(barely) saw the first Ninja of standard time yesterday
 

I was almost home last night on my first trip home after daylight savings time ended when I suddenly realized someone was riding towards me. I was in a residential area with street lamps, and had the Magicshine on high and a Fenix L2D on strobe on the handlebars and a Terrlux on high on my helmet when out of the darkness I noticed what looked like a pair of eyes coming my way. Sure enough they were eyes, the most visible part of the African American guy wearing a black hooded jacket (with the hood up) and dark pants while riding a bike without any reflectors visible from the front. He was RIGHT by the curb when we passed each other while I was further out in the street, I hope he realized how successful his advanced Ninja techniques were then.

I almost run into a f***tard like that on a dark, rainy evening some days ago. He was crossing my path, blowing red light, even with my two MS on high he was barely visible due to weather conditions: zero reflective materials. It's almost as if they remove any reflectors on purpose, because even a crappy bike comes with some reflectors.

Being my first commute in this light at this time (having been on nights for the past three years), my Magishine went from morning duty to evening duty. The most dangerous encounter still is Ninja wildlife (rabbits, racoons, squirrels), not cyclists. Regardless, with the sun dipping behind Pikes Peak a little after 4:30, dusk occurs rather soon relative to the day. Keep your eyes open, my two-wheeled friends.

On my morning commute today, two women dressed entirely in black were running down the middle of the road with their backs toward me. Fortunately it was daylight due to the time change. I guess that I'll have to start watching out for ninjas during my afternoon commutes now that it's getting dark earlier.

Not just a ninja; a ninja salmon.

I'm a ninja!

But let me explain. I wear all black with some reflective striping, pants, jacket, balaclava, gloves and my bike is black. (I like black). However, when I ride in the dark I turn on the blinkies and my bike has reflective stuff all over. I plan on getting a construction worker vest in the very near future due to the time change.
I know it's a daily practice to make fun of ninjas on this forum, but to be honest, you'll never see me wearing a yellow jacket, riding a day-glo pink bike for the sake of visibility. EVER.

I tend to lose all my pre-installed reflectors in scrapes and rough handling of my bikes. But I have lights...

Sometimes they don't do a good job of attaching those things. I'll be riding along and suddenly I'll hear a sound, oh what happened did I snap something, oh it was just another reflector falling off.

Yeah, in total stealth mode too.

I've been thinking of getting this for some of my black items: reflective tape that is black when not reflecting:
http://www.amazon.com/Lightweights-S...9319791&sr=1-4

Lights & reflectors = NON ninja!

It goes against the Buddha nature I am so desparately trying to cultivate, but I sometimes wish ninjas who salmon in stealth mode harm so they may learn the error of their ways.

Unless they frequent these forums that is unlikely. If you don't know you're doing anything wrong, you're unlikely to see your error as the cause of your problem, easier to blame everyone else :(

Edit: probably the best way to teach ninja the error of their ways is to have them ride/drive in a school of ninja salmon... You don't really get to know how visible/invisible you are until you see someone else riding with your level of stealth technology.

Ninjas are only dangerous to other ninjas. If you have a head light, you don't need to worry about crashing into one. Also, if this causes you anxiety, the streets tend to be better than the MUPs.

and pedestrians...

I have headlights but they aren't that effective if the idiot Ninja has NO REFLECTORS! I have NEARLY clipped TWO ninjas that gave themselves away by having reflectors on the pedals. The simple fact is that even with lights you don't expect some IDIOT to suddenly appear out of "nowhere!" headed toward you at 20 mph. I hope you don't learn how foolish your attitude is by being head-oned by a ninja . And BTW yes, it causes "anxiety"... After the first time it happens to you, YOU will be too.

Not true. I had one turn left from the right curb the other day and I just barely missed him. I've also had salmon nija's pop out behind parked cars. These people are idiots and it is folly to under-estimate their stupidity.

OMG! I'm a ninja! And I have an E-Bike that goes 25 MPH! LOL!

It's cool though. I have headlights in the mail and on the way. (Actually, they will arrive today or tomorrow.) Streets are sooo dark around here too.

almost ran into two ninja runners last night wearing brown/black jogging outfits on a pitch black (no street lights) MUP