LED armbands anyone?

[middleagecyclist]

Got a new commute which goes thru Manchester city centre - some very impatient, inconsiderate drivers! Now the darkness is intruding into my return route timing and I am having to compete with a lot of heavy traffic, i am wondering about getting a strobing armband for my offside arm. Good for right turns and hopefully drivers will give me a bit more room on passing. I have the static and strobing front and and rear lights already and wear Altura night vision clobber. Anyone tried an armband as well? How do they hold up to winter use? What makes should I consider/avoid?

Many thanks for any advice.

 

[chewa]

Hi,

I occasionally use an LED armband, but I tend to wear it wrapped around my right ankle, as I think the motion when pedalling makes it more noticeable. I found that when worn round my arm, it wasn't particularly visible from the rear when on the hoods (particularly if wearing a winter jacket).

Mine survived my hit and run (one led was sheared through) and still works.

Also useful as dog collars when walking the dogs in the dark!!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Got a few at the last Aldi sale, 4 for under a fiver, for wearing on my ankles.
The lights packet it in after the first downpour, but I still wear them, they are very reflective.
On browsing on line, it looks like what you can buy is all very similar, the batteries won't last being exposed to rain.
They are a good aid to visibility even without the flashing lights, imo.

 

[Ganymede]

If you're talking about using them after dark, then reflective only is just as effective and doesn't need batteries. If they are on your ankles they cause their own "strobe" effect. On your wrists, they highlight your hand signals (I have a coat whose cuffs turn down to reveal reflective strips and I always feel happier with them on when making signals).

 

[Hacienda71]

I use them on the commute sometimes. I don't think you can underestimate the benefits of additional side visibility.

 

[ufkacbln]

If you have decent lights and these cannot be seen then an LED armband will make absolutely no difference whatsoever

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I dont have LED ones but I use the wide ankle reflective slap bands from Decathlon round my wrists as a bit of extra viz cum indicators. Dont seem to have any bother at turns on my north Manchester & city centre riding. I've had a few nice comments from drivers about them.
I have the Aldi LED reflective bands for my dogs when out walking after dark. They are pretty clear from quite some distance and through undergrowth when they're off foraging. I suspect tho they'd be lost in the blitz of lights in a stream of traffic with brake lights going on and off.

 

[cyberknight]

If you're talking about using them after dark, then reflective only is just as effective and doesn't need batteries. If they are on your ankles they cause their own "strobe" effect. On your wrists, they highlight your hand signals (I have a coat whose cuffs turn down to reveal reflective strips and I always feel happier with them on when making signals).

As above, mine are a few years old and i have ripped the battery part out when it rusted but they still make effective reflective bands.

 

[Sore Thumb]

I have followed some cyclists and assess how their lights perform. The body or arm led bands don't seem that great to be honest.

This is what I use

 

[gaz]

Fibre Flares off good side visibility.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Look into using the NCN 6 Darrell. Is all good surfacing now the muddy sections have been done. It avoids all of the craziness of the A56!

It can be done on 23 mm but bigger is better tbh.

 

[derrick]

There are a group of us who ride Wednesday evenings, we all use them on left and right arms, as well as some really good lights, i would not ride without them, we look like a moving Christmas tree, you would have to be totally blind not to see us, as for just having front and rear lights they cannot be seen from the side properly so i would definitely use the arm bands.

 

[Sore Thumb]

Fibre Flares off good side visibility.

I've had two fibre flares and they lasted a few weeks after they died due to the rain. The internal connections all rusty. Not that bright either.

Need something reliable and bomb proof for all year any weather riding.

 

[derrick]

Link http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Refle...isure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item19e863ab6e

Although the ones we bought were in the UK.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

I strapped my flashing bands down the stays of my pannier rack, with cable ties - quite effective

A bloke in the pub tonight strapped one round his little dog's head - was like a Christmas headband