Standards - Be Ignored

Might Topeak Have put Holes in to Help the Poor Cyclist?

For a brief, shining moment, I thought that Topeak would let me install legally required equipment without an undue amount of fiddling. Alas, it turned out not to be so. As my loyal reader knows, I've figured out how to install a SAE reflector on a Topeak rear rack. That post is shown here.

Last week, I got ANOTHER Topeak rack. This one was going to go on one of the other bikes. I picked Topeak because their stuff works together. I particularly like the way their bags slide into their racks interchangeably, without needing to use velcro to finish things. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean it works with stuff MOST people consider standard fitment. Like legally required stuff.

Close, but no CEE GAR!

This week, my brand new Topeak rack included a cheesy, plastic mount for a rear light/reflector. Looking at it, it looked as if it'd work with my SAE Standard reflector. Sadly, Topeak did not make it more than close enough to get me briefly excited. In other news, you can see how the rack pretty much obscures the CPSC-required reflector that Trek put on the bike. The photo below shows this, as well as just how much reflector I'm getting for those dark mornings. For the time being, I suspect the adhesive on the back of the SAE reflector will work pretty well, though a plastic Topeak piece probably isn't as good to keep it stuck as the painted metal of the rack. We shall see.

If you Use the Mounts Trek Provides, You Cover Up the Reflector Trek Provides

It looks as if Ace Hardware and tin snips will still be required for a permanent solution. I guess I'm glad I documented that solution earlier and that I've already got a tie cut to precisely the proper shape!

Banned From Bike Shops

Old Reflectors Looked Like This One, Which Was Made in the USA

Way back when, people bought rear reflectors for bikes like the ones in the photo above. It was all that was available. It was basically made to the same SAE standard as automotive reflectors. Unfortunately, these reflectors had poorly engineered attaching hardware that caused the metal to fail as shown in the photo below. In addition, reflector technology is better than it was 40 years ago. In the normal course of events, this would have been no big deal, since better combinations would have evolved. Unfortunately, government got involved, namely the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Instead of doing the sensible thing and requiring a rear reflector using an existing standard, they required ALL new bicycles to be equipped with their own standard which compromised rearward reflectance in favor of “all direction” reflectance. You can see discussions about reflectors here, here, and here, as well as many other places. I’m not going to repeat all that.

 

Old Reflectors Failed Like THIS

The practical effect was that every manufacturer and every bike shop stopped selling SAE reflectors in favor of the CPSC variety. I have never seen a SAE reflector at any bike shop. It’s sort of like the Snell bike helmet standard, which has been eclipsed by the inferior CPSC standard. I can’t say that I’m happy with an inferior standard legislated for cyclists when better exists, but government DOES get influenced by industry as well as the public, and we might not always endorse the outcome. Perhaps I’ll cover this in some future post or posts.

 

However, things are not all bad for those that are willing to do a little extra work. SAE reflectors are readily available at auto parts stores and RV supply stores. In Ocean Shores, people also frequently buy them to stick to posts and mailboxes. Following is the story of how I adapted better reflectors for my bike. Better reflectors than you can currently buy at almost any bike store.

First off, current SAE reflectors are not configured to make them real easy to attach to a bike rack or rear fender, much less any other bike part. Fortunately, I was able to find a “Tie Plate” that was just big enough to mount two reflectors and even had holes in it that matched the spacing I needed. The only item I needed to buy that cost over $3 for two reflectors were the tin snips I needed in order to cut the tie plate to a “good for a bike” size. Interestingly, the tie plate was located for me at Ace Hardware by a clerk that caught on after he realized I did not want to attach my reflector to a car, RV, or post. Thanks, Ace! You may not have a bike rack, but your people know their stuff.

STEP 1: Cut the tie plate in two with the tin snips.

Tie Plate is Cut into Two

STEP 2: Cut each half of the tie plate with the tin snips so that the sharp metal edges won’t extend past your reflector. A Sharpie pen helps here to mark enough of the metal to trim, while leaving a lot left for the reflector adhesive to stick to.



Tie Plate Trimmed to Suit the Reflector. Excess is at Upper Right. Fasteners are at Upper Left
Ace Hardware Part Number is on the White Tag

STEP 3: Attach the modified tie plate to your rear rack. The photo shows it attached to a Topeak Explorer rack which has two holes that conveniently EXACTLY match the holes already in the tie plate. If you have an old Pletscher rack, it’ll only have one hole, so you’ll have to make a choice between a less solid fastened installation, or reinforcing things with glue. If you have other racks, you’ll have to improvise, or not. Either way, it’ll be FAR better than either an ancient reflector or anything the CPSC would endorse.

Tie Plate Installed on Topeak Explorer Rear Rack Prior to Reflector Installation

STEP 4: Stick the reflector to the tie plate. I used nails as a guide, as in the photo, to ensure that the holes lined up before the adhesive contacted the tie plate. That ensured I’d be able to put fasteners in afterwards. See “Belt and Suspenders” post recently.

Reflector Getting Stuck to the Tie Plate - Nails Act to Line the Holes Up

STEP 5: Install the fasteners and you’re all done! A better reflector than is available in any bike shop, or from any bike manufacturer, all for about $2 in parts per reflector. This reflector is installed strongly enough that I expect it to last for decades to come.

Finished Installation on Topeak Rear Rack. Cowabunga!

NOTE: I selected a RED reflector. If you read literature, such as here, you might wonder why I picked a RED reflector, rather than an AMBER one that has double the reflectivity of a red one. Well, it is because most local laws require RED. While I typically ride in the dark with a red rear light as well as my reflector (meaning I comply with the law even if I had an amber reflector), should the light fail (not uncommon with bike lights), only a RED reflector would comply with all state and local laws. Sigh…

Whimsy From a Bike

Yesterday, my route took me once more past the topiary elephant I pointed out here. It prompted me to record that the Ocean Shores vicinity seems to have an unusual amount of yard art and generally "beachy" items. Some purport to be useful, such as the raccoon reflector and mailbox. Never mind that both are really just excuses for whimsy under a thin veneer of utility. Hmm, I guess this is somewhat similar to the way that Kermit on Frankenbike pretends to be a useful "horn."

Some items take a more educational bent such as the pencils and bear below.

Some take an historical perspective, such as the farm implement below.

Remember, Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires!

The Lady Told me She Got that Monkey Puzzle Tree Online Since Nobody Local Sells Them
The Cart Repair is a Winter Project so the Driver Can be Reinstated

Don't Ask Me How this Gadget Works

But many are merely fanciful, such as the final items on this post. In this case, that includes the "Texas Star" which is seen on quite a few houses hereabouts, though I haven't seen anyone agitating to join up and add a second star to the Lone Star State. One lady I asked didn't know they ARE Texas stars.

Northwest Texas?

 

 

 

And, of course, Kermit approved! Stay tuned for Kermit's NEXT adventure, entitled "Kermit Goes Salmon!"

Kermit's Garden Cousin?

Back End Andy Thanks

Rear Light/Reflector Configuration I Prefer. I'm HOPING that the Combo of the Steady Light/Reflector and the Reflector Helps
My Motorists Judge When to CHANGE LANES in Order to Pass. So Far, I've Not Been Disappointed, but Nobody's Collected Statistics

Sometimes, when the commute has been even less eventful than normal, ideas come from other places on the Internet. In this case, today's post comes from a statement of Andy Cline of the "must read" Carbon Trace blog. Mostly, politics aside, Andy is pretty sensible about bikes, but his post here suggested a little info on "the back end" might be in order.

Legal, But I Like MORE

Most states, as in the case of Texas, have a lighting statute along the lines of:

Sec. 551.104. SAFETY EQUIPMENT.  ...

(b) A person may not operate a bicycle at nighttime unless the bicycle is equipped with:

(1) a lamp on the front of the bicycle that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet in front of the bicycle; and

(2)  on  the rear of the bicycle:

(A) a red reflector that is:

(i) of a type approved by the department; and

(ii) visible when directly in front of lawful upper beams of motor vehicle headlamps from all distances from 50 to 300 feet to the rear of the bicycle; or

(B) a lamp that emits a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle.

If you are new to the world of cycling, you may not know that few bicycles sold new meet these legal requirements. Ironically, the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS REQUIREMENTS THAT GO BEYOND THESE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME FAIL. But that is another post. The real question is what, in the way of lighting and reflectors and reflective stuff is needed on the back end? Well, I'm sorry, but I cannot tell you that. However, you may find some of the following useful in formulating that answer for yourself.

No Rear Rack? No Problem!
CPSC Reflector/Light
and Blinky Light

Reflectors and lights have very different properties. Reflectors require no batteries or electricity, but depend on light to work. Lights work as long as they have electricity. This is the root of why headlights are required but only reflectors in the rear. After all, if everyone had only reflectors in front, nobody would see oncoming traffic, but with lights in front, everyone's rear reflectors would still work.

In fact, in John Forester's book, with the most recent edition published before "blinky" rear lights became common (hint, hint), suggested that rear lights were unnecessary and that cyclists should stick to rear reflectors. What's more, he recommends AMBER reflectors because they reflect more light than the statutory RED ones. Well, maybe. But his advice isn't strictly legal in most states. GO HERE FOR MORE FROM JOHN FORESTER ON THIS.

I do more. Reading what little research on the matter exists, I concluded that the strategy I would follow consists of the following:

• A rear reflector that conforms to the SAE standard
• A steady rear light
• A blinking rear light

First, the reflector. You cannot buy an SAE reflector at a bike shop. Instead, if anything, they sell an inferior CPSC reflector. Why do I claim this? Well, it is pretty simple. The CPSC reflects from directions cars are unlikely to come at a bike, like the rear quarter, in addition to some reflectance from behind. The SAE reflector works FAR better to reflect back to real world overtaking traffic. Why any reflector at all? Well, electricity can fail and you won't know it - unlike if a headlight goes out.

Second, the steady light. AND, the blinking light. The very same CPSC that fosters an inferior rear reflector did some tests. They found that a steady light is easier for an overtaking motorist to judge distance than a blinking light. On the other hand, a blinking light is identified further away. Interestingly, they did NOT show big AMBER reflectors to work any better than RED ones. That, despite double the reflecting power. I've actually purchased amber reflectors, but the data cause me to lack some motivation to "amberize" my reflector gear.

And so you have it. I carry a reflector, a steady rear light, and a blinking rear light. If a light goes out, I will typically put the remaining one into blink mode. Just to get carried away, one of the lights on my main commute bike also meets the CPSC standard.

Remember, if you think I'm getting carried away, that most of my nighttime clothing seems to trend towards "basic black." I'd rather go with the available ACTUAL RESEARCH, which is pretty minimal. And I have verified many times that overtaking motorists DO see me early. That is true even when I'm wearing my black cycling jacket, with my black cycling gloves, and I'm signaling a lane change. With no "high vis" other than what might be around my ankles to keep my pants from fouling the chain, I'm led to believe that my lights attract the motoring eye and then they readily see whatever else is happening. Would you conclude otherwise?

Lights and reflectors are cheap and work whatever you might be wearing. Ponder that...

Lights and Reflectors Without Flash. Note:
Top Reflector is Modern SAE Standard
Middle Light/Reflector is CPSC Standard
Bottom Reflector is SAE Standard from 40 Years Ago
Fuzzy Focus Doesn't Affect Reflection!

The SAME ARRANGEMENT - IN THE DARK, With Camera Flash
No Rear Electric Lights were Lit, so WHAT YOU SEE is What Would Show in Headlights

High Vis Basic Black

Shine a Light on the Black Bag and it Looks Silver

I sometimes refer to my outfits as "High Vis Basic Black." Mostly, it's because a lot of cycling stuff seems to come in that color. My gloves are mostly black. My Cycling shorts and tights are black. My cycling shoes are black. My cycling jacket is black. Clothing companies seem determined to make us look like ninja wannabes during the colder season when the outlandishly colored jerseys get covered up.

The Same BagWithout a Bright Light Shining on it

My black trunk bag that I'm using right now, however, has a dual personality. This is a bag that I got off of eBay that was made by Performance Bicycle using "Illuminite." During normal light, it looks like a dark gray. When a bright light hits it - a headlight or a camera flash - it looks like the photo at left. I have not observed that motorists treat me any differently in the dark whether I am using this bag or not, but it suggests that the term "High Vis Basic Black" is not entirely an oxymoron.

Just thought it was an interesting comparison.

FRIDAY UPDATE - CONTROVERSY ARISES!
Pondero raised a theory that the light, in addition to what it does to the "Illuminite," also changes the bike. However, the photo below debunks this theory, suggesting that it is, in fact, the RAIN that makes the bike change while the light makes the Illuminite shine. Further supporting evidence may be seen because the wet bike has also sprouted fenders, which would be totally useless to the dry bike.

Evidence that the the Bike is NOT Changed by the Lighting, Unlike the Bag