Reflectors

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Becky

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.

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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.

A few years ago I ordered a collection of colored reflective tape from Identi-Tape. 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 harness - be sure you get something that's got a clear plastic coating over the reflective stuff.

I got some of these:

http://www.lightweights.org/store/pr...=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.

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.

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Originally Posted by Irulan

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

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