One less thing to make me a "road geek"

[Owlie]

My rear wheel reflector broke today. It had cracked from being hit by rocks and sticks and things, and whatever I did while cleaning my bike today caused it to actually break. I took the front one off (well, broke it off!) for symmetry and because it was developing a similar crack.

I mentioned this to DBF, who was rather pleased about this. He tried taking them off when I bought the bike two (wow, really?) years ago, to no avail (snerk). Of course, now I want to find some silly ones (if they exist), or these: http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/travel-outdoors/e905/

[Roadtrip]

Ohhhhh my... (hides in corner) I have those on my hybrid! Red. Bought when I planned on doing a night ride locally.

Shannon

[Owlie]

Eh, I don't care, really. Hence the eyerolling. It's not as big a deal to me as it is to some people. (I told DBF that I'd put streamers and smiley-face valve caps on it next!)
And I've still got my pie-plate.

[jessmarimba]

I don't have the pie plate...but I definitely left the reflectors on the wheels. I've been laughed at for them (and then told to balance them opposite the valves??) but anything that makes me visible at dawn/twilight makes me happy. I actually considered those LED lights to put on the wheels but decided that they might not be so cooperative when I take the bike offroad.

[westtexas]

I have to say, those reflectors are awesome.

I'm always getting on my guy to put a light on his bike because even when he's wearing white and riding his white bike, I can barely see him and I actually know he is there. On my bike I've got some ridiculous serfas seat stay jelly lights and a ginormous cateye up front. I paid a lot of money for the stuff in my cranium and I plan on protecting it as much as possible!!

[Owlie]

I couldn't find any silly spoke reflectors. The wheel lights may be too much even for me, though if I start riding in the evening or early in the morning on roads as opposed to rail-trails, I may re-think that.

I'm thinking of putting some of these on my rims instead.

[owlice]

Those aren't reflectors; they are lights! I have two for each wheel, the ones that change color. I also have one of these on my bike currently (which also changes color), and two more that I'm not using at the moment, but I look forward to doing so.

I also have EL wire for my bike, but don't have it on at the moment. (Hmmm... I should fix that!)

And I still have the usual reflectors on my wheels, and the (required) front and back reflectors that came with the bike. When I ride at night, which I often do (such as tonight), I want to be seen, and I want those seeing me knowing I'm on a bike. Hence all the lights I've already mentioned and the headlights (one on the bike, one on my helmet) and the Superflash in the back.

I love my SpokeLits, and when I got mine, I bought a bunch and gave them to friends.

[owlice]

What, Owlie, you don't like the fish?!? Or the flowers??

[Owlie]

What, Owlie, you don't like the fish?!? Or the flowers??

I actually really like the fish, they just don't match my bike. If I had a blue bike, I'd be all over those things. The flowers aren't really my style.

The spokelits are a bit much for the kind of riding I do right now, though I may reconsider in the near future. If I wind up riding very early in the morning or in the evening on roads, then I'll want to be lit up like a Christmas tree!

[owlice]

These are very cool... the video is worth watching (but maybe without the sound).

(I'll shut up now!)

[Thorn]

I feel so low tech. I put these on my commuter bike ( http://www.rei.com/product/808967/li...wer-reflectors ) and then thought them so useful yet unobtrusive that I put them on my touring bike, too. In normal sunshine you can't see them, but they light up beautifully when they need to. I've been surprised at the number of positive comments I get for them from roadies...ok, not weight weenie roadies, but people who spend a lot of time on their bikes.

Note: you're really paying for the application method. The reflective tape is very thin (think saran wrap) but it comes cut on these tiny little cards that are perfect for just wrapping around the spokes.

[Dr.Doo]

Low tech solution
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wowow-Spoke-...9098455&sr=8-4

[radacrider]

+1 on the Lightweights for wheels. I have them on my SUB, nice addition to my HUGE (other's words) headlight (B&M IXON-IQ) and my super bright Dinotte rear light. The lightweights are unobtrusive and very effective, not too mention basically no weight.

[Geonz]

I have Spokelits on most of my bikes (maybe all...). Just last night I cruised up to my least favorite 4-way stop in the dark, arriving just before that perpendicular fellow... and was really happy that I knew he could see my spinning red light. (I have a blue one on there, too -- it's whichever one I hit first unless I'm going through campus and then I get blue and red going, which for some reason or other tends to give me just a little more room
My philosophy is to get people to think "no one will notice if I'm geeky -- look at her!" and to get out there and ride. http://2milechallenge.com/

... now, I do have my limits... I'm only *thinking* about this:
http://www.vat19.com/dvds/turbospoke...ust-system.cfm

[Becky]

+2 on the Lightweights for wheels.