Reflective gadgets

dodgy

Hi all,

What are your experiences and hopefully, recommendations of passive reflective materials?

There are spoke reflectors, 3M scotchlite (and copies) tape and lots of other stuff.

Though an experienced cyclist, I don't often go out riding in the dark, but as I've started commuting to the office a few days a week (the rest of the time I work from home), I'd like to benefit from your experience

I'm pretty sorted for lights, and also there's an ongoing lighting thread already.

Ta.

pblakeney

I got a box of spoke reflectors from Aldis last year.

I spaced them out and only used 1/2 the box for 2 wheels with 32 spokes each and I thought they were pretty good when cars had their lights on. A nice solid circle of reflected light at pretty much any moving speed.
They are now a bit grotty so I will replace them with the other 1/2 of the box.
2 years use for £3 (IIRC) seems excellent value for something so simple that works and weighs next to nothing.

UndercoverElephant

The spoke reflectors are great, just at the right height for the headlight beams to show them up brilliantly. Also, SOLAS tape sticks well to your backpack, panniers, shoes, pedals and whatever else you fancy and is really, really good stuff.

dodgy

Thanks chaps, I must check out SOLAS tape..

meanredspider

This jacket (reviewed on the BR products of the week) looks good for it's plain/reflective capability

http://www.bioracer.co.uk/en/collection ... ter-jacket

bendertherobot

Vittoria Randonneur Pro 2 tyres.

DrLex

meanredspider wrote:

This jacket (reviewed on the BR products of the week) looks good for it's plain/reflective capability

http://www.bioracer.co.uk/en/collection ... ter-jacket

Cheaper & more striking Nike one here. Not quite as dazzling as the Sugoi Zap, though.

Will take a flash picture of my winter bike with road cone sleeve 'wrap', spoke reflectors and sidewall ring - looks like a sketch of a bike.

Agent57

Can't have too much reflective shiz.

redvee

PBlakeney wrote:

I got a box of spoke reflectors from Aldis last year.

I did the same and cut them in half and spaced them every 3 spkokes IIRC and did a ring near the rim and one near the hub on the front wheel, the rear has less reflectors cause I ride with a pannier bag but still has a few on the spokes.
You can also buy the same from Halfords for twice the price.

andy9964

3M reflective tape cut to follow the shape of the side of your helmet (if you wear one). Available in a variety of colours, but reflect bright white. I have black on mine, and you wouldn't know it was there until light hits it.
Also, spoke reflectors on the cables running under the top tube (works best on external cables )

dodgy

Andy9964 wrote:

Also, spoke reflectors on the cables running under the top tube (works best on external cables )

Genius idea!

andy9964

I also tried it on the diagonal cables, but wasn't confident that they wouldn't get chewed up under the BB.

Oh,and, the spoke reflectors will clip on the edge of some mudguards too

iPete

You can buy sheets of black or white 3M to cut and stick. Have used it on my helmet, hard to tell its there until you get a good light on it.

andy9964

iPete wrote:

You can buy sheets of black or white 3M to cut and stick. Have used it on my helmet, hard to tell its there until you get a good light on it.

*Cough*

6 Hours Earlier Andy9964 wrote:

3M reflective tape cut to follow the shape of the side of your helmet (if you wear one). Available in a variety of colours, but reflect bright white. I have black on mine, and you wouldn't know it was there until light hits it.

:roll:

redvee

I've got a roll of 1" wide black reflective tape somewhere but can I find it, I also have some strips of 1/8" wide tape that I'll put on my new helmet this week.

Andy9964 wrote:

Also, spoke reflectors on the cables running under the top tube (works best on external cables )

Might not work on my Kaffenback with outer from lever to callipers but the mudguard stays are an alternative, if a little larger in diameter and took a screwdriver to open the spoke reflectors out. Just did one stay tonight, will do the other seven later.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/96cd0ah3irx45 ... 201600.jpg

pblakeney

redvee wrote:

I've got a roll of 1" wide black reflective tape somewhere but can I find it..

Try using a torch.

rolf_f

PBlakeney wrote:

redvee wrote:

I've got a roll of 1" wide black reflective tape somewhere but can I find it..

Try using a torch.

rofl!

airbag

I usually don't like this sort of conversation, but -

I'd go for a helmet with a reflective backing.

a) unless you have a crap/unreliable light, the only benefit to reflectives is that they are high up, and thus visible to more people who aren't directly following you.

b) you may as well roll up all the PPE into as few things as possible - and it's not as though it didn't look rubbish anyway.

roger_merriman

PBlakeney wrote:

redvee wrote:

I've got a roll of 1" wide black reflective tape somewhere but can I find it..

Try using a torch.

Used to see a guy, in bushy park with no lights but covered head to toe in reflective.

Even from a distance in the dark, once my lights reached him, he glowed almost blindingly so.

dodgy

airbag wrote:

I usually don't like this sort of conversation, but -

I don't understand what you mean.

Thanks for all the tips everyone, some stuff there that I hadn't considered. I've ordered some spoke reflectors from eBay.

cookeeemonster

So I assume it's not the same for cycle helmets then but quite often you are told not to put stickers on motorcycle helmets as it screws them up in some way.

Anyone?

walkingbootweather

I just eat glow in the dark cornettos all the way home...