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reflectors on mountain bike

F

frankierx

Senior member
I took my hardrock into the shop for a post break-in period check-up. I am asking the mechanic to take of the reflectors. bR, you mentioned that I would be the only one on the trail with reflectors. This is consistent with the pictures of the specialized bikes on their website and with bR's hardrock pic as well. So my question is, to leave or not to leave?
 
Take them off

Mine didnt come with any and im not putting any on, when you get to the point where you do stupid stuff and crash hard they are teh first things to break
 
As long as I occasionally ride on the streets, I'm leaving mine on. Image isn't that important to me. I'd still wear my seatbelt in the car even if everyone else didn't. Same thing here.
 
If you ride on the streets, leave them on. Only middle school kids are embarrased by reflectors on their bikes.

I can't count how many time refelectors have saved the lives of bikers I probably would have ran over had they not had them.
 
Originally posted by: myusername
Hell I took mine off so that I could ride safely at night on the street.
Click to expand...

Care to explain? Is this the equivalent of a grand plan to be 'thrown clear' of an accident by not wearing a seatbelt?

Reflectors are a good thing if you want to ride at night. But if this is a trail bike, they're completely unnecessary.
 
😛

If you commute with it at night then you might as well leave them on.

I don't ride at night so i took them off. 😀

But if i were to ride at night i would get the cheapest one of these since they're better than any reflectors IMHO. 🙂
 
The front one fell off cause of wear and tear. The seat one I took off cause I need to put a mini saddle bag for tools, patch kits etc.
 
Originally posted by: bR
😛

If you commute with it at night then you might as well leave them on.

I don't ride at night so i took them off. 😀

But if i were to ride at night i would get the cheapest one of these since they're better than any reflectors IMHO. 🙂
Click to expand...

Those are great for people behind or in front of you. But wheel reflectors are a must to be seen from the side.
 
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: bR
😛

If you commute with it at night then you might as well leave them on.

I don't ride at night so i took them off. 😀

But if i were to ride at night i would get the cheapest one of these since they're better than any reflectors IMHO. 🙂
Click to expand...

Those are great for people behind or in front of you. But wheel reflectors are a must to be seen from the side.
Click to expand...

Yeah, better to get the mountain lion's attention in my area.
 
Originally posted by: newbiepcuser
Yeah, better to get the mountain lion's attention in my area.
Click to expand...

Oh you're near there eh?

I have one bike that goes out at night, and it has reflectors and a rear flasher. I used to have a front light but it seems to have got lost at some point. I found it be be a pita because the batteries were usually dead (bright light, not flashing, used a lot of power compared to the back one). The other bike is a racing bike that never sees night riding. The only added weight on that one is a bottle-cage; definitely no reflectors.
 
Originally posted by: newbiepcuser
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: bR
😛

If you commute with it at night then you might as well leave them on.

I don't ride at night so i took them off. 😀

But if i were to ride at night i would get the cheapest one of these since they're better than any reflectors IMHO. 🙂
Click to expand...

Those are great for people behind or in front of you. But wheel reflectors are a must to be seen from the side.
Click to expand...

Yeah, better to get the mountain lion's attention in my area.
Click to expand...

Reflectors would not be remarkable to a mountain lion unless your mountain lions carry flashlights. 😛
 
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: bR
😛

If you commute with it at night then you might as well leave them on.

I don't ride at night so i took them off. 😀

But if i were to ride at night i would get the cheapest one of these since they're better than any reflectors IMHO. 🙂
Click to expand...

Those are great for people behind or in front of you. But wheel reflectors are a must to be seen from the side.
Click to expand...

Well if you really want to be seen then get one of these... 😀

My friend had those wheel reflectors on him that went sideways while riding and jammed the fork... oops... down he went. 🙁

I think reflective tape affixed to the frame is a better solution.
 
Originally posted by: bR
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: bR
😛

If you commute with it at night then you might as well leave them on.

I don't ride at night so i took them off. 😀

But if i were to ride at night i would get the cheapest one of these since they're better than any reflectors IMHO. 🙂
Click to expand...

Those are great for people behind or in front of you. But wheel reflectors are a must to be seen from the side.
Click to expand...

Well if you really want to be seen then get one of these... 😀

My friend had those wheel reflectors on him that went sideways while riding and jammed the fork... oops... down he went. 🙁

I think reflective tape affixed to the frame is a better solution.
Click to expand...

Most spoke reflectors CAN'T turn sideways unless a spoke breaks.

Anyhow, yeah, the tape on the wheels and frame is a good idea, too.

The point is, if you ride the streets at night, make sure you are visable from ALL sides.
 
Originally posted by: Vic
As long as I occasionally ride on the streets, I'm leaving mine on. Image isn't that important to me. I'd still wear my seatbelt in the car even if everyone else didn't. Same thing here.
Click to expand...

I've never even taken notice of whether another rider had reflectors or not.
 
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: bR
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: bR
😛

If you commute with it at night then you might as well leave them on.

I don't ride at night so i took them off. 😀

But if i were to ride at night i would get the cheapest one of these since they're better than any reflectors IMHO. 🙂
Click to expand...

Those are great for people behind or in front of you. But wheel reflectors are a must to be seen from the side.
Click to expand...

Well if you really want to be seen then get one of these... 😀

My friend had those wheel reflectors on him that went sideways while riding and jammed the fork... oops... down he went. 🙁

I think reflective tape affixed to the frame is a better solution.
Click to expand...

Most spoke reflectors CAN'T turn sideways unless a spoke breaks.

Anyhow, yeah, the tape on the wheels and frame is a good idea, too.

The point is, if you ride the streets at night, make sure you are visable from ALL sides.
Click to expand...

Yes they can... if its only attached to one spoke... i'm guessing his got loose and went down towards the hub where it can go sideways easier.

I don't know about the laws in every state but I imagine that if you do get hit by a car at night without reflectors that certainly won't help your case at all against the driver.
 
Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Originally posted by: myusername
Hell I took mine off so that I could ride safely at night on the street.
Click to expand...
Care to explain? Is this the equivalent of a grand plan to be 'thrown clear' of an accident by not wearing a seatbelt?
Click to expand...
Nope, I wear my seatbelt .. it's more a matter of not trusting the idiots in cars to do the right thing if they *do* see me. Better for me to see them and maneuver appropriately than pretend that slapping a reflective sticker on my ass is going to magically keep some drunk from hitting me, as opposed to homing him in like a shiny fishing lure.
 
Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
whats the purpose of taking them off? they weigh next to nothing, and arent a hinderance......?
Click to expand...

Well, bR's riden trails and says that most people don't have reflectors. I don't plan on riding when it gets dark. I aleady had them taken off my bike when I took my bike into the shop for a check-up. I still have the reflectors aside. Should I put them back on myself? Is it easy to do? 😕
 
Originally posted by: frankierx
Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
whats the purpose of taking them off? they weigh next to nothing, and arent a hinderance......?
Click to expand...

Well, bR's riden trails and says that most people don't have reflectors. I don't plan on riding when it gets dark. I aleady had them taken off my bike when I took my bike into the shop for a check-up. I still have the reflectors aside. Should I put them back on myself? Is it easy to do? 😕
Click to expand...

lol well if its off already and you don't ride at night then keep them off... 😛

id leave them on if i ride at night, but i think its pretty useless for trail bike. 🙂
 
Mine smashed off my bike somehow or fell off?

I ride a bit when it is dark but I am careful and don't go fast or ride on the road when I can avoid it.

I 'always' wear my seat belt.

Koing
 
Originally posted by: myusername
Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Originally posted by: myusername
Hell I took mine off so that I could ride safely at night on the street.
Click to expand...
Care to explain? Is this the equivalent of a grand plan to be 'thrown clear' of an accident by not wearing a seatbelt?
Click to expand...
Nope, I wear my seatbelt .. it's more a matter of not trusting the idiots in cars to do the right thing if they *do* see me. Better for me to see them and maneuver appropriately than pretend that slapping a reflective sticker on my ass is going to magically keep some drunk from hitting me, as opposed to homing him in like a shiny fishing lure.
Click to expand...

That's some interesting imagery!

I guess I get what you're saying; personally I do prefer people to know I'm there though.
 
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