Reelight SL-100 Bike Safety Lights

[Guest Big H]

Reelight SL-100       Reelight Bike Safety Lights By Ed Pavelka http://www.roadbikerider.com/images/star%20bright.jpghttp://www.roadbikerider.com/images/star%20bright.jpghttp://www.roadbikerider.com/images/star%20bright.jpghttp://www.roadbikerider.com/images/stardull3.jpghttp://www.roadbikerider.com/images/stardull3.jpg www.reelight.com Price:  $45 (33 euros) Source:  website, bike shops Weight:  220 grams per set (7.9 oz) Designed in:  Denmark (made in China) How obtained:  sample from company RBR advertiser:  no Tested:  6 hours HOT! always on when bike is rolling no batteries or bulbs to replace flashing improves rider visibility in low light easy to install not! ineffective in daylight constant buzzing weighty   http://www.roadbikerider.com/images/reelightfront1_small.jpg zoom!   http://www.roadbikerider.com/images/reelightrear2_small.jpg zoom!

I installed a SL-100 set on my wife's Trek so I could see them in action from the front and rear. Reelights mount easily under the bike's left-side quick-releases or axle nuts. A set includes a silver front light and a red rear light. Each is about the size of a golf ball and contains two small LEDs about the diameter of a pencil eraser. They're powered by two sets of magnets mounted to the spokes of each wheel. These are similar to some cyclecomputer magnets but considerably larger and heavier. A pair weighs 40 grams.

Two Versions

As soon as the bike starts rolling, the Reelight SL-100's LEDs begin flashing. The rate increases with the bike's speed. It's about 200 flashes per minute at 20 kph (12.4 mph).

 

In the model SL-120, the rate is constant at 120 flashes per minute. This version, which sells for about $10 (7 euros) more, includes a capacitor in each light unit. It stores energy and allows flashing to continue for 3-4 minutes after the wheels stop turning. This is helpful in the dark, particularly if your main light source is generator powered and goes out when the bike isn't rolling.

When the SL-120 set is installed its capacitors are empty. The bike needs to be ridden for 5 minutes to establish a charge. The packaging doesn't explain this, so it's normal to assume that something is wrong with the lights or installation when they don't flash during setup. After the initial charge, the lights go on after 2 wheel revolutions. The capacitors hold a charge for up to 4 days.

Although Reelights are small, they are relatively heavy at 220 grams per set due to steel mounting brackets, the weight of the power-generating components and the wheel magnets. Being at hub level, the lights don't add cockpit clutter and are mostly out of the cyclist's sight -- but not out of mind. The front Reelight on both models we tried buzzed constantly during rides, apparently due to road vibration and power generation. A spokesman for the company says this noise is normal.

Note that the Reelight magnets aren't just weighty, they are very strong. They will mess up your cyclecomputer's readings if its magnetic pickup is mounted anywhere close to the front or rear hub.

Bottom Line

Reelights work better the darker it gets. At night the flashing is bright and eye-catching. A great advantage is that Reelights are always on, so during dawn, dusk, night and gloomy, rainy days you have an automatic safety aid. Just don't expect them to make a difference in daylight.

Reelights would be a worthwhile addition to a commuter or transportation bike that's ridden in various light conditions (if the buzzing doesn't bother you). For your good road bike not ridden at night, I can't see any advantage. Reelights add weight, noise and a certain amount of clutter that isn't offset by greater safety in normal light.

Big H2007-10-04 08:54:03

[Marius]

[The Guy in Pink]

Seems that it is a slow day at work for Big H.

 

If you want to be seen at night, and want to make your presence felt on the road you need to do it right. I do 80% of my training in the dark so here is how.

( Apologies I got no couch so I took the casino Slot Machine shot)

 

So what have we here, at the Back is the Cateye LD 1000

 

 

And at the front a Cateye EL-Hl 320 giving 1200 candle power. My training partner has a bicycle bell and uses it a lot to warn people wandering into the road, so I got a Zound Air Air Horn, which at 120decibel sounds like a Electric locomotive approaching a level crossing.

Works rather better than the bicycle bell.

 

This bottle is the air reservoir. Pump it full with the bike pump at it lasts for about 50 blasts.