Rick C Johnson

Wow, can anyone say low flying UFO? Sounds like the only thing you don't
have is the reflective sidewall tires... as I've said before, nothing
screams "BICYCLE!" like two glowing circles.

Rick

Dan H wrote:

> Second light?
> I have 10! I just put new batteries in my valve cap blinkys that flash
> sequentially making red, blue and green tracers on each wheel as I
> ride. I have two white blinkers on my handlebar, a 12 watt on the
> helmet, two flashers on the rear, another flasher on the commuter
> pannier, a triangular reflector on the pannier and two bar end
> blinkys. In addition, there are several bits of reflective material
> strategically located all over my Showers Pass (shameless plug) rain
> gear. I have had drivers roll down their window and compliment me on
> my lights. The other day a woman at a bus stop yelled, "I like your bike!"
> Retail cost of all those lights? About $185. Cheap compared to getting
> hit because "I didn't see you".
> I too have seen the commuters with perhaps one weak LED. That might be
> okay if it's dry but when it's raining, drivers visibility is reduced
> by the plasticizer fogged windows and dried out wipers that have been
> on since last year.
> I'm probably preaching to the choir here. Most of the commuters that
> need this message are probably not on the list. How should we get the
> word out? BTA?
>
> Dan Houghton
> Southwest Bicycle
> 3605 SW Multnomah Boulevard
> Portland, OR 97219
> www.southwestbicycle.com
> 503-246-0333
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* NW Cyclist
> *To:* obra
> *Sent:* Monday, November 03, 2008 8:29 PM
> *Subject:* [OBRA Chat] Commuters - Check You Lights !!!
>
> After reading the post last week about cleaning the inside of my
> windshield I took the time Saturday to follow Ricks's advice (and
> Mike's advice to clean the headlights & taillights too).
>
> On my drive home this evening I had the unfortunate pleasure of
> going through downtown PDX and through my super clean windshied, I
> could see so many more bikes than ever before. What I really
> noticed is how many commuters have really *_dim_* tail lights, or
> lights that are half covered up by a saddle bag or poorly located
> on a backpack, or none at all. Normally I would think most
> obra-ites would know this by now but I saw riders with local team
> kits who had dim tail lights.
>
> With the rainy weather here the road glare is pretty bad going
> through downtown and across the Hawthorne bridge, making it even
> more difficult to see cyclists, so please *check your lights*,
> replace the batteries, buy a new light, or better yet add a second
> light to your bike.
>
> Be Safe
>
> JD
>
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>

john

yeah I always run with Two lights rear, two lights front. inexpensive planet bike or cateye, etc.    If one starts going dim, the other gets turned on.   AA or AAA lights nimh batteries and a slow smart charger.

If you have a  rear clip on light, make sure you secure it with Wire, ziptie, thread, glue, safety pins, or etc.  I have a few extra rear lights picked up on the side of the road. 

two zip ties looped will secure a "flashlight" led to handlebars. which can be had for under$5. releaseable zip ties are available too.   

--- On Mon, 11/3/08, NW Cyclist wrote:
From: NW Cyclist
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Commuters - Check You Lights !!!
To: "obra"
Date: Monday, November 3, 2008, 8:29 PM

After reading the post last week about cleaning the inside of my windshield I took the time Saturday to follow Ricks's advice (and Mike's advice to clean the headlights & taillights too).
 
On my drive home this evening I had the unfortunate pleasure of going through downtown PDX and through my super clean windshied, I could see so many more bikes than ever before.   What I really noticed is how many commuters have really dim tail lights, or  lights that are half covered up by a saddle bag or poorly located on a backpack, or none at all.  Normally I would think most obra-ites would know this by now but I saw riders with local team kits who had dim tail lights.

 
With the rainy weather here the road glare is pretty bad going through downtown and across the Hawthorne bridge, making it even more difficult to see cyclists, so please check your lights, replace the batteries, buy a new light, or better yet add a second light to your bike.   

 
Be Safe
 
JD
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Dan H

Second light?
I have 10! I just put new batteries in my valve cap blinkys that flash sequentially making red, blue and green tracers on each wheel as I ride. I have two white blinkers on my handlebar, a 12 watt on the helmet, two flashers on the rear, another flasher on the commuter pannier, a triangular reflector on the pannier and two bar end blinkys. In addition, there are several bits of reflective material strategically located all over my Showers Pass (shameless plug) rain gear. I have had drivers roll down their window and compliment me on my lights. The other day a woman at a bus stop yelled, "I like your bike!"
Retail cost of all those lights? About $185. Cheap compared to getting hit because "I didn't see you".
I too have seen the commuters with perhaps one weak LED. That might be okay if it's dry but when it's raining, drivers visibility is reduced by the plasticizer fogged windows and dried out wipers that have been on since last year.
I'm probably preaching to the choir here. Most of the commuters that need this message are probably not on the list. How should we get the word out? BTA?

Dan Houghton
Southwest Bicycle
3605 SW Multnomah Boulevard
Portland, OR 97219
www.southwestbicycle.com
503-246-0333

----- Original Message -----
From: NW Cyclist
To: obra
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 8:29 PM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Commuters - Check You Lights !!!

After reading the post last week about cleaning the inside of my windshield I took the time Saturday to follow Ricks's advice (and Mike's advice to clean the headlights & taillights too).

On my drive home this evening I had the unfortunate pleasure of going through downtown PDX and through my super clean windshied, I could see so many more bikes than ever before. What I really noticed is how many commuters have really dim tail lights, or lights that are half covered up by a saddle bag or poorly located on a backpack, or none at all. Normally I would think most obra-ites would know this by now but I saw riders with local team kits who had dim tail lights.

With the rainy weather here the road glare is pretty bad going through downtown and across the Hawthorne bridge, making it even more difficult to see cyclists, so please check your lights, replace the batteries, buy a new light, or better yet add a second light to your bike.

Be Safe

JD

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NW Cyclist

After reading the post last week about cleaning the inside of my windshield
I took the time Saturday to follow Ricks's advice (and Mike's advice to
clean the headlights & taillights too).

On my drive home this evening I had the unfortunate pleasure of going
through downtown PDX and through my super clean windshied, I could see so
many more bikes than ever before. What I really noticed is how many
commuters have really *dim* tail lights, or lights that are half covered up
by a saddle bag or poorly located on a backpack, or none at all. Normally I
would think most obra-ites would know this by now but I saw riders
with local team kits who had dim tail lights.

With the rainy weather here the road glare is pretty bad going through
downtown and across the Hawthorne bridge, making it even more difficult to
see cyclists, so please *check your lights*, replace the batteries, buy a
new light, or better yet add a second light to your bike.

Be Safe

JD