Comments on: Reflectors-Yes or No?

By: The Kid

The Kid — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:50:00 +0000

I would like to know how many other people have had their reflectors fall of and get caught in the spokes, causing the bike to come to a dead stop. This happened to my son. He was on the bike and was thrown over the handle bars before he even could think about what was happening. He broke his collarbone and has incurred medical bills and a loss of income. Just curious!

By: rain patton

rain patton — Mon, 02 May 2011 04:27:37 +0000

I was walking my bike the other day, and all of a sudden my bike came to a dead stop. I didnt know what to think. of course leaving in NYC as a woman I fist thought some guy grabbed my bike seat to stop it inorder to have a “chat” with me, but when i looked at my bike i saw that one of the reflectors had fallon off the front wheels, and was caught in the spokes.
sometimes when im only going a short distance, ill either not wear my helment or just walk my bike the distance,
I am terrified to realize that going a slow distance i would have flipped off my bike, and landed in oncoming traffic or landed on my head,
I know take the reflectors off not for looks but for saftey

By: Brimstone

Brimstone — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:48:49 +0000

Is this a serious question? If you take the reflectors off your bike cause you think they look funny you should seriously re-evaluate your judgement. It may not be sufficient to operate mechanized transportation devices. Think you won’t look stupid laying on the gverney with all those tubes sticking out of you? Think the driver’s lawyer won’t make you look stupid as the defendant in a lawsuit? Possibly it is good to remove spoke reflectors because they can be a hazard- but they should be replaced with reflective rim sidewall stickers.
And those reflective belts save lives, hero. In case you havn’t noticed soldiers wear uniforms which make them intentionally difficult to see. It’s called “camoflage”. Back in the day soldiers would get up really early in the morning and do something called “PT”. Joe the ragbag would wake up late and come speeding onto post, sometimes plowing into groups of the squared away guys. After this happended over and over some really smart guy came up with the reflective belt.

By: david

david — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:47:06 +0000

i only remove the reflectors on the rims. i once had one come lose and wiggle it’s way down the spokes until it was caught and busted off during a ride….which bent one of the spokes.

By: Travis

Travis — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:11:29 +0000

That belt is the stupidest thing ever, just like the vests for motorcyclists. I usually just wrap the reflector belt arround my camelback, and call it a day.

Travis

oh yes LEAVE is a good thing.. I am on 45 days of it.

By: Moe

Moe — Wed, 31 May 2006 20:56:35 +0000

I believe that reflectors and blinkies must be installed on Commuter bikes, after all, they are Commuter Bikes. I rarely ride during the night, but when I had to ride at night I had 3 rear blinkies, a headlight and a blinkie in the front. I don’t care if I looked like a Christmas Tree, all I care was that I was visible to other drivers and riders.

By: RL Policar

RL Policar — Wed, 31 May 2006 13:53:27 +0000

Relax Tread…to each his own…

By: Randy

Randy — Wed, 31 May 2006 03:00:03 +0000

They do look funny. But for us who ride in a military post, we have to have them. We even have to wear a reflector belt day or night.

By: Derek

Derek — Wed, 31 May 2006 00:38:00 +0000

Interesting.. I admit that I always yank mine too. When riding at night though I usually have a niterider on..

By: Treadly&Me

Treadly&Me — Tue, 30 May 2006 21:13:54 +0000

I can’t imagine why you’d want to take the reflectors off in the first place!

Absolutely, positively, yes – I’ll have reflectors and I’m thinking of adding reflective tape wherever I can make it stick. Anything that makes me more visible is a good thing.

And here’s something to consider: for that fleeting instant when a car headlight catches your rear reflector it’s probably more bright than your rear light anyway. And the nature of prismatic reflectors ensures that the reflected beam of light goes straight back to the source, which is near enough to the driver’s eyes. Which is especially helpful when it comes to visibility but not enough on its own – you still need those lights as well.

In my part of the world lights and reflectors are both required by law. And common sense says it’s a good idea to keep your reflectors. So put ‘em back on I say!