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black. with all breaks and lights and crazy shit like that, i was thinking of getting panniers too. what does everyone think?
Panniers sound good. I Would'nt advise riding with breaks in your bike though.
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That's what I normally do.
I like the way it looks, too, but I just can't see anything--flashing red lights in front of me are like a red wall. Impossible to see past as I'm very light sensitive and easily blinded (by the light).
So this is why you stop at red lights and not an uncontrollable teutonic sense of civil responsibility?
I loved Nhatt's idea at the Rollas - "If you want to beat Oliver, just have someone stand in front of him with a red light." Mind you, I've never needed to resort to tricks to beat Oliver ;o)
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Reminds me of this:
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I would have thought the aussies would have reduced them to Pani's by now ;)
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Reminds me of this:
Was'nt really a crack at the spelling. If you had checked any of the nummerous brake threads, you'd have noticed a running gag (OK, so not a very funny one). Perpetuating running gags, gives me a sense of belonging to the 'in crowd' :)
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^^^ that doesn't make sense at all
a small red light compared to a flouro jacket the size of a human torso i know which i would see first driving my articulated lorry
i always thought a fluro jacket could be used in place of a set of lights
more reflective / brighter / larger target areaThis is a deeply cretinous statement, or a wind-up.
A good rear light, with fresh-ish batteries, can be seen for hundred(s) of feet or even yards. As hippy said, a fluoro jacket has restrictions on its visibility. One of them, is that over time, and after washes, it becomes less reflective, and it appears many owners ignore that. Also, flouro jackets reflect light best when light is reflected back from where it came - ie. 90degrees. But how many riders ride a Pederson, so that they are sitting straight up, and are not bent over forwards? Therefor the full reflectiveness of the jacket will not be achieved. And when the jackets get dirty, they reflect much less, whereas a simply wipe of the rear light, will clean it effectively.
The most powerful rearlights, which nearly blind other riders and cars drivers can (and maybe should) be positioned so that they point ever so slightly down, instead of directly backwards. Since some of these lights, like the Dinottes, actually are powerful enough to reflect back up from the road, then slightly lowering the angle would still be a safe option, with the benefit, that if it is raining, there will be a red glow on the road behind you.
I also think very negatively of cyclists I see, that think being in fluoro is the same as following the law on bicycle lighting. Yes, I RLJ, but only if there is NO traffic coming the other way. I'm sure someone will want to point out that my view is therefore invalid, .........and that is that person's perogative.
Lastly, and most important, is that if any rider has an accident at night, and was not using front and rear lights at the time, they will get nothing from the courts, and nothing from a car driver's insurance company. Good luck with that.
None of my lights are expensive, but one of them (frontlight - unbelievably from ARGOS), is as bright as I could want on city commuting). Yes, my commuting now is nearly always when it is dark. And I use 2 lights when its not completely dark, but 3 lights when there is no sun at all. One light (a red rear light), I position on my shoulder strap (gaffer-taped) of my Timbuk2. Its on my right shoulder, so motorists appraching from the rear see a red flashing light on my seatpost, and another red flashing light on my shoulder.
Riding with no lights shows contempt of selfworth IMO.
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Was'nt really a crack at the spelling. If you had checked any of the nummerous brake threads, you'd have noticed a running gag (OK, so not a very funny one). Perpetuating running gags, gives me a sense of belonging to the 'in crowd' :)
i like you. do you want to hang out and troll together?
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That's what I normally do.
I like the way it looks, too, but I just can't see anything--flashing red lights in front of me are like a red wall. Impossible to see past as I'm very light sensitive and easily blinded (by the light).
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRtAJy2nFVM"]YouTube
- Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Blinded by the light (Live 1976)[/ame] -
Cars pulling out of a sideroad/driveway etc. will often not see a reflectve cyclist on the main road, as their headlights are not shinning on them.
John Schubert did an essay on it.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/reflectors.htmlWhat I do:
Use both. yes lights can be seen better, but there are lights all over the place on city roads, fluoro jackets(etc.) help identify you as a cyclist, and help drivers gauge your position and size. Also, if you fall off your bike into the middle of the road away from your bike (and lights). You are still visible*.(* done this. Slipped on black ice, bike in ditch, me in road, dressed like a ninja, trying to stand-up on ice in cleated shoes, and thye cars having uber long braking distance. Thankfully no cars came before I managed to get off the road)
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i like you. do you want to hang out and troll together?
I'll see if I can fit it in between my grooming and derailing..:)
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... following the law on bicycle lighting....
One light (a red rear light), I position on my shoulder strap (gaffer-taped) of my Timbuk2. Its on my right shoulder, so motorists appraching from the rear see a red flashing light on my seatpost, and another red flashing light on my shoulder.
Just to be pedantic... Doesn't the law state you have to have at least one rear (red) and at least one front (white) light on constantly, not flashing? :p
I think you also have to have front and rear reflectors too...Lastly, and most important, is that if any rider has an accident at night, and was not using front and rear lights at the time, they will get nothing from the courts, and nothing from a car driver's insurance company. Good luck with that.
Bang! Spot on and I agree 100%. If you're not in the wrong in a collision, then you can get something from the other party's insurance for damage and injuries. One of the first questions I was asked by an insurance company when I was hit were "Did you have a full set of lights?".
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Awww. Bless.
That too. :)
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So this is why you stop at red lights and not an uncontrollable teutonic sense of civil responsibility?
It's both, of course. When someone switches on the red light, it stings my eyes and I fall into a Spanish lullaby.
I loved Nhatt's idea at the Rollas - "If you want to beat Oliver, just have someone stand in front of him with a red light." Mind you, I've never needed to resort to tricks to beat Oliver ;o)
Actually, if you want to beat me at Rollas (500m version), all you have to do is go slightly faster than the average tortoise.
That red light idea would never work. On the rollers, I'd have no compunction about attempting to RLJ, since no matter how hard I tried, I would never get past it.
Oh, and I did beat you at the 1km event at the Horseshoe. :)
Smallfurry
Balki
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hippy
papa44
GA2G
mmccarthy
Arducius
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Lights Out
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Eh hem.
Look, I'm guessing that it's been quite over at MT, but your barking up the wrong tree if you think all of us on here are into the same thing.
Just like in real life, some people have brakes, some don't (like me, who didn't even have them when I worked as a courier) some have racks (like me) and dynamo lights (also, like me), some even have huge light saber-esqe objects straped to their seat stays.
Most people on this thread agree that lights are a good thing, and if you utfs you'll find that there are good arguments for and against brakes, helmets, etc...just like you would find on moving target.
Besides, your wrong about the spoke colours, it's roadies you need to watch out for with that.