this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2025
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I somehow broke my front spoke reflector and these things are all over AliExpress - are they as good as other reflectors or should I just get an ol' reliable?

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[–] tombruzzo@hexbear.net 2 points 6 days ago

I bought glow in the dark valve caps off Aliexpress and they only glow in the most extreme circumstances. But they're always red

[–] 7bicycles@hexbear.net 7 points 1 week ago

Ol' reliable unless you wanna do it for the bit. I can't speak to these, specifically, but I've hated every fucking single spoke reflector kit I've ever touched

[–] bunnygirl@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

wouldn't recommend it tbh, at least here in the Netherlands these would deffo not fulfill rules for reflection, cause the lengthwise spoke reflectors aren't allowed and they have to be white/yellow

afaik it's just standardised for visual clarity here but it's probably best to look up the rules where you live if there are any

[–] ProfessorOwl_PhD@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Yeah, I checked beforehand and spoke reflectors are entirely optional in the UK - you're only required to have a white front light, red back light, red rear reflector, and white or yellow pedal reflectors. Additional lights have to be white or red depending on if they're front or back, but it's completely free reign on additional reflectors. I think with @7bicycles advice I am going to mix these with a traditional spoke reflector just to be on the safe side visibility wise.

[–] RNAi@hexbear.net 3 points 1 week ago

They look nice regardless of light reflection.

[–] doublepepperoni@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

I have old fashioned reflectors BUT I also got a ton of these from AliExpress and stuck them on my bikes because I think they look cool

Edit: By "these" I mean these

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007511304447.html

[–] ProfessorOwl_PhD@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago

Ah, those are the ones I mean, looks like the longer ones are just coloured plastic.

[–] axont@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago

Yeah I have some like these. They're cool.

[–] sexywheat@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Personally I am a big fan of these.

[–] ProfessorOwl_PhD@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I do prefer the idea of proper lights for visibility but I know I don't have the patience or organisation to replace the batteries every month or so, so I just stick with front and back lights.

[–] sexywheat@hexbear.net 2 points 6 days ago

A couple of years ago I just about got smoked by a bus at a four way stop. I had the right of way and everything, bro just completely did not see me. After that I decided to invest heavily in top tier lighting.

[–] trinicorn@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

going on just that picture, those don't appear to be reflective...

If you can see a shiny hexagonal grid on the tubes that is probably reflective, or if the pics clearly show it being reflective. if its actually retroreflective then they should work. I've not seen those exact style tubes but I find reflective spokes and/or rims more visible than a traditional spoke reflector personally

[–] ProfessorOwl_PhD@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago

You're right, I thought they were all the same but some are reflective and some are just coloured - rim tape is a good idea though, I'll have a look at that too