ghettocruiser

Yep, a bit of old-skool urban riding in da mix. Thanx for the link.

PaulH

I've got tires (Schwalbe Marathon Plus) that came with refelctive tape on the sidewalls. I selected these tires for puncture resistance, not for the reflective sidewalls.

Now that I have the Schwalbes, I think that the sidewalls may do some good. When I see a bike with wheel reflectors at night, I am struck by how unlike a bicycle the sight of the wheel reflectors are. On the other hand, the reflective tape circle is obviously the perimeter of the wheel of a vehicle.

Paul

slvoid

Think again.. you have a chunk of metal known as the valve on the other side.

nick burns

You'd have to have a mighty hefty valve stem to compare to the weight of even the lightest spoke mounted reflector.

way124

I do find the reflective tapes on forks and seat stays effective. It is hard to judge the distance of a bike with only a point of light; reflecting tapes will aid on that in addition to identifying it as a bike. You can't put two lights because that will turn the bike into a 4-wheeled vehicle, which is even more confusing. Reflective clothing is better, but then lycra clad dudes will not get their choice of clothing, and a vest will increase air resistance

theden

One of these days I am going to buy a mini tiki torch, mount it on the rear rack with a wind shield around the front of it, and use it for rear lighting.

randya

I'd like someone to post some actual state codes that says CPSC reflectors are required to ride after dark. Most state codes require a front light and a rear light or reflector, and that's it. What may be illegal is to sell a new bike without CPSC reflectors; however, this requirement falls on the bike dealer, not the purchaser/user.

That being said, it's pure BS to claim that the spoke/wheel reflectors don't work. They do work in incident light coming from the side, and very well, at that. Probably better than reflective sidewall tires, which after a few rides in the rain will be covered and obscured by road dirt and a mess composed of brake pad and rim goo, rendering them totally ineffective unless you're an obsessive that spends time washing your bike tires after every ride in the rain - no thanks!

suntreader

That would be cool!

Don't forget the grass skirt and bone necklace.

slvoid

I compared the weight of my cateye reflector against that of the valve. The valve, stem, and cap is approx 1/2 the weight of the reflector.
Which means my front wheel (reflector opposite magnet and valve) is exactly balanced.
The rear is just as unbalanced as it was w/o the reflector, cept the it's 180 degrees off.

Raiyn

We have wonderful features here that allow people to know who you're responding to. Like this one
Much less confusing that way.
You should probably think again as well. You have a seam on the opposite side of the valve hole. Pinned or welded that's extra material

Dchiefransom

When a police officer in California pulls you over for not having reflectors that can be seen, as in two on each side, the wheel reflectors would hypothetically keep you from getting a ticket.

Dchiefransom

I have wheels reflectors on my commuter that are attached by a piece of plastic at each end, between spokes.

Dchiefransom

Here's California's laws pertaining to reflectors. It appears that even with a rear blinkie, the rear reflector is still required.

(d) Every bicycle operated upon any highway during darkness shall be equipped (1) with a lamp emitting a white light which, while the bicycle is in motion, illuminates the highway in front of the bicyclist and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle; (2) with a red reflector on the rear which shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle; (3) with a white or yellow reflector on each pedal visible from the front and rear of the bicycle from a distance of 200 feet; and (4) with a white or yellow reflector on each side forward of the center of the bicycle, and with a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle, except that bicycles which are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need not be equipped with these side reflectors. Such reflectors and reflectorized tires shall be of a type meeting requirements established by the department.

slvoid

Assuming it's tig welded and the joint is smooth (take the tube and rim tape off and feel it), where exactly is this "extra" material?
The density doesn't change that much to account for it and the volume is the same. Unless you're saying you have some real shoddy rim where the aluminium burned through and has a humongous bead inside.

larue

I'm glad they are required to be on bikes as a large number of bike riders (notice I didn't say cyclists) ride at night without lights and several times I've only spotted a bike due to the reflectors.
Are they enough of a protection at night but they are better than nothing.

They came on my Felt and I have not taken them off, but I do not have them on my Klein.

jeff-o

A cyclist just rode by my house with no lights at all. Even with the streetlights on, I barely saw him before he'd already passed. He probably had reflectors on the spokes, but with no direct light on them they didn't do squat.

CommuterRun

That would definately be cool. I kind of stopped wearing it years ago, but I already have a necklace that was made up with tusks from a boar I killed bow hunting and teeth from a shark I caught. I don't think I want to substitute the cycling shorts for a grass skirt, though. And the wife would definately balk at me getting a bone through my nose.

chicharron

I read the article in your link. I think that you need to re-read my last post on this thread. I said that I use battery powered lights AND the factory installed reflectors. Reflectors alone by themselves alone are insuficient, however they do add to your visability on the street in a cars headlights.

khuon

It's interesting to note that some companies marketting commuter bikes now equip them with reflective sidewall tyres as a measure to eliminate the wheel reflector.

hi565

I do not have reflectors. I am aware of visibility though. I have a light and bike light coming in the mail tommorow. I that reflectors are crap for the only reason that you have to be pretty close to the biker in a car to actually make a reflection. A blinking light is much better for visibility in my view.

Metro

My wheels came with them, but I removed the front one for aestetic reasons. The rear one won't come off for some reason, and I don't want to damage a spoke forcing it off, so it's still on the bike.

I have stick on reflectors all over my frame, visible from every angle, plus a rear blinking red light on my seat post. I wear a safety vest and have reflective stickers "Krazy Glued" to the heels and toes of my cycling shoes.

The survey did not include "My bike came with them, but I took them off", which is different from "lost/broke them" (suggesting accidental removal).

In my case, deliberate removal, not my style.

Spoke reflectors: hate 'em
Visability: Not a problem. I am a friggin' lightbulb at night.

PaulH

Maybe this is true with rim brakes. It is demonstrably not true with drum brakes. I've washed my bike maybe once in three years, commute daily in all weather, and the sidewalls do not get covered.

Paul

sbhikes

I voted they came with my bike but broke. But they did not break. I removed them. When I was 16 one of those broke and jammed my wheel. I flew over the handlebars and crashed. I don't think they are safe. My life is worth more than a ticket.

khuon

No one believes me when I tell them that has happened to me and can happen to them too. Thanks for another supporting anecdote although I it's too bad it had to happen to you too. BTW, I was about the same age when it happened to me.

KirkeIsWaiting

Reflectors! LOL.
I see them on trees on the side of the road!
I like the reflective tape idea. It's going on my shoes for sure.