Reflecters and Lights
 

I'm new to the forum and I figured I would start with a picture of my bicycle in all its reflective glory. I hope to post more pictures soon.

I'm gonna try to post a better resolution picture. http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=236550

Here is a picture of my handle bars setup. http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=236551

Here is a picture with a flash, it tends to wash out the display on the Garmin though. http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=236552

Back View
 

Here is a rear view of the bicycle. I'm kinda new with this current camera so taking some of these photos is a work in progress.

A bit different I think.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=236557

Here is a picture without a flash. You can't see the reflective tape since it is black like the frame under normal lighting. It's actually called Stealth Tape. http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=236559

How about a flash shot with the room lights off and the bike lights on? Let's see how that looks to an approaching motorist...

wow gorgeous, what is that bar on your drop bars? Looks brilliant. I could do with one.

This is something that I personally came up with. Nothing seemed to work for what I wanted to do. I didn't want all of the things that I wanted to mount to use the space that I need for my hands. I like to change positions often on my drop handlebars and if I started mounting all of this stuff directly on the bars, I would be stuck with few options for changeup. So I initally bought the Nitto Lamp Holder from Bens Cycle http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...dcd05a2969c26e but is created more problems.

1. It didn't give me enough room for my Interrupter brake lever (it didn't extend out far enough) or the GPS especially. Knuckles kept hitting.
2. The bar (extended bar) at the end isn't the same diameter as the handlebars and thus the equipment didn't clamp on correctly. The clamp isn't the same on both ends, one is smaller than the other.
3. The bar is too short anyway. I have a water bottle, bell, headlamp, GPS, and a coffee mug holder. No way all that would fit on that little bar (even if it was the correct size for mounting purposes, which it's not).
4. I couldn't just use a longer bar since the bar is the wrong diameter for most clamps........anyway it is too close to the handlebars.

So my answer was to buy two of them and reverse mount them to the bar that was supplied turning it back to the diameter of a normal handlebar. I did cut off the excess of the middle bar after I found a good mount position. Then I used a Origin 8 Stash Bar for the mounting bar. Origin 8 coffee mug holder fits nicely on it. The extra water bottle clamp is from Velo Orange I think and the bell is Crane from Japan. Headlamp is a Cygolite. The GPS is a Nuvi 1300 powered by a Energizer Power to Go battery (the 8000mA version) which gives me about 14 hours of continuous use. Since the battery has a USB port for the hookup, I can power it directly to either the GPS or the Headlamp. Both allow you to power them directly via USB (some things only let you charge them and not power them dirctly). Here is a link for the battery. http://www.energizerpowerpacks.com/us/products/xp8000/. The only thing that I would change is the length of the Stash Bar. Its a bit too long but I have it positioned so I clear the bar comfortably to rest my hands on the brake lever back. I wouldn't want to cut it either since the Stash Bar is hollow to allow you to Stash things inside...and is water tight. I have thought about havinhttp://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=236697g it remachined to make it a few inches shorter and renaming it the Dash Bar......:). Here are some more pictures (if I can get them to post). http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=236696http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=236698http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=236699

Golden Fredness trophy, prize candidate, for sure..

I dont even like there to be a simple bike computer on my handlebars.

My favorite set up is to put it down on the fork blade, just above the pannier ..
and see where I am going, the scenery, the places I took the effort to go Be-In.

Besides all that has to come off at night, when in camp. which in Summer,
I would be off the road , anyhow.. ..

How's this? http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=236701

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=236703Couple more.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=236702

why, it's a surly Long Haul Scraper!

elaborate. looks good.

Nicely reflectorized, but I'm not sure it's useful or effective. As Sheldon Brown wrote, "Although rear-facing reflectors are of some use, side and front reflectors accomplish nothing, since vehicles on a collision course with a moving bicycle don't have their headlights shining on the reflectors until it is already too late to avoid a collision." Make sure you've got good lights.

What about other vehicle lights causing a reflection that may alert other drivers by providing periphery visibility?

I'm not sure it relates much to this forum though because tourers usually don't do much of their touring at night. Besides, excess reflectors make stealth camping harder and draw attention to bikes parked overnight.

I ride at night usually because I work the second shift and unless I have a day off, 12 midnight is like my 5:30 pm equivalant. It is nice and cool at night and the traffic is not as bad usually. I have noticed that I am very visable from just about any angle from the way people look at me (both in cars and on sidewalks). I see myself in business windows along the street and I do have to say, it looks pretty cool. I really like the reflectors. Here is a link if you like them.

http://www.lightweights.org/