Recently read that the best way for a motorist to recognise a cyclist from a distance is retro reflectives on the ankles and a helmet light.
I've also lost part of the SP-15 bracket that came with the Cateye Viz 300 (TL-LD810) rear light.
And I'd also realised I wasn't happy with the rear lighting set-up on the Trek District for a few reasons
- The dynamo powered rack mount rear light isn't very bright.
- The trunk bag partially obscures the rack mount light to road users that are too near or too high up.
- The Viz 300 moves around too much when attached to the trunk bag (trunk bag complete obscures the seat post).
This has lead to a slew of purchases:
- A replacement SP-15 bracket - useful for moving the Viz 300 between the MTB and the Ridgeback hybrid.
- A Topeak Headlux Dual USB Front / Rear Light to wear on ones bonce.
- Various brackety bits for attaching Cateye snap system lights to the rearmost rack stays - may require a small amount of shimming, but should fit the racks on the Trek District and the Ribble CGR.
If the bracketry does the job, I'll get a second Viz 300 and run one on each side of the rack for all around visibility, on the Trek and the Ribble - the two bikes I run with trunk bags.
On the Trek they will be augmented with the dynamo powered rear light, helmet light and I'll find another lower powered less-directional blinky to attached to the light loop on the trunk bag. And of course, the integrated light in Selle Italia ST7 Vision Superflow saddle, when that arrives.
On the Ribble CGR, they will be augmented with the Cateye Reflex Rack rear light and the helmet light, and again a lower powered less-directional blinky attached to the light loop on the trunk bag.
On the Ridgeback, on which I use panniers, I'll use a single seat post mounted Viz 300, with a Smart 0.5W superflash below it, a Cateye Reflex Rack and of course the helmet light. I've also got one of
these attached to the off side of the rack with a SEEMEE 100 attached to it. (Exact same thing currently on the Ribble CGR but that will be superseded if the Cateye bracketry works - so the second SEEMEE might go onto the Ridgeback on the near side).
This might seem OTT, but I am of the opinion you cannot have enough blinkies at the back, especially cycling in urban settings during the winter months and the space I get from drivers with a slew of lights is amazing.
