Anyone has seen the "down low glow" lights?

[pll]

A rider in Evanston has this very visible green light under her bike, which illuminates the area surrounding her bike and also let's you see the bike. After seeing the previous post about being afraid on commuting in the dark , I "googled" and found it is called the "down low glow":

http://www.rockthebike.com/lights/downlowglow

It definitely catches your eye while driving a car. Anyone here use it?

On an unrelated issue, a quick rant: Evanston painted some bike lanes on one way streets at the end of October and now I see more cyclists, no helmet nor lights, riding against traffic in those lanes (there are also huge arrows painted on the lanes, so it should be evident to anyone that they are riding against traffic)!! Needless to say, I have already seen dangerous encounters where drivers do not expect someone against traffic at crossings.

[velogirl]

one of my teammates got them for her and her husband last season. she put them on her commute bike. they're very cool and very visible.

[Geonz]

Too pricey for me - and I think for here, perhaps a little too much. My Christmas tree seems to be doing the trick (No pics yet 'cause I haven't added anything else.) I'm also dismayed at just how many batteries I go through... but I like the way they look!

[GLC1968]

Wow, very cool! I'd love to glow blue or green when I ride!!

[Blueberry]

Too pricey for me - and I think for here, perhaps a little too much. My Christmas tree seems to be doing the trick (No pics yet 'cause I haven't added anything else.) I'm also dismayed at just how many batteries I go through... but I like the way they look!

Can you get rechargeable batteries for it?

[Trek420]

they also make beautiful wind chimes

www.rockthebike.com/windchimes

[kfergos]

I have a down low glow on my bike.



I have always been a little nervous about how visible I am in the dark -- and I do a lot of riding in the dark, both morning and evening, in the winter. Riding with the down low glow helps me feel much more confident that cars see me; I actually ride more confidently with it on and now I look forward to night riding.

You're really impossible to not see from the side with this light on; drivers don't turn into me when I'm going by, and I often have them pass me with a much wider margin than before. It basically lights up a dark road on the sides dazzlingly, although the front wheel (I have fenders on) blocks it from shining in the front at all.

The light comes with a rechargeable battery and charger, plus stuff to mount it on your bike. It's easy to switch from one bike to another, too, which is a perk for people who switch between bikes. It's also waterproof, and I've proven that myself by riding in driving rain with it on.

In short... I'm in love.

[RoadRaven]

I soooooo like the idea of these

They look impressive - and thanks kfergos for the comprehensive "review"...

I'm going to ask my LBS about these puppies!

[jobob]

Likewise !!!

I might need to bop up to Berkeley to check them out ...

[pll]

Thanks kfergos! Your picture shows exactly what struck me when I saw these: the light was highly visible. The front and rear lights, by contrast, are almost invisible. The rider I saw had one attached to the chain stay (I hope my bike anatomy is correct!).

BTW, looks like a very nice bike. Maybe we can see a picture with the room lights on.

[Tri Girl]

Wow- that's a GREAT invention! If commuting through the dark winter works out for me, that's a definite on my "list" to get for next winter. Wow!!!
Thanks for sharing that- I love the idea. I have one question, tho. Some cities ban that kind of lighting under cars/motorcycles. Would bikes have the same restriction do you think? (guess I'll be checking my city codes before I lay down the cash...)

[jobob]

The vendors touched on that a bit on the website, at least with respect to the color of the light. Supposedly the amber color is 'street legal'.

[PscyclePath]

Wow- that's a GREAT invention! If commuting through the dark winter works out for me, that's a definite on my "list" to get for next winter. Wow!!!
Thanks for sharing that- I love the idea. I have one question, tho. Some cities ban that kind of lighting under cars/motorcycles. Would bikes have the same restriction do you think? (guess I'll be checking my city codes before I lay down the cash...)

Look at the way your state and community define the term "vehicle," and how the lighting laws apply to "vehicles." For example, here in Arkansas, bikes aren't "vehicles" by definition (since the statutes are written for "motor traffic"), and there is a separate section of the state Code which specifically applies to lights on bicycles. The light color restrictions, etc. all appear in another section of the code for motor vehicles.

Colors to beware of are blue (restricted to cop cars), and sometimes red (cop cars, fire trucks, and other emergency vehicles). There are a few exceptions for vehicles that need extra identification and caution when passing, and it's a good argument that this category should include bikes, should they try to apply the vehicular design standards to us.

I've got one of the "Envy Green" Down Low Glow sets on order... shipped on 11/28, FedEx was supposed to deliver it yesterday, but still no light yet. Will try to get & post some pictures when it gets here and I get it rigged up.

Tom

[KnottedYet]

I've really been thinking about one of these.

That, and the Hokey Spokes.

[bikerHen]

I got some Hokey Spokes last month. They are so fun and REALLY make me stand out in the dark, as long as I'm moving. They don't light the ground up though. Makes me feel like a kid when I have them going. I think I even pedal faster just so they'll look better. bikerHen