Reflectors

[Catrin]

I FINALLY got around to removing the reflectors from my mountain bike and LHT wheels. Whew, all of the roadies in my area can now rest and stop chastising me for their presence :rolleyes:

Personally it doesn't matter to me either way, but what is it about this disdain for reflectors? I only took the 3 seconds to remove them from my mountain bike because I figure they would eventually wind up on the side of the trail anyway, and since I was at it also removed from from my LHT.

[luv2climb]

I can understand not wanting the reflectors on if the bike is never ridden at night, but for any bike ridden at night I think it's best to leave them on, especially if you live in a state like California that requires them by law.

I only take the reflectors off bikes that are never ridden at night. That means my road bike, mtb, and the folding bike I bought to take on climbing ride trips in rental cars. All my other bikes have the reflectors they came with, as they are ridden at night.

Here's an example of another kind of cyclist who should leave them on. His reflectors worked very well as he came towards me the wrong way in the bike lane! :D: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nT9pheWznY

[Velocivixen]

I leave my reflectors on. I know that Sheldon Brown's site has an article about why reflectors "don't work". I figure that anything that keeps me visible is helpful. I really don't care about the "cool factor". I'm more of an in town "commuter type" rider.

[jessmarimba]

Saw a couple cyclists (that might be too strong of a label...people who happened to be moving via bike) while driving last night only b/c they had reflectors. Granted, they were moving perpendicular to me, but they ran a stop sign, were dressed in all black, and were riding all over the road. Could've been a mess.

I left 'em on my commuter. Can't hurt! Someone else took them off of the rest of my bikes before I bought them.

[OakLeaf]

They're still on my commuter too. I took the front and rear reflectors off only because that was the only way to install actual lighting.

I don't ride the roadie after dark on purpose, but anyone can get caught out by flat tires or mechanicals. Leaving the reflectors on your bike is an easy way to ensure that you always have something reflective on. Gussying up your helmet with reflective tape is another way (just be sure you don't let the adhesive contact the EPS).


I have a feeling that the snob factor comes from two places: (1) front and rear reflectors usually are held by cheap, tacky looking brackets; and (2) wheel reflectors really can pull a lightweight wheel out of true, and by definition pull it out of balance.

[Catrin]

I don't ride the road after or before dark. Period. Others do and more power to them, but I do not feel safe doing that so refuse to put myself in the situation. I do have lights on my Gunnar should I get caught too close to sunset, but I try to prevent that.

Eventually I do want to try night riding, but on the trails, not on the roads ;) Good point about mechanicals though, will have to think about that.

[indysteel]

I don't ride the road after or before dark. Period. Others do and more power to them, but I do not feel safe doing that so refuse to put myself in the situation. I do have lights on my Gunnar should I get caught too close to sunset, but I try to prevent that.

Eventually I do want to try night riding, but on the trails, not on the roads ;) Good point about mechanicals though, will have to think about that.

I thought you wanted to do some night road riding and had done some pre-dawn rides last summer. I know I'd like to try it at some point considering that I have a light for it that I've never used. It seems to me that night road riding need not be dangerous with the right lights and on well chosen roads. IMO, some cyclists--if they have their bikes rigged right--are easier to see by night than by day. Frankly, I'd be more terrified to MTB at night. I think I need a lot more experience under my belt before I try it.

[Irulan]

I've always understood that leaving factory reflectors on a mountain bike signified a barney or whatever. I've seen enough broken bits on trails to think that taking them off so they don't fall is is a good reason.

[goride]

Our state law requires a red rear reflector on bicycles, even if there is a red blinkie light on the back, so I have both. I use the rear blinkie even during daylight hours if I am riding on the road. Most of the others that I ride with do the same. As we've ridden this summer, I've noticed that especially on wooded roads as we pass from light to shadow, the bikes with the blinkies are much more visible from the back.

[Catrin]

I thought you wanted to do some night road riding and had done some pre-dawn rides last summer. I know I'd like to try it at some point considering that I have a light for it that I've never used. It seems to me that night road riding need not be dangerous with the right lights and on well chosen roads. IMO, some cyclists--if they have their bikes rigged right--are easier to see by night than by day. Frankly, I'd be more terrified to MTB at night. I think I need a lot more experience under my belt before I try it.

I am not ready to try night riding on the trails, but I've decided that I've no desire for night road riding. It seems hard enough for drivers to see me during the day, I just don't feel safe on the roads before/after daylight. Eventually I do want to try night trail riding with a partner, but not any time soon ;)

[Tri Girl]

I put reflectors ON my commuter bike. I had wheels built and they didn't come with them so I put them ON the wheels. Especially now that it's getting darker earlier and staying darker later in the morning- I'll take anything that helps me be more reflective.
Bring on the dork factor because I'd rather be dorky than dead. :cool:

[KnottedYet]

I kept my reflectors on my wheels and added more.

[Velocivixen]

Dorky is the new "sexy" (so is smart!), so I'm obviously both! lol

[radacrider]

No original reflectors on either bike. SUB has very bright lights, my headlight has side panels for some side light, Lightweights for Wheels on the spokes, panniers have big reflective patches, jacket has reflective strips, gloves, too. I like the Lightweights because they reflect at the angle the light is hitting them since they are all around each spoke and the spokes are moving.

I do not have, but have seen, reflective sidewalls, they work pretty well.

[Kiwi Stoker]

There's a new bike paint available that during the day is normal looking but at night is reflective. I think having a whole frame reflective would be best.

Hopefully bike manufacturers will take this option up.

[Becky]

No original reflectors on either bike. SUB has very bright lights, my headlight has side panels for some side light, Lightweights for Wheels on the spokes, panniers have big reflective patches, jacket has reflective strips, gloves, too. I like the Lightweights because they reflect at the angle the light is hitting them since they are all around each spoke and the spokes are moving.

Agreed. Bulky, noisy stock reflectors can't hold a candle to Lightweights for Wheels. I also use reflective tapes in red and white from the auto parts store. Reflective stuff is particularly effective on the crankarms as well, since they're almost always moving.

[Catrin]

Agreed. Bulky, noisy stock reflectors can't hold a candle to Lightweights for Wheels. I also use reflective tapes in red and white from the auto parts store. Reflective stuff is particularly effective on the crankarms as well, since they're almost always moving.

These are good ideas and will keep them in mind. I know there are better options, which is why I removed them from my LHT. If I keep the bike will come up with some other solution - they do help on overcast days even if we don't ride after/before daylight by choice.

[OakLeaf]

A few years ago I ordered a collection of colored reflective tape from Identi-Tape (http://www.identi-tape.com/). It's held up well (most of the pretty colors are not DOT), it's extremely visible at night, and because of the colors, if you take some time for artful placement, it doesn't make your stuff look super geeky in the daytime.

They also carry sew-on reflective tape for your packs and garments, but I haven't tried that. Some of the flexible fabric stuff is definitely better than others. I've been really disappointed in how the reflective material has rubbed off my Amphipod (http://www.amphipod.com/products/visibility/xinglets/belts) harness - be sure you get something that's got a clear plastic coating over the reflective stuff.

[Antaresia]

I got some of these:

http://www.lightweights.org/store/product.php?printable=Y&productid=1

I'm going to put them on soon. Both my bikes came with the standard reflectors (which, by the way, are referred to as "heavy" in a blurb on the lightweights packaging, lol weight weenies). I like them, I think they look retro-cool. Oh, and I also picked up some reflective tape to cover the *many* brand names on various parts of my bike. I hate looking like a billboard threw up on my ride, no one cares what brand my freaking handlebars are, least of all me.

These are in addition to bike lights, I'll be commuting in the dark soon enough. I just picked up some reflective bike gloves too, since it's getting colder and I want my hand signals to be seen.

[jahnin24f]

I'd seen a guy riding a bike with a single back reflector in a busy city street one night and I can't imagine myself being in situation as risky as that, so thanks for the tips. Definitely, I will consider adding more lightweights to parts of my bike, and helmet.

[szsz]

I've seen enough broken bits on trails to think that taking them off so they don't fall is is a good reason.

Broken reflectors on the trail, on the path: road hazards. Good reflectors are good; the cheap ones that come with are disposable.