buffalo_cody

I've been commuting by bike to school, and work since last August and haven't had to ride at night yet. This semester however I have one class, once a week that ends at 8:40pm, and I so far I haven't been able to sack up and just ride. I live in a medium sized city, and most of my 3 mile (one way) commute takes me a long a main road with a bike lane. Traffic also tends to be pretty lite at 8:40pm on a Monday, but I'm still paranoid.... ... especially about the roundabouts.

Lights?
Living in a city, my light set up is a "be seen" one. For the rear I have the Sigma Tail Guard, and a red Knog Frog blinky on my bag, my bag itself also has two large reflectors on it. For the front I have a Topeak WhiteLite blinky, a white Knog Frog blinky on the handle bars faced a bit off to the right for cars entering the road, and a solid 1 Watt Energizer Head Lamp (now helmet lamp). The bike also has the standard front, and back reflectors. Is this reasonable amount of lights for a city commute?

Any tips for budget lighting, or general night riding tips so I can stop being a pansy?

Thanks

no motor?

The Terralux and a 2 fish mount is what I'd recommend.

aaronechang

Reflective vest helps a lot too. I wear ANSI Level III mesh short sleeve vests in warmer weather and long sleeve jackets in cold weather. You can get them online at TuffRhino, Industrial Safety Gear, etc.

crazybikerchick

Just do it!! You'll get more confidence as you realize drivers do see you. You could get someone to drive around behind you to let you know how good your lighting setup is from a distance if you are worried about it.

A rearview mirror is also helpful because then you can be aware of where approaching vehicles are, and if you are worried about drunk drivers at night, you can spot an erratic driver at a good distance pretty quickly with a rearview mirror (and decide to get off the road and report them, or what not)

asok

It is ok to ride at night.

In the city the emphasis is on being seen and seeing potholes. I generally don't run my lights on high for this reason.

This might make you feel better. In some cases cars will actually give you MORE space on the road. Sure, it is because they think you are nuts but who can argue with success?

cyclokitty 

You'll be okay. It's actually really neat riding in the dark.

+ 1 for rearview mirror. It'll be incredibly handy for keeping an eye out for trouble approaching you from your back.

Have you put reflective tape on your seat stays? The forks? On the fenders (if you have them)? It'll help your bike glow in the dark.

Grishnak

Sounds like you have a good night time set up.maybe add a mirror to the bike or helmet? If it only shows a little of whats behind then fine.

CliftonGK1

I sometimes ride the entire night through on long brevets. It's OK, as long as you're riding safe.
A few people already hit on the key elements: Active visibility from lights, and passive visibility from reflectors.
Here's what I have on my bike (which is likely some overkill, and not always in 100% usage mode as I swap between the Edelux/E3 lamp depending on conditions.)

Front:
- SON Edelux (on bike)
- Supernova E3 (on bike)
- Princeton Tec Quad (on helmet)

Rear:
- B&M Seculite (on fender)
- Supernova E3 tail (high on seatstay)
- twin PB Superflash (mid on seatstays)

Passive:
- Rear slow-moving-vehicle triangle (on seatbag)
- All around reflective Scotchlite tape on all frame tubes, fenders, rims
- Amphipod reflective harness
- Scotchlite tape on helmet, 360 degrees
- Ankle bands, both sides

My night riding conditions are anything from lit city streets, to barely lit country farming roads, to unlit forest service roads, and quite a bit of state-route highways. Sometimes I get honked at, but I know for certain that people see me.

JPprivate

I don't believe in "be seen" lights for city riding. (And city riding I mean, riding through streets with a lot of artificial lights -from stores, street lights etc). Your light will compete with all those lights, and if it's not really bright, chances are it will not "be seen".

Glynis27

Riding at night is great! 90% of my road riding is at night. Less traffic, no sun beating down on you and you can see headlights coming from far off.
Your setup looks decent, but I would get 1 more BRIGHT tail light like a Mars, PB Superflash or Cherry Bomb. Run it on flash with your current lights on solid.
I would personally also want a headlight for seeing the road better. Magicshine, Dinotte or a Fenix/Deal Extreme flashlight. May not be needed if you have LOTS of streetlights.
I also stuck squares of 3m reflective tape on 1/3 of each of my rims. It's cheap, attention grabbing and really lets people know you are a bike as they see it spin.

bikegeek57

Have to agree with JP about the 'not "be seen"' issue.

Had a driver tell me that exact thing recently.

I have a ton of lights (2 dinotte's 400L (Handlebar) and 200L (Helmet) up front), flashers (4 rear), reflectors, reflective tape, reflective vest, etc.

I was followed by a CNN crew doing a filming last year and they thought the lights were very visible.

Not everyone pays attention on the road I guess.

I want to see the road no matter what.

I want the drivers to see me from 1/4-1/2 mile back for plenty of time for them to react. Don't like surprises.

I ride residential, city, campus and everything in between every morning (5:30 am) and evening (winter time it's dark.) on my 22 mile round trip commute to work and back. Bright? I don't care if they are bright (well I do care and want them bright). They can see me, no excuses there, PERIOD. It's your risk tolerance. Me? I ride safe. I stay off the main drags as much as possible. I can not avoid all of them, I probably travel several miles on main drags in the entire route in short bits. Your 3 miles may not be heavily traveled but if it is check to see if there are better quieter alternatives. I go a mile or two out of my way to avoid known traffic hazards, bad lights/intersections/nasty road conditions and the like. More miles on my bike count as more exercise. I win that way.

Of course YMMV. Be safe out there.

hshearer

For the roundabout, consider taking the lane before you get there, and that goes for daytime, too. Bikes are able to go thorough roundabouts as least as fast as a car, often faster.

rumrunn6

it may be hard to justify a light for seeing the road for just 1 night a week. but if not then I recommend what I use (duh) and it stacks up pretty well against it's competition.

Magicshine from Geomangear.com https://www.geomangear.com/index.php?...roducts_id=138

AdamDZ

I believe in a good mix of lights and reflective stuff. Neither is enough by itself.

Adam

sggoodri

It's okay to ride at night, especially with the equipment you already have. Some minor improvements may be worth considering, but shouldn't stop you from riding now.

I use the same Sigma Tail Guard you have on the back of my fair-weather bike's trunk rack. Above it I have mounted two automotive reflectors (one amber, one red), which are brighter than bike reflectors.

On the front I use a higher power headlamp (15 W halogen) to see the pavement when riding at high speed downhill in darkness. If you are more concerned just with beeing seen at intersections and ride at slower speeds, lower power "safety" lights will be okay.

I do try to wear a light colored shirt or jacket at night. A reflective vest is a good idea but I prefer a jacket with retrorefletive elements just to look a bit less geeky (if that's possible.)

I regularly ride 45 mph arterials with this configuration, but mostly use 35 mph streets. I've never felt less safe due to darkness, although kids/students are more likely to harass you after 8 pm on Friday nights.

https://www.humantransport.org/bicycl...hts/lights.htm

LeeG

I'd suggest a PB superflash for the back of your helmet. I'm not familiar with the Tailguard or FroggKnogg but I wonder if they're sufficiently bright. Basically if you have a front/rear light on the bike put the same on your helmet. The PB is bright enough. I see too many people with marginal red blinkers combined with dark clothing and it's not much better than nothing. Your reflective pack is a good idea but a PB on your helmet will always be shining at people you aren't looking at whereas the tiny Frognogg will be blinking at some odd angle.

The PB isn't cheap at $25 but it's worth it.

Having bright clothing that defines your body shape helps a lot. I like this kind of reflective tape because it lasts and works well

https://www.amazon.com/incom-SOLAS-RE...5654497&sr=1-1

ItsJustMe

Personally I also believe that you need as much, if not more lighting in town than out where it's pitch black. I ride both and I run my light on low when on pavement in the rural areas, but on high on gravel where I need to get lots of warning for potholes, and in the city where there are other lights competing with mine.

Reflective vest, would be my recommendation. $5 and when they work (which is almost always when there's a car that's in danger of hitting you, and if they aren't what do you care?) they're brighter than almost any light you can have on.

Personally I used to run a pair of Planet Bike SuperFlashes on the back, I've upgraded to a Dinotte 140L but they're > $120. Worth it to me but YMMV. I have the SuperFlash on my helmet now - IMO you should have two lights.

Up front if I was buying new I'd go with a MTE P7 flashlight - TONS of light and about $65 with batteries and charger. I actually have a MagicShine ($85) right now, but the flashlight is about the same thing with less runtime.

The flashlight is actually bright enough for my whole commute on medium, and runs about 2 hours in that mode. But since I have the MagicShine I use it.

TwoHeadsBrewing

Riding at night is like riding during the day: Just pretend that you are invisible, and ride accordingly. I rode for years on a motorcycle with this mentality and it seems at least once a month it saved my bacon. Sounds like you have plenty of lighting for people coming up behind you, so just keep a watchful eye out.

LeeG

same here, sometimes the helmet one is steady, sometime blinking depending on the situation but there's always two.

jeffpoulin

I love riding at night. If riding in city traffic, though, wear a reflective vest. It'll do more to help you stand out in traffic than adding more blinking lights will do.

My recommended setup for night riding is a good headlight, 2 taillights (one flashing, one steady), a reflective vest, and reflective ankle bands. I know it's a lot, and wearing all that makes you look like an ubergeek, but it's very effective.

rayhead00

It's OK. and once you've done it a few times; you'll be a pro at it.
Sounds like you are riding up Richmond Ave.
When I take the round-abouts; I merge out of bike lane(they just end there anyhow) and take the lane.
I Use the whole lane until I exit and the bike lane starts up again.
Have fun

Stryver

I like riding at night. I feel more visible. I've waited until after sunset to ride home because I feel safer. Especially if it is twilight.

I ride 4 miles of mixed city, including a university campus, half a mile of major 45mph artery, and a one-lane tunnel. Environmental lighting varies from excellent to nonexistent. I have a P7-D from dealextreme and three rear flashers. My foul weather gear is hi-vis yellow and reflective, and is on whenever the visibility is diminished. I use a take-a-look mirror, and highly recommend it.

I will get a superflash, or similar super-bright rear light someday, but I will still run multiples. I think the reflective tape on a frame is cool, but I have doubts as to how much of a threat someone is if I am already in their headlights. I am far more worried about being seen outside of the headlight cone.

Other upgrades I plan on making: Summer hi-vis layer. Helmet-mounted light. Considering body-mounted rear flasher, but helmet mount is obscured by backpack at times.

ItsJustMe

I know for sure that people can see me better at night than in the daytime. In fact my biggest problem (if you can call it that) is that people coming in to intersections to the road I'm on at night will wait for me to go past them even though I may be 2 or 3 hundred yards back, and it takes me 30 seconds to reach their intersection. Then, often as not, they see I'm riding a bicycle and they take off next to me, staying in the left lane until they get past me.

Glynis27

The PB SF is a great light, but the back of the head is not the best place for it. The main lens has a very small viewing angle and must be aimed just right, or else its brightness is greatly diminished. Your head will always be turning and moving so it won't be aimed right most of the time. If it's on your head, your backpack may even block it completely.
A Blackburn Mars 3.0 can be had for $7-9 and it is almost as bright and can be seen much better from different angles.

For headlights, I use a Dinotte 400L on the bars and a 3 watt Luxeon on my helmet.
Taillights are a PB SF (flashing) on the chainstay and a Blackburn Mars 3.0 (steady) on the seatpost.
I also have black reflective tape on my stays and white reflective squares on 1/3 of my rims.

aaronechang

It would also be a great idea to get a Delta AirZound or similar air horn. Often, drivers simply aren't even looking at the road. I can't tell you how many times drivers pull out into the street or take off from stoplights and I look at them and they're fiddling away on their phone.

AirZound usually saves my hide at least once a week. I turn it up to the max volume and always make sure it's filled up.