This is embarrassing to admit, but my repair kit consists of a lock and a cell phone. I've never had a breakdown, but the plan for one is that I'll lock the bike to something and call my spouse for a pickup! My place of work is only six miles from home, so he could get to me pretty quickly. I just need a safe place to wait for him. Temperature isn't much of an issue here in Memphis.

If your headlight lasts 7 hours on 2 AAs, it's not bright enough. I use a Rapid 3 for a taillight and it does the job. That, coupled with the reflective strips on my vest, panniers, and pants are plenty for cars behind to see me. I have a MagicShine 808 for a headlight and run it on high at night. Anything less and I would not feel comfortable. Headlights are very important so that oncoming traffic can see you. You don't want to be invisible from the front. Remember that most car-bike accidents happen at intersections.

You might want to enlist the help of a friend. Ride around the neighborhood with your lights going and have him drive around in the same general area. Ask him if he could see you. For the best test, don't tell him exactly where you'll be.

Finally, remember that even with lights, hi-viz clothing, and a siren blaring, some people still won't see you. Ride as if you're invisible.

Neon Lime parka with reflective stripes for me.. in the summer I have a reflex striped sweatshirt.

German Hub dynamo and LED lights , are my preference , others use lots of flashing battery lights..

And I live on a small town , not a major metropolis ..

Nobody has mentioned that great confidence builder, a rearview mirror. Two of my general rules specific for riding in the dark are:

1. "When riding in the dark, look for cars, not just headlights."
   
   
2. “Make yourself as visible as possible, and assume that no one sees you.”

I'm gonna concur with the majority opinion.
I ride well lit and reflective, plus You can see the other vehicles better.
That said Jim's rules are worth repeating:

1. "When riding in the dark, look for cars, not just headlights."
2. “Make yourself as visible as possible, and assume that no one sees you.”

Definitely a vote of agreement on the mirror.

Human beings are not lizards. We have not evolved the ability to use our eyes independently to any great degree. It can be fatal to smack into something ahead of you because you are busy monitoring your mirror. It has happened. You cannot significantly change your odds of being rear ended by monitoring your six! You must learn to believe in the relative competence of other road users and focus your attention on what is ahead. Your ears (if they work) will tell you all you really need to know about what is going on behind you. When a mirror is priceless is when you need to change your position on the road and you need to know how that impacts following traffic. A mirror is a tool for planning offensive maneuvers. I really get tired of hearing how wonderful a tool it is for defensive protection. Five in one hundred drivers are deaf enough that a bicycle horn makes no impression on them. Bicyclists get overtaken much more than other road users. How many of you swear by your horns and its ability to force drivers to correct offensive maneuvers that put you in jeopardy... sigh... I see a lot of blame in this forum directed at 'those drivers'. Maybe, but I don't think we do all we can on our side to meet them half-way.

H

I really like my cygolite hotshot, here is a cellphone pic of it lighting up my daughter's school with the bike in the bike rack.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=351549

I like your rules! I've been looking at a Mirrycle MTB bar end rearview mirror. Does that seem like a good choice?

Wow!

Looks like my magic shine and I paid a lot more than that. I don't worry about the cars at night I can see them and I make sure they can see me. I'm lit up like some kind of emergency. The other night problem around here is the critters. We have dogs, deer, wild hog, bobcats all coming out in our back roads at night. I've had friends get hurt with deer jumping out of the bushes:) Probably not much of a problem in the city

This is the scenario that killed James Dean. Contrary to misconception, he was not speeding. He got left hooked by a guy who only saw something similar to the image above.

I use bright lights. Most often, when I commute in the dark it is early morning, and the traffic is lighter, so I am more uncomfortable. The afternoon rush hour scares me more, especially in the dark. In lighting conditions like the image, I get real concerned, especially if I can see well. That means the cars coming toward me can't.

I've never ridden without some kind of mirror. Right now I use helmet mirrors but if you can't see far enough ahead to be able to glance into the mirror you need a better headlight. I use Cygolites and Magic Shine and I'm bright enough to make the cars blink their headlights at me

I agree with much of what you say, except for your dismissal of a mirror as being an effect "defensive" tool. Many years ago, in my early days of commuting there was an incident in which I was biking home (in the dark) on a narrower road. Back then, bicycle lights were not nearly as bright nor effective as they are now. I heard the car coming up behind me, took my initial look in my helmet-mounted mirror and thought nothing unusual about the situation. As the car approached, I took another peek in the mirror and saw a glimpse of something that just didn't register as "right" in my mind. I still can't tell you exactly what it was I thought I saw, but it was concern enough that I hit the brakes and pulled off of the pavement quickly. The car slowed, and I could make out the shape of someone reaching out the passenger window and swinging what appeared to be a stick. The car sped up and that was the end of the encounter. I was too shook up to even think about trying to get a license plate. I did report a "vague" description of the vehicle to the police an hour later when I got home, but to no avail. If I hadn't taken that final quick glance in the mirror when I did, would the outcome have been different? I don't know.

Flash forward to just these last few months. On two occasions, when riding in the bike lane, while taking those frequent "peeks" in the mirror, I've watched inattentive motorists who have drifted across the line into the bike lane coming up behind me. One scenario, I simply waved my hand up and down to get the driver's attention, and he pulled back into his lane. The other time, I could tell it was a driver who was looking down (texting?), and just wasn't seeing me in front of her. As she got near enough to me, I chose to ditch into the curb, and she went right by me, half in the bike lane. I'm still not sure she even saw me.

For me, my mirror is a valuable tool, definitely as an aid in positioning myself within traffic, as you describe, but almost most certainly as a tool to help me be a better defensive cyclist as well. Perhaps my helmet-mounted mirror lessens the chance I'm losing focus on what is occurring in front of me, I can't say as I've always used either helmet-mount mirrors or those that attach to sunglasses. And, I apologize in advance, but I am losing my faith in the relative competence of most other road users, whether they be motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, etc.

I wear prescription eyeglasses so Take-a-Look eyeglass mounted mirrors are my choice. In fact I wear both left and right eyeglass mirrors and have posted about the advantages. They require the least head motion, just a lateral glance to look behind, instead of a head turn away from the forward line of sight as with no mirror at all.

Any mirror though, is better than none at all requiring a head turn and complete loss of forward vision; not as described below:

”Trust me…I’m a cager.” :twitchy:

If you like my “rules,” I hope you’ll follow Jim’s Law of the Road: “No matter how well-paved or lightly-traveled the Road, a vehicle is likely to pass on the left as you encounter an obstacle on the right.”

Besides just offensively monitoring the upcoming traffic, a mirror can save split seconds when you have to defensively avoid unexpected obstacles and evade approaching traffic, while still maintaining near-continuous forward vision.

With respect, this is utter nonsense. While I don't use a mirror on a bike, it's patently ridiculous that glancing in a mirror from time to time increases your risk of hitting something up front.

Cars have had rearview mirrors since they were introduced on the Indianapolis speedway in 1911. Since then experienced drivers have come to accept them as a requirement, and truckers especially couldn't function without them.

Whether knowing that a car is coming up behind you on a bike would make any difference most of the time is debatable, and I agree probably not. But it can make a difference for cyclists riding in heavy urban traffic and needing to make maneuvers such as left turns. In any case though they aren't much help, they are not a hazard unless they break in a crash, and cause you 7 years of riding in the rain.

This time of year my everyday commute is in the dark both ways. 1.5 hours in the morning and 1.5 hours at night. I invested in a dynamo hub to power my front main light. I also use a blinking light on my bars. I use 2 different blinking lights on the rear and 1 solid red light. I wear a safety vest and reflective straps on each leg. I use a bar mounted rear view mirror that still doesn't take place of looking back when merging crossing etc etc etc.

Even though I look like a lit up Christmas tree going down the road I ride like I am invisible. At first I was nervous riding in the dark but now with the right equipment and the confidence I am very comfortable at night.

The only time I have had close calls was during the day.

I think a helmet light is a very good idea.

Only a NY'er could "respectfully" tell someone their POV is utter nonsense. I can say that, I am one. Only a NY'er could say something like "while I don't use a mirror on a bike... mirror use does not increase any risk... oh the irony. I use a mirror on a bike. I am not afraid of traffic. A cyclist that is afraid of traffic, and many are, will use that mirror to distraction. Its human nature. AFAIK its only glass mirrors that cause 7 years if bad luck if broken, I don't know of many (any?) bicycle mirrors that aren't polycarbonate these days. FWIW.

H

Amen to that!

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=351593 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=351594

Not really visible in the pictures are the 5 LED blinkie on the rear rack, single LED red blinkies on each seat stay, a white single LED blinkie on the ends of the handlebars and the 5 LED headlight with hi, low and strobe modes. I also have reflective stripes on the arms, back and chest of my cycling jacket, reflective tape on my helmets and I have a reflective cover for my "cold weather" helmet. A friend told me I look like a low flying UFO from a distance.

Yes, but you don't have a disclaimer in your signature.

I tried to be careful, not taking a position either way on mirrors, and quoting only the part of your post that was utter nonsense, namely the references to lizards and evolution.

In fact, if you read the entirety of our posts, you'll see that we agree that humans are fully capable of using mirrors (or at leas you claim to be), and people can do so without increasing increasing risk of front end collision. Also that mirrors are useful mainly for planning maneuvers.

BTW- when I start a negative post with the phrase "with respect" is isn't sarcastic. It's an attempt to put some distance between the message and messenger, and reinforce that my comments are directed only at the former.

+1

I have driven vehicles ranging from motorcycles, sports cars, station wagons and several million miles worth of big trucks. Every last one of them has had a blind spot. It is a fool that make a maneuver trusting only his mirrors.

On the motorcycles I rode, now considered vintage, the mirrors bounced to the point of not being any more than a legal appointment. We turned and looked before we moved.

I don't use a mirror on a bike because I'm gonna turn and look anyway. There's no way that I would trust a mirror to move myself and bike into what at a minimum would be 10 to 15 times bigger than me and moving two to five time faster. I'll look.

Use a mirror if you care.

Two of those lights really work well. For several times when I was on the bike path I thought a small vehicle (like those used by city parks) was coming toward me, only to find out it's a bike with two bright headlight. With only 1 light it would be clear it's a bike.

IMO, the use of a mirror is a matter of choice, but I dispute the categorical assertion that it is foolish to make a maneuver trusting only a mirror.

As I mentioned above, as a conscientious cyclist who wears right and left eyeglass mirrors I regularly though not excessively monitor the traffic behind me and I’m usually aware of the situation, including my usual blind spot with the mirror. I determine that blind spot to be about, say 8 feet wide and about 20 feet long, to my immediate left and behind.

Just this morning on a quiet road, I did a head and shoulder turn to assess this area. Even using my peripheral vision, which is less sensitive than direct vision, I had to turn significantly to completely visualize this area, taking my forward vision totally away for a brief period. Furthermore, it seems to me that perhaps the act of twisting my upper body may slightly deviate my forward direction of travel. In my mind to turn and look, with this brief loss of forward vision and control is risky, especially if I have preemptively been checking my surroundings. I may travel at least several feet at usual speed under these circumstances while perhaps simutaneously approaching a nearby obstacle.

I think these disputes that so often arise on BF may occur because the subscribers only relate to their own cycling circumstances. I can understand why someone riding rural, lightly-traveled and perhaps well-paved roads might not feel the need for a mirror, and rely on their hearing and rearward glances. On my urban commute where auto traffic may be heavy, bike lanes narrow, and hazards frequent and sudden, my mirror is the best bet.

Even on a quiet country road though, one rearward hazard I have encountered is that when a car passes, I can never be absolutely sure that another car is not immediately behind, and briefly the road noise sounds only like one car passing. Watching in the mirror as one or two cars approach and pass makes the situation perfectly clear.

Jim’s Law of the Road: “No matter how well-paved or lightly-traveled the Road, a vehicle is likely to pass on the left as you encounter an obstacle on the right.”

FBinNY, I disagree that a tail light is more important than a headlight. Given that the two most common car/bike accidents where the motorist is at fault are the left hook (from ahead) and the right hook (from behind), I'd imagine that a headlight helps to prevent these maneuvers than a taillight. Granted, a tail light can help prevent the right hook, too. Still, I think a headlight is slightly more important than a tail light.

Having said that, I insist on using both, and I don't see the need for choosing which of them to use.

I agree that both is the only way to go. But consider that accident statistics are weighted toward mostly daytime riding. Otherwise we are passed from behind by vastly more cars than we encounter making turns at intersections. Also a cyclist is aware of what's happening around him, he can adjust to turning cars (which he sees) but has no control over cars coming up from behind.

If I'm going to be invisible, let it not be to those in the same lane closing on me at a significant speed difference.

I've lost lights at night. I've ridden without a headlight, and while I don't relish it, I find it manageable. If I lose my tail light, I take to the sidewalk.

like anything new - do a little at a time

Points taken, FBinNY. I have far too much experience riding without lights. Remember, lights on bikes have not been common in this country until very recently. At this point, in NYC, more than 50% of the bikes I see at night have lights. I would have to say this is as recent as in the last year or two.

In NJ, if I was riding without a tail light, I would assume drivers behind me didn't see me, so when I heard a car coming from behind, I would ride very far to the right, but I didn't get off the road.

Anyway, as I add dynamos to most or all of my bikes, it will soon be a no-brainer. There will be no reason for me to be light-less on the road.

I was nervous about riding in the dark at first, but have been refining my strategy to be visible and have good visibility and am now fairly comfortable with it. I have spent a lot of time observing other bikers at night to see what works and what doesn't and from that and my own experience have noticed a few things
1) a good headlight on your bike is a must. How bright depends on a lot of factors. Ideally something with multiple brightness settings. There are times when I prefer to have mine on low or medium instead of high.
2) have backup lights. You don't want to be out there and having something die on you. I have multiple tail lights and now have a spare headlight as well. Might be piece of mind more then anything.
3) More then one tail light and make sure at least one is very bright - I have noticed the most visible riders have multiple tail lights in different positions. You can have some steady and some blink (steady is supposedly easier to judge distance), this is up to you and there are many opinions. I like making sure I have a light higher up (on my backpack or jacket) as well as lower on the bike as this is easier for a car close to me to see.
4) Riders with a helmet light (head and tail light) as well as lights on the bike seem the most visible. This doesn't need to be as bright as your main headlight. I have noticed a ton of people with the Light and Motion 360 lights on their helmet around me, and they are always easier to see then bikers without a helmet light. You can also use the helmet light to get someones attention, signal where you plan to go etc.
5) Reflective material is important and makes you very visible when headlight hits you. Reflective ankle band, reflective strips on clothing, reflective tape on your bike, etc. is all very helpful. I think this is more important then color of you clothing. I can't really see a yellow jacket at night that much better then a black jacket, its the reflective material I notice first.
6) Something reflective or glowing on your wheels stands out and makes clear you are a moving bike.

Battery or dynamo, bulb or LED, stuff happens. I don't back up my headlight. But on the rear is use a bright blue (police) strobe which is very attention getting (and illegal). But I also carry a red Planet Bike super flash in my pocket as a backup.

Very good suggestions, well done!