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Need advice for lights/reflectors

Anybody have any suggestions for homemade or cheap lights/reflectors that would be good for daytime/evening visability for semi-busy country roads?

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-Kevin
Grand Rapids, MI

Niterider has the best taillight I've ever seen so far, but its designed to work only with their systems and costs $60. I've also gotten fond of the Cateye LD-500R because it has a CPSC reflector built in, and looks gorgeous for a 3 led light. The niterider is as bright as a car brake light. As to headlights, I personally like having the digital dimmer/controllers on the lights for longer burn times, but they COST! For almost homebrew lights, here is something that looks ok http://www.bicyclelights.com/ I've been doing a lot of digging lately and found some of these links useful.
http://user.fundy.net/cyclist/bikecurrent-FAQ.html some old info, but some very good info Thinking about those major bright HID bike lights? Start here... http://www.solarc.net/ My best headlight so far is a 12w/20w dual beam 12volt system. I look forward to trying an HID light when I have the cash. For being seen, I have some crazy ideas I have yet to develop. Once I know it works, I'll have pics and details....

Lights

It depends why you want the light. I infer from your reference to busy streets, you are mainly interested in being seen rather than seeing.

For being seen, I recommend the Cateye EL400. Very light weight and very bright. I think Nashbar has a slightly cheaper knock off.

"For seeing" is another, almost philosophical discussion. I use a helmut mounted NR. While strong, I have to look out 10-20 feet over my fairing. It lights the road, but I doubt if I could distinguish between an oil slick, a puddle, or a hole. I only ride on familiar roads and 90% is covered with street lighting.

If riding in totally dark conditions on strange roads (as you never know when a truck is going to drop a 2x4 or transmission parts, all roads are probably strange at the moment you are on them.) you really have to go the route mentioned in the post above.

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Ron
2001 Tour Easy (w/ bent frame...no, not a recumbent frame...a bent or damaged frame.)
2006 Gold Rush
Las Vegas, NV

Reflectors???

try reflective tape....the 3M brand is the best....can't have too much, as some of the car drivers are blind in one eye and can't see out of the other.