Registered: May 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 8

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

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Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Ga, for now
Posts: 502

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....

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Registered: Mar 2003
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 657

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

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Parkersburg, IA
Posts: 53

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.

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