Originally Posted by
Carley P.
...I was just making sure Buzzman didn't feel like an idiot for wanting more than one rear light. Having one rear blinky (especially if it's a dinotte or something equally as bright) can be enough, but in order to feel totally confident I'll keep at least two rear blinkies and some reflectors.
Buzzman, if you decide to do this set up, try to take a picture that shows how well it works. Like I said, I think it's an interesting idea as long as the light illuminates your entire body - not just a 4 inch circle on your back.
Thanks for your concern that I might feel like an idiot but at this point in my life I'm way beyond worrying about that.
As for my current light set up:
I have a Planet Bike Beamer 3 handlebar mounted light flashing on the front, a Serfas True Lumens 250 mounted on my helmet. On the rear rack I have a Cat Eye TL LD 1000 and on my person a clip on Planet Bike Superflash.
This time of year I'll usually wear my bright orange Showers Pass Jacket, which has some reflectorized striping.
That said, I'm sure my light set up is fine for most situations.
However, we're in the winter in the Northeast and I ride pretty much every where in all kinds of conditions. In the warmer months, yep, those of you who say "red blinking lights" mean a bicycle- you're probably right. But at this time of year and as the snow starts to fly there will be fewer and fewer cyclists out there.
Once the snow starts to fall out comes my winter MTB with 2.1" studded snow tires for commuting and many a night I'm the only bike I'll see on the road. So, to many drivers and especially to drivers of snow plows and municipal buses I'd like to be as visible as possible and identifiable as a BICYCLE because in snow, sleet or rain they really don't expect to see a bike on the road. A blinking red light in those conditions could basically be anything from a red reflector on a stick blowing in the wind at the end of a driveway to a car signaling a right turn considerable distance away but to people that can't conceive of riding a bike on such a night the last thing they expect is a bike.
I point out snow plows and buses because they tend to crowd the road's edge and I'd prefer they give me wide berth by having as much advance notice as to what I am as possible.
I will post some video or pix as soon as i set it up and do a trial run.
Thanks to all for the input.
