Reflectors - to keep or not to keep?

[Eden]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that there are probably better things these days than those old reflectors (reflective technology has come a long way recently).... why not get rid of them and put on something less dorky and more effective.

The reflective side wall tires you put on are very good. I went out with a bunch of people last year and we tested various lights and reflectors. We did find that for the most part reflectors still rule - they are brighter and more noticeable than lights (in fact #1 best light up the night item...... dorky orange traffic triangle!).

One light we did find quite good (and this was a surprise) was a tirefly - the kind that replaces your valve stem cap and blinks as it goes around. Hokey spokes sound more fun than plain old reflectors. How getting about getting really creative and using ultra reflective 3M "Diamond Grade" to make some reflective spoke cards. It comes in 4 or 5 colors and can be easily cut - in fact you can get precut reflective stickers right here on this web site. (though I'll bet most fixie riders would think it totally uncool ...)

[Serendipity]

I'm in favour of anything that increases my chances of being visible to drivers when I head out for the early morning commute, dorky or not!

In fact, I'm waiting for my order to come that is a whack of items to do just that - front light, rear light, the reflector things for the valves, a reflective triangle to put on my backpack, ankle strips, etc. etc. I suspect that by the time I get myself and my bike all decked out with those things, I'm going to bear a marked resemblance to a Christmas tree on wheels...

But, I'd rather be a visible dork, than the alternative....

[Aggie_Ama]

Eden- Do those Tireflys fit presta valves? I like those in a totally Fred Commuter way.

[kfergos]

I vote for more reflectors everywhere. Don't get rid of the front/rear ones, or replace them with "cooler" ones if you want to. But keep reflectors and add more -- reflectors can actually be BRIGHTER than your blinky lights when car headlights hit them.

[Eden]

Eden- Do those Tireflys fit presta valves? I like those in a totally Fred Commuter way.

Looks like you need an adapter, but they can be fit to presta valves. I think there's more than one brand of valve stem light too.

We (the group of us testing night time equipment) figured that a little tiny LED like that wouldn't be very visible so we were all very surprised at how eye catching it really was. Over all lots of reflecting materials seemed to be the best way to go. LED blinkies no matter how bright were no where near as effective. Some things that really stood out: reflective piping on jackets- go figure.., reflectors on places that move - someone had a bunch of tape around the bottoms of their shoes- really visible.

Really, I probably wouldn't keep the standard old fashioned wheel reflectors. The old ones have been far surpassed in reflective technology and the new ones are made to be thrown away...... The reflective side walls that the OP already has on are already far better.

[PscyclePath]

Eden- Do those Tireflys fit presta valves? I like those in a totally Fred Commuter way.

Ama:

The TireFlys are made for Schrader valves... but you can add a Schrader-to-Presta converter, and they'll work just fine.

As for the side reflectors in the wheel spokes, I usually take mine off as being more trouble than they are worth. They can loosen or break spokes, tend to unbalance the wheel, and can turn sideways and get hung up in the fork or the rear triangle. They are designed for wide-angle reflectivity only when at the top or bottom of the wheel. So, when the bicycle is stopped, the time they might actually be useful, they aren't real reliable. Even then, they can get hidden behind a pannier or your leg when you're stopped.

So, I routinely take mine off, and replace them with a reflective vest on me, ScotchLite 3M tape on my helmet, and the TireFlys. The TireFlys don't mess up the spokes, and they are active lights -- not reflectors -- so they attract more attention and don't depend upon your being "in the crosshairs" of a crossing motorist's headlights in order to work.

Tom

[Zen]

They're not on your bike now, right?

Gather your reflectors and a flashlilght.
Take them out at night and see how good they are.

I'm not one to give a rat's butt whether I look "cool" or not.

How cool will you look in that hospital gown?

I'll wear a flashing chicken on my head if it keeps me visible in the dark.

[Serendipity]

I'll wear a flashing chicken on my head if it keeps me visible in the dark.

Zen, that is just too funny! And a visual that I can't get out of my mind! LOL

[Pax]

Zen, that is just too funny! And a visual that I can't get out of my mind! LOL

I'm trying to figure out if the chicken IS a flashing light or if the chicken is wearing a raincoat and flashing passers by.

[kfergos]

How getting about getting really creative and using ultra reflective 3M "Diamond Grade" to make some reflective spoke cards. It comes in 4 or 5 colors and can be easily cut - in fact you can get precut reflective stickers right here on this web site.

Where can you get the uncut 3M reflective tape? My experience with pre-cut reflective stickers is that they just don't stick very well on rounded surfaces (such as bike tubes) or of course fabric. Is the 3M diamond grade stuff stickier than the pre-cut stuff, too?

[SadieKate]

Um, you know TE does sell stuff?

http://www.teamestrogen.com/product/...ter=price-desc

[Becky]

Um, you know TE does sell stuff?

http://www.teamestrogen.com/product/...ter=price-desc

Thoe Fun Reflectors stick quite well, almost too well! Clean the area first with something like isopropyl alcohol, and those things won't move!

[kfergos]

Um, you know TE does sell stuff?

http://www.teamestrogen.com/product/...ter=price-desc

Really?!!

Hehe seriously...they sell only stickers, not actual rolls of hard-core reflective tape like you see on semi trucks and so forth. Much as I'd like to put red reflective hearts on my bike, I think something more eye-catching might be good...

[BethG]

Reflectors may be brighter than a light, but they're only visible if light from something else hits it. At the right angle.

Not saying scrap them, but if you're on a road at night, lights/flashers are the way to go.

http://sheldonbrown.com/reflectors.html

[Flur]

After reading the posts in this thread and a number of others that came up in my search, I've concluded that to be seen it's good to have a lot of both. That's the route I'm going.

I know that 3 hokey spokes per wheel are needed to have consistent color all the way around the wheel, but I would think one is enough to been noticeable to drivers. Has anyone tried with just one per wheel?