why remove wheel reflectors

[farrellcollie]

Why do people say to remove the wheel reflectors? Is it aesthetics or for some aerodynamic reason?

[VeloVT]

Well, they do look a little lame on a fast bike, right? Also they're heavy, if you're concerned about weight. On low-spoke-count wheels, they can have a tendency to loosen up and slide around, making noise and generally causing distraction... If you're riding during the day, they aren't doing much good, and if you're riding at night, lights are mandatory anyway, so are the wheel reflectors really necessary, esp. given how bright good blinking tail-lights are, and the fact that you'll probably have additional blinkies/reflective clothing... (someone's going to disagree with this though).

[KnottedYet]

Visibility from the side is what I worry about. So I have reflective sidewall tires and kept the spoke reflectors. Very visible from the side, and have more surface area than if I mounted side blinkies.

(I was driving my car and saw a bike from the side that had reflective tires. That bike lit up in my headlights and was clearly a bike! Big round wheels glowing at me!)

[BikeDutchess]

The reflectors seemed to make my wheels wobble when I went fast down the hill, that's why I took mine off.

[salsabike]

I think it's largely a style issue.

[VeloVT]

I actually like the idea of reflective tires. Probably not for regular roadbike since I don't ride it at night often, but I've seriously considered a pair for my commute bike and might spring for it this winter when it starts getting dark early. The side visibility issue is important. I just don't like those spoke reflectors :D ...

[KnottedYet]

I have Vittoria Randonneurs: 28mm on my road bike and 32 mm on my utility bike. The reflective sidewalls were only $4 more than the regular sidewalls.

I think the sidewalls say "BIKE" in your headlights better than the spoke reflectors, but I'm a belt-and-suspenders kind of gal. :p

[Lise]

These things are the coolest:

www.lightweights.org

I have them on my spokes, my gloves, the back of my helmet, my panniers, my Timbuk2 bag...it's kind of like "bedazzling" for your bike! :p

[7rider]

Why do people say to remove the wheel reflectors? Is it aesthetics or for some aerodynamic reason?

It's really a personal style thing....sort of like removing the chain guard behind the cassette.

I wouldn't (couldn't?) put reflectors on my road bike...but as with Liza's, it doesn't go out in the dark.
My commuter has reflectors still, and reflective sidewall tires for the winter (not now).

[Thorn]

I'm a Fred. I left my reflectors on. 90+% of my rides are during the day, but....occassionally I'm out very eary in the morning or in rain and fog. Not dark, but not full daylight. On those occassions, having the reflectors gives me just a boost of visibility.

However, since seeing the reflective sidewall tires (thanks TE for expanding my knowledge!), my next tires will be the reflective variety and I'll probably un-Fred myself of the wheel reflectors. But, not the rack, the rack reflector, the handlebar bag, the dork disk.....sigh....

[KnottedYet]

These things are the coolest:

www.lightweights.org

I have them on my spokes, my gloves, the back of my helmet, my panniers, my Timbuk2 bag...it's kind of like "bedazzling" for your bike! :p

Ooooh! They also have black reflective tape! How cool is that!?! I could put it all over my black bike, and still be reflective! Thanks for the link, Lise!!!

We have enough gloomy weather here that I feel better loaded up with bright color and reflectors. (I just ordered a roll of 3M Scotchlite from TE http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=1982 )

[SadieKate]

Are you asking about those cheap clear plastic things on the spokes (about 2 x 4 inches)? Quite often they are there only for legal purposes. I've seen them loosen, get out of place and jam the wheel. Not a pretty picture. I've seen the plastic seatpost-mounted rearfacing type drop down, jam a wheel and cause an endo on a mtb.

I'm all for using reflective stuff on the bike at night, but use reflective tires when you can and replace the cheap stuff with quality accessories and check the bolts often.

[SadieKate]

These things are the coolest:

www.lightweights.org
Are all the products tape? It's hard to see in the photos. Have you tried the elastic version on your clothing? Does it go through the wash?

That's cool stuff.

[mimitabby]

Lise, what do they look like in the day light?

[Lise]

Lise, what do they look like in the day light?
On the wheels, they're virtually invisible during the day. Otherwise, they look like silver patches on my purse, panniers, etc. The spoke stickers are rectangular; you wrap them around each spoke. The clothing ones are oval or round, in a variety of sizes. I made a pleasing display of oval shapes on purse and panniers. I put one shiny oval on the back of each glove, and when I signal, I hold my hand perpendicular to the ground so cars behind me can see me sticking out my hand for a turn.

I tell you, these things rock. I recently realized that you can make them stick even better by using an iron on low; the clothing ones come with instructions which I didn't bother to read at first! :rolleyes: Of course. I haven't gotten out the iron yet, but will do so soon. No ironing for the spokes :p

[SadieKate]

I really want them for my gloves. No way to signal turns!

[VeloVT]

On the wheels, they're virtually invisible during the day. Otherwise, they look like silver patches on my purse, panniers, etc. The spoke stickers are rectangular; you wrap them around each spoke.

Arrgh. If these came in black I'd totally get them. But both of my bikes currently have black spokes and the silver stickers would look funny...

It's a great idea though!

[Lise]

Arrgh. If these came in black I'd totally get them. But both of my bikes currently have black spokes and the silver stickers would look funny...

It's a great idea though!
Easy-peasy: Get the black tape, cut it in little sections, wrap it around the spokes.
Problem solved! :D

[Lise]

I really want them for my gloves. No way to signal turns!
You could get quite fancy with the gloves; you could put a little oval on the back of each finger, and a big oval on the back of the hand, etc. I love these things.

[mimitabby]

Lise, have you considered going into sales?

[Lise]

Lise, have you considered going into sales?
The funny thing is, they do have some deal where if a friend orders (x) number of packets, and mentions your name, you get some sort of kickback! I should focus more, and include this info in my posts! :cool:

I do love them. The problem with me and sales is that I couldn't sell something I didn't love. So, let's see. I could sell...Lightweights, cats, dachshunds, nutrition in pregnancy, books by Karen Armstrong, dark chocolate, my bikes (I don't know other bikes well enough), apartments with nice woodwork and lots of light, sateen sheets, time spent with BF and/or my sister (wouldn't actually sell BF or sister), 24 on DVD...these are a few of my faaaavorite things...!

(Can you tell I am working a 24 hr shift and only got 1.5 hr sleep last night? I'm off with high hopes of a nap) :p

[roadfix]

Removing wheel reflectors is the easiest and the most OCP thing anyone can do.

[annie]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lise!! I am ordering the tape, for sure. I will wrap it, candy-cane style, around the flag of my BOB trailer. I've been looking for something like this.

Annie

[Trek420]

You could get quite fancy with the gloves; you could put a little oval on the back of each finger, and a big oval on the back of the hand, etc. I love these things.

You could have it spelling out "share the road" on jackets ......Lise, you could retire and sell tape, and dark chocolate :p

[farrellcollie]

I am going to get some of the reflective light thingys too - I really like the idea of putting it on my gloves. During the school yr I commute at night and I am always trying to find more ways to be visible. I will leave the reflectors on my new Jamis for the time being - it is my road bike (as opposed to my commute bike) - but I like it so much - andit has eyelets for a rack - that it might also be commute bike in good weather this year. thanks for all the answers.

[HillSlugger]

Removing wheel reflectors is the easiest and the most OCP thing anyone can do.

OCP? :confused:

[Lise]

YAY! Everybody sing: I'm reflective! So reflective! So reflective and pretty and wise! I'm so shiny, that you just will not believe your eyes! (Tune of "I'm So Pretty" from West Side Story!) :p

I am so happy that y'all are getting to use the Lightweights. I'm seeing more and more how truly invisible bikes are, even at twilight. They just disappear from view. I pulled up next to a woman at a stoplight recently, around 10 PM. I was lit up like the proverbial X-mas tree. She had NOTHING lit or reflective on her bike or clothing. She did NOT have a helmet. She was listening to HEADPHONES. I got her attention, said hi, and then said, "you know, you're very hard to see in the dark." She had just gotten a basket for the back of her bike which covered her only reflector. :eek: She said, "Oh, yeah, thanks..." and put the ear phones back in. I guess I'm lucky she didn't tell me to mind my own business.

I bought some dark chocolate on the way home from work! Just spreadin' the gospel of visibility and antioxidants. Doin' my part to save humanity. :cool:

[Zen]

OCP? :confused:

:confused: me too

[roadfix]

OCP? :confused:obsessive compulsive poseur :D

[Zen]

obsessive compulsive poseur :D

I guess that's me, then.
It wasn't that easy, it did involve a screwdriver:p

[suzieqtwa]

Lise....thank you so much for telling us about this link. :D Im ordering some today ,and Im going to put them all over my gloves ,and back pac. I may get some of the black tape for my bike. Thanks..................

[roadfix]

I guess that's me, then.
It wasn't that easy, it did involve a screwdriver:pOh, then you must know about the dork disc and the term "flip it"?....:D