Be visible - Monkeylectric LED bike wheel lights

[Cataboo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT13ZcpwYtA

Base light is $65:
http://store.monkeylectric.com/MonkeyLectric_LED_Bike_Wheel_Light_p/m133s.htm

Full video's like $2k.

[Zen]

Wow.

[Cataboo]

Wow.

Just think what I could do to my flaming bike.

[coldfeet]

If I could afford the full video, I would be so tempted to program some "special" messages.

[Lise]

Unbelieveable.

I think I might program it just to say "BIKE! BIKE!"

John watched me ride off to work recently on a sunny morning, dressed mostly in brown, and said how quickly it was hard to see me, even in bright sun. I'm going to start wearing my reflector vest in the day time. If it ever stops raining, that is.

[Zen]

It has the word 'Monkey" in the name.
It must be a good product.

[salsabike]

That's just cool.

[Geonz]

Or for seven bucks you can get a SpokeLit (http://www.batteryjunction.com/skl-03.html)for much the same effect :)

[KnottedYet]

I've got a new opportunity to commute, but it's gonna be in the pitch dark both ways.

Biggest concern is side visibility.

Frame lighting:
Made in USA "Down Low Glow" http://rockthebike.com/lights/downlowglow and the dimmer and cheaper rip off made by slave labor in China http://www.rei.com/product/793960

- versus -

Spokelighting:
Made in USA "Monkeylectric" http://www.monkeylectric.com/products.htm and the cheaper rip off made by slave labor in China http://www.hokeyspokes.com/

Anybody have comparisons of these 4 products?

I'm thinking a frame light and a spoke system on the front wheel might work best.

(my attempt at using a shop light as a DLG did not work)

[Trek420]

I've got a new opportunity to commute, but it's gonna be in the pitch dark both ways.

Biggest concern is side visibility.

Get the Made in USA stuff :cool: and glow in the dark clothing and and .... :cool: :)

[Becky]

Knott-

DH has the BikeGlow thing from REI. He has it wrapped around his frame and it works well enough to mark him as a bike. I like that it can use rechargeable batteries, but the battery pack makes an annoying whine. I have very good high frequency hearing- others might not notice it.

I use a green Fibre Flare (http://fibreflare.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=4) on my downtube, sort of llike a poor man's DLG. It uses rechargable batteries, and casts a pretty bright glow on my legs, feet, and the ground. It's totally self-contained, and easy-on, easy-off. It's available from any bike shop that has a J&B Importers account.

I like frame lighting in conjunction with Lightweights (http://www.lightweights.org/store/product.php?productid=1&cat=0&page=1) on the wheels. They weigh nearly nothing, and have no noticible effect on handling or acceleration.

Enjoy your new commute, and stay safe!

[LilBolt]

I use Spokelites, in green http://www.hokeyspokes.com/spokelit.htm
Very inexpensive, but do require CR2032 batteries. They put off an alien-green bright glow in the pitch dark.

A guy at work uses a downtube light on his bike. It really isn't very visible coming up from behind him, but does put off a nice glow from the side. My commute bike is heavy & cluttered enough (small frames just don't have much real estate). I think the monkey lights look like fun, but the spoke lites serve the purpose. I also have 3m reflector tape on my fork, crank & seat stays. Actually, I feel safer riding now in the 'pure dark' than I do at dawn or dusk...people generally have headlights on to bounce off of my reflective tape & clothes, and the glow of the lights seems to be more obvious.

Be safe & welcome to the dark!

[KnottedYet]

I've got reflective sidewall tires, reflective spokees on front and back wheels, OEM reflectors on both wheels, reflective tape and patches on the fenders, forks, rack, pedals, and cranks; reflectors on my pannier and vest and helmet; 6 lights on the bike, 2 lights on the helmet.

But I want MORE light! I want to produce light out the yin-yang to the sides and not just reflect it, because the biggest hazard on this route is side traffic. My concern is that reflectors only work when the reflector is in front of the light source... which it a bit too late for me when the light source is a car perpendicular to me and coming toward me.

I'm leaning toward the Monkeylectric right now. More LEDs, more better! :D

[CommuterChick]

I love this range of alternatives and will check them out. Already have Spokelits, but have been trying to find the Guyot Firefly, it's an attachment for a widemouth bottle that turns it into a lantern, whatever color the bottle is. So you have water and light in one bottle. if your frame accommodates two bottles, then you really do have a lot of light.

http://guyotdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/05/firefly-featured-on-good-morning.html

My problem is I can't find it! My REI guys said they loved it, bought it as soon as it came out, but no longer have it in stock.

[Melalvai]

A guy at work uses a downtube light on his bike. It really isn't very visible coming up from behind him, but does put off a nice glow from the side.
I agree. I have the downlow glow, plus 2 rear blinkies, a front headlamp and a front blinkie. (And I'd really like a helmet light, front and rear.) The downlow glow is REALLY bright from the side. That's why I like it, because blinkies can't be seen very well from the side.

[runningcyclist]

I've got reflective sidewall tires, reflective spokees on front and back wheels, OEM reflectors on both wheels, reflective tape and patches on the fenders, forks, rack, pedals, and cranks; reflectors on my pannier and vest and helmet; 6 lights on the bike, 2 lights on the helmet.

But I want MORE light! I want to produce light out the yin-yang to the sides and not just reflect it, because the biggest hazard on this route is side traffic. My concern is that reflectors only work when the reflector is in front of the light source... which it a bit too late for me when the light source is a car perpendicular to me and coming toward me.

I'm leaning toward the Monkeylectric right now. More LEDs, more better! :D

KY, I thought I had a lot of 'stuff': 2 front lights, 3 rear lights, reflective spokes and reflective sidewalls, rear light on the helmet and reflective/high viz clothing/panniers, oh and the spokelits.

I bow down to your superior light/reflective acquisitions :D

[Becky]

A BikeGlow update: DH went to re-install his for tomorrow's dark commute, and it won't light up, despite fresh batteries :(

I think we'll be replacing it with something else...

[LilBolt]

I've got reflective sidewall tires, reflective spokees on front and back wheels, OEM reflectors on both wheels, reflective tape and patches on the fenders, forks, rack, pedals, and cranks; reflectors on my pannier and vest and helmet; 6 lights on the bike, 2 lights on the helmet.

But I want MORE light! I want to produce light out the yin-yang to the sides and not just reflect it, because the biggest hazard on this route is side traffic. My concern is that reflectors only work when the reflector is in front of the light source... which it a bit too late for me when the light source is a car perpendicular to me and coming toward me.

I'm leaning toward the Monkeylectric right now. More LEDs, more better! :D

We must see pictures of your set up! It sounds very festive. I don't have the OEM reflectors, but do have a hub generator & light on the front & a DiNotte taillight that people complain about as being too bright...if they are complaining, then I know they are seeing it. :rolleyes: I also have front & rear lights on the helmet. And I agree that I do feel most vulnerable from the side. The helmet light does come in handy...a quick look in the driver's direction generally gets their attention. I'm just tired of having to charge & replace so many batteries. I'd like to get some of those USB chargeable lights.

[Trek420]

We must see pictures of your set up! It sounds very festive.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?p=321431

[KnottedYet]

Wow, Trek, that's an old picture! I'd almost forgotten how the bike used to look!

There's a lot more "stuff" on it now.

I love the reflective tape TE sells. That stuff is bright bright bright.

[Trek420]

More lights, more better. :D

[missjulied]

My husband got me the monkey light last year for Christmas, and I LOVE it! I haven't done any of the programming, I just turn it on and let it run random patterns. It's very bright, and I feel a lot better about my side visibility now.

Plus, it's fun to look at. :)

[KnottedYet]

There is a wait-list for the DownLowGlow.

I'm still torn between the DLG and the Monkeylectric.

[7rider]

Saw this BikeGlow Safety light (http://www.rei.com/product/793960) at REI yesterday.

Has anyone tried it?

[Becky]

Saw this BikeGlow Safety light (http://www.rei.com/product/793960) at REI yesterday.

Has anyone tried it?

DH has one. He's actually on his second one- the first one didn't hold up well, but the very nice people at BikeGlow replaced it with a new one. The newer ones have stronger, better-sealed battery compartments. So far, so good!

The one shown on REI's website appears to be the earlier model, but who knows if that's what they're actually shipping. I posted my general thoughts on it (and on my Fibre Flare) earlier in this thread.