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Too late! :cry:
Originally Posted by LanceMach
(Post 6271708)
Do NOT look at the light when you first get it!! I was looking directly into mine when I first turned it on and I was partially blind for about a week! :eek:
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I got the Superflash after seeing it on a fellow commuter's bike.
For the record I prefer blinky mode. I think the irregular pattern really sets off that little reptilian motion-sensing part of the brain. Certainly for $30 or so for two, it beats any basic LED blinky I have seen--I have one with something like 9 LEDs that was over $30 and the Superflash blows it right out of the water. Ridden in the rain, no problems, have dropped it once (didn't click it into the receiver on the seatpost quite all the way), no problem. Really, all this mostly to say "+1"--simply an unbeatable value. |
I haven't been hit since I started using the PBSF!!
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It's now available with a black back and a clear lens, for those of you into the "greyscale" look.
http://ecom1.planetbike.com/planetbike/media/3034_1.jpg ps. I have been hit while using it. |
I don't know what the battery life is because I just run rechargables in everything, and every 2nd weekend I take everything off and recharge. So all I know for sure is that two rechargable AAAs (900+ mAh) will run it for 10 days plus at about 50 minutes a day, in blink mode.
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I love my SuperFlash
I've been using a Planet Bike SuperFlash purchased at MEC for the past 8 months or so.
How effective has it been for you? How visible is it? Can it be seen by others during the day? Please describe. Very effective. I usually keep it in blink mode during the day and in continuous mode at dusk and during the night. It's hard for a car to miss it that powerful red LED... How well does it hold it up? Well, I've had only one issue so far. I unclip it every time I park my bike and reclip it every time I get on my bike... So, two weeks ago as I'm departing, I jump off a curb... And after a few seconds of pedaling, I do my final pre-flight check by looking between my legs while slowly riding off - so that I can check that my SuperFlash is online, and that my panniers are attached correctly, that my shoelaces are properly tucked and such... I notice that the SuperFlash has separated... The body, battery holder and gasket lay on the ground with only the white plastic part of the body still attached securely to the bike. Has only happened once in eight months, and I blame it on my rough handling - frequently attaching and detaching it from the bike. Even after falling down in the slush it still works great. Does it get affected by rain? No, the rubber gasket is doing a great job... I've been using it daily all winter, it's been splashed by slush, covered with snow, and also soaked by rain, and I haven't had a single problem with it. How often would I need to change the batteries? I use Sanyo Eneloops, and I usually recharge them every few weeks. I never ran out of charge. Where and/or how many places could it be mounted? Seatpost. Where else? Planet Bike SuperFlash gets 10/10 from me |
got mine for christmas...when i first put it on i was amazed how bright it was
i will have to ask some drivers how they like it |
One thing to add: in sub-20 deg temps, mine would stop working.
Now, that could be the rechargable batteries (NiCad) I had in the SF, but I won't know until next winter. My other rear light is a Mars 2.0 & that kept running to negative temps. Otherwise, I think its the best blinky I've personally seen or used. |
one neat thing about the PB blinkies (3,5,7 and SF) is you can get a rack-reflector mount to clip the light into. (the blinky 5 includes the rack mount, too, or at least it has everywhere i've seen it!)
here's the rack mount: http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3108.html it's out of stock there, but other online stores have it. if you don't have a reflector bracket on your rack, you can get one from planet bike for $4 shipped (with some extra rack mounting hardware included). i have blinky 7s (on my seatstays) so i'm stoked that i can use all the same hardware and mounts. i'm going to get a superflash within the week i think, and put it on the rack. my rack trunk makes it so i can't use a seatpost mount. the cat eye tl-ld1000 can be rack-mounted, too, but i think you have to screw it permanently in (am i lying? i hope so). i have one of them, but i don't like it that much. i haven't put it on my new bike, although i might eventually. it's so heavy that if i went over bumps with it on the seatpost of my old bike, it would click down a little bit at a time until it was pointing down at the rear tire. |
I lost a Cateye tl-ld1100 after the heavy thing snapped the Aluminum reflector bracket that was supplied by Delta when I bought my rack. It has been a seatpost mounted light since w/o a problem.
Recently picked up a PBSF and I'm trying to figure a way to mount to the back of my Delta Post Porter rack. After phoning Planet Bike, I learned the taillight rack bracket will be available in late APR. Searched unsuccessfully for any other vendor to sell me one. |
http://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesom...273/1891/18837
i haven't ordered yet though so save two for me and my sister! :) if that doesn't work, here's my search: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=planet+bike+3108 too bad everyone charges so much for shipping though. it's high finance trying to figure out where to get what. |
Originally Posted by J B Bell
(Post 6272484)
For the record I prefer blinky mode. I think the irregular pattern really sets off that little reptilian motion-sensing part of the brain. C This is, I think, the most important thing. That, flash, flash FLASH. trick is really noticeable. |
Originally Posted by dwainedibbly
(Post 4468630)
I have a Cateye LD1000 but don't think I'll see God until I get a Planetbike Superflash.
Seriously, from what I've read, I expect the Superflash to be better than my current tail light. I'll plan to try one next time I need a new light. |
is it as heavy as the tl ld1000?
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How effective has it been for you?
Very. It is far more noticeable than any other light i've yet tried, yet (at $14.75) cost roughly the same as the Topeak RedLite, which is an inferior light, or even worse - the Knog Frog, of which I purchased at a bike shop at the cost of $12 at the recommendation of a friend (this light is utterly pathetic next to the Superflash. I have a feeling people buy this one for the looks, not the performance) How visible is it? Can it be seen by others during the day? Please describe. Yes, I find that even in the day it is bright enough to be a focus point for being seen. How well does it hold it up? I set my Xtracycle on end one day, pinning the Superflash underneath and it was just fine. Also whacked it into a concrete post while turning the bike about, just fine once more. Does it get affected by rain? No troubles so far! How often would I need to change the batteries? The batteries last quite long, no exact indication but it isn't a weekly exercise. I recharge the 1000mah NiMH batteries its being used with about once every 3 weeks, just to be sure it keeps running. Where and/or how many places could it be mounted? Bike: Seatpost, seatstay, rack (there's a clip PB sells to go right onto the rack mount for a reflector) Rider: The clip could be used to stick it to a bag, I think it came with an arm strap but if it did, I lost it :) Xtracycle: It will go on the V-Racks or centre bridge with a slightly thicker shim. What other information is there that I haven't asked about? If so, what is it? It chews Knog to pieces. |
Originally Posted by wild animals
(Post 6446659)
is it as heavy as the tl ld1000?
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I think that by itself it's insufficient because from a distance, the brighter/main LED is very visible but the two smaller ones aren't significantly visible. That being the case I consider the light to be non-visible about half the time it's operating and since motorists can come up on you at speeds of like 40mph it's better to have another light that flashes at a higher frequency. Such a light would be the Blackburn Mars 3.0 which I use as my main light and I'm going to use a SF to supplement it.
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Originally Posted by meaculpa
(Post 6443933)
One thing to add: in sub-20 deg temps, mine would stop working.
Now, that could be the rechargable batteries (NiCad) I had in the SF, but I won't know until next winter. My other rear light is a Mars 2.0 & that kept running to negative temps. My older AAA NiMHs are 850, and the new ones are 1000 mAh. I've had mine running fine on NiMHs down to -10*F so far. Last time it was colder than that around here I was still running the TL-LD1000 and an amber xenon strobe. |
Thanks for the link Wild Animals. I only need one. How's things in OR? I just moved from Salem to Colorado a while back.
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Originally Posted by thorsteno
(Post 6447767)
Thanks for the link Wild Animals. I only need one. How's things in OR? I just moved from Salem to Colorado a while back.
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Originally Posted by nakedsushi
(Post 4467225)
I'm in love with the superflash so take my review with a grain of salt.
How effective has it been for you? Very effective. I think it's most noticable in the blinky setting, but even on solid, it's pretty damn bright. I let the BF borrow mine before he got one and some cager actually gave him a compliment on how bright it was while he was riding at night. How well does it hold it up? Seems to be holding up pretty well. I've dropped one a couple of times on the ground (I had one of them clipped to a less than ideal spot on my messenger bag) and that one still works. Does it get affected by rain? It doesn't rain that much in LA and I haven't ridden in rain yet, so no idea here. How often would I need to change the batteries? Of the two I've gotten two months ago, I haven't had to change either. I think they could go for another month or two. Where and/or how many places could it be mounted? It comes with some mounting material. I have one mounted on my seatpost and one I clip either on my pants or my bag when I ride. For the $20-25 I paid for both (got a discount on the first one, paid full for the 2nd), I say they're the best in the price range. The BF doubted the superflash's greatness and got some other branded rear blinky, but he soon saw the light and ended up getting a superflash for himself. One thing that I like about it, but is pretty minor, is that there isn't a pesky small switch or button to have to look for. You just squeeze the bottom part and the light goes from blinky to solid to off. It comes in handy when you're already on your bike and you need to quickly turn the light on without having to pay too much attention to it. As for visibility, I use one on my helmet and one on my trunk bag. A riding buddy caught up to me one morning last fall when I had both going and said he thought there was an ambulance or some other emergency vehicle on the path! That's visible. He went out and bought his own. An excellent light. |
Someone posted that it didn't work in weather colder than 20 degrees.
I think that may have been the batteries they used, as mine worked well in -20 degree weather commuting this winter in Minnesota. I just used regular non-rechargable AAA batteries though, not rechargable ones. |
It's only 2 LED's though. Isn't it better to have 5 or more LED's?
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Originally Posted by macteacher
(Post 6453536)
It's only 2 LED's though. Isn't it better to have 5 or more LED's?
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Originally Posted by macteacher
(Post 6453536)
It's only 2 LED's though. Isn't it better to have 5 or more LED's?
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Originally Posted by 2manybikes
(Post 6456958)
It's better to have brighter led's. The new lights are much brighter than the older lights, even with less leds.
Brighter is brighter, simple as that. An array of dim lights only looks like a wider dim light, not a brighter one. |
Oh yeah --
The main LED of the Superflash puts most other commercially-available LEDs to shame -- indeed, I don't know of any sub-$30 store-bought blinky that's as bright. It's brighter than my [now discontinued] Cateye LD-1000, 9-LED Viewpoint light+reflector, Serfas Stop Sign, etc etc. The Dinotte taillight is the only one I've got that's brighter, but, of course, it should be. |
Originally Posted by BarracksSi
(Post 6457372)
Oh yeah --
The main LED of the Superflash puts most other commercially-available LEDs to shame -- indeed, I don't know of any sub-$30 store-bought blinky that's as bright. It's brighter than my [now discontinued] Cateye LD-1000, 9-LED Viewpoint light+reflector, Serfas Stop Sign, etc etc. The Dinotte taillight is the only one I've got that's brighter, but, of course, it should be. While the SF is a good light I have no idea what the much more visible TL-1100 gets no love. |
Originally Posted by Ziemas
(Post 6459001)
TL-1100 is much brighter and can be had for $30.
While the SF is a good light I have no idea what the much more visible TL-1100 gets no love. I have a couple of TL-1000 at home, and I put them gradually out of service to replace them with Superflashes. Why? - Seen from far away, on axis, one Superflash seems as bright as one TL-1000. - I have my homemade bracket behind my rear rack; two Superflashes take a little less space than a single TL-1000, so I have a little room for a red reflector. - Two Superflashes are cheaper than a single TL-1000, so I could afford a permanent installation on my single bike, my tandem and my daughter's bike. - Two independent taillights offer some redundancy. - When in steady mode for 2 hours per day, rechargeable AA batteries last 3-4 days in the TL-1000, while rechargeable AAA batteries last 2-3 weeks in the Superflash. In other words, the Superflash seems to use its power much more efficiently. - The Superflash blinking mode is much more eye-catching when I ride in fog. - And finally two Superflashes are brighter than a single TL-1000. |
Originally Posted by Ziemas
(Post 6459001)
TL-1100 is much brighter and can be had for $30.
While the SF is a good light I have no idea what the much more visible TL-1100 gets no love. I don't find Superflash all that bright, and I wouldn't be impressed by the TL-1100 either. In combination of size, form factor, battery runtime, and brightness. PB SF wins, even more so than my homemade light. |
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