Accidental Solar Safety Strobe
07-05-12, 01:58 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,260
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Accidental Solar Safety Strobe
Inspired by the Gorup Pig T.V. commercial, my bride joked that I needed to put a pin-wheel on my bike. Since the annual R.A.R.E rally was coming up soon and I generally fly some whimsical items from my safety flag pole on that rally, I followed her suggestion and affixed a $2.00 pin-wheel to my Tour Easy safety flag pole.
The weather was sunny and warm and the ride was great fun, as usual. It took me several miles however to figure out what the bright strobe-like reflection was that I had been seeing in front of me. It was bouncing off of signs, buildings, vehicles, other riders, etc.
Finally it occurred to me that the sun was reflecting off of the spinning mylar blades of the pin-wheel. That very same pin-wheel is now spinning in the gentle breezes out in our garden and the reflection is blindingly noticable.
I can't recommend a pin-wheel as a safety device, but in my case it certainly must have helped to distract some distracted drivers...which I think is a good thing.
So ends the story of my Accidental Solar Safety Strobe.
The weather was sunny and warm and the ride was great fun, as usual. It took me several miles however to figure out what the bright strobe-like reflection was that I had been seeing in front of me. It was bouncing off of signs, buildings, vehicles, other riders, etc.
Finally it occurred to me that the sun was reflecting off of the spinning mylar blades of the pin-wheel. That very same pin-wheel is now spinning in the gentle breezes out in our garden and the reflection is blindingly noticable.
I can't recommend a pin-wheel as a safety device, but in my case it certainly must have helped to distract some distracted drivers...which I think is a good thing.
So ends the story of my Accidental Solar Safety Strobe.
07-05-12, 02:44 PM
#2
gone ride'n
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 4,050
Bikes: Simoncini, Gary Fisher, Specialized Tarmac
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
NORAD was scramblin B1s and NASA has started preparing a new anomaly observation satellite.
Good to hear from you - how ya been?
Good to hear from you - how ya been?
07-05-12, 03:12 PM
#3
Let's do a Century
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,316
Bikes: Cervelo R3 Disc, Pinarello Prince/Campy SR; Cervelo R3/Sram Red; Trek 5900/Duraace, Lynskey GR260 Ultegra
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 651 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times
in
408 Posts
Now if you pull a Cancellara and figure out to make a motor out of that thing you might just have something.
__________________
Ride your Ride!!
Ride your Ride!!
07-05-12, 05:14 PM
#4
Full Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Decatur, Alabama USA
Posts: 319
Bikes: '07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, '88 Trek 400T, '88 Diamondback Ascent EX, '56 Raleigh Superbe, '73/60 Raleigh Sports
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
2 Posts
Get it to the marketplace quickly!
07-05-12, 05:53 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Nanaimo.B.C. The We't coast of Canada
Posts: 1,287
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You need more pinwheels to get the attention of some of the folks on the road today.
07-06-12, 06:16 AM
#6
Semper Fi
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,942
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1172 Post(s)
Liked 358 Times
in
241 Posts
Add some LED lights to the blades and a spin generator to power them and you will have a solar/wind powered safety strobe pinwheel. Try saying that 3 times real fast without spitting.
Bill
Bill
__________________
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
07-06-12, 01:22 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Green Valley AZ
Posts: 3,770
Bikes: Trice Q; Volae Century; TT 3.4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Your pinwheel is nicer and the picture is great but Maxwell has a far better sound track. <G>
07-06-12, 07:10 PM
#8
Semper Fi
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,942
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1172 Post(s)
Liked 358 Times
in
241 Posts
Oh God, stop the pig's squealing, please. I absolutely hated Maxwell's commercials, hope he never shows up again.
__________________
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
noglider
Classic & Vintage
52
08-03-19 08:46 AM
HBxRider
Advocacy & Safety
11
08-09-12 04:08 PM
