Project Blackbird: Visibility

I started writing this post days ago, but saved it as a draft until I found something feasible. Thanks to Kate Gawf, I have.

Kate Gawf brought up an important topic for all cyclists: visibility. It's easy for a cyclist to blend in to the road at night. I've seen it happen with people on light colored frames and with colored clothing on. Lights are the obvious answer, so I'm thinking how to make The Blackbird, and my other commuter, more visible at night?

I found something that looks promising...

This site shows an inventive little light called The Knog, it goes into the end of the handlebar, and I think it's meant for a flat bar. The idea behind this is the white light faces forward and the red faces back, so you've got two solutions in one light. I have seen versions of the Knog that have a light on one side only.

Bike Nashbar has some interesting options. They show a bar end light for the drop bars found on road bikes. (Incidentally, I own the Planet Bike Blinky Superflash Taillight. Oh yeah, it's bright. They're easy to find, I got mine at City Bikes.)

Here's the update:

Kate met another cyclist who turned her on (oops, a pun) to CoolNeon.com , a company that sells LyTec electro-luminescent wire. The wire can be powered by a small AA or AAA battery source, making it a good choice for cycling. Perfect. One question is, how water proof is the power source? I'll probably have to house it in something, that shouldn't be a problem. How well does it handle UV exposure? My old Motobecane will receive this wire as well as The Blackbird, and it sits outside for a minimum of 40 hours a week. This is more of a challenge in the summer where the days are longer, night visibility isn't as much of an issue, I could remove the wire. Or I could park it in a sheltered area.

The wire and power source are sold in separate parts, you have to strip the wire and solder the connections. I do this kind of stuff for a living, so I'm not worried. Elam EL Industries, the company who manufactures LyTec, has a PDF file with better detail on making the connections and terminating the other end. Anyone who hasn't learned the art of soldering and doesn't have the tools may have to find another way. I suppose if they knew the exact length of wire and the power source, Cool Neon could put it together for them.

I'll do a little more investigating, then pick a power source, some wire, and place the order.