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review

Lightweights wheel reflectors

7
£13.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Simple yet extremely effective wheel stickers work on other components too.
Weight: 
2g
Contact: 
www.raleigh.co.uk

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This is 86-piece Scotchlite sticker set from Lightweights attaches to the spokes and other moving components. Lighter and considerably more efficient than plastic reflectors, they don’t take up any space while getting you noticed at night and in misty, murky conditions. 

A clean surface is essential so give your wheels a good scrub. Cleaning the spokes with an alcohol-based solution before drying with a lint-free cloth ensures trouble-free adhesion, although chrome surfaces still proved tricky hosts. Placing the bike in a workstand, or the wheels in a jig makes the process more comfortable and set aside an undisturbed hour if you want neat patterns.

You take a sticker, stick it to a spoke, and then rub the protective paper sections between your fingers to set the adhesive properly. Once seated, you remove the protective layer and repeat the process on the next spoke, and so on.

The manufacturers reckon these are visible from a distance of 500 metres and, as long as it's a clear night, I’m inclined to agree. To be honest, performance is no more or less remarkable than rival 3M products. Emerging from junctions, oncoming traffic seemed notably more aware of our presence than usual, and in the main showed greater courtesy.

The stickers are no substitute for decent lights, obviously, but bring extra safety to any bike and they work on trailers and tag-alongs too. So far, there’s been no trace of peeling, lifting or other deterioration despite dodgy weather and exposure to solvents and dilute chain lube, so a couple of seasons' service shouldn’t be out of the question.

Verdict

Simple yet extremely effective wheel stickers work on other components too.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Lightweights wheel reflectors

Size tested: n/a

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Possibly

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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2 comments

Avatar
Tony Farrelly | 13 years ago
0 likes

Funnily enough me too

Avatar
handlebarcam | 13 years ago
0 likes

When I read the title I thought Lightweight, the German manufacturer of massively overpriced wheels, had started selling refectors. If they did they'd probably cost 50 quid a-piece, but would no doubt find buyers among the Serotta-riding dentists who make up most of their customer base.

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