Fibre Flare Single Tail rear light

I got one of these at the weekend and having worked intermittently for a couple of days it doesn't work at all. The battery contacts seem very flimsy so I'm not surprised. When it worked it was good but there seems to be to many reliability issues or fundamental design issues with the internals.

Think the only time you're likely to get water inside is when you have to do an emergency battery change whilst the light is wet. If you forget to clean/dry the inside when you get home then you're going to get corrosion as you have damp in an fairly sealed environment that won't dry out

I also don't much care for the fiddly rubber attachment straps but they're worth living with as it's a fantastically visible rear light.

andyp, very similar setup to me!

BTW, bought these from Clas Ohlson this week.

This finishes things off nicely. One on each arm. Visible from the front and, when you indicate, from the rear.
http://youtu.be/WIRVD5jui-E

yep, been doing exactly that for ages. Same theory as high-level brake lights on a car. So much more visible up there.

*fwiw I run one on each seatstay in addition to the Flare and Lezyne Micro on the seatpost and the Tacx Lumos in the bars...

Because they are bendy, I have one sitting snuggly round the back of my helmet creating a head height red smile pointing at traffic coming from the rear. I've had a number of people say that this makes me signifcantly more visible than the traditional light under the seat (it just becomes another brake light ahead when cycling through traffic apparently).

Silly question, but would a drop of silicone grease on the inside of the rubber caps not sort out any potential water problems ?

I've used two of these on the rear stays during winter for years, and they offer great, all-round visibility.

However, for the price, they're just too expensive. I've had a number fail due to water ingress, and the build quality of the battery contacts seems incredibley shoddy and cheap.

I won't be replacing them any more now that I've found the Exposure Blaze MK1. An expensive light to be sure, but judging from the build quality it will last years; and given that I've spent ~£40/year on Fibre Flares for the last few years it was a justifiable upgrade for me.

Corrosion ? Well, one eventually failed, but no real problems. Like bendertherobot, I cycle in all weathers, in Gloucestershire, then London as my commute ... the clear bits get a bit grubby but a little spit and polish keeps them in good nick. Still love them.

I had an Exposure Flare. Lovely light. Not as bright as my Lezyne Micro Drive though. Great for chucking it in a glass of beer for a laugh.

But, back to the fibre flare. I live in South Wales, commute just shy of 40 miles a day, 5 days a week. Cold, wet. I don't shy away from puddles or rain. My mudguards run close to the fibre flares and they get splattered with mud and water.

All 3 are 18 months old. All perfect, zero corrosion.

Hopeless if you live anywhere that it rains. If you have £30 to burn for a light that is damaged by water ingress after a handful of rides fill your boots. Or you could buy a proper light like an Exposure Flare.

I have three. Two reds on the seat stays and one blue on my rucksack.

I run the two reds on solid together with a lezyne micro drive on flash.

I confess I also run the blue flare on flash. I shouldn't because a blue flash on the rear is illegal.

But, it's hugely effective and, if asked, I'll claim it has switched modes.

have used for two years now all year round commute in proper northern weather not that light softy southern stuff - excellent light, had comments backing this up, never had any issues with it whatsoever regarding corrosion and mine gets wet, although it has always hung vertically from backpack rather than horizontally - very good value for money & excellent if you cycle any unlit roads

I have one, used for a couple of years commuting hanging off backpack in conjunction with a fixed non-strobe rear light. Great side to side visibility. Very happy with it.

have used these in the past to good effect, but they don't really like the wet in the long-term... the electric contacts corrode and eventually give up.

Used these for years now ! As they do several different colours, my favourite addition is a blue (OK could do green for legality but I did ask a policeman about the blue one and he shrugged his shoulders and said it was OK) one strapped to the top tube ... instantly visible from BOTH left and right as an extra warning to vehicles etc. coming out from side roads or pavements. I hang one from my backpack and many car drivers have noted how visible it is. The movement helps as you get out of the saddle, too.