Comments on: Bicycle Taillights That Work

By: The Spokesrider

The Spokesrider — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:38:03 +0000

I once had one of those RealLites, but the mount kept breaking. I had thought the company that made them was no longer in business, though. I’m glad to see it’s still around.

Recently I was talking with my 90-year-old father about bicycle visibility. He has macular degeneration and is on a very restricted license — no longer allowed to drive at night among other things — but he asked if I have reflectors on my pedals. I don’t, but my regular bicycle shoes have them. He remarked on how he liked those — it enabled him to make out bicycles from a long ways away (when he used to drive at night).

Now that I have Mallet Eggbeater pedals, I sometimes ride in my regular street shoes, which means no such reflectors or lights. I’m thinking of getting to something to strap on my ankles.

By: kls

kls — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:29:41 +0000

my2mile,

Looks like you and I have the same philosophy about lights: you can’t have too many of them.

I bought a couple of those Reallite wannabes myself. In fact, they may even be the same basic light, but Dick Janson, they guy who makes them beefs up the back.

I tried to hang one of the cheapies on the back of a friend’s bike, but it bounced off. I keep one in my car now as an emergency light since it has a magnetic base on it. It’s just an added piece of safety when you’re stopped on the side of the road and it’s independent of your car battery.

I’ll have to poke around on your site a bit more. Looks like you’re doing a nice job with it.

By: my2mile

my2mile — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:20:13 +0000

I had a RealLite. Well, it was something that I found a Tractor Supply Company that looked just like a RealLite. The real problem was making a mount that did not break. One light broke twice before it was retired. The second one broke once, then was run over.

After that, I started using the previously mentioned SuperFlash. Here are some pictures…

http://my2mile.blogspot.com/2008/09/more-on-lights.html

By: kls

kls — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:54:48 +0000

You CAN buy some flashers in amber, but here’s what the FL statutes say:

“(8) Every bicycle in use between sunset and sunrise shall be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and a lamp and reflector on the rear each exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 600 feet to the rear. A bicycle or its rider may be equipped with lights or reflectors in addition to those required by this section. ”

To be legal, you’d have to have a red in addition to the amber. Tradition, I guess.

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:49:21 +0000

I think this light would be the one that would finally spur me to ride faster than you – as though that would ever happen. Or drop back even more. Sunglasses and a night ride do not mix.
But with all these cataract-prone Bentley drivers around here, I’ll back you up when you say more, bigger, brighter is better.
Question though: Why do they use red (stop) as opposed to yellow (caution) for blinkers? Especially when red/green is the big color blindness pair? Just idle thoughts…

By: kls

kls — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:58:05 +0000

I have seen that light and was impressed. LED technology has come a long way.

Who started that rumor that I had stopped carrying the railroad jack? You just wait. We’re due for a train derailment any day now and I want to be prepared.

I AM thinking of getting a second one, though. Riding with just one unbalances the bike.

By: SLM

SLM — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:39:13 +0000

I still put the ReaLite in my jersey pocket when I need extra “awareness”, but since I am always looking for a lighter (no pun intended, wait, yes it was) way to be seen, I swear by this little light. The Best Tail Light on the Planet, Superflash which can be found at http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3034.html – it is small yet VERY bright. It has a nice clip that fastens nicely under your bike seat (I attached a plastic tie wrap under my seat and hang it from there) and it is BRIGHT and LIGHT. Perfect if you want to be seen and don’t want a heavy light. And let’s not forget that I’m all about NOT adding weight to my bike, unlike someone else who just recently stop carrying a railroad jack with them because they like to be prepared for the one time they come across a train that has derailed…