Planet Bike Superflash: 'Public wants the blinky'
#51
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Kevlar/nomex weave impenetrable safety cycling jersey: $338
PlanetBike Superflash blinky: $20
Making the cagers behind you have seizures: Priceless.
I can hardly wait to get my hands on one of these!
PlanetBike Superflash blinky: $20
Making the cagers behind you have seizures: Priceless.
I can hardly wait to get my hands on one of these!
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Obviously, the guy's like a 12th level white wizard or something. His mere presence is a danger to mortals.
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Originally Posted by SSP
LOL - now you're into conspiracy theories? That's pretty ironic.
Note: Until this hyping blitz, I never heard of Planet Bike either. But then I haven't spent $10 total in the last year on bicycle stuff while commuting over 5,000 miles. Guess that's what happens when you get a good bike and accessories that fit the need - no need to keep buying the latest thing.
#53
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Until this hyping blitz, I never heard of Planet Bike either.
You seem to be a great expert on tinfoil caps: time to don on one!
#54
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Originally Posted by SSP
LOL - now you're into conspiracy theories? That's pretty ironic.
If you'll check, you'll see that the SuperFlash has been mentioned in several threads of late. Presumably this is because:
If you'll check, you'll see that the SuperFlash has been mentioned in several threads of late. Presumably this is because:
- It's new.
- It's inexpensive.
- It's very bright.
- With the days getting shorter, many of us are reviewing our night riding gear options.
#55
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I just wanted to chime in on this. I haven't seen any conspiracy -- I found this light by shopping at the LBS. I wanted to supplement my Blackburn Mars 3.0 (which seems to be going through batteries at an alarming rate), and was debating among the 5 or so bright taillights they had (Freerange Cycles in Fremont, Seattle, WA). I finally narrowed it down to the Cateye TLD-1000 (or whatever the model number is -- the huge one with two banks of LEDS), and the Planet Bike Super Flash. Quite simply, at $10 cheaper, a bunch lighter and noticeably smaller, all while being brighter, the Planet Bike was a no-brainer.
The PBSF uses a Luxeon-style super-bright LED and two normal 5mm LEDs, which are also quite bright. It has two settings -- strobe, and steady. The strobe pattern sets the two 5mm LEDs blinking at a steady rate, while strobing the Lux LED in a blinkblink-pause-pause-blinkblink pattern. The solid setting leaves just the Lux on (I think, I'd have to check) at a high brightness, but pulsing very very quickly (just quick enough that it leaves an afterglow of lots of individual lights rather than a steady smear of light as you look past it).
I'd hardly call the PBSF the be-all and end-all of taillights, but for its size, weight and price, I think it's the best thing on the market at this point.
The PBSF uses a Luxeon-style super-bright LED and two normal 5mm LEDs, which are also quite bright. It has two settings -- strobe, and steady. The strobe pattern sets the two 5mm LEDs blinking at a steady rate, while strobing the Lux LED in a blinkblink-pause-pause-blinkblink pattern. The solid setting leaves just the Lux on (I think, I'd have to check) at a high brightness, but pulsing very very quickly (just quick enough that it leaves an afterglow of lots of individual lights rather than a steady smear of light as you look past it).
I'd hardly call the PBSF the be-all and end-all of taillights, but for its size, weight and price, I think it's the best thing on the market at this point.
Last edited by IanJ; 10-30-06 at 02:54 PM.
#56
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How's it $20 online, $25-$30 in a store and $15 at MEC in Canada? It's a conspiracy I tell ya! Conspiracy or no, it's not gonna stop me from checking it out. Looks like the same housing design as the BRT-7 of which I have a couple so if the bracket is the same, I'll be able to just trade one for the other.
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Originally Posted by mechBgon
Gregg's?
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Originally Posted by Warblade
Oh it's most certainly a possibility! I'll be at the parts counter today actually. Come say hi!
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Note: Until this hyping blitz, I never heard of Planet Bike either.
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
But then I haven't spent $10 total in the last year on bicycle stuff while commuting over 5,000 miles. Guess that's what happens when you get a good bike and accessories that fit the need - no need to keep buying the latest thing.
FWIW, what do you do for tires and chains? Dumpster diving at the LBS?
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Originally Posted by SSP
No surprise there...you are consistently out of the loop (and, seemingly proud of it). Perhaps it's an "Iowa Thing".
Or, when you're a cheap retro-grouch.
FWIW, what do you do for tires and chains? Dumpster diving at the LBS?
Or, when you're a cheap retro-grouch.
FWIW, what do you do for tires and chains? Dumpster diving at the LBS?
Proud to be "out of the loop" if being in the loop means flitting like moths towards the the media/club boy hype-light of cycling equipment correctness equals the latest trendy thing.
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
And the Electra blitz of several years ago was no theory. Who was it the sales manager or the owner posting all the happy customer postings. maybe someone with a better memory or patience to go searching can fill in the details.
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If I were shilling for a light company, it would be difficult to tell which one!
The SuperFlash is getting attention because it has a mix of power, smallness/lightweight, and lower cost. I'm not a lycroid type, really, but even *I* have one bike that I appreciate what it looks like, and would appreciate not having an LD1000 hitting me in the thighs too:
Behold, the last of the Paramounts I waited 6 years to build that frame... Those bar-endplug blinkies are a nice item for a road bike too Almost no added weight, and you need bar plugs anyway.
The SuperFlash is getting attention because it has a mix of power, smallness/lightweight, and lower cost. I'm not a lycroid type, really, but even *I* have one bike that I appreciate what it looks like, and would appreciate not having an LD1000 hitting me in the thighs too:
Behold, the last of the Paramounts I waited 6 years to build that frame... Those bar-endplug blinkies are a nice item for a road bike too Almost no added weight, and you need bar plugs anyway.
Last edited by mechBgon; 10-30-06 at 03:49 PM.
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Originally Posted by SSP
LOL - now you're into conspiracy theories? That's pretty ironic.
If you'll check, you'll see that the SuperFlash has been mentioned in several threads of late. Presumably this is because:
If you'll check, you'll see that the SuperFlash has been mentioned in several threads of late. Presumably this is because:
- It's new.
- It's inexpensive.
- It's very bright.
- With the days getting shorter, many of us are reviewing our night riding gear options.
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Originally Posted by jyossarian
How's it $20 online, $25-$30 in a store and $15 at MEC in Canada? It's a conspiracy I tell ya! Conspiracy or no, it's not gonna stop me from checking it out. Looks like the same housing design as the BRT-7 of which I have a couple so if the bracket is the same, I'll be able to just trade one for the other.
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Chain $5/year. Haven't needed new tires in several years as I bought 3 or 4 from Schwalbe several years ago.
Proud to be "out of the loop" if being in the loop means flitting like moths towards the the media/club boy hype-light of cycling equipment correctness equals the latest trendy thing.
Proud to be "out of the loop" if being in the loop means flitting like moths towards the the media/club boy hype-light of cycling equipment correctness equals the latest trendy thing.
But your repetitive disparaging of anyone with an interest in modern cycling technology is tiresome at best, and generally irrelevant to the discussions at hand. We all appreciate the sport in our own ways...no need to assert that your way is the only way to enjoy it. Just sayin'...
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Originally Posted by mechBgon
but even *I* have one bike that I appreciate what it looks like, and would appreciate not having an LD1000 hitting me in the thighs too:
Behold, the last of the Paramounts
Behold, the last of the Paramounts
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Watsa madder wid you? That's why you should add a six foot broom handle to the rear of that Paramount and place your LD1000 where it is supposed to be. I know a place that gives good deals after Halloween on used equipment.
A real man has an eight foot mast.
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Originally Posted by Phantoj
I don't remember the details, but there was some Electra shilling here. Upshot was that the shill came clean, and all is forgiven because Electras are pretty cool anyway.
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Originally Posted by 2manybikes
A real man has an eight foot mast.
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Watsa madder wid you? That's why you should add a six foot broom handle to the rear of that Paramount and place your LD1000 where it is supposed to be. I know a place that gives good deals after Halloween on used equipment.
(and an 800-watt stereo system to play some classic disco tunes)
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Originally Posted by mechBgon
If I were shilling for a light company, it would be difficult to tell which one!
The SuperFlash is getting attention because it has a mix of power, smallness/lightweight, and lower cost. I'm not a lycroid type, really, but even *I* have one bike that I appreciate what it looks like, and would appreciate not having an LD1000 hitting me in the thighs too:
Behold, the last of the Paramounts I waited 6 years to build that frame... Those bar-endplug blinkies are a nice item for a road bike too Almost no added weight, and you need bar plugs anyway.
The SuperFlash is getting attention because it has a mix of power, smallness/lightweight, and lower cost. I'm not a lycroid type, really, but even *I* have one bike that I appreciate what it looks like, and would appreciate not having an LD1000 hitting me in the thighs too:
Behold, the last of the Paramounts I waited 6 years to build that frame... Those bar-endplug blinkies are a nice item for a road bike too Almost no added weight, and you need bar plugs anyway.
I remember many years ago in high school lusting after a bright red Paramount (at the pre-Lance Richardson Bike Mart), when all I could afford was a second hand Continental (but, at least that was somewhat higher status than the more common Varsity model...and it "only" weighed about 30 lbs ).
Last edited by SSP; 10-30-06 at 06:32 PM.
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
True, but few men have the right stuff to sport an eight footer. So I'm willing to be tolerant towards Brother Mech.
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Don't fool yourselves, folks. This thread has been a ruse all along, whose sole purpose was to make you think about the sinister allure of Grape-Nuts.
Just look at it, leering like a crunchy overlord.
Just look at it, leering like a crunchy overlord.
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Originally Posted by bbonnn
Don't fool yourselves, folks. This thread has been a ruse all along, whose sole purpose was to make you think about the sinister allure of Grape-Nuts.
Just look at it, leering like a crunchy overlord.
Just look at it, leering like a crunchy overlord.
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Originally Posted by mechBgon
(and an 800-watt stereo system to play some classic disco tunes)
Bo Diddley - A Man Amongst Men
Bo Diddley - Gun Slinger
Bo Diddley - I Said Shut Up Woman
Bo Diddley - I'm a Man
Bo Diddley - Road Runner
Bo Diddley - Say Man
Howlin Wolf - Back Door Man
Howlin' Wolf - Evil
Screaming Jay Hawkins- I Put a Spell On You
Robert Johnson - I'm A Steady Rollin' Man