Crowded handlebars

LastBoyScout wrote:

Ditch the bell - a polite "excuse me" works just as well and won't involve moving your hands on the bars to ring it.

Not sure I agree with this. On my commute (along the canal paths, beside the river and through the park) the pedestrians are slow to get out the way with a polite "excuse me" but quick to get out the way with a double ping of the bell. I suppose an "excuse me" would work if I was going slower but personally I would rather have the bell and go faster. Also some more urbanised birds and other small wildlife do not always scarper at the sound of a voice (unless you yell and look a bit of a fool) but they usually shift at a double ping.

MarkiMark wrote:

Has anyone ever in the history of mankind ever been stopped for not having a reflector, especially if they have a blinding light.

Expect it to get introduced as mitigation in the event that you get run over.  No rear reflector?  Totally your fault when someone drives into the front of you.

guyrwood wrote:

Who cares if the front reflector is legal or not? I've been cycling for 20+ years and first job on any new bike is 'all reflectors in the bin'. There aren't enough traffic officers on the roads  to manage a tenth of the morons in cars these dyas, they're really not going to give a fig about a missing reflector so long as you have proper bike lights.

I reckon reflectors are still a good idea if you ride in the dark frequently - if your rear light dies in wet weather (I've heard enough people complain about it!) you will probably be oblivious, and reflectors are extremely effective at increasing your visibility.

However, I wouldn't bother keeping one on the bars - for my commuting bike I use reflective tape on the headtube and fork legs.  It's black tape so it isn't obvious in the daylight. Doesn't reflect quite as strongly but looks whiteish when lights are shone on it.

Most of the reflectors supplied with bikes are horribly engineered too - I prefer to replace with a good reflector/light combo on the rear rack, and reflective tape on the side of wheel rims (if deep section or disc brake).

DaveE128 wrote:

for my commuting bike I use reflective tape on the headtube and fork legs.  It's black tape so it isn't obvious in the daylight. Doesn't reflect quite as strongly but looks whiteish when lights are shone on it.

Agreed, same tactic here.  3M reflective tape is really cheap on Ebay, bike looks like something out of Tron in the dark

brooksby wrote:

Thanks for all of this, people!

SimonE - I have the Cateye on at this time of year as a 'to see by' headlight and the Lezyne is on as a supplementary 'to be seen by' (when I'm not commuting at this time of year in the dusk/dark, only the Lezyne tends to be on and I keep the Cateye in a pannier).

Kil0ran - I hadn't realised a front reflector wasn't a legal requirement.  If that's the case then that will be gone in a heartbeat!

Superpython - your handlebars make mine look practically minimalist!

Thanks, all.

yes a reflector is a legal requirement, but as far as i am concerned, this is a hangover from the days when bike lights were crap. the reflector acts as a good back up in case the light dies, but if you have two lights that shouldn't be necesary.

also as others have said, reflective tape on the frame or trim on your jackets does just as well.

No one has ever been stopped for not having a reflector, unless they also didn't have a light. I've not even heard of it being cited as contributaory negligence. 

wycombewheeler wrote:

yes a reflector is a legal requirement, but as far as i am concerned, this is a hangover from the days when bike lights were crap. the reflector acts as a good back up in case the light dies, but if you have two lights that shouldn't be necesary.

As others have said previously, only a rearwards facing reflector and pedal reflectors are required by law in UK, a forward facing reflector is not required by law.

From Cyclists' Defence Fund (Richard Harrison, Laytons Solicitors):

"What lighting should you have?

A front position lamp: coloured white (or yellow if it is incorporated in a headlamp which is capable of emitting only a yellow light)
A rear position lamp: coloured red
A rear retro reflector: coloured red (there is no requirement for a front reflector although these are often supplied)
Pedal retro reflectors: Unless the bike was manufactured before 1 October 1985, there should be two pedal reflectors on each pedal, bearing a British standard mark and coloured amber. They appear to be the least visible or useful of all lighting devices but if one breaks, as they invariably do, given their position, you should replace it in order to remain within the law."

kil0ran wrote:

Oh and if you have clearance, mount one of the lights under the stem? Or go dyno with a proper fork crown German light which will mean oncoming drivers will think you're a motorcyclist

This is what I've done with my front light - sits happily on the stem underneath the bars, still highly visible.  And as an added bonus it shows potholes even clearer because they cast longer shadows.