Best bicycle safety products on the market

A lot of former cyclists don't pedal any more due due to perceived
danger or accidents in the past. The rate of accidents seems to be
increasing due to the larger number of reckless drivers, distracting
cellphones, etc. Hence, there is a need for bike-safety products.
Imho, these are the best I've used:

(1) A $130 left-of-center Callaghan Creations cargo bike trailer. This
trailer is made of ultra-light aluminum and has a polymer type
connector that bends any angle without twisting the bike itself. On a
ride, without a load, it is hardly noticeable; unlike seatpost-mounted
trailers which often 'wag' my bike. It is amazing to see that, on city
streets, cars no longer try to squeeze me or run me off the road. It's
a small miracle. This trailer can carry a 100-lb. load, too. However,
I use it primarily for safety as I already have pannier-saddlebags.

(2) The $17 ultra-loud "Air Zounds 2" air horn. Weights about an once.
Filled with compressed air at any gas station, or air pump. Don't use
this on pedestrians! It is loud enough to get thru closed car windows,
preventing "dooring" accidents. Saves my life weekly, imho. Every
biker should have one. You'll still need a ding-ding bell, though, for
pedestrians. The Air Zounds horn stops 99% of drivers instantly -- it
probably works at a subliminal level on their brain. This is a "must"
item for any bike, motorbike, or motorcycle.

(3) Two $15 Lightman strobe lights, clipped to my left and right
sides, on my belt; along with a Trek "Disco Tek" red blinkie LED
light. With this combination, at night, I'm sometimes mistaken for a
police officer on a bike. The effect, from 50 feet, is so startling
that automobiles slow down instantly.

P.S. What is your favorite(s) safety product(s) for your bicycle?

Where did you find the Airzound for $17. I haven't seen it for less
than $21.

The Lightman strobes are far better than the LED blinkies. They are even
useful in the daytime. Haven't seen them for $15 though, cheapest I saw
was $16 for the model without the bike mount.

"ClueFinder" wrote in message
om...
A lot of former cyclists don't pedal any more due due to perceived
danger or accidents in the past. The rate of accidents seems to be
increasing due to the larger number of reckless drivers, distracting
cellphones, etc. Hence, there is a need for bike-safety products.
Imho, these are the best I've used:

(1) A $130 left-of-center Callaghan Creations cargo bike trailer. This
trailer is made of ultra-light aluminum and has a polymer type
connector that bends any angle without twisting the bike itself. On a
ride, without a load, it is hardly noticeable; unlike seatpost-mounted
trailers which often 'wag' my bike. It is amazing to see that, on city
streets, cars no longer try to squeeze me or run me off the road. It's
a small miracle. This trailer can carry a 100-lb. load, too. However,
I use it primarily for safety as I already have pannier-saddlebags.

(2) The $17 ultra-loud "Air Zounds 2" air horn. Weights about an once.
Filled with compressed air at any gas station, or air pump. Don't use
this on pedestrians! It is loud enough to get thru closed car windows,
preventing "dooring" accidents. Saves my life weekly, imho. Every
biker should have one. You'll still need a ding-ding bell, though, for
pedestrians. The Air Zounds horn stops 99% of drivers instantly -- it
probably works at a subliminal level on their brain. This is a "must"
item for any bike, motorbike, or motorcycle.

(3) Two $15 Lightman strobe lights, clipped to my left and right
sides, on my belt; along with a Trek "Disco Tek" red blinkie LED
light. With this combination, at night, I'm sometimes mistaken for a
police officer on a bike. The effect, from 50 feet, is so startling
that automobiles slow down instantly.

P.S. What is your favorite(s) safety product(s) for your bicycle?

What is your favorite(s) safety product(s) for your bicycle?



Something I've only seen in a U.K. cycling catalog, something called a 'spacing
lollipop' that looks to be about an 18-inch-long stick of plasticl with a
day-glo orange disk attached to the outer end of it that you attach to the
traffic-side of your bike; the ad copy says 'you'll be surprised how much extra
space drivers give you.'

i'd order one, but they don't ship to the U.S.

In article ,
ClueFinder wrote:

P.S. What is your favorite(s) safety product(s) for your bicycle?

The human brain, properly used, is definitely the most effective
and essential. All the others are just extra weight. :-)

In article ,
JTHouse wrote:
What is your favorite(s) safety product(s) for your bicycle?



Something I've only seen in a U.K. cycling catalog, something called a 'spacing
lollipop' that looks to be about an 18-inch-long stick of plasticl with a
day-glo orange disk attached to the outer end of it that you attach to the
traffic-side of your bike; the ad copy says 'you'll be surprised how much extra
space drivers give you.'

i'd order one, but they don't ship to the U.S.

You can buy a reflector lollypop on a stick at many hardware
stores. People stick them in the ground at the corners of poorly
lit driveways. Adapting it to the bike shouldn't be too
hard especially if you have a rack.

14 Sep 2003 08:41:12 -0700,
,
(ClueFinder) wrote:

P.S. What is your favorite(s) safety product(s) for your bicycle?

My magic foam beanie, trusty 9 mm Beretta, 100 watts of paint peeling
halogen, a bag of Milk Bones. . . oh, and Nomex undies.

Seriously, the most important safety feature of any bicycle is its
traffic-savvy responsible rider. That fluorescent orange safety vest
and SAR strobe aren't going to do any good if one rides like a maniac.
--
zk

On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 08:41:12 +0000, ClueFinder wrote:

A lot of former cyclists don't pedal any more due due to perceived danger
or accidents in the past.

People are afraid to do _anything_ now due to false perceived danger.
They use car alarms and burglar alarms in safe neighborhoods, they are
afraid to walk across a street or through a park.

*The rate of accidents seems to be increasing due
to the larger number of reckless drivers, distracting cellphones, etc.

Again. Seems.

Hence, there is a need for bike-safety products.

Just like the burglar alarms and gated communities, these will
paradoxically not make you feel safer. They focus your attention on
danger, rather than on the ride.

(2) The $17 ultra-loud "Air Zounds 2" air horn. Weights about an once.
Filled with compressed air at any gas station, or air pump. Don't use this
on pedestrians! It is loud enough to get thru closed car windows,
preventing "dooring" accidents.

These are, I believe, illegal. But you prevent dooring accidents by not
riding in the door zone, not by making everyone who parks a car **** their
pants.

P.S. What is your favorite(s) safety product(s) for your bicycle?

Safe riding.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win you're
_`\(,_ | still a rat. --Lilly Tomlin
(_)/ (_) |

(ClueFinder) wrote in message . com...
A lot of former cyclists don't pedal any more due due to perceived
danger or accidents in the past. The rate of accidents seems to be
increasing due to the larger number of reckless drivers, distracting
cellphones, etc. Hence, there is a need for bike-safety products.
Imho, these are the best I've used:

(1) A $130 left-of-center Callaghan Creations cargo bike trailer. ...

You tow a trailer wherever you ride because you're afraid of being hit
from behind? Astounding!

(2) The $17 ultra-loud "Air Zounds 2" air horn....
It is loud enough to get thru closed car windows,
preventing "dooring" accidents. Saves my life weekly, imho. ...
This is a "must" item for any bike, motorbike, or motorcycle.

This is obviously NOT a "must," since almost no cyclists use them, and
never need them.

(3) Two $15 Lightman strobe lights, clipped to my left and right
sides, on my belt; along with a Trek "Disco Tek" red blinkie LED
light.

Needless overkill. A cyclist is perfectly visible at night with
ordinary reflectors and a taillight.

P.S. What is your favorite(s) safety product(s) for your bicycle?

I think you're barking up the wrong tree entirely.

First, bicycling is NOT very dangerous. You may be afraid when you
ride, but that certainly doesn't prove your fears are justified -
unless you're riding incorrectly!

And your statement that your horn saves your life weekly gives us a
strong clue that you're _not_ riding correctly. I've _never_ needed
one. As an example: I'd never need a loud horn to save myself from
car doors, because I refuse to ride within their reach. My way is
standard practice by knowledgeable cyclists. If you're counting on
your horn reflexes instead of proper lane position, you're headed for
a fall.


I must say, overall your post is a perfect illustration of the typical
attitude in this country: bicycling is dangerous; let's all buy some
commercial product to fix it.

Correct bicycling is NOT dangerous, and it does us no good to pretend
it is. If you want to be safer on the road, learn how to ride
correctly.

Do you _insist_ on buying something to make yourself safer? Try
buying a book or two on how to ride. Or better, spend the money on a
bicycling class. See
http://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/education.htm for instructors and
classes. You may be able to find one in your area.

But lots of info on correct riding is available on the web. Try
looking at http://www.bicyclinglife.com/SafetySkills/index.html
or at least
http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Practic...ng/VCIntro.htm

See also http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm

Safety comes from doing things right, not from buying things. Learn
to do things right!

- Frank Krygowski

"David L. Johnson" wrote


(2) The $17 ultra-loud "Air Zounds 2" air horn. Weights about an once.
Filled with compressed air at any gas station, or air pump. Don't use
this
on pedestrians! It is loud enough to get thru closed car windows,
preventing "dooring" accidents.

These are, I believe, illegal. But you prevent dooring accidents by not
riding in the door zone, not by making everyone who parks a car **** their
pants.


Illegal? How so and where?

Pete

In article , Paul
Southworth wrote:

In article ,
ClueFinder wrote:

P.S. What is your favorite(s) safety product(s) for your bicycle?

The human brain, properly used, is definitely the most effective
and essential. All the others are just extra weight. :-)

i'd order one, but they don't ship to the U.S.