On Sunday, November 4, 2007, I finally managed to get around to fitting the set of Reelight SL100 Flash Extended that I received as a review sample at the Cycle 2007 Show at Earls Court, in London, a couple of weeks ago, to my Raleigh Pioneer Classic bicycle.
Reelights are “driving lights” for bicycles with no need for batteries as they have theyr own own energy source by magnetic induction. They are made with LEDs with long lasting durability and tested also under severe climate condition
Bikelights have a documented increase in safety with up to 32% for cyclists. Reelight bike lights are for cyclists who need stronger and always turned on bike lights. Motorbikes and cars drive with constantly turned on driving lights in many countries – and make themselves thereby much more visible and safe when in the traffic. Bike lights are made to light your bike up day and night. Because Reelight bike lights are very strong, always on due to their own power source and no need for batteries and the fact that they are on as soon as the wheel moves you will also be more visible during day light. This means more safety for you when riding your bicycle as you are seen easier by other road users, whether during the day or in the dark.
While the fitting is quite easy to achieve for anyone with a little experience and knowledge in fixing up bicycles and who has the right toolkit one could benefit from some more detailed fitting instructions. Despite the fact that I am quite versed in fixing up bicycles and have a rather comprehensive toolkit for cycles it took me the best part of an hour for fix the set of lights to the bike. I would, therefore, recommend that anyone not all that well versed in cycle maintenance and repair have this set of lights fitted by a cycle mechanic.
While the version that I was given for review, namely the SL100, does not continue flashing at stopovers, the SL120 version, apparently, does. I cannot, however, report on it as the review sample is the previous version, e.g. version SL100.
As for a little ride report I can only say that the flashes are very bright, even in daylight, and there is no loss of kinetic energy from the magnets in the wheels.
As those lights do not use any batteries whatsoever it should and has quite nice green credentials. One part, unfortunately, offsets that into the negative direction and that is, like with the “Bye, Bye, Standby” kit I reviewed a while back, the fact that the packaging is, to a great extent, plastic “wrap” of a kind that is hard or even impossible to recycle, according to waste managers at some councils.
I am sure that one could use just a cardboard pack like is used, for instance, with the Pedalite pedals.
Review by M V Smith, November 2007
Reelight website
Reelight – Product Review
