Night Riding Safety? - Page 3

Thunder9 wrote:

>
>
>Also, the cars coming from behind won't typically crash right into you, but rather, go around you
>and then make a right hand turn into you (according to my research). I suspect this is partially
>due to the rider being too far to the right, out of fear of getting hit from behind, thus allowing
>the car to pass with little bearth and little conciousness of sharing the road.
>
That seems true; makes you seem less like "traffic". Another factor seems to be motorists
underestimating your speed. They see you but think they have plenty of time to complete the
maneuver; judging your speed as much from their experience as from direct observation ("oh, that's
just a bike"). They're not really *trying* to kill you; it just seems that way. Again, a very bright
light seems to help correct some of these erroneous subconcious evaluations.

Chris Zacho The Wheelman wrote:
> When I commute by bike during the wee hours of dark, I use a NightSun headlamp, orange front
> flasher, red rear flasher, reflectors front and rear, reflectorized leg bands (Nashbar makes a
> really nice BRIGHT set), and special metal prism reflective tapes on my rims. 16 each, front and
> rear, mounted on the face of the rims, between the spokes.
>
> The rim reflectors are probably the best idea, they are seen from all angles and create two
> distinct rotating circles of light. Unmistakably a bicycle.
>
> May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris
>
> Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": http://www.geocities.com/czcorner
>

Just 2 cents... the flashers improve visibility tremendously. My morning commute begins at 6
AM, which can be dark or foggy or both. And a flashing light gets noticed far sooner than a
steady light.

Your setup sounds like the epitomy of good sense. I'm appalled by the number of dawn/dusk riders I
see without even so much as one disc reflector. I usually spot these people when I'm nearly upon
them. As a driver I appreciate someone's efforts to make themselves visible at a distance as it
helps me anticipate how best to give them safe clearance.

thunder9@nowhere.com (Thunder9) wrote in message news:<3f29b741.470019877@netnews.comcast.net>...
> On Thu, 31 Jul 2003 18:48:43 -0400 (EDT), ChriszCorner@webtv.net (Chris Zacho "The
> Wheelman") wrote:
>
> >When I commute by bike during the wee hours of dark, I use a NightSun headlamp, orange front
> >flasher, red rear flasher, reflectors front and rear, reflectorized leg bands (Nashbar makes a
> >really nice BRIGHT set), and special metal prism reflective tapes on my rims. 16 each, front and
> >rear, mounted on the face of the rims, between the spokes.
> >
> >The rim reflectors are probably the best idea, they are seen from all angles and create two
> >distinct rotating circles of light. Unmistakably a bicycle.
>
> Where do you get these from?

Not sure if this is what he has, but a web search finds prism tape is used for fishing lures. So you
know the glue is waterproof! Here is an example from Cabela's

http://makeashorterlink.com/?F2DE11A75

thunder9@nowhere.com (Thunder9) wrote in message news:<3f272c80.303401308@netnews.comcast.net>...
> I want to do some night riding - mostly on the road, and some trail riding. I'm new at this so I
> need some advice.
>

I have been commuting at night for several years, all on the road and here is my advice:

- The headlight is mostly for you. You don't have to go overboard. If you plan on charging down
steep hills at speed you will need a bright light. If not maybe you can back off on the headlight
and its cost.

- The MOST IMPORTANT part of being seen are the rear flashing taillights. I have four flashing red
light pointed backwards. There are a lot of red lights out there, claiming 100 hours of use on a
single battery. That may be true but after the first couple of hours they will noticably dim.
The Vettas don't do this. Cateye is also supposed to stay bright but I don't have any experience
with them.

- I also have a red flasher mounted on either side of my front fork. These surprised me at how
effective they are at alerting motorist approaching from side streets. It prevents them from
pulling out as though your don't exist.

- Illuminite is not worth the money. Reflective tape is more effective and available at most
bike shops.

- Another thing available at most bike shops are reflective straps to go around your ankles. In many
states (including here in CA) the law reqires a reflector on the back of your pedals. Since
clipless pedals don't have these, the straps around your ankles are a substitute.

- Don't remove the reflectors in your spokes. They also help.

- Niterider quality control leaves a lot to be desired. I have three of their products and have had
problems with all three. (I could fill up another post describing them).

In general, riding at night is fun and, provided you are lit up like a Christmas tree as I am, as
safe as any road riding can be.

If you want to talk more about this respond to the Email address below.

Tom treynolds at saintmail dot net.

On 4 Aug 2003 09:25:58 -0700, treynolds@my-deja.com (Thomas Reynolds) wrote:

I do appreciate your comments, of which most seem very sensible. Some reactions, however, as
indicated below...

>thunder9@nowhere.com (Thunder9) wrote in message news:<3f272c80.303401308@netnews.comcast.net>...
>> I want to do some night riding - mostly on the road, and some trail riding. I'm new at this so I
>> need some advice.
>>
>
>I have been commuting at night for several years, all on the road and here is my advice:
>
>- The headlight is mostly for you. You don't have to go overboard. If you plan on charging down
> steep hills at speed you will need a bright light. If not maybe you can back off on the headlight
> and its cost.
>
>- The MOST IMPORTANT part of being seen are the rear flashing taillights.

This is not what the general consensus (base on statistics) indicate. Most accidents occur from cars
cutting in front of you and from their misjudgement of your speed. Rear lights have little to do
with front visibility, and flashing lights make it more difficult to judge speed. I think your
suggestion is important, but perhaps not the most important.

>I have four flashing red light pointed backwards. There are a lot of red lights out there, claiming
>100 hours of use on a single battery. That may be true but after the first couple of hours they
>will noticably dim. The Vettas don't do this. Cateye is also supposed to stay bright but I don't
>have any experience with them.
>
>- I also have a red flasher mounted on either side of my front fork. These surprised me at how
> effective they are at alerting motorist approaching from side streets. It prevents them from
> pulling out as though your don't exist.
>
>- Illuminite is not worth the money. Reflective tape is more effective and available at most
> bike shops.
>
>- Another thing available at most bike shops are reflective straps to go around your ankles. In
> many states (including here in CA) the law reqires a reflector on the back of your pedals. Since
> clipless pedals don't have these, the straps around your ankles are a substitute.
>
>- Don't remove the reflectors in your spokes. They also help.
>
>- Niterider quality control leaves a lot to be desired. I have three of their products and have had
> problems with all three. (I could fill up another post describing them).
>
>In general, riding at night is fun and, provided you are lit up like a Christmas tree as I am, as
>safe as any road riding can be.
>
>If you want to talk more about this respond to the Email address below.

I like keeping discussions as open dialog "on the net" because it facillitates other people's
opinions and ideas.

Thanks for your great post!

Regards, Thunder9

thunder9@nowhere.com (Thunder9) wrote in message news:<3f2eaef0.61760780@netnews.comcast.net>...
> On 4 Aug 2003 09:25:58 -0700, treynolds@my-deja.com (Thomas Reynolds) wrote:
>
> I do appreciate your comments, of which most seem very sensible. Some reactions, however, as
> indicated below...
>
>
> >thunder9@nowhere.com (Thunder9) wrote in message news:<3f272c80.303401308@netnews.comcast.net>...
> >> I want to do some night riding - mostly on the road, and some trail riding. I'm new at this so
> >> I need some advice.
> >>
> >
> >I have been commuting at night for several years, all on the road and here is my advice:
> >
> >- The headlight is mostly for you. You don't have to go overboard. If you plan on charging down
> > steep hills at speed you will need a bright light. If not maybe you can back off on the
> > headlight and its cost.
> >
> >- The MOST IMPORTANT part of being seen are the rear flashing taillights.
>
> This is not what the general consensus (base on statistics) indicate. Most accidents occur from
> cars cutting in front of you and from their misjudgement of your speed. Rear lights have little to
> do with front visibility, and flashing lights make it more difficult to judge speed. I think your
> suggestion is important, but perhaps not the most important.
>
Let me make a counterpoint. I have not seen the statistic but they seem quite believable to me.

Cars cut in front of you because your existance doesn't register in your mind. How many times have
you been cut off and when you were able to confront the motorist his/her response was "I didn't even
see you". They saw you but it didn't sink in. So when they make their turn they don't remember that
they just passed a cyclist.

During the day a motorist sees cyclists all the time. It is not so common at night. So when they do
see a night cyclist it tends to register in their mind better.

The operative word there is "see" the cyclist. Hence my reason for being as lit up as possible from
all directions.

Tom