Reflector / Reflective Tape on Mudguards

jp1970

Just fitted a pair of SKS bluemels (Matt Black) to the winter bike/commuter. The mudguards don't come with a fitted reflector... Should I go to the effort of fitting on a reflector or sticking on some reflective tape/stickers.

I generally have two rear lights fitted.

I'm I over thinking it !!!

TIA

mr_evil

If you're worried that you might not be visible enough without reflectors, then don't be. While reflectors might make you easier to see, being easier to see doesn't actually make you any safer.

mercia_man

It’s an easy job to fit a BS approved reflector to Bluemels mudguards - and, strictly speaking, a rear reflector is a legal requirement when riding at night. Front and pedal reflectors are also legally required although I don’t use them, along with most other riders, I suspect. I bodge a hole in the mudguard with the awl from my Swiss Army penknife and a rear reflector attaches easily with a captive bolt through the hole and a small nut on the inside of the guard. My experience from driving behind cyclists at night is that a rear reflector is highly effective at getting a rider noticed. Well worth it for extra peace of mind.

monkimark

I have reflective tape on my mudguard, it cost about a pound and took 10 seconds to fit. If it's no benefit then I don't think I've wasted much time/money..

asprilla

oxoman said:

I've done it in the past but no longer bother, I use spoke straws reflective rods that clip on the spokes. A block of 5 will light up the whole wheel when turning with car lights on it.

This. Makes me feel like I'm riding a light bike from Tron. Veronese68 has driven past me in Kingston and can vouch for their effectiveness.

Overtook a chap tonight who had a red light on his bag, one on his seat post, one on his helmet and one on his right knee. That's a new one on me.

redvee

I've got some HGV reflective tape on my rear guard and mudflap, bit akward to fit on the guard cause of the curve, the mudflap was easier cause it's flat.
This is the stuff.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3M-Diamond-Grade-ECE-104-Conspicuity-Reflective-Tape-HGV-Truck-Trailer/131788514417?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

figbat

mercia_man said:

...strictly speaking, a rear reflector is a legal requirement when riding at night. Front and pedal reflectors are also legally required although I don’t use them, along with most other riders, I suspect.

As far as I understand it, at night you need a front (white) and rear (red) light, rear (red) reflector and front-and-rear-facing (amber) reflectors on the pedals. There is no requirement for a front (white) reflector.

But as you said, who does? Actually I am probably in the minority of having the clip-in reflectors on one side of the SPDs of my winter road bike. I don't have a rear reflector though - I may consider some retroreflective tape on the rear guard - I've just remembered I have a bit of left-over red motorcycle rim tape that is retro-reflective.

gdf

I bought a sheet of red reflector stickers to stick on my rear mudguard off ebay. Cost a couple of quid. It's there for when I'm either caught out riding without rear lights or if the battery goes on them.
These aren't the ones I have, but same sort of thing.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Decal-Reflector-Tape-Door-Bumper-Stickers-Car-Reflective-Strips-Warning-Mark/401885054959?var=671724669483&hash=item5d923747ef:g:R8AAAOSwHuldfY~2

fenix

As has been said - reflective tape costs buttons and will always be there and work so long as headlights are pointing at you.

Better still to put the reflective on moving bits. Pedals. Cranks. Feet. Legs. You can tell a cyclist a mile off from the movements.

mercia_man

figbat said:

mercia_man said:

...strictly speaking, a rear reflector is a legal requirement when riding at night. Front and pedal reflectors are also legally required although I don’t use them, along with most other riders, I suspect.

As far as I understand it, at night you need a front (white) and rear (red) light, rear (red) reflector and front-and-rear-facing (amber) reflectors on the pedals. There is no requirement for a front (white) reflector.

But as you said, who does? Actually I am probably in the minority of having the clip-in reflectors on one side of the SPDs of my winter road bike. I don't have a rear reflector though - I may consider some retroreflective tape on the rear guard - I've just remembered I have a bit of left-over red motorcycle rim tape that is retro-reflective.

Figbat is right. I’ve just checked and see you are not legally required to have a front white reflector.

That 3M reflective tape mentioned by redvee looks like it might be very effective. Although, as I said earlier, it’s only a short and simple job to fit an approved reflector to chromoplastic mudguards.

I wonder what your legal position is if you are in a collision with a motor vehicle at night and you don’t have the approved rear and pedal reflectors. Could a lawyer claim you were guilty of contributory negligence?

arthur_scrimshaw

mercia_man said:

figbat said:

mercia_man said:

...strictly speaking, a rear reflector is a legal requirement when riding at night. Front and pedal reflectors are also legally required although I don’t use them, along with most other riders, I suspect.

As far as I understand it, at night you need a front (white) and rear (red) light, rear (red) reflector and front-and-rear-facing (amber) reflectors on the pedals. There is no requirement for a front (white) reflector.

But as you said, who does? Actually I am probably in the minority of having the clip-in reflectors on one side of the SPDs of my winter road bike. I don't have a rear reflector though - I may consider some retroreflective tape on the rear guard - I've just remembered I have a bit of left-over red motorcycle rim tape that is retro-reflective.

Figbat is right. I’ve just checked and see you are not legally required to have a front white reflector.

That 3M reflective tape mentioned by redvee looks like it might be very effective. Although, as I said earlier, it’s only a short and simple job to fit an approved reflector to chromoplastic mudguards.

I wonder what your legal position is if you are in a collision with a motor vehicle at night and you don’t have the approved rear and pedal reflectors. Could a lawyer claim you were guilty of contributory negligence?

You can be sure their lawyer will be looking for any way to mitigate their clients actions, and so will the driver's insurance company to reduce any payout. Contributory negligence..
I have B&M toplight rear lights on my commuters and these incorporate a reflector but run m520 spd pedals and there's no effective way to run pedal reflectors other than fitting the SM-PD22 insert which makes the pedal single sided - not ideal.

wolfsbane2k

mercia_man said:

I wonder what your legal position is if you are in a collision with a motor vehicle at night and you don’t have the approved rear and pedal reflectors. Could a lawyer claim you were guilty of contributory negligence?

Yes, in civil law, i recall there is case history around this, but I can't remember where I saw that.

I'd suggest getting a combined mudguard mounted rear light & reflector - I've got a PDW fenderbot on my pub hack which I love the simplicity of. There's a more "modern" version here:
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/lighting/busch-muller-secula-rear-light-mudguard-fitting/.

slowbike

reflective tape - yes - no reason not to.

What makes you seen is lights & reflectives
What makes you noticed is something different (to everyone else).

I know that come december - assuming I do it again - the christmas lights on my bike will guarantee a wider berth from the majority of drivers

The Rookie

I have 3M Diamond tape as a disc on the back of the mudguard and as a strip on the back of the seatpost (dark country lane commute), work colleagues who pass me have commented on how effective it is.

Longshot

I'm surprised there hasn't been any progress made on the pedal reflector issue given the fact that almost no clipless pedals can take reflectors. Either the law needs to be reviewed or some product design needs to be implemented. It's a daft situation.

fenix

I think there's probably a lot of laws that need revising before the weighty issue of pedal reflectors is sorted out.

But if you're out after dark - get some reflectives on your lower legs or shoes - they do show up fantastically.

pblakeney

My shoes and overshoes all have reflectors. The law should be modified to accommodate and be made compulsory.

elbowloh

pblakeney said:

My shoes and overshoes all have reflectors. The law should be modified to accommodate and be made compulsory.

The law should be that we all wear your shoes and overshoes? ;-)

pblakeney

You should be so lucky as to walk in my shoes.

chris_bass

you can get reflective numbers that are designed to be stuck onto wheelie bins pretty cheaply - i've used these before and they are surprisingly good, designed to stick on things that live outdoors so good in all weathers and very reflective

0s give you the best shape/surface are to price ratio in my opinion

arthur_scrimshaw

oxoman said:

A lot of the cycling law hasn't been altered for decades. By rights we should have solid lit front and rear lights of about 1/2 a candle power. No flashy lights that you can actually see or dayglo reflectives. Even if flat pedals had the reflectors on them a lot of normal shows with heels etc cover them so pretty much useless. Decent lights should be compulsory at night, not as local amazon employess do near me which is commute in black with no lights and occasionally a dirty Hi viz vest if I'm lucky.

And those of us who use rear panniers - these almost totally obscure pedals/reflectors apart from the very base of the pedal stroke.

slowbike

Having followed a couple of riders last night - both had rear lights (flashing) but one was far more visible than the other - because of the reflective clothing he was wearing - the other had a few small patches that reflected - but otherwise was dark and much harder to see - and I knew he was there (we were on the same club ride! )

fenix

I've spotted cyclists with no lights on unlit dual carriageways at night thanks only to them having a cheap bike with pedals with reflectors on. Thank god.

But how cheap do you value your life to not fit a light ? Crazy.

wolfsbane2k

oxoman said:

A lot of the cycling law hasn't been altered for decades. By rights we should have solid lit front and rear lights of about 1/2 a candle power. No flashy lights that you can actually see or dayglo reflectives. Even if flat pedals had the reflectors on them a lot of normal shows with heels etc cover them so pretty much useless. Decent lights should be compulsory at night, not as local amazon employess do near me which is commute in black with no lights and occasionally a dirty Hi viz vest if I'm lucky.

That's wrong. You can legally use flashing lights, provided it flashes between 60 and 240 times per minute (1 – 4Hz), as long as it doesn't also provide a steady light mode - cos then it would have to comply to BS6102/3 , and you can't buy a BS6102/3 light anywhere anymore.

https://www.cyclinguk.org/lighting-regulations

elbowloh

I know a lot of the Exposure lights have a pulse mode rather than flashing e.g. they are never off between pulses, but rather alternate between dim and bright.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Providing they don't fall to bits and are reflective, something like https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLCAPRKRTC/carnac-parky-reflective-toe-cover could be a great bit of extra visibility kit from the front and side, moving relective parts ought to make you more visible.