CD's Saturday cycling tip: glow in the dark

If you ride at night, as I do from time to time, make sure drivers — you know, those heavy right footers with cell phones I mentioned last week — can see you. I've had the 2100 outfitted with a red flasher on the back and a white flasher on the front. I also wear an orange flasher on the back of my helmet that greets drivers behind me like an unfurling finger. All three lights have a variety of steady and flashing settings but I leave 'em flashing to wake up sleeping motorists. It's not just lights, either. I wear bright — either red, orange or yellow — on top and reflective pants (remember the almost waterproof Illuminite from last week?) on the bottom. Oh yeah, and I think I mentioned the reflective ankle bands too. The backs of my Sidi shoes are reflective as well. So what does all this count for? A few weeks ago I was riding home a couple of hours after dark. As I approached a light a guy in a Toyota passed me and yelled, "Thanks for the light!" I caught up with him at the traffic signal and asked him if he was sarcastic or sincere. He made it clear he was definitely sincere. "I don't know how I would live with myself if I hit a cyclist," he said as we both pulled away.