Night riding - reflectors
Discussion
This may have been done before, apologies if it has.
I ride to work most days and plan to continue as much as I can through the winter. I have two basic Cateye LED lights on my bike currently which I use when it is raining or poor light. I don't think they are good enough for winter night riding so I started to look for more. I checked the Highway Code to see if flashing lights were allowed as I thought they weren't and I found this:
"At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen. Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp.
Law RVLR regs 13, 18 & 24"
I removed all the reflectors off my bike as I am sure most people do. I can easily put a red reflector back on but I have SPDs so how can I have an amber reflector on them? I guess the chance of ever being pull up on that is beyond slim but seemed odd to me.
Anyone have any experience? And whilst we are on the subject what are the best lights to get?
I ride to work most days and plan to continue as much as I can through the winter. I have two basic Cateye LED lights on my bike currently which I use when it is raining or poor light. I don't think they are good enough for winter night riding so I started to look for more. I checked the Highway Code to see if flashing lights were allowed as I thought they weren't and I found this:
"At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen. Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp.
Law RVLR regs 13, 18 & 24"
I removed all the reflectors off my bike as I am sure most people do. I can easily put a red reflector back on but I have SPDs so how can I have an amber reflector on them? I guess the chance of ever being pull up on that is beyond slim but seemed odd to me.
Anyone have any experience? And whilst we are on the subject what are the best lights to get?
944fan said:
I guess the chance of ever being pull up on that is zero
Fit reflectors if you want to, leave them off if you don't. Personally, if I were to be cycling regularly in the dark, I would make sure to have decent wheel reflectors but not worry about front and rear reflectors because I have lights.Reflector bands around your ankles are also very effective.
As for what lights to get, well that depends entirely on budget.
Reflectors are handy, as in "every little helps" to be seen , most bikes dont have them though and my egg beaters cant support them!
If comumteing @ night (all through winter) I always ride with 2 x lights front and rear, as they can easily fail, or if on the back fail without you realising!!
Also I wear a high vis jacket with reflectors, as if I ever did fall off the bike I would want to be seen if on the ground!
When I had an urban comute at night I just had 2 x cateyes on the front, one on steady one on flashing
Now my commute is all rural and no street lighting so need a decent front beam to actually see the road , alongside a flashing LED
If comumteing @ night (all through winter) I always ride with 2 x lights front and rear, as they can easily fail, or if on the back fail without you realising!!
Also I wear a high vis jacket with reflectors, as if I ever did fall off the bike I would want to be seen if on the ground!
When I had an urban comute at night I just had 2 x cateyes on the front, one on steady one on flashing
Now my commute is all rural and no street lighting so need a decent front beam to actually see the road , alongside a flashing LED
TwistingMyMelon said:
Reflectors are handy, as in "every little helps" to be seen , most bikes dont have them though and my egg beaters cant support them!
If comumteing @ night (all through winter) I always ride with 2 x lights front and rear, as they can easily fail, or if on the back fail without you realising!!
Also I wear a high vis jacket with reflectors, as if I ever did fall off the bike I would want to be seen if on the ground!
When I had an urban comute at night I just had 2 x cateyes on the front, one on steady one on flashing
Now my commute is all rural and no street lighting so need a decent front beam to actually see the road , alongside a flashing LED
Pretty much this. My ride is part urban, part rural. I have the following:If comumteing @ night (all through winter) I always ride with 2 x lights front and rear, as they can easily fail, or if on the back fail without you realising!!
Also I wear a high vis jacket with reflectors, as if I ever did fall off the bike I would want to be seen if on the ground!
When I had an urban comute at night I just had 2 x cateyes on the front, one on steady one on flashing
Now my commute is all rural and no street lighting so need a decent front beam to actually see the road , alongside a flashing LED
Hi powered rechargeable front light (Chinese jobbie)
A second led back up light run on AA batteries
On the rear I (am soon to) have a Moon Shield rechargeable light
A second cateye backup run on AA batteries
I also have 2 x reflective bands to go on my ankles
Am considering a high vis waistcoat to go over my bag, but am open to suggestions on this.
Hopefully I am visible!
Front: I have a big magicshine 2,000 lumen light (on its lowest setting, pointing 10-15ft ahead at the ground to avoid blinding cars) and a small USB-charged blinking "Blackburn Flea" LED. A cheaper version of that Magicshine i posted up here a few days ago - £20 delivered from ebuyer while stocks last. That one is 400 lumen but thats ample.
Back: a £3.99 flashing light from Aldi under my saddle, and the flashing red Blackburn Flea LED which i have on the back of my helmet.
Depending on temperature, either a hi-vis t-shirt, or a high-vis Endura waterproof jacket, + reflective bands around my ankles + my shorts/winter leggings have reflective bits on too. Im pretty visible.
Back: a £3.99 flashing light from Aldi under my saddle, and the flashing red Blackburn Flea LED which i have on the back of my helmet.
Depending on temperature, either a hi-vis t-shirt, or a high-vis Endura waterproof jacket, + reflective bands around my ankles + my shorts/winter leggings have reflective bits on too. Im pretty visible.
I don't have reflectors on my bike 
But I do have reflective vinyl on the frame & forks of my bike
"silvery" white on the white bits, black on the black bits ... these reflect white
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/VINYL-GRAPHIC-SHOP/_i.htm...
Reflective tape on my wheels too
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REFLECTIVE-CYCLE-bike-WH...
But I do have reflective vinyl on the frame & forks of my bike
"silvery" white on the white bits, black on the black bits ... these reflect white
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/VINYL-GRAPHIC-SHOP/_i.htm...
Reflective tape on my wheels too
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REFLECTIVE-CYCLE-bike-WH...
944fan said:
I guess given the difference between good lights and s
t lights can result in serious injury or death I would say that budget is unlimitted.
I use the moon XP300 and shield 60 light set. So, so much confidence at night knowing I'll be seen with the shield on. t lights can result in serious injury or death I would say that budget is unlimitted.I don't have reflectors but I run 2 front and 2 rear lights. Never a flashing front but have 1 steady rear light and my stronger moon shield 60 light on the slower of the 2 flash modes.
S10GTA said:
Am considering a high vis waistcoat to go over my bag, but am open to suggestions on this.
Most high-vis stuff I see over bags (typically Humps) just end up pointing at the sky and don't really serve their intended purpose. One of the benefits of a flat bar bike is that the rider is more upright and hence better in this respect.A head/helmet mounted front light is also helpful for pointing at areas not be illuminated by other lights, i.e. pedestrians, side roads, mirrors etc.
On the reflector side of things, tyres with reflective sidewalls seem to work well but are inevitably not available on your preferred tyre.
Edited by TheInternet on Thursday 15th August 14:52
Edited by TheInternet on Thursday 15th August 15:39
S10GTA said:
Pretty much this. My ride is part urban, part rural. I have the following:
Hi powered rechargeable front light (Chinese jobbie)
A second led back up light run on AA batteries
On the rear I (am soon to) have a Moon Shield rechargeable light
A second cateye backup run on AA batteries
I also have 2 x reflective bands to go on my ankles
Am considering a high vis waistcoat to go over my bag, but am open to suggestions on this.
Hopefully I am visible!
If you'd like a skyride branded one let me know, I may have a box of them...Hi powered rechargeable front light (Chinese jobbie)
A second led back up light run on AA batteries
On the rear I (am soon to) have a Moon Shield rechargeable light
A second cateye backup run on AA batteries
I also have 2 x reflective bands to go on my ankles
Am considering a high vis waistcoat to go over my bag, but am open to suggestions on this.
Hopefully I am visible!
2 winters ago I came across a fella with his wheels all lit up. He had reflectors on his spokes, they were really effective, my headlights made them look like solid shiney wheels. Aldi or lidl did them last year for a few £s. I have them on my road bike now and tbh they dont look to bad in the day light.
I commute in the country back roads and although a front light is there for me to see where Im going I dont always have it on but I have a pair of back lights so the muppets can see me from behind and they are on from 5ish onwards as there are a lot of woods and dark spots on my route. Not a fan of being punted up the arse! LOL
I commute in the country back roads and although a front light is there for me to see where Im going I dont always have it on but I have a pair of back lights so the muppets can see me from behind and they are on from 5ish onwards as there are a lot of woods and dark spots on my route. Not a fan of being punted up the arse! LOL
Slap Wrap reflective straps are the solution to pedal reflectors. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=slap+wrap&rl...
Although they are NOT pedal reflectors in strict accordance with the law, they are, when worn on the ankles, in keeping with the spirit of the law and will do much to mitigate against any accusation of contributory negligence in the event of any incident. They are probably better than pedal reflectors in so far as they can also be seen from a full 360 degrees around the bike. The importance of the pedal reflector is that it is constantly moving up and down, and will grab the attention of any following vehicle much more effectively than the static red reflector hung off the seatpost. When not in use, during the winter time, I keep mine wrapped around the handlebar stem, or the seatpost. This way they are always with the bike when I set out, so if it gets dark while I'm riding I can slap them on without getting off the bike at all.
I am the exception rather than the rule, I think, when it comes to my bikes. All of them have the full compliment of reflectors and bell that they came with when new. They may well not save my life, but if I were to remove them, then be shunted from behind, it would play on my mind that leaving them on might have helped prevent the shunt. Along with multiple front and rear lights, it's a bit 'belt and braces' but confidence in my visibility to others outweighs a pathetic need to shave 10 grams off the weight of my bike.
Although they are NOT pedal reflectors in strict accordance with the law, they are, when worn on the ankles, in keeping with the spirit of the law and will do much to mitigate against any accusation of contributory negligence in the event of any incident. They are probably better than pedal reflectors in so far as they can also be seen from a full 360 degrees around the bike. The importance of the pedal reflector is that it is constantly moving up and down, and will grab the attention of any following vehicle much more effectively than the static red reflector hung off the seatpost. When not in use, during the winter time, I keep mine wrapped around the handlebar stem, or the seatpost. This way they are always with the bike when I set out, so if it gets dark while I'm riding I can slap them on without getting off the bike at all.
I am the exception rather than the rule, I think, when it comes to my bikes. All of them have the full compliment of reflectors and bell that they came with when new. They may well not save my life, but if I were to remove them, then be shunted from behind, it would play on my mind that leaving them on might have helped prevent the shunt. Along with multiple front and rear lights, it's a bit 'belt and braces' but confidence in my visibility to others outweighs a pathetic need to shave 10 grams off the weight of my bike.
The_Gza said:
Looks like these to me: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/reflective-spoke-sticks...
Thats because thats what they are lol. £2 in Lidl/Aldi though.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff