Opinions on handlebar-plug-type lights

D.M. Procida said:

(i.e. those things which you stuff into the ends of your handebars).

I've never seen a cyclist using them, so what do they look like to
motorists?

Not sure, but here's a cheaper and effective alternative:

Cover handlebar end plugs in this extremely reflective red tape:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3M-Reflective-Tape-Diamond-Grade-Red-or-Yellow-25mm_
W0QQitemZ7999502763QQcategoryZ25632QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

( http://tinyurl.com/bpdmv )

You may need to file plugs flat first (or change to a flat type) if yours
are domed.

~PB (no connection with seller)

in message
<[email hidden]>,

D.M. Procida (') said:

(i.e. those things which you stuff into the ends of your handebars).

I've never seen a cyclist using them, so what do they look like to
motorists?

If you mean the things that stuff into the end of drop bars, they're
remarkably effective. Not effective enough to be your /only/ rear light,
but a great supplementary.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; Our modern industrial economy takes a mountain covered with trees,
;; lakes, running streams and transforms it into a mountain of junk,
;; garbage, slime pits, and debris. -- Edward Abbey

Quoted message said:

I've never seen a cyclist using them, so what do they look like to
motorists?

Dunno, but I guess they look like pants ickle lights. As they'll be seen
only by those behind you what you want is reflectors - much brighter.

Wiggle sell some here (hopefully):

<URL:http://tinyurl.com/clfhl> [1]

£7 is a tad expensive for what they are, but compared to the dimmer, more
nickable and more expensive to run handlebar lights then they're good
value. Only suitable for drop bars tho.

[1] <URL:http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?W=0
&Manufacturer=&UberCatName=&Cat=cycle&CategoryName=Bar%20Ends&ProdID=
5360017825&UberCat=0>

Mark Thompson said:

Quoted message said:

I've never seen a cyclist using them, so what do they look like to
motorists?

Dunno, but I guess they look like pants ickle lights. As they'll be seen
only by those behind you what you want is reflectors - much brighter.

Wiggle sell some here (hopefully):

<URL:http://tinyurl.com/clfhl> [1]

£7 is a tad expensive for what they are, but compared to the dimmer, more
nickable and more expensive to run handlebar lights then they're good
value. Only suitable for drop bars tho.

That's interesting. I thought I had understood - from this place - that
reflectors are bugger-all use for the purpose they're supposed to
fulfill.

I'd meant to ask about mirrors as well. I rerally could do with a little
mirror on the handlebar just so I have idea what's going on behind me -
turning round makes me wobble and can only be done every so often, and
there's so much noise it's hard to judge what's behind. A mirror is just
what I need, I think.

I have dropped handlebars, but you must understand that it's important
for me not to look like a dork, so please only recommend cool-looking
mirrors.

Daniele
--
For sale: Apple PowerBook G4 17", 1.67GHz, 1.5GB RAM, 80GB HDD, DVD
writer, Airport Extreme, Bluetooth, backlit keyboard. Almost brand
new - has been used exactly once, on 8th September 2005, for a one-
day project. Absolutely perfect condition. £1500 + VAT or offers.

Quoted message said:

That's interesting. I thought I had understood - from this place -
that reflectors are bugger-all use for the purpose they're supposed to
fulfill.

They're great. They reflect the hugely bright car headlights so are hugely
bright in return. Their only weakness is that reflectors are highly
directional, but so are leds. When driving on unlit country roads
reflectors are always the first thing I see.

<snippity>

Quoted message said:

I have dropped handlebars, but you must understand that it's important
for me not to look like a dork, so please only recommend cool-looking
mirrors.

Go more for oval-y shapes. More pleasing to the eye and show more road
with less sky. No mirror is cool looking but these look almost ok.
Anything helmet mounted is a _big_ no-no for coolness, tho gets huge bonus
points for eccentricity.

I'm biased tho - I'm wanting to be a teacher so am avoiding mirrors in the
hope of developing the old eyes in the back of the head trick.

Mark Thompson said:

Quoted message said:

That's interesting. I thought I had understood - from this place -
that reflectors are bugger-all use for the purpose they're supposed
to fulfill.

They're great. They reflect the hugely bright car headlights so are
hugely bright in return. Their only weakness is that reflectors are
highly directional, but so are leds. When driving on unlit country
roads reflectors are always the first thing I see.

I'm impressed with how wide an angle the reflective tape I mentioned works
at. I think it's better in that respect than a "normal" reflector. And
the more you use of various tapes & reflectors, on various places on bike
& person, the more chance there is of some of it being at an ideal angle
for the viewer.

~PB

D.M. Procida said:

That's interesting. I thought I had understood - from this place -
that reflectors are bugger-all use for the purpose they're supposed to
fulfill.

They're very useful but still they don't take the place of a light.

Quoted message said:

I'd meant to ask about mirrors as well. I rerally could do with a
little mirror on the handlebar just so I have idea what's going on
behind me - turning round makes me wobble and can only be done every
so often, and there's so much noise it's hard to judge what's behind.
A mirror is just what I need, I think.

Been there, done that, not doing it again unless I /have/ to, eg. I'm not
physically capabale of looking behind.

Mirrors on drop bars get in the way (of hands, walls and gate/lamp posts),
need an annoying amount of repeated fiddly adjustment, and often give you
a false idea of what is or isn't behind and how near or far it is, so
you're best off without one if you can possibly manage. A little wobble
won't do you any harm. Keep practising, and consider changing your riding
position if it is causing other problems as well.

Have one hand on the "tops" position (half way between stem and brake
lever), and take other hand off the bars and turn your body round. Trying
putting your hand on your thigh -- looks camp but helps stability &
balance, I find. Be aware of linear things like lane markings to help
keep you steering reasonably straight. This way you'll end up not just
being able to have a good glance, but ride the bike while looking
completely the wrong way for a few seconds.

Although I might be a bit wobbly, personally, the only real difficulty
with looking behind I have is at night on completely unlit roads. Seeing
nothing but black instantly freaks me out, and there's nothing visual for
the brain to use for balance anyway.

Quoted message said:

I have dropped handlebars, but you must understand that it's important
for me not to look like a dork, so please only recommend cool-looking
mirrors.

Mirror on drop bars is naff, full stop.

A helmet mirror looks cool in a dorkish sort of way, though :-)

~PB

D.M. Procida said:

(i.e. those things which you stuff into the ends of your handebars).

If you would like to try them,
I have a Dan-light which I would like to sell.
It didn't work well on dropped handlebars, but would be fine for
straight bars.

Reasonable offers.

D.M. Procida said:

(i.e. those things which you stuff into the ends of your handebars).

I've never seen a cyclist using them, so what do they look like to
motorists?

I asked the same question a couple of weeks back.
There were mixed responses.

I've since seen a set in use and they work pretty well although I would
not use them as your main rear light.
They have the advantage that you wont be caught out if you ever do
forget to attach your main lights, or if you inadverently get home late
as the light is fading.

I'm getting a set.

John b

in message
<[email hidden]>,

D.M. Procida (') said:

Mark Thompson said:

Quoted message said:

I've never seen a cyclist using them, so what do they look like to
motorists?

Dunno, but I guess they look like pants ickle lights. As they'll be
seen only by those behind you what you want is reflectors - much
brighter.

Wiggle sell some here (hopefully):

<URL:http://tinyurl.com/clfhl> [1]

£7 is a tad expensive for what they are, but compared to the dimmer,
more nickable and more expensive to run handlebar lights then they're
good
value. Only suitable for drop bars tho.

That's interesting. I thought I had understood - from this place - that
reflectors are bugger-all use for the purpose they're supposed to
fulfill.

People have expressed doubt about sideways-shining (wheel) reflectors
(which I personally think are quite good) but I haven't heard anyone
casting doubt on rearward facing reflectors. Certainly I like a lot of
retro-reflective on my night-time clothing.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; my other religion is Emacs

JohnB said:

Quoted message said:

(i.e. those things which you stuff into the ends of your handebars).

I've never seen a cyclist using them, so what do they look like to
motorists?

I asked the same question a couple of weeks back.
There were mixed responses.

I've since seen a set in use and they work pretty well although I would
not use them as your main rear light.
They have the advantage that you wont be caught out if you ever do
forget to attach your main lights, or if you inadverently get home late
as the light is fading.

I'd never dream of using them as a main rear light - for that I'm
getting a Cateye Dalek model (TL-LD1000:
<http://www.cateye.com/uk/products/viewProduct.php?modelId=45&catId=7&su
bCatId=4>😉. What I want is extra Christmas tree lighting towarn off the
overtaking drivers.

Actually, what I really want is a weightless invisible projector which
projects a perfect holographic image of me riding a metre further out
from the kerb than I already am, but wearing a full Police uniform and a
very angry look on my face and carrying a radar gun.

Failing that - how about something along the lines of those fibre-optic
decorative lights. You'd have a swaying mass of fibres moving in an
amorphous mass off the rear of the bike.

Daniele
--
For sale: Apple PowerBook G4 17", 1.67GHz, 1.5GB RAM, 80GB HDD, DVD
writer, Airport Extreme, Bluetooth, backlit keyboard. Almost brand
new - has been used exactly once, on 8th September 2005, for a one-
day project. Absolutely perfect condition. £1500 + VAT or offers.

In article said:

I'm impressed with how wide an angle the reflective tape I mentioned works
at. I think it's better in that respect than a "normal" reflector. And
the more you use of various tapes & reflectors, on various places on bike
& person, the more chance there is of some of it being at an ideal angle
for the viewer.

Yes - putting it on curved surfaces like seatstays, mudguards, or forks
means at least a thin stripe is facing in quite a wide angle (and helps
look more obviously bike shaped).

Quoted message said:

Failing that - how about something along the lines of those fibre-optic
decorative lights. You'd have a swaying mass of fibres moving in an
amorphous mass off the rear of the bike.

I like this approach:
<URL:http://www.swedenfreezer.com/avr/avr_christmas_bikes.htm>

[email hidden] (D.M. Procida) writed in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Mark Thompson said:

Quoted message said:

I've never seen a cyclist using them, so what do they look like to
motorists?

Dunno, but I guess they look like pants ickle lights. As they'll be
seen only by those behind you what you want is reflectors - much
brighter.

Wiggle sell some here (hopefully):

<URL:http://tinyurl.com/clfhl> [1]

£7 is a tad expensive for what they are, but compared to the dimmer,
more nickable and more expensive to run handlebar lights then they're
good value. Only suitable for drop bars tho.

That's interesting. I thought I had understood - from this place -
that reflectors are bugger-all use for the purpose they're supposed to
fulfill.

I'd meant to ask about mirrors as well. I rerally could do with a
little mirror on the handlebar just so I have idea what's going on
behind me - turning round makes me wobble and can only be done every
so often, and there's so much noise it's hard to judge what's behind.
A mirror is just what I need, I think.

I have dropped handlebars, but you must understand that it's important
for me not to look like a dork, so please only recommend cool-looking
mirrors.

I've got an intermittent problem with my shoulders which means that
looking over my shoulder can be a problem, so all my bikes have mirrors.
The only bike with drop bars has got an old Cateye mirror which plugs
into the bar end. I'm pretty sure that they are no longer available,
because I've been unable to source them. The design faults are that it is
round (oval would be cooler), and that while the fitting is solid, it
does work loose every 100 miles or so. The design plusses are its
rigitity, (no fuzzy images) and a good wide field of view.
Do NOT be tempted to buy a mirror on a flexible stem - next to useless!

[email hidden] (D.M. Procida) writed in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

JohnB <[email hidden]> wrote:
Failing that - how about something along the lines of those fibre-optic
decorative lights. You'd have a swaying mass of fibres moving in an
amorphous mass off the rear of the bike.

Daniele

I've often wondered if a development of the laser pointers (as used in
lecture theatres) would give a 'virtual pointy stick'?!

Mike the Unshavable said:

Quoted message said:

I've got an intermittent problem with my shoulders which means that
looking over my shoulder can be a problem, so all my bikes have mirrors.

A good alternative to looking over your shoulder that also works well
for those that feel wobbly when looking round, is to look down and back
under your arm. The lack of twisting means you don't tend to twist the
bars as you look

--
Tony

"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't"
Anon

Mark Thompson wrote:
Reflctors:

Quoted message said:

They're great. They reflect the hugely bright car headlights so are hugely
bright in return. Their only weakness is that reflectors are highly
directional, but so are leds.

They're directional in the sense that they reflect light straight back
to where it came from - they work as a corner reflector.

Unless you're looking straight down the beam, plus or minus a few
degrees, you will not see the reflected light.

Mike the Unshavable said:

... an old Cateye mirror which plugs into the bar end. I'm pretty sure
that they are no longer available, because I've been unable to source
them.

That's exactly what I want. I can't see how any of the types with a stem
would work - something would get in the way somewhere.

What's needed is a plug (exanding, to shove into the bar end), a
ball-joint, and a small convex mirror.

Daniele
--
For sale: Apple PowerBook G4 17", 1.67GHz, 1.5GB RAM, 80GB HDD, DVD
writer, Airport Extreme, Bluetooth, backlit keyboard. Almost brand
new - has been used exactly once, on 8th September 2005, for a one-
day project. Absolutely perfect condition. £1500 + VAT or offers.

D.M. Procida said:

Mike the Unshavable said:

... an old Cateye mirror which plugs into the bar end. I'm pretty sure
that they are no longer available, because I've been unable to source
them.

That's exactly what I want. I can't see how any of the types with a stem
would work - something would get in the way somewhere.

What's needed is a plug (exanding, to shove into the bar end), a
ball-joint, and a small convex mirror.

That's an exact description of the Cateye one - I find it very useful.
I broke my Cateye one once and bought an similar-but-not-Cateye
replacement. It wasn't convex and I could see hardly anything in it.
Fortunately, the broken bit on the Cateye was the handlebar plug so I
made a combined bits of both. There is a mirror available for drops
that fits onto the brake hood (Mirrycle) and B&M do a range with all
sorts of stems, but I have no experience of any of these. Decathlon do
a mirror that velcros around a handlebar grip - it will go onto drops
but I don't like it as much as the Cateye.

--
Andrew