trekdude

I just picked up a set of battery powered Christmas lights at the local Walgreens for $3.99. It's a set of clear white lights that DOESN'T blink. I haven't got them on the bike yet so I don't know how well they light up just yet. I know there is a thread started on this forum regarding battery powered Christmas lights but those of you owe a set or two, where did you get yours and how much did it cost? Are they bright enough to be seen when riding? How safe is it when riding? Does the lights get hot?

ClintP

I bought some from Target this weekend, but they were blue when I thought they were clear. Is that an issue like with the police or anything? I figured if nothing else, they will just tell me to take them off since I am not trying to impersonate a cop or anything.

mconlonx

I was thrilled when I saw them and got a set for my wife's aunt's wheelchair. She loved them!

JeffS

So why not post there?

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/366912-christmas-lights-ho-ho-ho.html

frymaster

so, you look like this?

Caleab

If anyone finds battery powered lights out, can you let the rest of us know?
I hunted around at Target this weekend, but they're still putting out the Xmas stuff.
Same with Lowes.

travelmama

Not only does Target sell battery operated lights but they also have solar powered multi-colored lights for 19.99

kweichsel

It seems the selection varies by store.

I stopped by the local Target on my way home - they had the full assortment of Christmas items, including a full wall of various lights. Unfortunately, the closest they came to battery-powered strings was a small battery-powered snowflake with 6 LEDs. Not quite what I had in mind!

Guess I'll have to start scouring all the Walgreens and CVS in the area. Has anyone had luck at the Home Depot?

flipped4bikes

As of last weekend, both local Target stores had Xmas gear out, just not the battery powered LED lights. I have them in both colored and clear.

tarwheel 

I bought a string of the colored LED Christmas lights at Target last fall for about $5. The string is about 8' long -- just long enough to wrap all of the main tubes on my frame. It has a battery pack that holds 4 AA batteries, which lasted the entire holiday season and then some.

b_young

Hobby Lobby $6. Led multi-colored, steady and flash mode.

bikegeek57

Frymaster, love the Christmas photo. are those reindeer in the distance?

dcrowell

I bought mine last night at the Target in Clarksville Indiana. $6.99, multicolor, no flash.

I haven't decided whether to wrap them around the frame, or decorate my helmet.

vrkelley

Sounds great. I'm thinking about preventing Left and Right Hook accidents. How do the drivers react?

gear

The question isn't "are they bright enough to be seen while riding". The question is will a car approaching at 45mph see them and identify them as marking something to avoid in time to register in the drivers mind and then allow time for action which results in a change their course before they pass you? The second question requires that the lights be visible from a much greater distance than the first question.

dcrowell

I imagine they will help a little with visibility, but that's not why I got them. I have a DiNotte headlight and taillight.

I bought them because I'm not going to have a Christmas tree this year due to living alone now, and I figured I could share a little Christmas cheer on my bike. I might even stick a Santa hat on my helmet!

frymaster

well, i don't really think any driver looks at lights on the road and thinks "i'll just drive through that".

the only real concern i have is that adding festive luminescence results in you having a 'non-standard' light pattern which can make it difficult for motorists to judge how far away you are.

tomg

i got mine last year through eBay seller. there were white, red, green, and blue sets (12 led lites-choice of solid/flashing). i mount them on a vertical rear generic orange flagged safty flag pole, keep battery pack inside rack-pack, switch colors for variety. In dark (not dusk/dawn) white seem to work best as secondary lighting.
chech eBay. i think i paid less than $5 each, including shipping from China.
be creative, be seen!

acapybara

I have a set of whites and a set of multis (both LED style) that I got at Target around xmas. They're always buried in the back of the store with random xmas accessories like ornament hooks etc.
When I use them I put em around the top tube and down tube for better visibility from the sides (I keep it steady, no blinking). Although the LEDs are very directional, cars definitely see me better and I feel safer. Plus it's just plain festive.
Of course this is in complement to my PB Superflash and Dinotte 200 headlight - I'd never rely soley on xmas lights!
I do keep fighting the urge to put the plastic candycane-shaped ones on around the holidays.

mikepop

I picked up the ones at Target last year. If it is the same setup as last year, they are not with the Christmas lights, but rather with the extension cords and powerstrips they put near the Christmas area.

Pedaleur

Less than $1 for a string of 15 white, non-blinking, AA powered lights. I splurged and bought two.

jbabic

All these posts and not a single link.

huhenio

A link to target?

here ... here ...

dcrowell

I need another set. I want to put another set on the handle bars.

cooleric1234

Here's mine.