Wheel Reflectors

[Dave31]

All right, who uses the wheel reflectors? 99% of people I know pull them off immediately.

I usually use wheel lights so i have always pulled mine off. But all my wheel lights took a dump on me so I left the reflectors on my new bike.

Growing up as a kid, if you left your reflectors on your BMX bike the other kids would give you a hard time, I think thats why I want to take mine off.

 

[2door]

Personally I hate the looks of the things but all it takes is to see a bike cross your path at night and the way headlights reflect in them to show how they can be a real safety plus.
I have one on the front wheel of two bikes and none on one.
Tom

 

[bairdco]

most of the bikes i buy were made before wheel reflectors existed. for that matter, the same with pedal reflectors (those actually became a US law in the 70's.)

i've got a box of them, and i usually pull them off new pedals, too.

i don't ride much at night anyways, so i don't worry about it, and i think they're ugly, too.

Dave, didja ever get some of those lighted pedals i linked to you a while ago?

 

[city of angels]

i found some led reflectors at walmart around 6 bucks they come in a variety of colors

 

[The_Aleman]

I used to remove mine because a bike "expert" friend of mine told me they caused wheels to go out of balance, and in extreme cases, cause a wheel to go out of round. I found they actually help balance if they are opposite the valve stem. I need to find a set for my bike, since it doesn't have any.

 

[bairdco]

if you're that serious about them, Aleman, hit me up. like i said, i've got a pile of them.

 

[littleman456]

I always take mine off because one: I think they are ugly and two: the few bikes that I have bought new, they were always the first thing to brake (I beat the crap outa my bikes )

 

[Goat Herder]

I always seamed to notice that the spokes that these are attached to on older bikes were loose. I don't use them my self. The safety makes seance to me tho. I noticed they always seamed to make a wheel balance wrong at high speed for me.

 

[biknut]

How bout just make the whole tire a reflector?

 

[professor]

I use them - the more visible I am the better I like it.
Dorkey is not out of my league - makes one look safe.

 

[bairdco]

one other note of interest, front, back, wheel and pedal reflectors are all required on production bikes by federal law (in the USA created by the Consumer Product Safety Commision [CPSC].)

for a very informative article about reflectors, lights, accidents, and the false, yet widely believed, "safety" that reflectors give, read this:

Bicycle Lights, CPSC Requirement History

seriously, read it. it's long, but pretty interesting.

 

[rohmell]

I always use wheel reflectors, they make the MB more 'bicycle-ish' looking and the police never bother me.