Lights!
 

Need a new rear light for commuting out here in "I don't know how to drive with bikes in the road" Arizona.

I know there's a really good Cateye option, but maybe something with a permanent (tools required) mount.

most of the tools required mounts that i've seen lately are large and cumbersome, unfortunately. I do really like the drop bar end light up plugs. Unlikely to be stolen (or noticed) when parked, but they show your full width at night.

I think that a light on your bag/body makes more sense. When it is on your bike (i.e. seat post), it tends to be rather low and sometimes even covered by your clothing. Having it mounted on you, elevates the light source and is easier for vehicles to see. And you can take it with you every time.

Just my .02

Why present a target?

Why present a target?

1% of population = homicidal maniacs
99% of population = total **** for brains morons who just won't see you.

I just try to ride at night in such a manner that cars don't have a chance to hit me. If you expect drivers (1) to see your light, and (2) to accomodate you, you've just given them two big chances to put your head on the wall of their hunting lodge.

Not against lights for everyone, just for me. I'm pro-choice across the board.

I've ridden behind a lot of people that do that. Often, the rear light is turned and/or nearly invisible once they are in riding position.

That said, I run two front blinkies (cateye 3LEDs) a helmet light (cheap REI), and two rears (total of 9 LEDs). I usually wear black, but I've had no problems with cars. In fact, sometimes they have slowed down to either thank me for the lights, or to ask where they could buy them for when they were on the bike... I've had peds tell me that if anyone hit me, they owed me 'Like a million dolars' because there was no way that they could say 'I didn't see him.'

You still have to use common sense in traffic, but being lit at night is something that you really need to do. If for no other reason, do it for the other bikers. I've almost hit several people who were riding with no lights... Often riding magnas the wrong way down the street.

You don't want to be grouped with them, do you?

I discovered that my old clip-on blinky works perfectly with the reflector mounts that shops have to put on new bikes. Most of the mounts either fit on a seatpost or stay. One screw to attach to blinky, one screw to tighten the mount. Solid enough to stay there while riding, but easily removable.

i got me one of those (i think it's called) "planet bike" red lights that attches with velcro to the back of your helmet. real bright and it'll blink or not. also pivots so it stays straight out no matter what your head is doin'. the velcro strap attachment is excellent. get one of these.

I have this one. It is very bright, it does include a permanent mount (though the light comes off of the mount easily without tools so you will probably want to take it with you if you think it might get stolen), and it was cheap: about $15 at my LBS.

I just got a blackburn mars 3.0 I think. I can't find a link right now, but it's real bright, and has some yellow side lights as well as red rear, and clips to the bike bracket with the beltclip, so you can still remove it and wear it without having to totally bust out a screw driver and swap brackets. and I like th looks. That being said however, they seem kind of delicate when changine the batteries. I've never broke one of the ones I have, but the bigger triangle version I've broke three of putting the batteries in.

I've got the planet bike rear light. It has a clap that goes on your seat post, and a clip so you could attach it to your bag or pants. I keep it on my seatpost, and it is quite visible. Last night a guy leaned out of his truck as I was stopped at a red and told me I had a great light. Haven't been hit yet either after 5 days of commuting in Standard time.

I've got the small topeak white light with 3 led's and a 5 led cateye knockoff. The whitelights I have set up in flash mode, and I have a small red led light that I have for the rear. I too have the red Planet bike light mentioned above, but had to take it off my helmet because it just felt really heavy. It was REALLY bright when all 7 led's were blinking, though. Just my way at getting back at those cars with HID lights.

Excellent. Thanks for the tips. I'm running a clip-on now that attaches to the bag, but it's a POS and the clip doesn't work w/o the aid of masking or electrical tape.

About the "presenting a target" or "expecting the drivers to accomodate you"... I can only say that I do neither. As you know AC, all you can do out here (I'm used to commuting in Wash, DC) is keep your visibility up and be a bit smarter about your route. It's too bad we don't live in a metropolitan area where lane splitting and "owning the road" are options.

Perfomance bike is having a light sale right now. http://www.performancebike.com/index.cfm

I also go in for the planet bike clip on blinky. I've tried others (b/c I seem to be prone to losing them... now it's electrical taped to my bag so it can't come off) and i think it's the best for the price. I also have that cateye deal where you touch the tab to the casing around the light to activiate. That's good too, but i like the clip on better.

Check out these links from the commuter forum:

Light Selection Guide

backpack blinky

i use this and it is bright as the sun..you can also the entire thing off (no mounts) in like 2 seconds.

i've got the long, red cateye zip-tied to my saddle, works great and stays in place. maybe i can get a picture at some point....

^^ Jamey, you might want to explain what 'this' is. :)

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=4322

this is that blackburn light

Niterider.
Hide the wire and it even looks like a regular reflector. 19-LED's, VERY bright.

I use the Cateye LD1000 and ride on all the roads round here. I also have a smaller rear blinkie on my helmet. Even though the LD1000 comes with a QR bracket, it is designed to and you can permanently mount it the same way one mounts reflectors (in fact you can use a reflector bracket for it) as it has screw holes on the light body plus the little cylindrical knob.

Al

oops did the picture not show up? it's a serfas sl-200..5 white light LEDs.

Thanks!

but if you really want to be seen, get a DLG
http://www.fossilfool.com/down-low-glow.htm
though not exactly rec'd for track use, it's perfect for the beater...I can ask if he makes an NJS certified version.

pro-choice is good but the above is an excellent reason for running lights. if your health is not a concern, than maybe your wallet is. the adjusters/cops will be all over you if you're involved in a collision and trying to make a claim and your bike isn't up to spec. it sucks, but sometimes you have to abide by the law if you want it to pay up sucka. the last thing you want is to slog through small claims just to cover the cost of replacing a wheel for example. we can replace bikes but not body parts, so play safe.

For quick/dirty running around type stuff:
http://www.petzl.com/images/Produits..._Image_464.jpg + http://www.bikedock.com/posit/images...0000008335.jpg

Attached/clipped to front/back of a baseball cap. Lights and gloves go in the cap when I'm off the bike. The Petzl cost a little bit, about forty bucks, but MAN do I love the little guy. Makes flats, reading street signs, cake. Plus, bright light above brim of cap + dark + beard = NINJA. Or at least as close as any of us will ever get. Good for things not exactly/totally legal. Like the methlab on my BOB. Nothing.

For (non-fixed) commutin's, add:

http://www.cyclexpress.co.uk/dbimgs/tl1000-90-.jpg + http://images.mec.ca/media/Images/Pr...9830519792.jpg

Lit like Vegas.


Keeping the lights on yr head makes a buncha more sense then on the bag, I thinks.... At least for me, I'll change positions pretty readily depending on whatever, but usually keep my head at about the same level. Plus its nice to be able to give the "evil eye" to whatever chumpdick's trying to take a left across my rightofway.

As I wrote above, this is what I used on my bike and wanted to note/correct that it can be permanently 'fixed' to ones 'fixie'

Al

Yes, yes, yes. If you ever ride at night, have blinkies. And please don't put a red one on the front! I once came very close to hitting a moron who did that. Saw a red light, thought OK I'll probably catch up with him in a minute, looked aside, BANG he's only 20 feet from me!