rear light or reflector

suzyb

Tried installing my lights today only to find I can't fit my rear light and my reflector on my seat post. There just isn't enough room to have them both on but leave space for me to slide the rear light onto the bracket.

On rainy days like we've had a couple of last week I feel I would be better off with a rear light. But is it legal to ride without a rear reflector.

And if not how can I fit them both to the bike.

rolf_f

If you fit both, can you slide the light off if you loosen the screw that sets the angle? This is how mine is set up - loosen the screw, tilt the light down, then it slides off. Stops anyone removing the light as well unless they have a screwdriver.

Otherwise you might be able to fit one to the seat stay.

Incidentally, I have one of these:

Doubt that anyone is going to be able to see the reflector at all with that thing just below. Would burn your retina if you looked straight at it

cougie

Deffo light over reflector - but you can get funky reflective tape that you can apply to pedals and cranks etc. My winter bike is festooned with the stuff. Some drivers are mr magoo !

DanielCoffey

-null- wrote:

But is it legal to ride without a rear reflector.

If you are in poor daylight visibility or between sunset/sunrise, then no it is not legal to ride without BOTH rear light AND reflector.

From the highway code at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTr ... /DG_069837

60
At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen. Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp.

Nick6891

i like that last part,
"it is recommended that cyclist who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp"

well i never would have though lol i mean how hard can cycling in pitch black be if the only light you have flashes on and off lol, one minute its on there is nothing, then its off, then its on and you have a tree infront of you haha


I dont use a reflector for the simple reason it wont fit, but i have a 1 Watt light that is way better than a reflector and i also use other reflective material aswel as having a pannier that is very reflective, the law is only really there for the idiots who insist on riding in the dark without any lights, reflectors are just a last line of defence for drivers to see you

ince

It may sound odd but have you had a go at putting the reflector on upside down. I too didn't have enough space, so I took the bracket that holds the reflector and switched it over. My reflector now hangs down and covers the seat post clamp.

This gave me more space to fit the light above it. I also have the Smart Superflash this little light came with some narrow gauge clamps which has allowed me mount a second light just above the rear mech on the stay.

suzyb

I'll try putting the reflector on upside down. That might work, if not then I think Rolf's suggestion would probably work.

Thanks folks.

NGale

Hmmmmm interesting that, when I brought my Trek it only came with a front reflector (which I took off) no rear reflector came with it.

Mind you now with the fancy black reflective tape I do have some kind of reflection on the back of the bike which helps.

Also my Trek road bike (which CdrJake kindly brought for me) came without any rear reflector, so perhaps there's some kind of confusion within bike shops about what is required.

FeynmanC

My Defy didn't come with any reflectors, front or rear.

suzyb

Mine came with both and a bell, which the shop said they were legally required to put on.

NGale

-null- wrote:

Mine came with both and a bell, which the shop said they were legally required to put on.

My commuter trek (the 7.5fx) came with a bell, which as soon as my C2W voucher was handed over and processed was taken off straight away. essentially they had complied with the law and sold the bike with a bell on it.

I have yet to find a use for a bell, most of the numpties in Exeter ignore them anyway so shouting is often the only way to get them off the damned cycle path.

FeynmanC

I had a bell, which i've taken off. I also had no wheel reflectors when I bought it.

Like Nick i don't think i've got space for one on my seat post anymore, but i'll get my thinking cap on about ways around it when i'm next in the LBS.

sicknote

I have my two on my rear stays with fit fine and dont get in the way.

I have the Smart 1/2 watt and thisSmart light which is not as good as the 1/2 watt but still good.

FOAD

-null- wrote:

But is it legal to ride without a rear reflector.

If you have a light who really cares about reflectors? The first copper that stops you for not having one needs his/her head looking at!

PBo

do those lights which have a reflector type bit underneath the actual lamp count as both? I think they may do.

e.g. Cat eye.
TL -LD500

http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/268

website claims meets BS

That smart one pictured above may fit this criteria too....

PBo

FOAD wrote:

-null- wrote:

But is it legal to ride without a rear reflector.

If you have a light who really cares about reflectors? The first copper that stops you for not having one needs his/her head looking at!

The problem here isn't a copper exercising common sense - its some lawyer claiming contributory negligence if you get knocked off......

dilemna

PBo wrote:

FOAD wrote:

-null- wrote:

But is it legal to ride without a rear reflector.

If you have a light who really cares about reflectors? The first copper that stops you for not having one needs his/her head looking at!

The problem here isn't a copper exercising common sense - its some lawyer claiming contributory negligence if you get knocked off......

Wasn't the case when I was knocked off. I had 4 rear lights no reflectors and hi viz and the fecker still drove into me. As the RAC driver who witnessed me being knocked off said of me. "He was lit up like a fecking Christmas tree!"

I have taken the reflectors off all my bikes, the day I got them, the ones that had them on. I have a compass bell on all except my road bike which is bloody good. The Scotchlite on my BS hi-viz gilet and panniers is excellent. Plus my leggings and shoes both have Scotchlite on them. A friend has overtaken me in his car at night and commented "F*uck you stand out!"

So contrib neg put that in your pipe and smoke it.

pst88

I suppose it's good to have a rear reflector as well in case your light breaks/batteries run out etc. Just as a last line of defence. I have 2 rear lights and a reflector... hopefully there's enough backup there.

FOAD

PBo wrote:

FOAD wrote:

-null- wrote:

But is it legal to ride without a rear reflector.

If you have a light who really cares about reflectors? The first copper that stops you for not having one needs his/her head looking at!

The problem here isn't a copper exercising common sense - its some lawyer claiming contributory negligence if you get knocked off......

I think you read too much into other comments on the forums as being gospel.

If you're lit, you're lit.

PBo

FOAD wrote:

PBo wrote:

FOAD wrote:

-null- wrote:

But is it legal to ride without a rear reflector.

If you have a light who really cares about reflectors? The first copper that stops you for not having one needs his/her head looking at!

The problem here isn't a copper exercising common sense - its some lawyer claiming contributory negligence if you get knocked off......

I think you read too much into other comments on the forums as being gospel.

If you're lit, you're lit.

oh aye, in a sensible world, I totally agree with you. And i don't have hundreds of stories of contrib neg. cases........ it's just that it would always niggle me that the chance of such a claim was there for the sake of a small bit of red plastic

PBo

FOAD wrote:

PBo wrote:

FOAD wrote:

-null- wrote:

But is it legal to ride without a rear reflector.

If you have a light who really cares about reflectors? The first copper that stops you for not having one needs his/her head looking at!

The problem here isn't a copper exercising common sense - its some lawyer claiming contributory negligence if you get knocked off......

I think you read too much into other comments on the forums as being gospel.

If you're lit, you're lit.

oh aye, in a sensible world, I totally agree with you. And i don't have hundreds of stories of contrib neg. cases........ it's just that it would always niggle me that the chance of such a claim was there for the sake of a small bit of red plastic

Stevo_666

ince wrote:

It may sound odd but have you had a go at putting the reflector on upside down. I too didn't have enough space, so I took the bracket that holds the reflector and switched it over. My reflector now hangs down and covers the seat post clamp.

This gave me more space to fit the light above it. I also have the Smart Superflash this little light came with some narrow gauge clamps which has allowed me mount a second light just above the rear mech on the stay.

+1.

I've managed to fit light, reflector and 'clamp-on' mudguard onto the seatpost in this way. Putting the reflector on so that it is 'sticking up' from the post attachment rather than 'hanging down' created a the little bit of extra clearance that I needed to get all 3 on without articially raising the seat height.

TommyEss

I prefer the Cateye AU - 100 - big reflector, and brighter LEDs than the one mentioned previously - two birds, one stone, etc etc.