Comments on: You Get What You Pay For http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Trevor http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/comment-page-1/#comment-17479 Trevor Thu, 11 Jan 2007 01:41:56 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/#comment-17479 NiteRider tail light is the only thing you want. Get a NiteRider head light to go with it, if you like, or give it its own battery. NiteRider tail light is the only thing you want. Get a NiteRider head light to go with it, if you like, or give it its own battery.

]]> By: Steve (#2) http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/comment-page-1/#comment-17444 Steve (#2) Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:34:42 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/#comment-17444 I sport an eyeball boiling helmet mounted JetLite rechargeable that was very expensive but a good piece of gear. I also have a Planet Bike white blinkie in the front, a Planet Bike rear helmet mounting tail light (BRT 3H), and a no name LED blinkie that is similar to what Ann posted above that has been bomb proof for two years. Much like Steve above, I have zillions of reflective stickers all over my bike, gear and helmet. Despite all that I still nearly got smashed this morning. I sport an eyeball boiling helmet mounted JetLite rechargeable that was very expensive but a good piece of gear. I also have a Planet Bike white blinkie in the front, a Planet Bike rear helmet mounting tail light (BRT 3H), and a no name LED blinkie that is similar to what Ann posted above that has been bomb proof for two years. Much like Steve above, I have zillions of reflective stickers all over my bike, gear and helmet. Despite all that I still nearly got smashed this morning.

]]> By: Steve http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/comment-page-1/#comment-17380 Steve Tue, 09 Jan 2007 15:35:06 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/#comment-17380 I have the Planet Bike Superflash blinky on my bike too, and it works well. I also have two other LED based lights (each with 5 LEDs), two <a href="http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442619910&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692895&bmUID=1168356764438" rel="nofollow">LED micro-lights</a>, plus another two lights on my backpack. Plus a red reflector on the bike. Plus reflective material on my <a href="http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441776693&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302693337&bmUID=1168356836799" rel="nofollow">backpack</a> and reflective tape on my bike and helmet. Redundancy being a good thing, I figure that there's no way any driver can claim they didn't see me... I have the Planet Bike Superflash blinky on my bike too, and it works well. I also have two other LED based lights (each with 5 LEDs), two LED micro-lights, plus another two lights on my backpack. Plus a red reflector on the bike. Plus reflective material on my backpack and reflective tape on my bike and helmet. Redundancy being a good thing, I figure that there’s no way any driver can claim they didn’t see me…

]]> By: JiMCi http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/comment-page-1/#comment-17369 JiMCi Tue, 09 Jan 2007 14:04:20 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/#comment-17369 Last summer, I heard something hitting the pavement behind me. It was my little cheapo no name $3.75 taillight. Before I had a chance to turn around to pick it up, a SUV ran over it. I picked the crushed pieces, put them back together, pressed the switch and "voila", that thing was still working. That's how it lokked before the SUV encounter http://tinyurl.com/ygww6t As for Planet Bike stuff, I had a 5 DEL front beamer. It died on the 1st rainy day: water got inside the swith contacts and the light could not be turned off... Last summer, I heard something hitting the pavement behind me. It was my little cheapo no name $3.75 taillight. Before I had a chance to turn around to pick it up, a SUV ran over it. I picked the crushed pieces, put them back together, pressed the switch and “voila”, that thing was still working. That’s how it lokked before the SUV encounter http://tinyurl.com/ygww6t

As for Planet Bike stuff, I had a 5 DEL front beamer. It died on the 1st rainy day: water got inside the swith contacts and the light could not be turned off…

]]> By: Clayton O'Neill http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/comment-page-1/#comment-17347 Clayton O'Neill Tue, 09 Jan 2007 04:40:14 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/#comment-17347 I'll third the suggestion for the PB superflash. I picked up two of them from Amazon, and they're crazy bright. Well, worth the $20, and batteries are even included. I’ll third the suggestion for the PB superflash. I picked up two of them from Amazon, and they’re crazy bright. Well, worth the $20, and batteries are even included.

]]> By: PdxRunner http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/comment-page-1/#comment-17344 PdxRunner Tue, 09 Jan 2007 04:15:34 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/#comment-17344 There is nothing like the 3W LED rear tail light. Cars that would pass me by 1 foot will now move over to the next lane. It is like a cars brake light. It's very visible in daytime. Small light & easy to take on & off, abvout 30 seconds. Okay, it's $129 , but how much is your life worth? http://www.dinottelighting.com/DiNotte_Lighting_Ultra_Tail_Light.htm There is nothing like the 3W LED rear tail light. Cars that would pass me by 1 foot will now move over to the next lane. It is like a cars brake light. It’s very visible in daytime. Small light & easy to take on & off, abvout 30 seconds. Okay, it’s $129 , but how much is your life worth?

http://www.dinottelighting.com/DiNotte_Lighting_Ultra_Tail_Light.htm

]]> By: Mark in Green Bay http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/comment-page-1/#comment-17340 Mark in Green Bay Tue, 09 Jan 2007 04:03:08 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/#comment-17340 I'll agree with what's been said above. I've wasted too much money on "cheap" LED blinkies, that either fall apart, or stop working mid-ride. (Incidentally, I've heard that soldering a capacitor across the battery terminals will prevent the light from switching off accidentally due to the battery losing contact momentarily from a bump.) Another option for DIY'ers, which I'm considering, is one of these... http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/STROBE-3A/search/AMBER_XENON_FLASHER_.html ...quite an attention getter, from the comments, it seems popular for bike commuters. I’ll agree with what’s been said above. I’ve wasted too much money on “cheap” LED blinkies, that either fall apart, or stop working mid-ride. (Incidentally, I’ve heard that soldering a capacitor across the battery terminals will prevent the light from switching off accidentally due to the battery losing contact momentarily from a bump.)

Another option for DIY’ers, which I’m considering, is one of these… http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/STROBE-3A/search/AMBER_XENON_FLASHER_.html …quite an attention getter, from the comments, it seems popular for bike commuters.

]]> By: Mike in Florida http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/comment-page-1/#comment-17328 Mike in Florida Tue, 09 Jan 2007 02:29:07 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/#comment-17328 I have a 36 mile round trip commute, an hour of which is in pitch darkness this time of year. More light is better, and I have to agree with the posters who recommened the Planet Bike Superflash. It's ridiculously bright. I think I picked mine up on sale from Nashbar for twenty bucks. I also wear a reflective vest with flashing LEDs, and have a cheap blinkie on my Bell Metro helmet. As for forward lighting, I use the DiNotte Ultralight 5W and have a Knog Frog white LED mounted on my helmet, set to flash. You do indeed get what you pay for, but the only expensive item I use is the DiNotte. I have a 36 mile round trip commute, an hour of which is in pitch darkness this time of year. More light is better, and I have to agree with the posters who recommened the Planet Bike Superflash. It’s ridiculously bright. I think I picked mine up on sale from Nashbar for twenty bucks. I also wear a reflective vest with flashing LEDs, and have a cheap blinkie on my Bell Metro helmet. As for forward lighting, I use the DiNotte Ultralight 5W and have a Knog Frog white LED mounted on my helmet, set to flash. You do indeed get what you pay for, but the only expensive item I use is the DiNotte.

]]> By: Paul Of N.W. GA http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/comment-page-1/#comment-17325 Paul Of N.W. GA Tue, 09 Jan 2007 02:06:15 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/#comment-17325 My bike lights aren't cheap, but I do love them. I have a Schmidt Dynamo hub from Peter White cycles. It powers my Busch&Mer LED head light (w/ stand light and auto on), Halogen (secondary) and fender taillight (with stand light). I also have a battery B&M light on my rack. All lights of them have reflectors too. If my battery runs down on a dark ride, I still have the fender light that is pretty bright. Some times I also wear my helmet that has a light on it. The Dynamo is great, never dies, needs charging and works in single digit temps (or lower) and I use it more often because I of it. They may not be the brightest, but I have had people tell me that they see me way off even with city lights and 45mph limits. There have been times I rode with other cyclist at night because they have no lights or reflectors to get them home safely. I have also have people follow me to ask about my lights because they said they have never seen any as bright. Mind you I live where SUV and big pick-ups are the norm. My bike lights aren’t cheap, but I do love them.

I have a Schmidt Dynamo hub from Peter White cycles. It powers my Busch&Mer LED head light (w/ stand light and auto on), Halogen (secondary) and fender taillight (with stand light). I also have a battery B&M light on my rack. All lights of them have reflectors too. If my battery runs down on a dark ride, I still have the fender light that is pretty bright. Some times I also wear my helmet that has a light on it.
The Dynamo is great, never dies, needs charging and works in single digit temps (or lower) and I use it more often because I of it.
They may not be the brightest, but I have had people tell me that they see me way off even with city lights and 45mph limits.
There have been times I rode with other cyclist at night because they have no lights or reflectors to get them home safely. I have also have people follow me to ask about my lights because they said they have never seen any as bright. Mind you I live where SUV and big pick-ups are the norm.

]]> By: Amy http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/comment-page-1/#comment-17318 Amy Mon, 08 Jan 2007 23:06:43 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/01/08/you-get-what-you-pay-for/#comment-17318 Uh...that's 3x2 inch face, not 3x5...sorry! Uh…that’s 3×2 inch face, not 3×5…sorry!

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