There is a great reflective tape sold by MoCo, Inc. in Oregon--

http://www.peak.org/~moco/

Distributors of ReflexiteŽ Retro-Reflective Materials Conspicuity Tape
used by truck drivers... easy pre-stick cleaning compaired with 3M suggestions, and very very bright!

2" width makes for easy attachment and increased visibilty..

AND they sell by the foot! at 2" you should not need more that 20 feet to turn your bike into a virtual 'light sabor' visible from a football field away and more... it works great in Iowa conditions where there are no bike lanes in the main city of Des Moines and no shoulders on most of the roads!!!

CHEAP too:
$1.25 per foot per October 2004:
MC-V82-5449-0 - Solid Silver/White, 2" width. Order by the foot.

fast and friendly delivery too (they even sent me several yards of free blue reflective tape!!)

They do not use glass beads but an all-weather functional reflective prism system (47,000 microprisms per square inch) Test a piece besides 3M's product at different distances... this IS the best tape for visibilty and cost.

They also sell sewable tape but only by the roll I believe.... though maybe you could contact them about a per-foot purchase??

Good wishes,

Robert the Bike!