Has anyone tried one of these?

[John342]

Hi, after nearly being caught side on by a car that was coming out of a side road onto the main road that I was cycling along last night I got home and googled bike side lights and it come up with what looks like a great idea.
Brightside side lights.
Has anyone tried them before and got any opinions on their usefulness etc? I think with the existing lights fitted to my bike this should offer virtually all round visibility.
Many thanks for your views.
John

 

[the snail]

Can't comment on those lights, but spoke reflectors and tyres with reflective side walls are very effective at night. None of it helps if the driver doesn't look where they are going though.

 

[John342]

Thanks, might have a look around at these tyres. I have got 2x spoke reflectors on each wheel so that should help.
Ps it was a boy racer type with music blaring etc. So maybe I was perfectly visible just wrong place wrong time. But luck was on my side.

 

[Welsh wheels]

Hi, after nearly being caught side on by a car that was coming out of a side road onto the main road that I was cycling along last night I got home and googled bike side lights and it come up with what looks like a great idea.
Brightside side lights.
Has anyone tried them before and got any opinions on their usefulness etc? I think with the existing lights fitted to my bike this should offer virtually all round visibility.
Many thanks for your views.
John

You wouldn't necessarily even need bike side lights. Just attach normal rear lights on sideways. I should think that work for most lights, especially those with a velcro attachment. I may try it myself, although I don't know whether side lights might have the potential to confuse drivers.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

The trouble with side reflectors or lights is that by the time someone has jumped a give way line and seen them it is already too late.

 

[John342]

I was considering rear lights sideways but then thought with them being red it would confuse others whereas the brightside lights are orange. Like side lights on long vehicles.

 

[Elybazza61]

The trouble with side reflectors or lights is that by the time someone has jumped a give way line and seen them it is already too late.

Or not even seeing you with a Hope front light on; it was on it's 'low' setting I suppose .

 

[Globalti]

Paul Sample the cartoonist has it in his Ogri cartoon in Bike magazine:

 

[Hugh Manatee]

I'm thinking of getting one now I've seen it. I had a very lucky escape about this time last year with a BMW at the top of the M54 junction 3. She didn't seem to see me. I know it wouldn't help if someone wasn't looking at all but I think I prefer the idea over a high viz with reflectives.

As long as there is a way of attaching it to the frame without my knees hitting it.

 

[John342]

As for positioning of the light I was thinking around where the spacers are. I have got all 3 installed so enough room there. No aerodynamics for me I'm afraid.

 

[Lozz360]

Assuming you were moving forward at the moment the driver decided to pull out of the side road, I don’t see what real difference side lights would make? At the moment he made his decision you would have been facing towards him. Not side on.

 

[steveindenmark]

Forgetting the old chestnut If there are not looking,they wont see you. I wonder which very intelligent fella came up with that one.

I have a couple of white lights that face the kerb. One on my seatpost and one on the forks. My spokes have those refective tubes on them. As well as my main front light I also have a helmet light which I put on strobe in built up areas. Its not an eye burning strobe, but you can see it. I also wear a vis vest.

It may sound like overkill but it works for me. In fact I get left a lot more room than I did before I started to make myself a lot more visible.

 

[Ajax Bay]

You're just trolling the anti light anti visibility brigade, Steve.

 

[John342]

I think Steve has got the right idea lol.
The reflective tubes? Could they be attached to the forks too maybe?
Have you got a link at all.
Cheers john

 

[Ajax Bay]

reflective tubes? Could they be attached to the forks too maybe?

https://www.cyclerepublic.com/catal...MI5pb_mZPI1wIV6p3tCh0t1gErEAQYASABEgKSX_D_BwE
No - they fit spokes. Good for keeping children amused. Or riders who anticipate being 'attacked' from the side.