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Have you ever got into your car and looked at your setup from the drivers viewpoint?

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Have you ever got into your car and looked at your setup from the drivers viewpoint?

Old 07-28-14, 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by psy
I've wondered for awhile about all the cyclists that are riding clipless..we've all lost our pedal reflectors and very few do anything to make themselves "legal". If you were involved in an accident..could that be used against you, even if it wasn't really a large factor in the accident...just based on the fact that you weren't legal to be on the road in the first place?
Yup. When I started commuting at night and saw this law I started a thread on this, as i ride clipless - there are some horrible reflectors you can add on to some clipless pedals and I was considering buying them. Someone found clarification that reflective shoes (front AND back) or reflective ankle bands satisfies this requirement. I decided the ankle band was the best option, and having seen someone wearing them can say they are very effective.

I agree most cyclists here don't do anything to make themselves legal on this law, and in theory it COULD be used against you in court - pointing out that you were not following the law etc.

I also don't think side reflector requirements are covered for the riders I see at night. I don't wiht my stock bike, only with some reflective tape added.
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Old 07-28-14, 07:15 PM
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Saw a women today with a really nice rig, great panniers and better form.

Her sole PBSF has nearly dead batteries and you could barely see it was on even from like 10 feet.
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Old 07-28-14, 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by psy
I've wondered for awhile about all the cyclists that are riding clipless..we've all lost our pedal reflectors and very few do anything to make themselves "legal". If you were involved in an accident..could that be used against you, even if it wasn't really a large factor in the accident...just based on the fact that you weren't legal to be on the road in the first place?
I was hit just over 10 years ago and the report noted i was lacking reflectors on the clipless pedals but the reflective material on my shoes met the legal requirement.

Here's my set-up. The trailer is not always hooked up. Cygolite Hotshots all. The gloves have reflective material on the backs and there are reflective "straws" on the spokes.




Left to right 800, 500, 250

Last edited by runner pat; 07-28-14 at 07:40 PM. Reason: clarity
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Old 07-28-14, 07:40 PM
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I had a friend follow me one night and he said even Ray Charles could have seen me a mile away. I've also had the local PD compliment me on my lights but then I'm one of those guys that "over does it". There has been one drawback though, some kid chased me down one night to see what all the lights were and while gawking at me he almost ran a stop sign.

Here's last year's beater bike which was what I did 95% of my night riding on...........



There were single LED white strobes on the ends of the handlebars, a 6 LED headlamp on the bars with strobe setting, a 5 LED tail light on the rear rack also with strobe capability and a single LED red strobe on each seat stay. The rest is reflective tape, I also have reflective material on my jacket, shoes and helmet. I've been told I'm clearly visible at least a half mile away. Beater Ver. 2.0 is nearing completion with the same lights but it will have a slightly different reflector scheme.
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Old 07-28-14, 07:48 PM
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Just last week I was riding home from the farmers' market in the dark when my husband passed me in our car. I was using a flashing taillight and had pedal reflectors, though I wasn't wearing my usual high-vis vest. When I got home he commented that he could see me from blocks away.
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Old 07-28-14, 10:07 PM
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Hmm.. I wondered if the reflective accents on my shoes would meet requirements..but they are so small. I think its something I'll look for in my next pair..I'd rather have the reflectivity built in that have to think about ankle bracelets.
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Old 07-28-14, 10:49 PM
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Visibility issues are kind of secondary here. The bike rider should be finding an open spot to switch lanes, not swerving in front of oncoming cars. Dude basically doesn't know how to ride. "Making yourself visible" just so you can force drivers to slam on their brakes is kind of counter-intuitive.
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Old 07-28-14, 11:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Giant Doofus
Just last week I was riding home from the farmers' market in the dark when my husband passed me in our car. I was using a flashing taillight and had pedal reflectors, though I wasn't wearing my usual high-vis vest. When I got home he commented that he could see me from blocks away.
I have had friends & family comment similarly.

New to me on this uptown is reflective sidewalls. Really useful at intersections & in parking lots at night. Of course pedal reflectors, and a white spoke mounted reflector stock on front wheel. When i get some real money together, i plan to add some visibility aids on the back, namely a chainstay mounted slow blinker, and on the front, a cheapie battery light to fill the illumination gap from the stock headlamp's beam to the front of the wheel for better road chasm detection.

- Andy
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Old 07-28-14, 11:46 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by Null66
I'm gonna stick with the vis 180+ and rig up a red lens on an 808 clone as a rear blinkey.
I've done that.

Forget the red lens tape, it comes out pink with even two layers. No good.

I got an old friend from when I was driving trucks to get me a trailer side marker light with a flat lens. I used the bench grinder to "cut" the flat part of the lens from the rest then went round 'n round (there's factory lines on the lens!!) until it fit the housing.

Red and great.

I did see one at the auto parts store--$4.25. It makes a great taillight.

Last edited by gregjones; 07-29-14 at 12:05 AM.
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Old 07-29-14, 08:02 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by gregjones
I've done that.

Forget the red lens tape, it comes out pink with even two layers. No good.

I got an old friend from when I was driving trucks to get me a trailer side marker light with a flat lens. I used the bench grinder to "cut" the flat part of the lens from the rest then went round 'n round (there's factory lines on the lens!!) until it fit the housing.

Red and great.

I did see one at the auto parts store--$4.25. It makes a great taillight.

Oh, not tape, a lens is made that fits the 808 clones. The reviews say it is more orange then red...

Thanks for the tip on the DIY, very resourceful and more effective!
Too bad there are not the old school junk yards around anymore where you could walk around and find parts to refashion to requirements. But I'll keep it in mind and if I can think of a source for donor material... Hey, maybe, just maybe the truck stop gas stations or pep boys , they always have trailer light parts out...
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Old 07-29-14, 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by mstraus
I notice a lot of the bikes out at night in my area that do not comply with the last two.
oh...the...horror.
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Old 07-29-14, 08:47 AM
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no. about the only thing i think about when i drive is that it's a pain in the @#$%$% @#$ and that i could easily collide with a human being and kill them.
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Old 07-29-14, 11:32 AM
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Originally Posted by psy
Hmm.. I wondered if the reflective accents on my shoes would meet requirements..but they are so small. I think its something I'll look for in my next pair..I'd rather have the reflectivity built in that have to think about ankle bracelets.
Keep in mind that most shoes only have reflective material in the back, and the law states both sides. That said, that small reflective spot on most shoes is surprisingly more effective than most people realize. I haven't seen shoes with the same in the front, but I guess you could buy some reflective material to add.
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Old 07-29-14, 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Giant Doofus
Just last week I was riding home from the farmers' market in the dark when my husband passed me in our car. I was using a flashing taillight and had pedal reflectors, though I wasn't wearing my usual high-vis vest. When I got home he commented that he could see me from blocks away.
My wife often comments how visible I am when I am at the intersection across from the house almost home and she is sitting at the table by the window. One time she said my lights were blinding (she was practically sitting in the dark for whatever reason).

Curious what tail light you were using?
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Old 07-29-14, 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by TransitBiker
I have had friends & family comment similarly.

New to me on this uptown is reflective sidewalls. Really useful at intersections & in parking lots at night. Of course pedal reflectors, and a white spoke mounted reflector stock on front wheel. When i get some real money together, i plan to add some visibility aids on the back, namely a chainstay mounted slow blinker, and on the front, a cheapie battery light to fill the illumination gap from the stock headlamp's beam to the front of the wheel for better road chasm detection.

- Andy
I was looking at a set of tires for this winter with a reflective strip on the sidewall. They seem to add a lot of visibility and they fulfill the CA legal requirements.

I have had a stranger comment on my lights once...I think he said "do you have enough lights?" from across the street. I did have two solid headlights (handlebar and helmet) plus a smaller blinky on the handlebar. it was dusk, night quite dark. I took that comment as a compliment to my visibility.
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Old 07-29-14, 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by mstraus

Curious what tail light you were using?
This one: Robot Check. It's a CatEye Rapid 3.
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Old 07-29-14, 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by gregjones
I've done that.

Forget the red lens tape, it comes out pink with even two layers. No good.

I got an old friend from when I was driving trucks to get me a trailer side marker light with a flat lens. I used the bench grinder to "cut" the flat part of the lens from the rest then went round 'n round (there's factory lines on the lens!!) until it fit the housing.

Red and great.

I did see one at the auto parts store--$4.25. It makes a great taillight.
I use the whole LED side maker light as a brake light, not just the lens. Attach a 9V radio battery and it works for months.
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Old 07-29-14, 12:47 PM
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On the subject of sidewall reflective tape. It is great and visible. But as I have stated, in my climate during winter is it completely obscured with road grime. I would need to wipe the tires after every ride in the wet or damp, not a bad idea as a pre/post-ride check, just not practical for me.

I love when drivers pull up to tell me that my lights make me really visible. It is what I want. Plus if they tell me in the day time then they are likely good at night! Also if you think I am in your way and honk at me, that lets me know you saw me.
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Old 07-29-14, 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by mstraus
I was looking at a set of tires for this winter with a reflective strip on the sidewall. They seem to add a lot of visibility and they fulfill the CA legal requirements.

I have had a stranger comment on my lights once...I think he said "do you have enough lights?" from across the street. I did have two solid headlights (handlebar and helmet) plus a smaller blinky on the handlebar. it was dusk, night quite dark. I took that comment as a compliment to my visibility.
Never!!!

That's a good sign you're doing it right!

- Andy
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Old 07-29-14, 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
I use the whole LED side maker light as a brake light, not just the lens. Attach a 9V radio battery and it works for months.
You know, even with mild road grime from wet spring/summer roads as well as brake compound goo, my front tire strips are still pretty damn reflective-y. I can see them in dark garage when i open interior door from house to garage, as well as my bags sitting nearby. Just these 2 silver circles looking at me like eyes o-o

- Andy
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Old 07-29-14, 02:49 PM
  #46  
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I get a look of how my bike looks (minus me), every time we drive home after dark. My bike rack is installed in the right side of the garage (and not being in U.K.-type area I typically ride my bike on the right side of the road), with the rear pointing straight out. The kittier lives on the rack, so the reflective design on the bucket explodes in the headlights, which is always reassuring.

You can see it here.

I also have a rear blinkie, a front headlight which probably doesn't help much from the rear. For my wheels I got Velocity Dyad 32H in the reflective black finish, but was pretty disappointed in how not-very reflective they are. Much bigger reflection from the white reflective stripe on the tires (marathon supreme).

I don't really do anything especially visible with my clothes. Mostly the kittier is my visibility trump card.

Last edited by RubeRad; 07-29-14 at 03:10 PM.
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