I've noticed pedal and spoke reflectors more than any other reflector. Still want to get reflective tape for the frame though.

Yeah I really like it on my bike.

these guys carry HI grey/white and engineering grade in multicolor

the HI grey/white isn't very noticeable on silver parts, that is until you shine a light on it.

IMO the only time that side reflectivity is useful is when crossing a road with non-stopping traffic but that can be enough to make side reflectivity worth it.

As I, too, believe that reflectors ruin a wheel's truth, this thread reminds me that I need to put some reflective tape on (both sides of) my rims.

I NEVER LEAVE THEM ON ANYMORE! They are freaking strong!

When I was sixteen I used to ride my bike everywhere, all the time. I hardly walked anywhere. Going down hill under a freeway bridge I hear and feel a little click on my front fork.

I looked down just in time to see this thing go across the fork blades and I went FLYING, doing a 450sumersault. Hit the ground something fierce. broke a spoke and untrued my wheel.

The thing apparently got loose, slid DOWN on the spoke, and turned.

WHY CAN'T THEY MAKE THEM SOFT?! even better just put tape! Thats all I use no danger, no unbalancing and you can cover all the area you want.

I have noticed those pedal reflectors often too.

A little off topic - will reflective tape on rims downgrade braking performance? How about when it is wet?

You don't put it on the braking surface...

don't put the tape on the braking section of the rim where the brake pads touch.
same idea with not having paint on the braking section of the rim.

Don't trust em.. I 've had them. Pay close attention. I've seen them come loose and start flopping about on the spoke. Turning the wheel on the road, and its a good way to screw up a wheel. I suggest, seeking out tires with a reflective circular stripe about the tire itself.

Prefer reflective tape on the rims and/or reflective side wall tires to spoke reflectors. Tape on the frame is good, but it doesn't have the strobe effect of the wheel reflector. AFAIK some type of reflector is required on the wheels in the US. Apparently in the EU orange reflectors are a requirement? Every bike I have purchased or seen from their has orange wheel reflectors. I see plenty of the ninja cyclists and usually it is the pedal reflectors or wheel reflectors that I see first, depending on where they are riding and the angle.

As far as wheel balance...maybe. I have wheels with out reflectors and they have a tendency to stop valve stem down...so much for a perfectly balanced wheel.

Lights are a requirement for night riding where I live, but I have never known it to be enforced unless they were wanting to stop you for some other reason.

Aaron

FWIW, they're required by law. If you get into an accident in the dark and you don't have every bit of visibility equipment required by law, you're not going to do well if it comes to settlements.

As far as unbalancing the wheels, maybe my wheels are heavier than most but I haven't noticed any unbalancing up to about 45 MPH which is as fast as I've been on this bike. Of course, that depends on the size of the reflector. There are some pretty huge ones, and some smaller ones. I think the smaller ones probably weigh about 2x what a valve stem does, so without the reflector you've got an unbalanced tire due to the weight of a valve stem on one side. With a 2x as heavy reflector on the opposite side, you've got exactly the same amount of unbalance, just on the other side.

It is true that you have to actually check them and make sure they're actually mounted correctly. I don't know, I've only got 16000 miles, 1/2 over rough gravel roads, with 6 different wheels, and none of my reflectors have budged an inch.

If they're mounted right, they're pushed all the way to the outside, wedged between three spokes, THEN clamped in place with the mounting screw, and the centrifugal force of the spinning wheel holds them in place even tighter. There's no way a properly mounted reflector will come loose unless someone messes with it. Even if it does, I don't think it'd do any harm, it'd snap in an instant if it got wedged somewhere.

I prefer tires with reflective sidewalls, no unbalancing, less dorky looking, and they don't seem to affected by getting wet. The reflective sidewalls seem to have a larger angular range over which they are effective and a much larger total surface area than the standard spoke reflectors, I witnessed this a few months ago seeing two bikes crossing the road head of me on with spoke reflectors only, and the other with reflex tires, the difference was startling, they should be mandatory on all new cycle tires. As to the problem of moisture and reflex tapes, the vehicular grade reflective tapes have a smooth finish which encapsulates the reflective material and are largely unaffected by moisture, the tape that lose their reflectivity tend to be the sew on types for clothing etc. which don't encapsulate the reflectors.

Definitely reflective sidewalls are at least as good. No disagreement there, and in Michigan they specifically list reflective sidewalls as an acceptable alternative to spoke reflectors in the law.

Tires with reflective sidewalls are in the minority however. I will be mounting my new Marathon Winters in a few weeks when the snow comes, and I might decide to lose the reflectors for the winter at that point. But it's hardly worth it for weight/time purposes - I'm a total overweight slug all winter. And reducing the dorkiness of my ride is like taking a cup of water out of the ocean.

They probably don't do much but as with your province, they are required in my state. They are probably required in all of the US under the uniform vehicle code. Colorado law states that a bicycle must have a white light in front, reflectors capable of being seen at 500 feet on the wheels and a red rear reflector. Although I think that active lighting is far better than passive lighting, i.e. reflectors, I still run them. I don't want some lawyer getting his client off by claiming that I wasn't in compliance with the law and therefore responsible for my own injuries.

I had the same concerns, and addressed them with a Cateye TL-LD500 taillight. It's got an integrated CPSC-approved reflector, which keeps me legally compliant while still providing the benefits of active lighting... not to mention that the reflector is a useful fallback, should the batteries fail unexpectedly. The cost was approximately $15, IIRC.

Mind you, it's not my only rear light. Everything to excess... except for moderation!

Edit: Obviously, this only applies to the rear reflector. I'm not aware of anything similar for spoke reflectors.

They do!

https://www.rivbike.com/products/list...product=31-371

The big advantage of something on the wheel rather than the frame is that is moves very quickly, drawing attention.

Reflectors are better than nothing. If states require them, use them. However, I don't think most states specify what type of reflectors: CPSC, DOT, or tape. There are arguments that CPSC reflectors suck (I agree) and you are better off using DOT grade reflectors.

My state requires a front light, and a rear red light or reflectors. And also reflectors on the pedals unless they are on shoes or ankles.

I've taken off the sucky CPSC reflectors and have reflective tape everywhere on my bike: frame, cranks, wheels (not on the brake rim surface). Of course, I have front and rear lights with my reflectors on my shoes.

I don't think they're made like that anymore. The ones I have in my spokes are all clear, hard plastic, and are only about 3/4" wide. They'd snap like a pencil if they got in the spokes, no question in my mind.

OTOH, I have an old 70's 10-speed, and the reflectors in its steel wheels are huge and I wouldn't want to get them wedged.

IF you are a commuter, spoke reflectors and reflective tape do work. It's a supplement to your front and rear lighting system to give or make your side more easily visible to cross traffic at night. Dawn and Dusk conditions are the most difficult to see and very dangerous times and you would need to use a powered lighting system, like the led spoke lights, and orange reflector tape (CalTrans workers wear reflective orange vests during dawn/dusk and reflective yellow for most other lighting conditions and many commuters are starting to wear reflective safety vests/jackets). You can't be riding under perfect sunlit and clear visibilty conditions year around or at all times of the day/night, where cars/trucks can see you are there or ride in a group to your destination. Even for cars/trucks, certain paint colors blend in with the background in dawn/dusk lighting conditions and drivers won't notice you until they are virtually on top of you.

Aesthetics or function is often in conflict with the individual cyclist, esp when it comes to safety items or add-ons. What you can add to your bike or wear to be safer on your commute while maintaining the "proper look" is something nobody really knows nor is it standarized. But the locals or posters in this forum will be quick to offer their opinions.

this type of spoke reflector is a bit more secure than single spoke reflectors.

I fashioned my own from reflective tape and industrial sticky back velcro



They can be made any length you want or need and don't leave any nasty residue on the rims

ah, innovative, no hard plastic to jam your wheel up

I'm surprised no one has mentioned these yet:

https://store.monkeylectric.com/Produ...ductCode=m133s