Doh! Forgot lighting for bike, need short notice ideas...

Kodachrome-Burning · Post by **Kodachrome-Burning** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:10 pm

So, since I am pretty much living on the road full time in doing my book project this year, I keep pretty busy with logistics. That said, I have most things for BM taken care of but totally spaced getting LED lighting for my bike.

I like the Toys are Us, Target, Lowes and did not find anything that would work to get er' lit up. Any short notice ideas would be great, it keeps us all safe out there...

Post by **Eric** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:34 pm

go to a bike store- get front & rear lights for your bike (white front, red rear). Your bike is now lit.

Is it fancy & pretty & oh-so-amazing?
No.
It's lit, and that, really, is all that matters.

And honestly- my bike has just those lights mentioned above, and one janky string of EL wire glued to the cross-bar of the frame.

Not pretty, but it keeps me from being a darkwad & a traffic hazard, plus the front lights let me see the speed bumps before I hit them and wreck their burn.

Kodachrome-Burning · Post by **Kodachrome-Burning** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:42 pm

OK, I was thinking that was all I needed but for some reason I was concerned about lighting that made it easy to see from the side / profile.

Antranik · Post by **Antranik** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:18 pm

99 cent store.

cahlm · Post by **cahlm** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:20 pm

I believe there is a road side stand that sells all sorts of ready-to-go elwire in Gerlach. I've seen it every year at the market.

bluesbob · Post by **bluesbob** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:50 pm

If you have white gas, and a roll of toilet paper...oh, wait...never mind.

Post by **Eric** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:52 pm

Kodachrome-Burning wrote:OK, I was thinking that was all I needed but for some reason I was concerned about lighting that made it easy to see from the side / profile.

Point your lights slightly down, towards the tires-

a) the front one will illuminate the ground in front of you without blinding anyone

b) the back one will let people know where you are

from the sides your tires will be lit. TaDa! Side lighting!

at this point, its easier if you don't over-think what you need to get done.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Aug 27, 2010 3:24 am

Wear a headlamp to see.
I recommend at least a one watt or three watt luxeon.
Some have dimmers.
You can reduce weight with lithium batteries.

Side lighting is very important, for you as well as the bike.

A few LED glowsticks can be worn on your belt or around your neck.
White or yellow is more visible, but the red/blue/green from home depot? or cosco help if you have several.
One around your neck can be thrown over your back.

There are other options.
I have a flashlight with many flashing LEDs that I tie to the bike.
Many headlamps have a flashing option and can be used anywhere on a bike, if not too bright.
I got a princeton tec with dim and flash features from cabela's.
Tiny, not very bright, but useful and on closeout now for $15.
Really tiny, as in pocket small.

I strongly recommend 3M diamondstripe reflective material, called conspicuity striping.
Made in solids, easiest to find in zebra stripe.
Some big box stores have it, but you can always find it at truck supply houses like truckpro.
Maybe truck stops.
Same material on the sides of semis.
Comes in many colors, but red/white is most common.
White is the brightest.

It is very stiff, so mount accordingly.
I have used it on the main tubes and tied it down while curing to get it to lay down as much as possible.
While this mounting is against it's flat mounting design, it really works well.
And it will be working years later too.
Makes it much easier to find your bike too.

lambert13 · Post by **lambert13** » Fri Aug 27, 2010 7:47 am

At the Target stores near me in NY, they have LED glowstick/flashlight combo things for under $5 each. About the size of a regular glow stick. Four modes with flashlight, glowstick and flashing. I have bought a bunch already. Hell, I even use them at home to take the dog out late at night. the glowstick function is bright enough to provide light for walking the dog.

EDIT::: They are in the flashlight aisle in the home repair part of the store.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Fri Aug 27, 2010 8:16 am

lambert13 wrote:At the Target stores near me in NY, they have LED glowstick/flashlight combo things for under $5 each. About the size of a regular glow stick. Four modes with flashlight, glowstick and flashing. I have bought a bunch already. Hell, I even use them at home to take the dog out late at night. the glowstick function is bright enough to provide light for walking the dog.

EDIT::: They are in the flashlight aisle in the home repair part of the store.

Home Depot has the same ones. 3 for $10. they are GREAT! Glad I'm not going to be the only one with a Home Depot flash light as lighting.

Ever take a flashing stick into a porto? It will really trip you out mannnn...

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:38 am

Birthday candles

albion · Post by **albion** » Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:26 am

buy a headlight from lowes