spare_wheel

That ninja is quite possibly someone who forgot their lights, had their lights stolen, or is flat out broke. I personally find cyclists who call out other cyclists to be far more irritating than ninjas.

cehowardGS

Good point, and I am sure that vest would help. However, you can't see that vest half mile away like you can see my lights. I trust my lights front and rear with my life!!

cehowardGS

I don't think they mean it that way. Most people that comment on others without lights are just a little upset on how little the non-light crowd value their lives. IMO, we all together on this.. All our disdain should be directed at the unresponsible car drivers..

cehowardGS

Telly, what kind of lights you running in the rear?

I am running fairly inexpensive stuff on my rear lights, but my rear system gives me confidence that they do see me.

Mark Stone

I agree. Sometimes drivers show irritation that I'm on the roads, but they always see me - I have a couple of blinkies back there that cost less than $40. Someone hitting you from behind is extremely rare.

terrapin44

Around here, anyway, I find bicycling at night better then other times, esp sunrise or sunset. The cars seem to give me more room. I think my rear blinkies and bright headlight help that cause. It doesn't seem to help as much as during the day. I [almost] always ride with the rear blinky on day or not and I think it also helps during the day, but not as much.

chisler

I don't know of any vehicles that can hit me from a half mile away. Being visible at 360 degrees inside of 50 yards would be my goal.

david58

Then, as to ninjas, consider me an irritant.

So a cager that forgets to turn on his lights, has one or two not operating, or is too broke to have a car with working lights would be ok, too?

cehowardGS

Great!

My half mile example was just showing how visible I am. If I am seen a half mile away, anything closer is a piece of cake. If the choice came between vest and lights, or which is best, the vest wouldn't even be close!!

In addition, in the arena I ride in (cars doing 50mph+)50 yards don't cut it. If they only began see me at the 50yds, then I am considered hit. I am talking about fast traffic..

Telly

I'm running the following units:


Dynohub powered / always-on / steady-light 4 minute function (adheres to German safety regulations since the bike's from there)



Quick flashing mode (this is the attention grabber and the one which probably irritates the drivers more than anything else).



Rear light (blinking) built into the adjustment knob of the helmet (not too bright, but can be easily seen).



..and when touring or on longer trips, I add the following to the pannier:

acidfast7

What/Where did you buy it? Was it imported to Greece?

Photo

Telly

I bought two Corratec bikes (2nd for a friend) from the online store Chain Reaction Cycles in the UK. Both bikes were shipped via DHL Road Freight and took about a week to reach Athens from Belfast.

Here's the original post for my bike:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...50542ee3661649

And here's my bike after I modified it for commuting:

acidfast7

Sweet ride! I really like those Corratec bieks!

terrapin44

There are some good deals on last years models even after $100 shipping to the USA. Some of them might even be in my size, but I'd hate to buy a bike without trying it out (especially since even after reading sizing charts I don't really understand them). I guess I'll stick to my original plan and wait until next summer and buy a bike when I'm in Europe. After all, it won't do me any good in the USA for the couple of weeks I plan on biking in Europe anyway.

acidfast7

$100 is a pretty good price for air shipping from UK to US.

Also, they're really nicely priced with the dynamos/lights/fenders/racks built-in the bike.

Honestly, they're superb value for money.

cehowardGS

Great lights, and even greater when you running multiple lights..

Here is my system..

PBSF Turbo on rear of helmet, Cygolite USB on back of bike, el cheapee blinking rear on leg with 2 blinking reflective strips..Also, an 18650 on my helmet.



On front of the bike, TWO 26650 so call rated at 1600 lums each.. Sometimes I have one of the front lights on blinky. that is 3 strong lights facing forward. Even in heavy night time rush hour traffic, I am noticed and respected, sometimes yelled at too.

Digital_Cowboy

Agreed, last night while riding home from the LBS that I go to, I had to make a "pit stop" as it were. And there were a pair of young ladies standing outside of the store that I stopped at. They complimented me on taking my safety seriously as well as pointing out that they saw me "a mile away."

When I came back out they were still there, and we had a nice chat. They got the text that they were waiting for and went inside, and I continued on my way home.

Digital_Cowboy

Actually our disdain should be directed at the irresponsible road user, regardless of their mode of transportation. As in a lot of cases when it's almost too late, I've seen a large number of walkers, joggers, dog walkers, and yes cyclists who are operating after dark while wearing dark colored clothing, and NOT using any sort of light.

I have also seen a number of walkers, joggers, dog walkers, etc. that ARE wearing light colored clothing, and using lights. As well as some dog walkers who have leashes that either have reflective material on them or that have lights on them.

terrapin44

Yea, the price with shipping is good. I think the one I like the best that is available is a just a little small for me (54 cm). The 57cm is probably more my size but isn't in stock. I am 6'1" tall.

vol

In Manhattan NYC between 4pm and 7:30pm you always get that tense riding all the way home. Each time I get home from that I take a deep breath and congratulate myself for surviving another day.

Re the fellow cyclists without lights: I always think they should be indebted to me because whenever I was riding behind them my headlight lit their rear reflectors to help them visible.

I have a question: Why does bright light from a bike get more respect from drivers? Is it because they thought it was from a car? Or is it just an involuntary reaction to a strong light? If either is the case, then their respect should go away once they found out it's from a bike. But then it can't be because they respect owners of expensive bright lights.

tergal

I can understand being broke ( am broke like 90% of the time ), but the other two reasons ... last time i forgot to charge my light at work and it was flat i walked home

ninja riders put them self and everyone else at risk.



You find cyclist who call out other cyclist irritating, how will you feel after you get hit by a ninja salmon ? I don't call someone out to be an ass i call them out to increase their and my safety.

cehowardGS

What I have in bold is the answer. An involuntary reaction to a strong light. Nothing like it. Cars wait almost a full block for me to pass and then turn after I have passed... My two front lights are bright a h*ll, only cost $42 for both.. Not even close to expensive..

vol

I imagine when they saw you passing they are cursing: "Damn, it's a bike!"

Digital_Cowboy

I agree with you 1,000,000% and I think/hope that just about everyone else here does to.

I've had that close call more than once. The irony is that the other day when I was either going out to the VA or the LBS that I go to. I encountered a salmon (it was during the day) and called out to him to ride on the right side of the road he responds with "ride on the sidewalk." The problems are/were that where we were there was no sidewalk and he himself was riding (illegally) in the road.

Fortunately for me, I had taken the lane so I didn't have to swerve to avoid him, but if I'd been riding in the right side tire track I would have.I agree with you 1,000,000% and I think/hope that just about everyone else here does to.

I've had that close call more than once. The irony is that the other day when I was either going out to the VA or the LBS that I go to. I encountered a salmon (it was during the day) and called out to him to ride on the right side of the road he responds with "ride on the sidewalk." The problems are/were that where we were there was no sidewalk and he himself was riding (illegally) in the road.

Fortunately for me, I had taken the lane so I didn't have to swerve to avoid him, but if I'd been riding in the right side tire track I would have.

jyl

cehoward, where did you get those lights on your bars? I like them.