jferrin

Get these.



Cost me all of $20 (plus zip ties and a spare bottle to put the batteries in). My wife didn't want me riding around in the dark too much until I put these on my bike. Now she says that I look like a UFO floating down the road. Just going a few miles to the store I noticed that people give you tons of room, more than I get when I'm pulling the kiddies in the trailer. Trust me, these things are BRIGHT!

Get them at https://www.vibelights.com/bili.html

acroy

Good.


Lord.

paulwwalters

Word!

Schwinnrider

My commute in the winter usually involves an hour of darkness in the AM and 45 minutes in the PM. I feel safer in the dark. I use a DiNotte headlight, but a headlight is less important than rearward visibility, IMHO. Good blinkies are your friend. The Planet Bike Superflash is really good, as is the BLT Super Doppler DX. A reflective vest is a good idea, and if you'll search the forum you'll find a thread about a blinking LED reflective vest. I have one and it helps a lot. The only time I've been hit was in broad daylight----from behind, no less.

aMull

Haha so true.

thebeatcatcher

what kind do you have? are they getting comparable (or at least usable) to a halogen type headlight? is your route well lit to begin with?

(i know this question might open up a can of worms)

ken cummings

could not have said it much better myself.

Jim-in-Kirkland

Light & Magic ARC HID in front - three sets of 5 leds lights in back (usually two on at time) - Ansi 3 - Safety Vest - reflective tape on the bike .... it helps to be visible and pick your route carefully to avoid traffic that comes up on you at high speed or in blind corners....

Yes your family will still be concerned because of the cyclists riding with no lights dressed in black on the wrong side of the street will continue to be killed and make the news.... Good luck.

Flimflam

Don't those play havoc with your ability to see at night? Shining up in your face? I find I have to sometimes look right away from headlights as they really washout my ability to see the road/anything in front of me for moments (especially on streets with speedbumps and they're flying up/down in your line of vision).

ItsJustMe

I definitely feel safer riding at night than during the day. Even in the daylight, I'm wearing bright ANSI lime yellow, but at night with a rear superflash plus xenon strobe and an HID up front, NOBODY can possibly not see me unless they don't look in front of them for a solid mile. I've had multiple people tell me that they saw me over a mile back before they got to me, at speed on 55 MPH roads.

BTW good advice on letting them see what you look like kitted up. I saw a ninja cyclist myself this morning; wearing black, no lights, no reflectors. The only reason I saw him was that he was between me and a car's headlights while I was turning a corner. If that's what they think of when you say riding at night, I'm not surprised they're fearful.

recursive

If these people have ultimate veto power over your decision, then it really doesn't matter what reason or logic you use. If they don't, ultimately you don't need to convince them. Tell them your opinion, then do it or don't do it.

tismyself

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/produ...sp?p=DLUTL&i=3

This is the brightest tail light I've seen. Pricey but I can't see how anyone could miss it.
I've never had a problem at night. My commute is after dark when I'm coming home and will be after dark both ways once the time change comes. My husband has ridden 40-50 mile night rides on weekends for years. It's nicer to ride at night in the dead of summmer.

oilfreeandhappy

Riding at night rocks. Actually it doesn't rock. It's very peaceful and quiet. I've been doing it for many years. I've had my headlight go dead a few times, because of my poor timing on recharging. In these circumstances I stop at small intersections and let the cars go first, for fear that they won't see me. Use common sense, ride defensively, and enjoy!

ShinyBiker

Be careful on Friday nights/Saturday mornings. That's when statistically most accidents occur. Something about people in a rush to get home or getting paid, hitting the bars and coming home drunk.

marko_1111

I can appreciate that others are concerned when you ride.

most recently, jennifer received a call after I'd gone down when a mini van full of touri decided to become competitive in a hair pin turn on my daily road ride - flagstaff mtn rd. 8 hrs in er and she only had to leave the room once. she also tended to me when I did a superman in the dark because I couldn't see a massive series of holes on a side entrance to a rural road. but that was when I had 80's tech (very best, mind you) and I've upgraded to l&m li-ion hid.

since then, I asked her to watch me ride up a nice hill by a friend's home here in boulder - a route I do frequently and she's aware. she agreed that there's no chance I'd ever miss another ditch and no chance that I'd never be unseen by anyone with vision. just from the l&m, much less the cateye 1000 tail.

dusk is a tough one. even hid doesn't get respect. at night, however, cars see you coming and assume you're a vehicle. they'll pull up on a side street, see the hid, and wait. and wait. and wait.

night is safer and more fun.

rhm

I really like riding at night. I can name lots of reasons --fewer cars, less noise, more wildlife, cool night air, whatever-- but I'm not sure any of them is really the reason. Riding at night is just... well, it's really nice.

As for whether it's safe... that really depends on where you're riding, how you're riding, etc., just like in the day. If you've got proper lighting, though, you'll be more visible at night than during the day and therefore less likely to be struck accidentally... so by that standard, I'd say it's safer than riding during the day.

On the other hand, there are certain dangers that only come out at night, like black ice. Furthermore, I suspect that certain dangerous driver behaviors --drinking, speeding, running red lights, being too tired to drive at all-- are more prevalent at night. These would tend to balance out the equation, but note: these increase your danger regardless whether you're riding a bike or driving a car.

So... go for it!

rlrct

I've been commuting a few days a week for a couple of months now. My wife thought I was out of my mind to ride into work during daylight, let alone in the dark (Hartford, CT - not a bike friendly city). I have to call her every day with my cell and ring the phone to let her know I've gotten to work. I'm resigned to the fact that she just cares and it's not a big deal to ring the phone. She was also worried about riding in the dark. I have tires with reflective sidewalls and so any light from the side right sets those off. With a bright rear blinkie and bright headlight, I think I'm more visible at night than during the day. Just make sure you get enough light for the bike to light up the road conditions you'd be riding in. Your commute is short enough so it's jsut not a big deal - 1/2 hour ride.

The one thing I promised I wouldn't do is consciously ride in the rain. I'm sure I'll get caught some time, but have been lucky so far. If rain is predicted, I'll drive and use the fitness center at work. Some things aren't worth fighting over. In terms of riding at night - that really is your decision - not your family's. If you decide to ride at night, just take steps to make yourself visible and let them see the results - it really does help.

CsHoSi

I love riding at night for the reasons many others here do. I work the mid-shift so I'm up early in the morning even on my days off.

I recently went from my two led lights (bar and helmet) to Light & Motion ARC with 650 lumens and that light gains me a whole new respect on the road. I don't worry nearly as much about people turning in front of me at intersections. I've had cops light me up with their spotlight to figure out what was behind the blinding light as they pass.

I have a cateye led tail light and two PB super flashes in the rear. I can be seen well from the back. I still use a helmet mirror and just watch as cars pass me. There's not many, and you can see their light beams coming up behind you.

My family of course worries about me but they know I love it and am very careful about traffic.

CBBaron

This was my technique. Slowly work into riding everyday, at night and in poor weather.
With bright lights and bright reflective clothing you should be as safe or safer on dark lightly traveled roads. On busier, urban roads it is a little more difficult to be visible but can still be very safe. My winter commute is after dark on urban roads with rush hour traffic. I have not had an incident in three winters of every day riding.

That said, it probably won't convince your family so you will probably just have to work on them some more.

Craig

littlewaywelt

and a nice term life insurance policy goes a long way, too.

You might also explain to your inlaws that they are statistically more likely to get killed driving home from your house than you are riding a bike to work, regardless of the hour. Get lights and plenty of reflective gear and it shouldn't be a big deal. If it is, you need to work on your relationship with them and/or simply do what you want and let the chips fall where they may.

Pancho Urbano

Just rode home last night at midnight - met some friends at a bar - had two beers over three hours of jokes. So peaceful and quiet (especially on a silent singlespeed). Certainly less potential problems compared to the hubbub of the day. However, every car that came up behind me I turned around and gave them a look - just to check on them and let them know I'm aware. Drunks might be able to see your lights, but that doesn't mean they are able to miss you. BE CAREFUL!

rocks in head 

I'd have to put another vote for reflective gear & lights for visibility, and easing into it with the family thing. I know my wife was worried when I started riding my bike to work, and I started out all during the daytime, but after a while I'd work later and later and came home at night (well, winter helped with the early dark thing) and it was no biggie. She groaned at the cost of the headlight/taillight setup, too, but in the end conceded that it is worth the money for safety reasons.

littlewaywelt

aside from the obvious safety reason, lights, etc are a small price to pay when you consider what all the PT and copayments will add up to if you are hit and even moderately injurred.

b_young

+1

The more you ride the wife will start seeing the importance of it to you. She will eventually come around to it. Keep the peace, but keep bringing it up. My wife freaked the first time I said I was riding on the highway, first time I said I was riding at night, first time I said I was riding a 110 miles. Now she just says be careful and call enough to let her know I am still alive. She never told me not to do any of the above, but if she had she would have eventually came around.

jferrin

It is a little strange. They totally wash out my little $8 Wally-Mart led headlight. I don't stare at them directly since I have one on my downtube and one on a chainstay. I actually think I would like to get one more for the front to illuminate what is in front of me.

I haven't noticed any potholes sneaking up on me and I don't think it would be any different than riding in the dark with any other light set-up, except you are lit up like an overdone christmas tree. I actually think they make it easier to see at night. Everything just happens to be green.

I use green because it is the most visible to the eye. Oh yea, it goes with my bike too.

I'll try to post some pics in the next few days.