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Permalink Reply by Ali on March 4, 2009 at 7:21pm

I don't know about you fellas but I have at least 3 or 4 sets of reflectors at my place...They are one of the first things to come off a bike for me along with the wheel reflectors and the dork disc...

-Ali

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Permalink Reply by Jim "Niterider" on March 4, 2009 at 8:24pm

Heard that. I run lights since reflectors are only passive as long as the car has it's lights on. Lights are the better option to avoid being hit. I have a 5 gallon bucket full of these. Pedals, front and rear also.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck a Muck on March 5, 2009 at 3:28am

I like the portable little air horns...
When you hit the trigger on those people take notice.

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Permalink Reply by Danielle on March 5, 2009 at 8:05am

I second the cages thing, but only with single speeds and fixed bikes. I was talking to this guy about riding fixed with no cages or clipless shoes, and I don't think he understood why it was a bad idea, especially for someone who's never ridden fixed before. He didn't get it until he slipped off the pedals in the rain. Told ya!

I figure, if the law states you need a front light and rear reflector, it's ok that the bikes come with reflectors, because those are pretty basic, and I would rather pick out my own light than have my bike come with a real shitty one.

ridedirty said:

i feel like bells are redundant and inferior to my voice. the tiny lil "ting ting ting" of a bell isn't much compared to me screaming "HEY" in my scariest death metal voice. and my voice is free.

the only time i bought a bell was for the aesthetics of it. it was a fish, and my dad loves fish.... happy birfday pops!

as far as things that should come standard on all bikes... lights, that's the one that jumps out first... maybe pedal cages? i've noticed a lack of foot retention in chicago, which seems like a real bad idea to me when the hipsters are riding brakeless. or maybe they just prefer to stop by sudden impact. i'm not here to judge. i myself have been known to smack into things really hard for no apparent reason.

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Permalink Reply by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on March 5, 2009 at 8:27am

I put reflective tape on my bike, it's lighter and less dorkier than reflectors. I used youtube to find the best rear flasher - the planet bike superflash imo - and I think Danielle hit it with wanting to pick her own instead of a crappy one that might come with a bike. We cyclists tend to swap out stock equipment really fast on bikes.

And shouting is just as or more effective as a bell. Bells are probably fine for getting joggers attention on paths, but in traffic you got to breath in from your gut and project. (David can whistle)

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Permalink Reply by koala on March 5, 2009 at 11:14am

GabeW (not the other Gabe) said:

And shouting is just as or more effective as a bell. Bells are probably fine for getting joggers attention on paths, but in traffic you got to breath in from your gut and project. (David can whistle)

Bells work great with peds/joggers/dog walkers on paths. I used to yell out when approaching a ped from behind, but I think I was just pissing people off. The bell is just so cheery-sounding and universally understood (compared to my shouting). I've even had people say "thanks" after I ringed them.

I don't use the bell much on the street. Its not like a motorist in a car will hear a little ring a ding ding. And other bikers respond well to a simple "LEFT."

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Permalink Reply by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on March 5, 2009 at 3:32pm

-"on your left"
-"thank you"

is music to my ears

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