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Glowing helmet-band?



 
 
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  #1  
Old October 28th 04, 11:11 AM
Andrew Reddaway
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Default Glowing helmet-band?

For night cycling visibility, I'm thinking the best combination of
eye-catching and low-hassle would be a glowing "strip" around the edge
of my helmet, say 2cm wide (in addition to the mandatory bike lights
and reflectors). Sure, it's probably also the daggiest option, but
let's ignore that for now...

This would be visible from all angles, at most drivers' eye level over
bonnets and through car windows. What do you ppl reckon? Does
something like this exist? The closest I can find:

http://shopping.rednova.com/catalog/...Nite_Dawg.html
Only problems are it's designed for a dog :-), not quite long enough to
go around the helmet, and a tad heavy at about 500g, being a heavy duty
collar...

http://www.theledlight.com/LED-Tailight.html
http://lib1.store.vip.sc5.yahoo.com/...l-03-10-lg.jpg
A thin band, but otherwise looks good!

REI has both of these - I've ordered from them once before, no probs.
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Sear...=-1&catalogId=
40000008000&brandQuery=Nite+Ize&showPictures=1&
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  #2  
Old October 28th 04, 12:26 PM
Laurence Dodd
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Default Glowing helmet-band?

I would see my local bike group to buy some adhesive reflector tape for your
helmet (silver, red), and strips of light weight yellow plastic reflector
material that can be glued with rubber glue to your back pack (I got mine
from BQ in Brisbane in 1999). Put some some of the red reflector on your
backpack as well if it has a flat vertical surface at the back. I would
also buy some really good bike lights. Eg. Daylight Red LED, and Stadium
3.

"Andrew Reddaway" wrote in message
...
For night cycling visibility, I'm thinking the best combination of
eye-catching and low-hassle would be a glowing "strip" around the edge
of my helmet, say 2cm wide (in addition to the mandatory bike lights
and reflectors). Sure, it's probably also the daggiest option, but
let's ignore that for now...

This would be visible from all angles, at most drivers' eye level over
bonnets and through car windows. What do you ppl reckon? Does
something like this exist? The closest I can find:

http://shopping.rednova.com/catalog/...Nite_Dawg.html
Only problems are it's designed for a dog :-), not quite long enough to
go around the helmet, and a tad heavy at about 500g, being a heavy duty
collar...

http://www.theledlight.com/LED-Tailight.html
http://lib1.store.vip.sc5.yahoo.com/...l-03-10-lg.jpg
A thin band, but otherwise looks good!

REI has both of these - I've ordered from them once before, no probs.
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Sear...=-1&catalogId=
40000008000&brandQuery=Nite+Ize&showPictures=1&



  #3  
Old October 28th 04, 12:37 PM
Gags
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Default Glowing helmet-band?

"Laurence Dodd" wrote in message
u...
I would see my local bike group to buy some adhesive reflector tape for

your
helmet (silver, red), and strips of light weight yellow plastic reflector
material that can be glued with rubber glue to your back pack (I got mine
from BQ in Brisbane in 1999). Put some some of the red reflector on your
backpack as well if it has a flat vertical surface at the back. I would
also buy some really good bike lights. Eg. Daylight Red LED, and Stadium
3.

"Andrew Reddaway" wrote in message
...
For night cycling visibility, I'm thinking the best combination of
eye-catching and low-hassle would be a glowing "strip" around the edge
of my helmet, say 2cm wide (in addition to the mandatory bike lights
and reflectors). Sure, it's probably also the daggiest option, but
let's ignore that for now...

This would be visible from all angles, at most drivers' eye level over
bonnets and through car windows. What do you ppl reckon? Does
something like this exist? The closest I can find:

If you are after some reflective tape, look up a place that makes road signs
and then buy some off-cuts. I did this at a place in Queanbeyan (don't
think that is how you spell it) which is on the NSW/ACT border and then did
up my hard-shell backpack so that now has pretty good visibility at night
(see link).

http://www.users.tpg.com.au/adsl4xun/Backpack.htm

I also put a strip of the orange reflective tape on each of the crank arms
of my commuter for a bit of added visibility from the side as I don't have
any of the orange reflectors in the spokes (I don't think that many people
leave these on even though I think that they have to be provided on new
bikes by law).

Ride On,

Gags


  #4  
Old October 28th 04, 12:51 PM
Evan
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Default Glowing helmet-band?

Laurence Dodd wrote:
also buy some really good bike lights. Eg. Daylight Red LED, and Stadium
3.

Maybe the stadium 3, at $1200, might be a bit too expensive. I've got a
customised $45 Netti reflective vest. Very visible.
  #5  
Old October 28th 04, 02:16 PM
Andrew Reddaway
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Default Glowing helmet-band?

Laurence Dodd wrote:

I would see my local bike group to buy some adhesive reflector tape
for your helmet (silver, red), and strips of light weight yellow
plastic reflector material that can be glued with rubber glue to your
back pack (I got mine from BQ in Brisbane in 1999). Put some some of
the red reflector on your backpack as well if it has a flat vertical
surface at the back. I would also buy some really good bike lights.
Eg. Daylight Red LED, and Stadium 3.


Thanks for the suggestions guys.

I've got good lights (lumicycle total 30w) and 2 multi-LED red blinkies
at the back. And I've got some reflective tape on my helmet and bike.
But I still may not be visible to merging cars, if their headlights
aren't shining on me directly and my lights are blocked by other cars.
That's why I'm thinking of a *glowing* helmet band, rather than just
reflecting.
  #6  
Old October 28th 04, 03:33 PM
HughMann
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Default Glowing helmet-band?


Andrew Reddaway Wrote:

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

But I still may not be visible to merging cars, if their headlights
aren't shining on me directly and my lights are blocked by other cars.
That's why I'm thinking of a *glowing* helmet band, rather than just
reflecting.



Look in the phone book for specialist Safety shops. Local one here ha
a range of reflective materials. I bought a metre of 50mm wide highl
reflective material for $6.50.
Made some anklets with it by cutting to length and sewing on velcro.
Wrap around the ankles and Bingo! The movement of the pedalling leg
attracts attention OK. For the helmet why not try one of those hig
power LED lights. The X-Lite Aqua white is tiny, throws out an amazin
light that in total dark shines on street signs 600m away and th
batteries are claimed lasts 90 hours on slow blink. Cost $20 at LBS.
Batteries are 3 volt coin style. Try this link, havent used shop bu
prices look good.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~hrtech/...batteries.html

Dont get obsessed thou. There are some hopeless drivers out there. I
they can prang into a police car with lights flashing what hope i
there.
Just stay alert and dont assume that you have neen seen.
Heavily tinted windows make it difficult to see if you have bee
noticed.

Cheers
Hug

--
HughMann

  #7  
Old October 29th 04, 01:06 AM
hippy
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Default Glowing helmet-band?

"Andrew Reddaway"
For night cycling visibility, I'm thinking the best combination of
eye-catching and low-hassle would be a glowing "strip" around the edge
of my helmet, say 2cm wide (in addition to the mandatory bike lights
and reflectors). Sure, it's probably also the daggiest option, but
let's ignore that for now...


cfsmtb has something like this. It's a flat strap kinda
thing that cycles colours I think? Or maybe it just
flashed?

I think it's one of the "Nite Ize Marker Bands",
your last link. If one would match the contour
of my helmet I'd love one to light up the back
of my bonce..

hippy


  #8  
Old October 29th 04, 01:14 AM
hippy
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Default Glowing helmet-band?

"HughMann"
The X-Lite Aqua white is tiny, throws out an amazing
light that in total dark shines on street signs 600m away and the
batteries are claimed lasts 90 hours on slow blink. Cost $20 at LBS.
Batteries are 3 volt coin style. Try this link, havent used shop but
prices look good.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~hrtech/...batteries.html


I used to use one of these but I stopped because they just
don't throw enough light. LEDs are very directional too, so
if the driver isn't looking right at the single LED on this unit,
they will not have anywhere near the same amount of light
in their face. Yeah, I'm over X-Lites..

I now use one of these S-Sun lights:
http://www.s-sun.com.tw/p1.htm

Advantages over the X-Lite:
- uses standard AAA batts (x3) where X-Lite
uses expensive watch batteries.
- 3 LEDS with a lens to spread their love around
- Doesn't use the elastic strap mount
- I'm _sure_ they are brighter

Disadvantages:
- larger
- heavier
- can't be mounted 'almost anywhere' like the X-Lite

hippy


  #9  
Old October 29th 04, 07:37 AM
tony f
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Default Glowing helmet-band?


"Andrew Reddaway" wrote in message
...
For night cycling visibility, I'm thinking the best combination of
eye-catching and low-hassle would be a glowing "strip" around the edge
of my helmet, say 2cm wide (in addition to the mandatory bike lights
and reflectors). Sure, it's probably also the daggiest option, but
let's ignore that for now...


Electroluminescent wire.

Neon look, flexible, come in a variety of colours. Available at Jaycar on
closeout special at the moment (eg, $10 for the personal (wearable)
version - 1.5m long, powered by 2AA batteries and an inverter, cool colours,
flash or steady mode, gets noticed wrapped around a helmet) , or many places
online have it http://www.beingseen.com/ for example - they also have the
flexible sheets.

Tony F
who may have 1 or 6 personal EL cables


  #10  
Old October 29th 04, 01:04 PM
Andrew Reddaway
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Posts: n/a
Default Glowing helmet-band?

tony f wrote:

Electroluminescent wire.

Neon look, flexible, come in a variety of colours. Available at
Jaycar on closeout special at the moment (eg, $10 for the personal
(wearable) version - 1.5m long, powered by 2AA batteries and an
inverter, cool colours, flash or steady mode, gets noticed wrapped
around a helmet) , or many places online have it
http://www.beingseen.com/ for example - they also have the flexible
sheets.

Tony F
who may have 1 or 6 personal EL cables


Cool! I knew there must be something out there that would do what I
want... I'll drop into Jaycar when I can - thanks tony f.
 




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