Road Safety (not trying to be killed when its dark)

Cabaal

Yes I know its still the summer but the evenings will start to get darker soon and I'm curious for recommendations for lights, I know reflective jackets are often better but I'm trying to cut down on stuff I have to carry.

What I;m planning or already have is
2 of these at the back at each side of the wheel on the bar
http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/32936/Knog-Frog-Rear-Led-06/

One of these under the sattle
http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/13056/Cateye-LD600-Rear-Led/

(large light will be on constant whilst two other small one's will be flashing I'd say)

This on the front
http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/27582/Cateye-HL-EL210-5LED-Front/
(on constant)

any thoughts?

Civilian_Target

More than enough!

ThOnda

If you could have some reflective stripes, it would help. They are cheap and really good. Just on your ankles is more than enough.

Ghost Rider

Fluorescent green hair dye can be helpful too, if you're not wearing a helmet.

Cabaal

ThOnda wrote:

If you could have some reflective stripes, it would help. They are cheap and really good. Just on your ankles is more than enough.

I tie these to my bag so I'm think I'm covered
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360011890&N=Respro%20Hi%20Viz%20Star%20Hang%20Tags


What I have is prob abit overkill now

Ghost Rider

To my mind, the most important safety feature I have is neither my helmet nor my lights but my visi-vest. Instead of being just another blur in the undifferentiated periphery of a driver's vision, I become an object of his conscious attention.

(It's also the thing I most resent having to wear. Shame, that.)

dalk

Get some of these!...Ah go on. I like the fact that you can program your own messages.

Capt'n Midnight

under seat lights aren't much good from the side since your legs can get in the way and it's from the side the main risk is

reflective strips on your legs are well worth it, nothing signifies "cyclist" to motorists than the leg movement

I know someone who had a large battery in a water bottle, connected to a strobe light for use down the country. when he heard a car he turned it on and it flashed about twice a second, blue flashes , he reckoned motorists would slow down before they saw him

Stereophonic

Further point I must add.

I drove home from the City Centre last night at around 2 o' clock... I encountered 5 cyclists on the road from Bus Eireann depot to around Donneycarney. I couldn't believe that 4 out of the 5 had no lights, nothing to show they were even on the road.

They must be off their heads or just plain stupid. Looked like they were coming home from work as they had bags.

Civilian_Target

dalk wrote:

Get some of these!...Ah go on. I like the fact that you can program your own messages.

Have you got them?

Cabaal

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

under seat lights aren't much good from the side since your legs can get in the way and it's from the side the main risk is

My seat post has plenty of room so legs won't be going anywhere near my main back light, I'm fully aware of the dangers from the sides and hence the small flashing lights attached to the bars at the back, should ensure I'm seen like a christmas tree

daymobrew

I have a reflective helmet band (up high so no obstructions) and a hi-viz backpack cover (hi-viz day and night). These are the passive items I wear year-round.
For night cycling I have the Cateye EL-530 on the front and the Cateye TL-LD1100 on the back (it has side LEDs too). My overshoes have a nice vertical reflective strip on the heel.

blorg

I had a Smart 1/2 watt LED on the back. It is scarily bright, you can't look at it. Many people think it equals daymobrew's Cateye but at a fraction of the price. I have it on the back of my rack so nothing gets in its way.

Drawbacks: battery life isn't great (15/30hr - I use rechargeables) and rain can tend to affect the mode switching. I have lost my current one after a year/9,000km on the bike and will be getting another.