Originally Posted by
ciderguy
I have reflective tape on the bike to help avoid side impact crashes, but the spoke lights are probably going to cover that for you. What kind of spoke lights are you using? I've been thinking about adding some to my setup.
Does the vest go over the backpack? With that headlight light, I wouldn't worry about people missing you from the front. However, I like to have a decent visibility from the rear.
I bought velcro ankle bands to help prevent longer pants from becoming stuck in the chain. But, you could always just use your sock.
I assume you have the standard frame or mini pump, patch kit that requires glue, spare tube, etc.
Cell phone! It is the ultimate bail out tool.
Do you have photos? I'd like to see all of this.
I saw a Trek road bike the other day that was (factory?) painted completely in Hi-Viz neon green/yellow. I don't know... not my taste, but I would absolutely take that over a 'normal' paint job festooned with a multitude of reflective patches. Gag! A Hi-Viz jersey or jacket are going to send way more light back to a drivers eyes than any amount of frame reflectors. But, you probably aren't convinced. C'est la vie.
I'm sorry, however, I can't let you waltz away on the "patch kit with glue" thing. What's up with that? Have you tried glueless patches? I'll bet you haven't. Even the crap ones do a decent job. The ones from Park Tools are as good as a new tube. Better actually, you get a dozen of them for half the price of a new tube! I've had them hold air for so long that I got another flat in the same tube somewhere else. Glue on patches are headed for the same fate as that which befell CRT televisions and computer monitors.
Also... not all of us have someone in a position to "bail us out" on the other end of a cell phone connection. Some of us have to be self-sufficient. And that's ok. Builds character. When you've walked two miles in the rain with a cracked frame you can have a little more perspective on life when you run out of ketchup on Fish and Chips night.