Category Archives: Lights
Best Tail Light on the Planet?
Our friends at Planet Bike have every reason to be proud of their quiver of blinkie lights. Their 1/2 watt Superflash is pretty much the industry benchmark by which all other battery-powered tail lights are judged. I have Superflash tail lights on all our family bikes that don’t have dynamo powered lighting. So, clearly I [...]
Light Years Ahead
It’s that time of year again, when the short days force most of us to ride to and from work in the dark. Wisconsin state law requires bicycles to have a white light on the front and a red light or red reflector on the back. There is a blinding array of lighting systems out [...]
Another Fatal Crash: Is it safe to ride a bike at night?
Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel Blog Off the Couch has more news on this tragic crash. You can read his full report here. It seems the driver of the car was legally blind in one eye and required to wear glasses when driving, but was not. It also appears she received three cell phone [...]
Latest Secret Weapon to Fight the Night
Readers may remember I modified a vintage headlamp by inserting the guts of a modern LED light. I wanted better light with a vintage look that blended with my 1936 Raleigh. I wish I could leave well-enough alone, but that light just didn’t cut the darkness like I am used to. My other primary commuter [...]
Cyclology of Guilt
I am a member of an email listserv for the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. It is an extremely helpful resource for me at work. Recently there was a thread about people who wear bright clothing at night. It was kind of technical in that it centered in part around the retroreflectivity of white fabrics compared to the retroreflectivity [...]
'36 Raleigh DIY upgrade: SA dyno hub and drum brake
My 1936 Raleigh Sports is a great bike, but combination of the original steel rims and ancient side-pull brakes do not give me stopping power for confident commuting on a good day. When the rims get wet, get ready to Flintstones your way to the stop sign. I considered swapping out the rear wheel for a 3-speed hub [...]
Riding Ninja Style
Recent converstions on the Milwaukee bike to work listserv about riding without lights at night prompted me to share this video from the Portland-based Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Enjoy! Strategies for Getting Around Without Bike Lights (or Pants) from BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE on Vimeo.
