30 year old Cateye.

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zerodish

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 31, 2014
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I bought a 2AA Cateye red flasher in 1996. A bicycle shop went out of business and I found a clear and a yellow lens for it. Cateyes are legal reflectors but my guess is only if you use the red lens. The light still works and has been on my bicycles since I bought it. It is nice and bright with the clear lens and will run for several days with rechargable batteries. The other Cateyes with the 2AA batteries and other brands have not faired so well generally failing when the smaller rubber gasket breaks.
 
Usually, the state you're in determines the exact laws for lights/reflectors. Generally, white is for the front, red is for the rear (like on cars), and yellow is for pedals.

I would generally recommend following that convention, regardless, because you don't want drivers confused if you're coming or going.

You could use the clear lens up front, angle it downward (to not blind people), and just use it as a ground flooder/visibility light. You could also get some kind of red plastic film to make it red, again, haha.

Alternatively, they're pretty affordable if you need a rear one. I have a 2AAA rear red one with their built in reflector, and that thing is going on 20 years, and still works perfectly. I really think they make the best rear reflector lights of anyone. I love how well they work as reflectors, and the light up part is also handy for more visibility. The cheaper, no-name ones tend to be trash as a reflector. IIRC, they actually still manufacture a lot of their plastic reflectors in Japan, even if the electronics are assembled in China.

Though, I tend to prefer using lights with a sustained on mode, and not blinking. I find if people are confused if I'm a bicycle or other kind of vehicle, they tend to be more respectful of giving me space, haha (though, I really don't ride on roads if possible, anymore, as drivers are oblivious on their phones these days).
 
I have a reflector I'm not going to give the police any excuse. Also I took apart the light drilled a hole in the back and ran a screw through it so it bolts directly to my rack.
 
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