vrkelley

Today My vista light came loose and got sacrificed to the "spoke gods". Now I'm wondering whether to replace it with a TireFly on each valve instead. They look like this: https://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=5105

So which has better visibility from behind and from the side??? A single rear blinkie light or a flashing light on each tire valve???

Kathleen

TireFly may increase visibility from the side late at night but do not see how they will help from behind. I also believe they only work when your moving.
But what do I know, I'm a newbie

operator

Tire flies and Blinkie, kthxbye.

Jean Beetham Smith 

Tireflies are a great addition, but they do eat their batteries quickly. I suggest taking them off anytime you ride in daylight. The red ones don't seem as bright as the yellow-green neons. I eventually gave up on them and switched to the little cateye lights on elastic cords on my ankle bands and wrists. They have the added value of making handsignals more noticable. You can run them either steady or flashing. One battery got me through the winter season whereas I went through 3 or 4 batteries in the tireflies. If you do go for the Tireflies, get them at the LBS. The Walmart version uses a different battery that is harder to find, and doesn't last as long.

MichaelW

Rear lamps are usually a legal requirement at night.
In the UK, weasel lawyers will use all kinds of excuses to avoid paying damages to wronged cyclists. You have to make your bike lawyer-proof and then some.

noisebeam

They really serve two different purposes, side visibility and rear visibility. I don't think valve lights can be seen from directly behind the bike.

Al

catatonic

the rear light is required by law, so you must include it.

also a method of side reflective or illumination is required...so do both.

or jsut doctor up your rims with reflective tape.

vrkelley

Yea, I've got reflective tape on the rims. But only a headlight and rear reflector is required for the State of WA (which is what I have now). But then who follows just the law? We bikers have to do MORE that what's required! I better replace that blinkie then.

steveknight

tire flies are pretty wimpy. they don't genereate much brightness. there are some on ebay that don't light up in daylight so they save batteries.

catatonic

I keep forgetting they only require a reflector in back...given how useless reflectors really are at getting attention when compared to even the most crappy of blinkies...i have no clue why they don't kick the law up a notch.

Raiyn

Blinkie

ngateguy

Be careful of the colors you use in you tire flies a friend got pulled over in Mill Creek cause he didn't have red on his rear tire

catatonic

he doesnt have to use red on the rear tire...I have yet to hear of a state that has a different law..but all the one I've read was white or yellow (amber) reflectors on the wheels...so by that logic...white or yellow (amber) lights. Red is for the back only....that cop was prolly a bit green imo.

vrkelley

Err...yes in Seattle bikes are easy targets and safer to stop than a real criminal. But what color was illegal? Or what did the cop take issue to?

vrkelley

I'm into survival and also cutting the driver a break if possible. Don't need the law to make me "stay safe". So what constitutes a good blinky VS a bad one?? Any special brand, or style that's good for the back of the bike?

Smorgasbord

I believe in CA the law requires white or amber in the front and white or red in the rear.

catatonic

If so, then every single bike shop is in violation in california. They all sell white front, white or amber wheels, and red tail.

White in the tail will get you a ticket, the legislation specifically says red.

CA vehicle code section 21201 (d), specifically notice how a front reflector is not in the law, it must be a "lamp" (light):

d) Every bicycle operated upon any highway during darkness shall be equipped (1) with a lamp emitting a white light which, while the bicycle is in motion, illuminates the highway in front of the bicyclist and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle; (2) with a red reflector on the rear which shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle; (3) with a white or yellow reflector on each pedal visible from the front and rear of the bicycle from a distance of 200 feet; and (4) with a white or yellow reflector on each side forward of the center of the bicycle, and with a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle, except that bicycles which are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need not be equipped with these side reflectors. Such reflectors and reflectorized tires shall be of a type meeting requirements established by the department.