Call me a Cinderella cyclist. Im happy to gear up and ride anywhere, anytime -- until the clock strikes a certain witching hour. Then Im pedaling home hard to beat the sinking sun. Riding at night is an activity Ive avoided since I picked up road biking a decade ago. Id sooner hop on an indoor stationary bike to train for triathlons and even longer races, like centuries and gran fondos, than hit the road when the streetlights come on.Why am I so afraid of the dark? For starters, I dont trust drivers partly because, as a native New Yorker, I never got my license. I worry that I dont understand how folks behind the wheel think. These four-wheeled beasts feel foreign to me and my two-wheeled steed. It doesnt help knowing that more than 800 people lost their lives in a bicycle and motor vehicle collision in 2015, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. One in five of these fatal crashes happened between 6 p.m. and 8:59 p.m., reports the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center.Bottom line: I love my life, and putting it on the line for an evening ride never seemed worthwhile to me. I know that sounds dramatic, especially to some of my daring friends who think Im being overly cautious. Theyve long told me how peaceful and fun night riding can be. I dont doubt it. I know this bustling city, particularly Brooklyn where I live, can feel calmer in the darkness when everyones winding down from their workday. And frankly, as an anxious person, a little calm would do me good. In those ways, I realize Im missing out. This is why I was open to the idea of getting the right safety gear to finally give this a go.The detailsWhen I received an opportunity to test the new Visijax LED Cycling Jacket with Turn Signals from Sharper Image ($154.99, sharperimage.com), I initially wrote it off for the aforementioned reasons. But it stayed with me. Truth is, the best story ideas scare me a little. And I really do wish I were brave enough to bike at night for fun. A few days later, I returned to the website to watch the video on how it works and then read reviews on Visijax.com. One customer comment in particular gave me some hope: The lights are really, really bright and even when theyre not on, the yellow is unmissable. So I ordered one.Unlike my other cycling jackets, this unisex model had 23 built-in LED lights and reflectors strategically placed throughout, including the chest, arms and back. It comes with a small, lightweight, rechargeable Lithium-ion battery pack that lasts roughly 30 hours. It discreetly plugs into the jacket via an inside pocket and hidden cable.Flicking the lights on or off is easy. You just push the power button sticker on the front of the jacket, which connects to the battery, and choose from three operating modes: one tap to switch on front and rear lights (slow flash), a second tap for quick flashing mode, and a third to display all lights with no flashing. A fourth tap turns it all off and youre back to just a regular, no-frills neon jacket.The coolest part: Motion-activated turn signals in the sleeves (on the front and back, just below the shoulders) flash for about 5 to 10 seconds when you indicate youre heading left or right. This way, youre better able to communicate your riding intentions to others at all times.The testOn an unusually warm night this fall, my friend Tishon met me outside my Brooklyn apartment at 7:15 p.m. to bike about eight miles round-trip, heading north towards Williamsburg. I felt good about this little adventure because its a route Ive done many times in daylight and Tishons one of my badass friends who enjoys pedaling after hours. The minute I walked outside and switched on the jacket, I lit up like a Christmas tree. From the look of surprise on Tishons face, it really felt like Xmas, too.We laughed over my light show, then hit the road, down the highly trafficked street of Vanderbilt Ave. Using the well-marked bike lanes helped ease my nerves. My jacket was so bright that I didnt even use my standard mounted bike lights. When it was time to make a right turn, I happily flung my arms out to signal my plans. So far, so good.Once in Williamsburg, we veered to the left (arm up!) to this hidden little park overlooking the East River and Manhattans twinkling skyline. Then, after about 20 minutes of star and skyscraper gazing, we headed back south, toward home, but first we stopped for tacos. This afforded me another half-dozen brilliant turns onto main roads and side streets. By the time we got to my apartment around 10 p.m., I felt like a bonafide night rider. The cherry on top was when my neighbor Pepper, who was standing outside the building, looked at my shining armor with envy and asked where she could get one.What I likedFull disclosure: I love bright things. I own a fluorescent pink bike helmet and snazzy white sneakers. So I was kinda excited to wear this highlighter-yellow number out in public. That said, even I was a little self-conscious (see cons below), but I did feel very hard-to-miss. Knowing that my fashion statement would stop traffic did make me feel extra safe. This ultimately allowed me to enjoy stepping outside my comfort zone and expand my little world.What I didnt likeAs much as I love all that glitters and glows, I still felt a little shy in this hello-high-beams number. Its hard not to feel geeky in safety apparel in general (looking at you, knee pads), especially something this eye-catching. Also, I was pretty warm under all of these lights. The rainproof fabric, coated with Teflon to keep you dry, is breathable thanks to air vents, but on this temperate night it felt toasty. I had to roll up the sleeves to my elbows to let in the cool breeze as we rode, and that seemed to do the trick.Another concern: The motion sensors didnt always pick up on my turn signals. As the night wore on, my gestures became a bit more elaborate to set off the flashing. That could be because I only charged the battery for an hour beforehand. It probably needed a few more hours to be fully charged.Worth it?Yes, though I havent completely gone to the dark side. Riding on a cool, sunny day in a car-free zone will always be my preference. But with this jacket, I feel less vulnerable, more protected and truly open to opportunities to experience my favorite activity in a new way. In fact, I already have evening plans with another friend to hit the town on two wheels next week. Yup, Im officially taking this dazzling show on the road, and would recommend it if visibility is one of the key reasons holding you back from riding at night too. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. NFL Jerseys China . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. http://www.cheapjerseysapp.com/ . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. China Jerseys . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Cheap Jerseys From China .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Robeisy Ramirez flummoxed his opponent for three Olympic rounds, landing precise punches and nimbly avoiding trouble. From bell to bell, the gold medalist showcased the same spectacular skills common to so many fighters from Cubas matchless boxing institution over the previous half-century.Ramirez then waved and pumped his fist at the cheering crowd before holding a long, gracious conversation with reporters from all countries.That second part is, well, revolutionary.The new generation of Cuban Olympic boxers in the Rio de Janeiro ring shares much with its glorious predecessors, from superb athletic talent to peerless technique.What they dont share is the reticence, standoffishness and arrogance that characterized the dominant Cuban squads under famed coach Alcides Sagarra and his successors. The new stars also dont seem to care about the longtime restrictions, both spoken and unspoken, on Cuban athletes interactions with the media, Olympic employees and even other competitors.Just like its nation, Cubas famed boxing team is opening up to the world.Its something were doing on our own, said Joahnys Argilagos, the light flyweight world champion who received Olympic bronze Sunday. Its true we, the Cuban fighters, never spoke that much, but this is a new generation. We are getting around more. We have more information. We are more loose.Cuba sent two defending Olympic gold medalists to Rio, both fighting in new divisions. While Ramirez won Sunday, Roniel Iglesias lost a contentious bout to Uzbekistans Shakhram Giyasov a day earlier, yet still stopped to speak thoughtfully and at length to reporters about the defeat.When former world champion Lazaro Alvarez also lost a tight decision to Brazils Robson Conceicao in the lightweight semifinals Sunday, he discussed it with the humility and patience showed by Ramirez.Everyone still has their choice whether they wish to speak to reporters, but I dont mind, Ramirez said. I know how it was in the past, but I like to talk about my fights. Its no problem for me.These Cubans also have a sense of humor. When heavyweight Erislandy Savon, the nephew of Felix, lost his heavyweight semifinal to clinch a bronze, he stormed past reporters from the West and Cuba -- but then abruptly stopped and turned to say, Very sorry, but I have to go to doping control.Light heavyweight Julio Cesar La Cruz also blew off reporters Sunday after beating Brazils Michel Borges to clinch a medal, buut he grinned and shouted that he had to study his next opponent, who was in the following bout.dddddddddddd La Cruz later returned and spoke at length.It is a normal evolution, Argilagos said. Nobody from one day to the next said, `Hey, lets start talking more. It just came from us naturally.Sagarra ran the Cuban program for 3 1/2 decades until 2001, learning training methods from the Soviet Union and then Russia, and applying them to the islands best athletes. His fighters were restricted from interactions with others, and not just to combat the constant threat of defection.Sagarra usually forbade interviews while the team was abroad, even for transcendent heavyweight three-time Olympic champions Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon. A perceived aloofness permeated their attitudes in the ring, where they often didnt celebrate or congratulate.But much has changed in Cuba in the past four years -- and not just with the so-called Cuban Thaw, which led to normalization of relations with the United States.While their predecessors were forbidden from pro careers, some of the current Cuban Olympic fighters have spent the past three years traveling the world as participants in the World Series of Boxing, the professional team fight league set up by the International Boxing Association.Its a good opportunity to fight the best in the world, middleweight Arlen Lopez said. It helped us prepare for the same opponents at the Olympics.Cubas decision to field a WSB team -- nicknamed the Domadores, or Ringmasters -- fulfilled a long-held goal of AIBA to present the islands brilliant boxing talents to the world more frequently than once every four years.Cubas program clearly faces challenges in adapting to AIBAs rule changes since the last Olympic cycle. Along with the absence of headgear, fights are no longer scored on a punch-counting system that played perfectly to the Cubans superior athletic grace. Thats forcing changes for Cuba, which has historically built on long jabs, precise counterpunching and an overall elusiveness that doesnt guarantee similar success under the new 10-point system.Yet Argilagos claimed the 68th Olympic medal in Cubas boxing history Sunday, and a handful of teammates are almost certain to follow.We have many good boxers, La Cruz said. Cuba has great fighters. This year is no different. 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