Comments on: Commute 101: Riding at Night http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 18 May 2013 21:46:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Mazda http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-196385 Mazda Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:14:31 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/#comment-196385 Rear lighting? I'd love to buy the DiNotte taillight but the mounting is problematic when using a seatbag and/or rack trunk and panniers. I like the Planet Bike Superflash. Rear lighting? I’d love to buy the DiNotte taillight but the mounting is problematic when using a seatbag and/or rack trunk and panniers. I like the Planet Bike Superflash.

]]> By: Super Cool Bike Shop http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-123144 Super Cool Bike Shop Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:42:03 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/#comment-123144 I just heard on the Adam Carolla show about an LED attachment you can put on your wheel to put in phrases and even pictures. Perfect for night riding or showing off during the day :) I just heard on the Adam Carolla show about an LED attachment you can put on your wheel to put in phrases and even pictures. Perfect for night riding or showing off during the day :)

]]> By: Rodney http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-101117 Rodney Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:35:49 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/#comment-101117 I have been commuting to/from work since October 2007. This year alone, I have pedaled over 1000 miles to date commuting. For my lighting I use an white strobe and red strobe attached to my helmet. My handlebar light is an 8 LED Serfas. I recently added two sets of Planet Bike's "Blinky lights". I put the two white lights on my front forks and the two red lights on my seat stays. A Planet Bike "Super Blinky" was added to my seat post/bike rack. A lime green safety vest w/ reflective striping has alway been part of my rides/commutes. For trail/Multi use paths, I forgo the vest. I have been commuting to/from work since October 2007. This year alone, I have pedaled over 1000 miles to date commuting.

For my lighting I use an white strobe and red strobe attached to my helmet. My handlebar light is an 8 LED Serfas.

I recently added two sets of Planet Bike’s “Blinky lights”. I put the two white lights on my front forks and the two red lights on my seat stays. A Planet Bike “Super Blinky” was added to my seat post/bike rack.

A lime green safety vest w/ reflective striping has alway been part of my rides/commutes. For trail/Multi use paths, I forgo the vest.

]]> By: John http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-90669 John Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:19:46 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/#comment-90669 You mentions drivers might have a gun, well a car is just as dangerous as a loaded gun. I for one, would like to carry a gun while riding for an extra degree of safety. You mentions drivers might have a gun, well a car is just as dangerous as a loaded gun. I for one, would like to carry a gun while riding for an extra degree of safety.

]]> By: Barbara http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-81855 Barbara Thu, 01 May 2008 05:51:06 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/#comment-81855 Thank you so much for this article/post!! I get off work at night and worried what to do to stay safe. I'm so encouraged by your article. Best wishes and happy cycling! Thank you so much for this article/post!! I get off work at night and worried what to do to stay safe. I’m so encouraged by your article. Best wishes and happy cycling!

]]> By: clunkerider http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-81294 clunkerider Sun, 20 Apr 2008 02:00:58 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/#comment-81294 I use a high-vislibility orange safety vest (like road construction workers wear) with reflective material all over it. It is made of mesh so cool in warm weather. You can wear it over anything, a jacket or shirt it doesn't matter. I have had comments from co-workers driving into work how highly visible it makes me when I ride. I love my vest, even if it looks dorky, it could save my life. You can get a high visibility vest at any store that sells work clothes. I use a high-vislibility orange safety vest (like road construction workers wear) with reflective material all over it. It is made of mesh so cool in warm weather. You can wear it over anything, a jacket or shirt it doesn’t matter. I have had comments from co-workers driving into work how highly visible it makes me when I ride. I love my vest, even if it looks dorky, it could save my life. You can get a high visibility vest at any store that sells work clothes.

]]> By: wannaCmore http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-75739 wannaCmore Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:32:23 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/#comment-75739 All- This is great stuff. VERY useful for me. I will soon be setting up a Kona Smoke 2-9 as my ride. My LBS suggested that I get a helmet mounted light, but reading all of these replies, I am going more than just that. Too bad I can't use the lights from a train... All- This is great stuff. VERY useful for me. I will soon be setting up a Kona Smoke 2-9 as my ride. My LBS suggested that I get a helmet mounted light, but reading all of these replies, I am going more than just that. Too bad I can’t use the lights from a train…

]]> By: burnsey http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-74276 burnsey Fri, 08 Feb 2008 03:39:45 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/#comment-74276 I ride home at night, and three miles of my ride home are on non street lighted roads. I use a Cygolite Nite-Rover which allows me to ride at my normal pace, and I compliment that with a helmet mounted light. The helmet light gets used mainly to announce my presence to traffic entering intersections, cars planning on turning left in front of my, etc,,. Just hit em with that beam, and it gets their attention. These also allow me to get on the local mtn. bike trails at night as well. Reflector tape is great. Make sure you purchase the good stuff that 3M makes. I have it everywhere, including my crank arms. Rear blinkie. Also, Performance bike has these small single led lights that attach with a stretchy cord, and cost 12 bucks for a white and red pair. I mount these on my forks. They are great, and easy to carry as back up lights for a day trip that may extend a little longer than expected. http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=18826&subcategory_ID=4320 I feel as if we are more visible at night because of lights, but still ride as if I am invisible. I ride home at night, and three miles of my ride home are on non street lighted roads. I use a Cygolite Nite-Rover which allows me to ride at my normal pace, and I compliment that with a helmet mounted light. The helmet light gets used mainly to announce my presence to traffic entering intersections, cars planning on turning left in front of my, etc,,. Just hit em with that beam, and it gets their attention.
These also allow me to get on the local mtn. bike trails at night as well.
Reflector tape is great. Make sure you purchase the good stuff that 3M makes. I have it everywhere, including my crank arms.
Rear blinkie.
Also, Performance bike has these small single led lights that attach with a stretchy cord, and cost 12 bucks for a white and red pair. I mount these on my forks. They are great, and easy to carry as back up lights for a day trip that may extend a little longer than expected.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=18826&subcategory_ID=4320
I feel as if we are more visible at night because of lights, but still ride as if I am invisible.

]]> By: Sue http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-51942 Sue Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:40:06 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/#comment-51942 I have hokeyspokes too but I lost half the thingies that attach them to the spokes and I don't know how to get them. I also have gotten lots of comments and applause (it helps they're in the local college color). Last winter I got lots of room when I was lit up with a Christmas tree and a few other strings of lights (and the hokey-spokes). I got near-reverence at times :) WHen I took the stuff down and went back to just a few lights and blinkies... wow, how had I ever tolerated being so invisible? (One of my favorite comments was a fellow who called out in sing-song 'this-is-how-you-know-I'm-a-daddy" voice: "I can't SEEEEEE you!" ) I decided not to wait 'til December this year. I"ve ordered a couple of strings of Christmas tree lights from a craft site and I'm going to play around with mesh as a media (the folks at bikejournal tossed soem creative ideas out). The down-low-glo is not only pricey but, I believe, not weatherproof. Not an option here ;) I have hokeyspokes too but I lost half the thingies that attach them to the spokes and I don’t know how to get them. I also have gotten lots of comments and applause (it helps they’re in the local college color).
Last winter I got lots of room when I was lit up with a Christmas tree and a few other strings of lights (and the hokey-spokes). I got near-reverence at times :) WHen I took the stuff down and went back to just a few lights and blinkies… wow, how had I ever tolerated being so invisible? (One of my favorite comments was a fellow who called out in sing-song ‘this-is-how-you-know-I’m-a-daddy” voice: “I can’t SEEEEEE you!” ) I decided not to wait ’til December this year.
I”ve ordered a couple of strings of Christmas tree lights from a craft site and I’m going to play around with mesh as a media (the folks at bikejournal tossed soem creative ideas out). The down-low-glo is not only pricey but, I believe, not weatherproof. Not an option here ;)

]]> By: Mark http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-50832 Mark Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:43:50 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/08/20/commute-101-riding-at-night/#comment-50832 I received a set of <a href="http://www.hokeyspokes.com/" rel="nofollow">HokeySpokes</a> as a gift last year. They are essentially the commercial version of SpokePov, for those that don't have the time to spend with a soldering iron. They make you very visible and I've actually had a number of drivers comment on how cool they are, people actually slow down to take a look. They aren't for the weight conscience rider though and are nasty to spokes, so make sure you only use them on tough wheels. I received a set of HokeySpokes as a gift last year. They are essentially the commercial version of SpokePov, for those that don’t have the time to spend with a soldering iron. They make you very visible and I’ve actually had a number of drivers comment on how cool they are, people actually slow down to take a look. They aren’t for the weight conscience rider though and are nasty to spokes, so make sure you only use them on tough wheels.

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