do have to admit that if the tail light failed or fell off, I wouldn't know it right away.

kuroba

Maybe it's becaus I like my little rituals that I don't find them a hassle. Night before, I get my bag ready (change of clothes + towel). Then in the morning I put on my "cycling gear" (really, just tights, a dri fit t-shirt and a jacket), throw the bag into my panniers, put on helmet and gloves, turn on lights and off we go.

Jim from Boston

So true. That struggle is greater than the entire rest of the wardrobe.

I ride with two rearward lights, for dyssynchrony and redundancy.

RubeRad

Step 1: turn on the blinky
Step 2: ride
Step 3 (optional) turn on the headlight

chefisaac

I have a list of "to dos" on my phone that I look at and do the night before. Makes it easy.

RidingMatthew

my problem is the weather is not consistent. last week mid to upper 50s other days\ cold and rainy. I wish it would settle down some. I miss summer and it was bib shorts and jersey then go. Clothing adds at least 10 more minutes at home. 5 at work hanging things up so it will dry out. Packing it or at least hoping it packs into the panniers on the way because it is 25-30 degrees warmer.

no motor?

With all I do to get me ready and the cats fed in the morning before I leave getting the bicycle ready is a small part of the process.
I do find that the focus on preparing to ride that I had when I rode a motorcycle just isn't there when I get ready to bicycle. But it's a lot easier for me to get my bicycle outside and ready to ride than it was for my motorcycles!

mcours2006

I am reminded of a race car drive putting on his fire-******ant head cover and then helmet whenever I put on my balaclava in the morning.

wunderkind

I believe ebay or aliexpress sell a fully lit body suit. Just slip it on before you go. Runs on Lithium ion power pack. I'm sure you can find a complimentary helmet.