Comments on: BrightBike : A Reflective Bike

By: Exto

Exto — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:33:06 +0000

I’ve done a couple of bikes covered in black reflective like they show above. It’s made by 3M.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rkcilf/3269872927

@ glixon66
Tremclad and a few others make a retroreflective clearcoat, and I’ve tried a couple of them. It’s not as effective as the tape, but you can put it over whatever color you want and it doesn’t mess with the daylight color as much. I did some patterns in retroreflective clear coat on a white base for fun.

By: glixon66

glixon66 — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:09:19 +0000

Hey there -

I definitely agree with Quinn about Streetglo stickers, that’s what I have on my Redline 925.

However, maybe it’s my ignorance showing, but can’t they make a frame paint that is reflective at night? Why not do that for commuter bikes? I’d buy a bike that was black or brown or some other dark color during the day, but at night lights up like a Xmas tree.

Just a thought.

Cheers.

By: siouxgeonz

siouxgeonz — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:42:38 +0000

It’s not too dazzling here, which may be why things *can* be distracting. Drivers have hopped curbs when I was in the pig ears.
I have found that something in the spokes, a 3-D BIG rear light (also visible from sides), blinkie on the helmet and good headlight are strategically located lights that from my hearing yield the best reaction, ’cause I can tell when they’re slowing down.

By: Roger

Roger — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:10:23 +0000

@Katie,

I have a reflective vest that goes over whatever I’m wearing at any time of year. It’s mesh so weather-independent, and small enough to keep in my trunk bag all the time, “just in case.” It was cheap, too.

By: Quinn

Quinn — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:29:00 +0000

I use the Black-To-White motorcycle decals from streetglo.net, 1/3 the price and Very affective.

By: Katie

Katie — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:19:27 +0000

On a related note, what do y’all use to enhance the reflectiveness of clothing? Particularly the kind I wash on a regular (twice-a-month) basis? I recently purchased a bright orange vest for visibility only to notice that its only reflection was a 1″x1″ logo on the chest.

By: Len

Len — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:47:18 +0000

I have Vittoria Randonneur 700c tires on my single speed. The reflective sidewalls are great, love them, esp. early in the morning on my way to work. Like the concept so much that I got some Michelin City tires 1.85×26, for my hybrid. The sidewalls plus some extra large reflectors on the back, an orange vest with yellow reflector strips, reflective pant straps on both legs (I have a chain guard, but use the straps for reflectivity and movement) and reflective tape on my helmet.

Tony: The spoke card idea is great!

By: Grendel

Grendel — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:36:05 +0000

$35-40 is a rather steep price for this product when the same result can be had with $6 of 3M Nathan tape (wheel patches) and $10-15 of reflective automotive pin striping tape (frame).

By: Tony Bullard

Tony Bullard — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:07:17 +0000

I had an idea the other day while putting some reflective tape on my bike. Laminate some of the tape and make a spoke card. Seems like an easy way to get some motion out of your reflectivity.

By: Mase

Mase — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:03:47 +0000

I do not think it a distraction at all but, rather as Ghost Rider notes, only a good thing. The more visible the better.

On my old commuter bike I used a fair amount of reflective tape. The most effective I thought was on the cranks, due to the motion. Here’s a photo with flash:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/conquistadorjones/2164721836/in/set-72157604955706630/