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Reflective Tape for nighttime

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#21 · (Edited)
wearetheborg said:
Why?
Click to expand...
Tape have a fixed width which is hard to make it blend nicely with bicycle shape in a wide area.

Reflective vinyl come in big sheet which make it easy to cut (using Knifeless tape) into exact shape of a texture and it is much easier to force it to follow bicycle contour using heat gun. You can cut the vinyl into tape shape if you want. Big sheet give you that flexibility.

You can wrap pretty much the entire bicycle decal texture in multiple colors. It looks absolutely normal during day time. Then shine bright at night. Larger reflecting area in multiple colors-> more visible. My example bike only reflect blue and red. But nothing stop you from buying more colors of 3m 680 reflective vinyl. Maybe green on one crank arm and red on another would help too.

Tape usually are thicker, heavier per surface area and more negatively impact bicycle look during daytime.
 
#22 ·
schnee said:
Stealth black reflective tape can be put all over the bike without ruining aesthetics.

A few strips on the rims protect you from the sides. The back and front should be good with lights, but having reflective shoes or loops on your ankles is ideal.
Click to expand...
Do you have a link or source for stealth tape that actually reflects well? Sounds like a contradiction sine it needs to not reflect light to be stealth. Unless it has some selective surface that reflects artificial light and not sunlight. That may be hard to do sine the spectrum overlaps
 
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#24 ·
rdawson808 said:
I saw a great video recently talking about lights, reflective things, etc. An expert said that at night it's imperative that you have something that reflects the light and is also moving. So put it on your ankles/feet, etc. That's what draws the human eye.

It might have been a GBN video. Titled something like "Is Hi-viz Really Necessary" or maybe something snarkier than that.
Click to expand...
I saw this too! Can't remember the source either! They also said that drivers get lulled into complacency and even seeing highly-reflective stuff does not change their behavior. It's only if that stuff is moving that they notice. Makes sense though. Based on how we've evolved motion is the most likely visible thing.
 
#27 ·
paramount3 said:
In addition to the advice that others have given above, I put spots of reflective tape on the back of my shoes, and on the back of my helmet. Someone approaching me from behind will see the movement of my heels going up and down, and I think it's good for people to see my full height with the reflectors on the helmet.
Click to expand...
THIS. Also, the helmet is more likely to be visible above cars in traffic (accepting that it won't be visible over trucks/SUV's...but may visible thru windows???)

AND I put tape on the front of my helmet...a few years ago I heard that most accidents are front on...which makes sense because the closing speed is much faster
 
#29 ·
I have one of those jackets with the reflective dots for commuting. I wore it during my last race, since it was so warm. It's fun when I asked people to take pictures of me with the flash. I look like a ghost. Those jackets work.

That said, I like powerful lights even more.
 
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#30 ·
Jayem said:
I have one of those jackets with the reflective dots for commuting. I wore it during my last race, since it was so warm. It's fun when I asked people to take pictures of me with the flash. I look like a ghost. Those jackets work.

That said, I like powerful lights even more.
Click to expand...
Lights are unbeatable.

Reflective tape works when batteries are flat, we forget lights, have to stay late at work and have no lights, etc 👍. It’s also up high if one does have a light on top of helmet
 
Discussion starter · #31 ·
For reflective tape: I am seeing reviews saying they sometimes come off curved surfaces like on bikes since they are more for flat surfaces. Would they reflect less if after putting them on the bike I wrap plain packing tape around it?

On another note, I commute with a 50L backpack. I got a safety vest to put on, with the vest going over the backpack (got a 6xl vest). If I put the backpack on first, it is super difficult putting the vest. So I put the vest on the backpack, I put one arm in on one side of the backpack loop+vest, no issues, but when I put the arm on the other side, the vest slips off the backpack or gets scrunched up. Doable, but annoying. Anyone have any tips for how to do this better?
 
Discussion starter · #34 ·
On SOLAS tape: first I got the non-SOLAS tape I linked in the OP, and then I ordered
www.amazon.com

Amazon.com: BRIGHT PLUS LIGHT & SAFETY Reflective Solas Marine Tape Roll (2" x 30') : Industrial & Scientific

Buy BRIGHT PLUS LIGHT & SAFETY Reflective Solas Marine Tape Roll (2" x 30'): Safety Warning Tapes - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com

Both are reflective, but I think the non-SOLAS one reflects a wee bit more. The second tape may not be real SOLAS. FYI.
At 25 feet, I would rate the non-SOLAS one as more reflective. Beyond that, they seem to be the same.
Zoomed in pic taken at 25 feet:
Bottom one is non-SOLAS. Camera has difficulty capturing the brightness, to the eye the bottom one looked brighter.

Image
 
Discussion starter · #35 ·
Any opinions on spoke reflectors such as:
www.amazon.com

Amazon.com : Hsathoac 36 Pcs 3M Spoke Reflectors for Bicycles, 360° Visibility Bike Spoke Reflectors, Bike Wheel Reflector Tube, Bike Spoke Skins, Waterproof Warning Spoke Lights Covers for Night Cycling Riding : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Hsathoac 36 Pcs 3M Spoke Reflectors for Bicycles, 360° Visibility Bike Spoke Reflectors, Bike Wheel Reflector Tube, Bike Spoke Skins, Waterproof Warning Spoke Lights Covers for Night Cycling Riding : Sports & Outdoors
www.amazon.com
 
#36 ·
This is my go to place. Good color selection for stealth effect. There is also iron on for clothing.

All Kinds of Reflective Tapes for Personal Safety, Vehicles and Equipment

All kinds of reflective tapes; Sew-on Reflective Tape, Heat-transfer reflective tape, Truck Conspicuity Tape, SOLAS reflective tape, High Gain Reflective Tape
www.identi-tape.com

Did not see the 3M vinyl. I want some of that.
 
#37 ·
wearetheborg said:
On SOLAS tape: first I got the non-SOLAS tape I linked in the OP, and then I ordered
www.amazon.com

Amazon.com: BRIGHT PLUS LIGHT & SAFETY Reflective Solas Marine Tape Roll (2" x 30') : Industrial & Scientific

Buy BRIGHT PLUS LIGHT & SAFETY Reflective Solas Marine Tape Roll (2" x 30'): Safety Warning Tapes - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com

Both are reflective, but I think the non-SOLAS one reflects a wee bit more. The second tape may not be real SOLAS. FYI.
At 25 feet, I would rate the non-SOLAS one as more reflective. Beyond that, they seem to be the same.
Zoomed in pic taken at 25 feet:
Bottom one is non-SOLAS. Camera has difficulty capturing the brightness, to the eye the bottom one looked brighter.

View attachment 2089321
Click to expand...
Solas is a specification. Besides brightness it needs to pass durability tests.

The batches of solas ive bought over the last 25 years have held up great but youre right, these days who knows what we are getting.
 
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