Side Visibility this winter

[fossyant]

If one wants side visibility then why not get something like the cateye el-1100 that has much better side visibility than some other lights on the market. Much, much better side visibility than all the things being talked about on this thread. It all adds up though.

The only problem with that is they are at the rear - the Blackburn Mars have good side visibility. What you need is stuff folk can see you side on as you approach.

Anyway, nothing works when a driver doesn't look. I had all sorts of reflective stuff on, 6 bike lights, and 4 flashy's on my rucksack, and still got hit..

Ah well, I think I've got a 'light' addiction.....'oh but the lights are so pretty'...bzzzzzz (taken from the start of Disney's Bug's Life)

 

[summerdays]

I've gone for Fibre Flares and fitted them to my rucksack

http://fibreflare.com/

I gave Mr Summerdays some for his birthday last week so we haven't had a chance to see what they are like. Otherwise its lights (more lights), and night vision jacket.

What do the YACF spoke things look like in the daylight?

 

[Titanium]

Reflect

What's that wierd (and apparantly rubbish) film where Nicholas Cage drives around on a motorbike with his head on fire, actually burning? That might work.

Anyway, I always think the Hi-Viz reflective jackets are such a valuable benefit to standing out, even from a distance. Whenever you see (for example) Ambulance staff on telly, filmed during darkness, their jackets glow and project amazingly well.

So I'd always go with your Hi Viz jacket, and make sure that whatever one you use has a good portion of reflective material visible at the side. Ask a friend or loved one to indulge you by popping outside with a torch whilst you covort around in the distance. Then you'll know for sure if it's doing it's job.

 

[Big Jack Brass]

...my bike is black, the logos are reflective but cant be that useful really...

Respro Black Diamond reflective sticker sheet looks interesting, apparently black in daylight but acting like normal Scotchlite when the headlights catch it. Unfortunately it seems to be extremely expensive compared to ordinary stick-on reflectors.

 

[marinyork]

The only problem with that is they are at the rear - the Blackburn Mars have good side visibility. What you need is stuff folk can see you side on as you approach.

Anyway, nothing works when a driver doesn't look. I had all sorts of reflective stuff on, 6 bike lights, and 4 flashy's on my rucksack, and still got hit..

Ah well, I think I've got a 'light' addiction.....'oh but the lights are so pretty'...bzzzzzz (taken from the start of Disney's Bug's Life)

That's very true. Didn't think the Mars models had good side visibility. My Mars 4 is a great light, but it's certainly much poorer from the side (and pretty much any angle deviating largely from straight on). The point about the rears is they are in a higher but similar position to some of the things mentioned. I've seen people mount smart half watt lights on the triangles and rotate them around.

 

[fossyant]

That black diamond stuff looks good, and won't spoil the looks of the bike.

 

[palinurus]

I'm thinking of getting some of that Respro stuff for the Singlecross. Might check eBay first to see if there's any cheaper options for similar stuff.

 

[BentMikey]

That black diamond stuff looks good, and won't spoil the looks of the bike.

I have some, it's super! Sadly it's not as bright as the 3M scotchlite.

 

[orbiter]

IMHO a good reflector is visible to a driver long before most bike lights simply because car lights are so much brighter.

Here's a good place for reflectors:
http://www.china-beta.com/products.php?pid=134
Maybe only wholesale but gives an idea of what's available.

For side reflection nobody's mentioned the strips I've seen in Germany which weave in and out of the spokes a couple of inches inside the rim. Are they on sale anywhere in the uk?

 

[BentMikey]

...then you have only experienced older style dim bike lights. Get some proper ones, and there's no way you'd be saying that.