Dim bicyclists, take two

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

Biked for the first time since the heat wave, to Alewife TJ. (I did not salmon this time.) Don't think I passed more than 6 other bikers, if that. Definitely at least 3 of them were running dark.

What I learned: passing under the big trees on Linnaean Street you really are nigh-invisible, even to a biker (me) with headlight 20-30 feet behind you. I could see him and the six-pack of beer he was carrying in one hand, but I think it'd be totally possible to not notice him if a tad distracted.

I think he technically had a tail reflector, from a few red photons that came glimmering back when I got really close, but it sure wasn't obvious. Granted, my bike light is not a car headlight. Still, now I wonder how many bikes are running with tail reflectors that are at too bad an angle, or some other flaw, to be effective. I guess you could try testing it with a flashlight, but it's a bit more involved than seeing if a tail light is visible from a distance. Hmm, new project.

(followup to my last thread on ninja bikers)