Hey folks: I just joined this forum. Some good stuff here. I am a 3 year commuter that has to ride 2 bikes and 1 train fo my daily journey. Spring, summer and early fall are great but now!!!! It took a long time to get my routine organized for late fall and winter. Dealing with multiple lights, locks, bike locker, clothes etc... Anyone else here ride 2 bikes. If so how do you deal. I find the hardest thing to deal with is the lights. I put on and take off the red blinking ones after each ride because the winter temps screw with the battery life(takes time, especially when the train is coming) and mount my headlamp to my helmet(this sucks when the train is crowded). Clothing is also a hassle as I ride in winter then get on a hot train then back for a cold ride. What ever the hassle it all beats the car ride, even in the rain. Later Charlie

A dynamo lighting system is adaqute for urban riding and pretty resistant to tampering. Modern hub dynamos are especially good.
For winter riding like yours, straight into a hot train, the layering system breaks down. You need the ability to strip off insulation and windproofing in one swoop. I find that a pile/pertex combination jacket works well, and a wet one will dry within 10mins. Worn over a wicking jersey, they can be very effective.

Have you fitted a blinkie mount to each bike? My catseye model comes off really quickly. A quick-release pannier mounting may also speed things up.

I don't have the problem of bikes left in the cold, but because of my bags, etc., seat tube mounting of blinkies just never worked. I clip on blinkie to the back part of my helmet suspension and another low down on the back of my reflective vest. I also put reflective tape on as many rear-facing surfaces as possible on my bikes.

Hey thanks Michael I'll check out the pile/pertex clothes. Don't know what pertex is but I'll find out. I use a poly wicking top, usually a wind break vest then a jacket(all vent in the back). I do use the Cateye blinkies. I have 2 on the back, 1 on the side and a white blinkie on the front. They aren't that difficult to remove but I put 'em on for the first ride to the train, take em off, put them on the 2nd ride from thr train, return to train take 'em off, ride train, to 1st bike put 'em back on. That, plus dealing with the clothes, ticket, and the headlamp. Most times it's all good but when I gotta fly to catch the train...
Rainman: I have placed the blinkies on my backpck. It always seems to get knocked off. If I found one that stayed on then I agree it's the quickest way to go. Which model do you use. I've tried and dropped/broke a Performance blinkie, tride and broke a larger Vista light. I'm also searching for a good one for my helmet. Small and bright with a good attachment. My Cateyes are really bright but can only attach to the frame. Charlie

Pertex is a windproof water-resistant ultra-light nylon fabric.
3 UK-based brands to look for are Buffalo, Mardale and Montaine.

Where do you guys ride that requires such hefty lighting and visibility?

Or is this for only the winter?

(And by where, I mean what kind of traffic/roads)

Thanks

Hey I ride with as many lights as possible because of the end of DST. Next Monday we will lose all of the light on the ride home. I ride a twisty 2 lane, no shoulder, blind curves and rises road for 2 miles of the commute. No street lighting, so I want to stand out. Perhaps I'm paranoid but I've never liked night riding outside of the city environment. Country night riding is fine but in the burbs you get lots of traffic and low light. Charlie