I judge it based on the effect it has on my eyes. If it's kinda annoying I'll put up my left hand to block it. I figure they can see it.

It's just if it's over-the-top-tear-your-eyes-out blinding that I'd put my lights on bright and such. Every now and then I run into someone like that.

It's more beam shape than lumen output. You can have a fairly bright shaped beam, or "flashlight" style beam, or some others (like from light and motion) that move the beam around to put most of the light on the ground. But there are a few wide beam lights out that that light everything up (and were often meant for mountain biking) that are a pain.

If you want to check yourself, just look at how well illuminated people's faces are. If you can just see their face you're fine, if their face is lit up like a stage singer in a spotlight your light is very annoying.

The better the beam is at putting the light on the ground, rather than in someone's face, the more light you can put out without being a problem.

That's not the same as mounting a red taillight sideways directly. In case of the taillight facing backward, when a driver see the light from its side, he can usually tell it's the side. But if you have a taillight mounted 90 degree from backward--i.e. directly facing sideways, then one could mistake it to be your back, since that's how one woule expect a taillight is mounted.

I just point the extra taillights at 45 degree or less (more facing backward than sideways).

ok, again, no more talking about obnoxious front lights or I close the thread.

I just ordered a spokelight for early morning rural use. Would have liked red since it's rear wheel, but green was faster shipping so I'll try with the taillight/spokelight xmas combo.

Long term I'm really interested in wheel/rim tape, something like fiks, anyone seen it in action? Worthwhile?

A Parka with wide reflective stripes works for Me. head and tail light have Light side spill as well

I use reflective tape on my spokes and a Vis360 that has small amber lights on the side of both the front and rear lights. My main helmet light makes me more visible than the Vis 360 from the front, and aiming it too the side when needed gets the attention of those that didn't respond to the other lights and reflectors.

The headlight and tail light I wear on my helmet have good side visibility due to the lens design. Swiveling my head around to check traffic increases visibility. I can see that drivers notice me. However I've tilted the headlight downward to avoid unintentionally beaming into drivers' eyes. If I feel the need to get their attention I can tip my head up a bit and look directly at them.

The additional tail light clipped to my rear rack has pretty decent side visibility too.

I have four springy ribbon reflectors clipped to the bike, and toward dark I'll attach them to my ankles and arms. Very quick and easy, and don't bind.

Recently I switched from my original Specialized Hemisphere tires to Michelin Protek Cross Max, which have reflective sidewalls.

And I'm planning to add more small lights to improve visibility. Probably not spoke-mounted LEDs, although I've seen a few around town and they're very visible attention getters.

Never felt it was a problem

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...dlights006.jpg

I use something like these:

SunLite HL-L515 Super Bright 5-LED Amber Bicycle Light Clear
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=491737

I followed a cyclist on our local MUT through some S turns who was wearing a wide reflective Sam Browne belt, plus wide reflective wrist and ankle bands. My Luxos on low lit him like the 2nd coming, totally obscuring his lights which were brighter than average. All the reflective material was white, and reflected enough light to illuminate the ground near him. I can only imagine how much he would have lit up from a cars headlights.

I've had family and coworkers comment on how well the reflective sidewalls on my bikes tires show up.

Scrubbing the sidewalls clean occasionally helps a reflex band function better .. particularly if using rim brakes..

I second this. Have Touring Plus tires and they shine brightly at night (see image below).

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=493689

This was shot in total darkness with only the iPhone flash providing illumination.
The lower bike has Marathon Supremes which have a 5mm reflective stripe.
I think it looks more pronounced on the front tire only because it is tilted more toward the camera.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=493767

I'm running LIT commuter tires and can be purchased at biketires direct.. Quite a few people that doe the social rides here in Houston will run Monkey 'letric lights that do the whole persistance of vision thing. I like them. but I run a gen hub up front and in the rear.. Well I have panniers so the effect would be wasted. Plus It'll be about $120 per wheel to do it right.

I use Revolights. They have some annoyances but provide excellent side visibility. They also provide good front and back visibility, but I have long rear fenders so I can't use them as a rear light.

I also have a bunch of reflective decals on my helmet.

+1 for reflective wheel and spoke tape.

No one has mentioned Nori Lights yet. I just ordered a set. They use UV LEDs combined with photoluminescent rim tape.


Nori Lights — Nori Lights Bicycle Wheel Illumination System

get a Proviz Reflect 360 jacket .... it is made entirely of the reflective material that is used as strips etc on other jackets

looks dull grey in the day, but at night, any light that is directed towards it lights the whole jacket up

they also have one now that is reversable with the high viz yellow colour for daytime .... a bit pricey, but well worth it if you travel in the dark IMHO ... I will get one when I am flush with cash :)


there is also this spraypaint that has been developed by Volvo:

For the OPs concerns, I think a helmet light is most effective. I have powerful front and rear lights, but my moderately powered Light & Motion Viz 360 is perhaps my most effective collision deterrent. Whenever I see a car at a side street, parking lot or intersection that might turn or pull out in front of me, I simply turn and look at them. The LED beam is directed right at them, and they stop immediately. All it takes is a quick glance.

For a passive solution, tires with reflective sidewalls are also helpful.

These can be mounted on the seat tube instead of the seat post. Get two, one for each side (left and right sides). USB charging cable at your office.

http://www.cygolite.com/product/hotrod-50-usb/

That saddle angle in the thumbnail tho...

Maybe reflective paint for a Ghost bike .. Ghosts dont even need saddles ..

Here's a 4+ year old product with some dissatisfied customers: Go Brightz LED Bicycle Light.

I mention it because this is one of the few products tailored for active side lighting mounted on bicycle tubes: they give you a row of amber LEDs mounted in a package with a AAA battery holder and holes to zip tie it to the sides of your down tube. It would be nice if some cycling company designed a more elegant, updated version of these.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=495353

Stumbled upon this amber side light. It's based in UK, though. Beside the side visibility, it being amber color is appropriate as a side light:

Brightside Bike Light - BRIGHTSIDE

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=526323

My new favorite is the Orfos Flare tail light http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...SL._SX522_.jpg . It is almost as bright from the side. I also wear a reflective orange vest at night. https://rusa.org/Images/Neiko%20safe...full%20zip.jpg

I use wraparound blinky's underneath my Seat post facing rear on the seat tube and a white blinky facing towards the ground on my top tube. These, along with a steady lit headlamp and a rear blinky on the back of my rack really keeps me visible from the side. In the winter I also have a helmet light that I can use for additional visibility to either side.

I've been using reflective bike vests with waistbands forever. A few years ago I added 2 Planet Bike blinkies to the waistband, one at each forward corner of my hip. They work. It is very obvious that drivers see them and wait to see what I am going to do. Soon after I started using them, I rode home in the dark having forgotten my headlight. Two left turning drivers waited for me to clear intersections.

Ben

If every person who rode a bike at night just wore a reflective vest I would estimate their safety factor would jump 10 fold. Reflective gear is vastly under-rated.

So you forgot the main lamp...What, no back-up? Shame on you ( ;-) ) If I forgot to charge my front lamp I'd still have my helmet torch and a front blinkie :ride:...well, if you're using two blinkies mounted to your vest/waist I suppose that is as visible as a standard front blinkie. Got's to have a back-up "to see" lamp though. :thumb:

I rode 25 years without a headlight after I hit an opening car door using a genertor light in 1968. Realized that a light that weak wasn't noticed by drivers and served to make me think I might be seen. Didn't change my riding until the halogen lights came out that were bright enough to both see by and be seen. Riding home after dark on roads I know like the back of my hand and ride several times a week with no headlight isn't a big deal. Just have to remember that it is back to the old days for the next 10 miles.

I don't load my bikes, especially the fix gears, down with redundancies. To keep things simple, I have one good headlight that goes onto the bike as I need it. Just one thing to keep charged. My workhorse fix gear has about 10' of reflecting tape on it. All my bikes have rear blinkies. I regularly wear that vest. Nearly all my jerseys and riding jackets are yellow. My helmet is white. My backpack has a lot of reflecting silver tape on it. I can forget any one item and the odds of me getting home intact are still excellent.

Ben

I use this stuff. I stick all over everything but at the same time not have it take away from the look of my bike. It's on the sides and back of my shoes, I put the white on the white decals on my wheels, and it's on the silver brake calipers. Barely noticeable until headlights hit it.

https://www.thetapedepot.com/product...d-77068-a.html

I've been using those clip on spoke reflectors for a few months now. They have held on tight. I haven't been able to look at my bike from a distance in the dark, but when I walk up to it, these things are often reflecting strongly into my eyes. For the money, you can hardly go wrong.