As far as visibility goes, I've hag great success with a B&M 4DToplight Senso Multi mounted on a Tubus rack, powered by a Shimano DH-3N72 dynohub, also using a B&M Lumotec with Schmidt Switch. I found that lights are much more visible if the headlight is mounted on the fork crown or headset, and the tail light on the rear rack. In Europe it's not uncommon to have more than one tail light - one on the rack and one on the fender. For example you could bolt a Spanninga SPXb battery light to your fender in addition to the 4DToplight on the rack which is wired in. This holds up a lot better with metal fenders. Often older bikes will have both a small round reflector and a light on the fender, with the rear-most 12 inches of the fender pained white, which seems to work very well. I used some reflective white paint I already had left over from coating the flat roof of my rowhouse, and that worked great. A Petzl headlamp with a Relite clipped on the back can also be handy for very dark / bad weather days. I have a strong preference for the lights that don't blink - I figure that if blinking lights annoy other people as much as they annoy me, it's best not to use them in stressful traffic conditions; regular solid lights seem to work so well.
I also feel that the upright seating position has a big impact on the seeing-and-being-seen dynamic. Just my own experience, but it seems to work so well. Plus then you can use a big springer saddle and it's a comfy ride, even in formal wool office attire. This may be hard to believe, but often you can command respect in the road by actually sitting up strait in respectable clothing in public, and looking at people somewhere above their own eye-level. This is especially effective on a large roadster-style bike with a commanding presence. Subconscious cues can be as important as the more obvious precautions. I'm sorry but the orange construction worker's jacket thing is just silly - think what kind of message your are reinforcing here? --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bicycle Lifestyle" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
