Sick of your reflectors taking up space, but you want to stay reflective?
Ditch Your Reflectors For Reflective Tape
Instead of using those unsightly reflectors that shops are required to put on the bikes they sell, get yourself some silver reflective tape.
It’s light, looks good, and doesn’t get in the way when truing wheels.
I like to put it on my seatpost, seatstays, spokes, and especially crankarms and pedals.
Cranks and pedals are great because they are spinning, and that makes it easier for cars to notice you.
The brand pictured is stuff from 3M. I got mine on eBay since I was having a hard time finding silver. (Yellow is easy to find in most stores, but it doesn’t match most paint jobs.)
(Note: If you aren’t worried about style points, feel free to use all the reflectors you can fit on your bike.)
You can also find specialty reflective tapes and stickers made for your bike. Check out VeloSight for example.
Pros and Cons of Reflectors:
Cheap. You probably got them for free with your bike.
They work.
But…
They can break in a crash.
They add weight.
They get in the way.
Pros and Cons of Reflective Tape:
Lightweight.
Can be applied anywhere.
Does not get in the way.
Stylish. You can get colors that match your bike.
But…
They’re a little more expensive.
Levi Bloom is an experienced endurance athlete who has been training and competing for over 17 years. A former Cat 1 road and mountain bike racer (professional class on the regional circuit), he is now a cycling coach (USA Cycling Level 3 Certified) and sports nutrition coach (Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified).
Tape is nice but after it has been on for a year or two, you might not be able to get it off. I put some reflective tape on my seat stays and crank arms and it began to look bad after a few years but I could not remove it.
@Ed
True! The better the tape, the harder it is to remove. But at the same time, I’ve found good quality tape to still look good for many years, if not a decade. Especially if your bike is stored out of direct sunlight.
I do have another how-to for anyone struggling with removing tape, decals, or other adhesive residue: https://coachlevi.com/cycling/how-to-remove-stickers-and-residue-from-your-bike/