Lightweights wheel reflectors

This is 86-piece Scotchlite sticker set from Lightweights attaches to the spokes and other moving components. Lighter and considerably more efficient than plastic reflectors, they don’t take up any space while getting you noticed at night and in misty, murky conditions. 

A clean surface is essential so give your wheels a good scrub. Cleaning the spokes with an alcohol-based solution before drying with a lint-free cloth ensures trouble-free adhesion, although chrome surfaces still proved tricky hosts. Placing the bike in a workstand, or the wheels in a jig makes the process more comfortable and set aside an undisturbed hour if you want neat patterns.

You take a sticker, stick it to a spoke, and then rub the protective paper sections between your fingers to set the adhesive properly. Once seated, you remove the protective layer and repeat the process on the next spoke, and so on.

The manufacturers reckon these are visible from a distance of 500 metres and, as long as it's a clear night, I’m inclined to agree. To be honest, performance is no more or less remarkable than rival 3M products. Emerging from junctions, oncoming traffic seemed notably more aware of our presence than usual, and in the main showed greater courtesy.

The stickers are no substitute for decent lights, obviously, but bring extra safety to any bike and they work on trailers and tag-alongs too. So far, there’s been no trace of peeling, lifting or other deterioration despite dodgy weather and exposure to solvents and dilute chain lube, so a couple of seasons' service shouldn’t be out of the question.

Verdict

Simple yet extremely effective wheel stickers work on other components too.