Bike lights, especially the red blinky light mounted on the rear, seem like the no-brainer bike accessory. They're only about as complicated to operate as your bike spokes, right? Put one on and off you go. Well, if that's true, then how come so many people ride without lights during dawn/dusk/night? Don't they know the value of illumination oneself in order to be seen by others when out on the streets? And why, even when a person does have one on their bike, does it seem like half the time we're all fiddling with a battery that has gone dead or a light that has simply gone kaputt.
Fortunately Planet Bike -- already known for a broad line of bike accessories -- has the answer to all these problems in its solid Superflash tail light, producing a red rear light for one's bike that is really as good as they come on the market today.
The original Planet Bike Superflash light has been on the market for a couple years, retailing for around $25 bucks. That price may put it on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, but I have seen first hand that the quality and rugged construction of the light make it worth the money. I am a year-round bike commuter, and have been using the Superflash in all weather riding for the past 3-4 years. It has performed brilliantly, outlasting 4-5 other cheapie lights that cost $8-$10 each. Especially impressive is how it has held up so very well, especially given the number of times that I have dropped the light on the tile floor of the locker room at work and the cement floor of my garage at home.
Planet Bike has recently released an addition to the Superflash line, the rechargeable Superflash USB. This combines the power and durability of the original along with a built-in Lithium Ion rechargeable battery. Almost as simple to use as a dynamo-driven headlight, the Superflash USB (approximately $35 retail) uses a USB cord to plug into a computer for charging. A short 2-4 hour charge produces up to 36 hours of run time, an eternity on a bike. For my 30-min daily commute, that's at least two months of riding between charges.
There are many things to like about the Superflash and Superflash USB. While there are several different red blinky lights out there for sale with seventeen or more different flashing patterns, the Superflash offers delightful simplicity with just three settings: on, flash and off. Plus - and most importantly - the light is BRIGHT. When using the Superflash myself, and also while riding with others that have the light mounted, I noticed a couple things. First it is nearly impossible to ignore the bright flashing light, especially when angled (heh heh) to shine directly into the motorists' line of vision as they approach from the rear. Next, because the light is both bright and concentrated, it is visible from a long distance away. No kidding, I can tell motorists are picking up the bright red blinking of the Superflash from a quarter mile away as they approach.
As far as any negatives, the one thing that I've found is that sometimes the on/off/flash button on the bottom of the light that cycles the Superflash through the settings is difficult to locate. A person can fumble around a bit trying to find the switch, but that's ultimately not a big deal. Like anything, the more one uses the light, the more familiar the device becomes and locating the button quickly becomes easier.
All in all, the Superflash and Superflash USB come highly recommended. Each comes with a couple different bike mounts and a clip mount for multiple mounting options and quick on/off of one's bike. Be aware that the Superflash USB doesn't come with a charging cord, but it's the ubiquitous thin charging cord used to throw juice into a variety of electronic devices, and chances are that you've already got a couple in a drawer at home.
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