Bmach

How about flying a drone about 30 feet behind you with a flag on it the reads, cyclist ahead!

TimothyH

Drones with lights are being done commercially.



-Tim-

Tourist in MSN

I think that is Fox Mulder on that bike.

LeeG

Visibility is important in the day and night. If you ride a lot during the day that’s probably when someone crashes into you saying “I didnt see you!”
I would emphasize a high visibility vest, shirt or jacket day or night then after that for night your helmet has a headlamp and tail lamp with head and tailamp on the bike. I put reflective tape everywhere.

Driving a car at night I’d register a bright jacket as a person before a collection of moving reflective bits. A bright tail lamp and headlamp would indicate another vehicle more than reflectors. Not saying reflective tape isnt worthwhile just that it won’t make up for dark clothes or inadequate running lights.

In my commutting on a busy street I did a lot of evasive maneuvers for cars who obviously didn’t see me in the light of day. Changed noticably once I wore a high visibility vest or jacket.

drewguy

Great for those 20 minute rides.

canklecat

A couple of local cycling acquaintances have those super bright white/whitish gray 3M material reflective windbreakers. The material looks fairly normal in ordinary light but really pops under headlights, and in more directions that mirrored directly back at the headlight. Very impressive stuff. At night against a black background it looks like what it is -- a human torso moving.

Yeah, I was skeptical about hi-viz yellow/green/orange until I noticed how well it popped on gloomy overcast days, even very early or late with barely any sky light.

First time I noticed how well hi-viz pops against a busy background was a year or so ago on the MUP. Cool, pleasant temperature but very gloomy and dim for midday. Lots of folks on the trails but most were barely visible until we were within 100 yards. They just blended into the surroundings -- a mix of dense trees with intermittent buildings, rail yards and industrial stuff. But I could see the hi-viz-clad cyclists and joggers hundreds of yards away.

TimothyH

Hi-vis colors do little to nothing at night.

The human eye does not see color in darkness or low light conditions. Hi-vis or any color is not visible to a motorist until they are close enough to light up the color with their vehicle's headlights. That's too close and too late, and not possible when the cyclist is off to the side, not directly in the path of the vehicle's headlights.

Hi-vis is great during the day but lights and reflective gear are what's needed at night, not colors.


-Tim-

noglider 

Reflective material can't be relied on to work. It's OK as a supplement. I've been wearing reflective trouser bands, but now I'm considering using bands that light up. If people can see my moving ankles, it's a big attention getter.

BSeen 2ed Generation LED Slap Band

BikeLite

Interesting find noglider. The battery holder seems a bit fragile and it would be nice if it was reflective also, but I am not sure it is. The Planet Bike ankle band is similar.

TimothyH

I've not seen this exact brand but I have seen runners and cyclists with similar wearables. None of the lights I have seen were very bright or attention getting. By comparison, a 60 lumen tail light was much more conspicuous.

Maybe BSeen is different. It would certainly differentiate them.


-Tim-

noglider 

I use a spoke light. It's not very bright, but I have been told it is very good at grabbing attention. I think lights that move don't have to be bright.

Skipjacks

First off...this. Very much.

I put this stuff on my black wheels and if I'm outside in daylight I can't see it. It's like it's not there. I can see it indoors if the room light is bouncing off it, but who cares? I don't ride indoors much.

At night though, it stands out really well. I put it all over my helmet too.

The other thing I have is an LED light that I hang from the top tube aiming straight down at the road.

Similar to this...(I don't have this one...but anything like this will work)
https://www.amazon.com/Ascher-Rechar...usb+bike+light

It's easily removed when I'm not riding at night and doesn't hurt the bike because it's all rubber straps. By aiming is down at the ground it lights up the bike frame, my legs, and a big circle on the road under me. I wouldn't make it my ONLY 'see my' feature. But it's worked out well as a nice addition to my normal headlight and red blinking tail light.

Garfield Cat

That would make me go faster, as if there was another rider coming up on me with his bright 900 lumens aimed right at me.

Wait!! Another scene for a horror movie like "Get Out".

fietsbob

Bright colored Parka with wide reflective stripes, here.. my bike has a dynamo hub with wired LED head and tail lights

TimothyH

Well, when you find ankle bands that are bright then let me know.

I'm convinced that flouro shoe covers make me 9,857,342% more conspicuous during the day. The round and round motion from the side and especially the up and down motion from behind is traffic stopping. It will be flouro socks for me this spring.

The next best thing for me at night are Nathan reflective ankle bands. They don't do any good when I'm off to the side or a motorists headlight isn't shining directly on me however and I wish there were really bright ankle lights like the reflective bands.

I'm open to suggestions.


-Tim-

noglider 

Do you have a way to quantify bright enough?

odiolalluvia

Cover yourself with reflective paint and ride naked. Might want to use a saddle cover if it's hot out.

blue192

Something like this might be useful... https://www.planetbike.com/store/sto...ide-light.html

Drew Eckhardt 

Velocity HALO retro reflective powder coated rims. They're an anthracite gray color in daylight.
Reflective ankle bands on the rider.
Reflective harness on the rider.

StirFry

I zip tied my headlight to the bottom of my stem. Used industrial velcro (double plastic hook sided) to ensure minimal movement from it. Works and looks great imo. Might not work if your stem is too short or isn't parallel to the ground though.

chrisx

Cheap and it works day and night.

When will they start making amber blinking lights, amber blinky lights

Skipjacks

The idea is to get drivers to look at me, not avert their eyes

fietsbob

Wear bright clothing, I have a Parka like road side workers Wear.

odiolalluvia

Giant feathers then. Bright colors Like some kind of tropical theme Vegas show. You'll be impossible to miss.

cdkarp

My single speed is black and I have black reflective tape that blends in with the paint. When light hits the tape you can see it.