Looking for a good rear light (anyone used the xlab strobe)

Triathlon Forum
1

Looking for recommendations on a rear light for my bike. I will use it mostly in the early dusk (I don’t ride in the dark, so I should be very close to home or on the return trip from a ride).

Anyone had any experience with the Xlab strobe?

2

Planet bike Super Flash. there is no substitute.

3

Not that one, but Serfas makes on with 3 LEDs that is shaped like a small, stubby flashlight that is VERY bright and is easily visible in the daylight.

It looks like this one,but red.
http://www.serfas.com/product_details.asp?ID=292

4

Planet bike Super Flash. there is no substitute.

Super Flash is great.

5

Thanks guys, I was looking at the super flash. My only thinking was it’s not greatly visible from off angles? I am just guessing by looking at the pictures. Any feedback on that?

6

you can see that thing strobe from pretty much anywhere but straight on from the front.

7

Awesome thanks.

One last question. Does anyone have a superflash along with an xlab wing. I don’t want it to be over shadowed.

8

Superflash is the way to go. Heck buy two, or three. One clips on your helmet, one on your saddle (or jersey pocket if the wing gets in the way. One on near your hub, or on your left foot. they are cheap.

t

9

The superflash are simply the best rear light out there. Cars give you space because the rear blinky thing is so damn bright they don’t want to be behind you. Plus, they’re like $15, so you won’t feel bad if it disappears.

Getting it on an XLab might be a hassle, tho… as those things always are.

10

The Super Flash is so good that someone stole it off my bike the other night while I was in the bar. Bastards.

11

Planet bike Super Flash.

Agreed

12

I must be a rare thing that this forum can agree so much on anything.

t

13

thanks all. Where are you guys getting these things for $15. They are $25 (plus ship) at most places.

14

MEC $17.50CAD

Planet Bike Super Flash Rear Light
.

15

best lights ever - Blackburn Flea (front and rear).

16

Planet bike Super Flash.

Agreed
OK, so maybe The Baconator doesn’t agree, but I do. Super Flash. Stoooopid bright. Blinding up close, visible in full daylight, lights you up like a beacon at night.

17

I’ve never really looked at the Flea before - they seem to be nice and small, extremely light, and surprisingly inexpensive for what I would have guessed. My issue with a lot of the true uber lights is that they’re cost prohibitive. Sure you can see it from space, and it’s waterproof to 17atm - but the thing costs $300. One of the things I love about the SuperFlash is that it’s really inexpensive - so you can easily have a couple laying around. The main thing I love about it however, is that the flash pattern is somewhat irregular. Yes, of course there’s a pattern. But with a traditional blinky, no matter how bright it is one is fairly easily lulled into “not seeing it” as the regular flashing becomes background “whitenoise lighting”. The SuperFlash has a “blink… blink… blink… STUPID BRIGHT FLASH! blink… blink…” type of pattern that jars anyone within 180 degrees of vision into at least noting that there’s something there.

For running at night, I think the Flea wins hands down simply due to its size and weight. For a bike, I’d probably look at running both.