Be Seen… with Monkey Lights
Jeff Illig was a veteran, a dedicated mail carrier for over 30 years in Reno, and a passionate cyclist. On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Jeff was tragically killed in a fatal hit-and-run crash while riding in the bike lane near South McCarran Boulevard and West Plumb Lane in Reno. The loss has left his family and community heartbroken, as Jeff was known for his kindness, commitment, and positive spirit.
Jeff’s son Nick now faces the daunting prospect of leaving his job in Japan to return to Reno multiple times to settle his father’s estate. The sudden loss has upended Nick’s life, forcing him to navigate travel costs, legal fees, and the many expenses associated with managing his father’s affairs. The financial strain is compounded by the risk of losing his job, making this already difficult time even more challenging.
Nick and his mother Melany are healthy, community-minded individuals whose unwavering faith in humanity has been shaken by Jeff’s tragic death and the circumstances surrounding it. With your support, the guiding light of Jeff can continue to shine for Nick and Melany, helping restore their faith and guiding all of us toward a safer and more compassionate future. Your generosity will make a meaningful difference as they navigate these challenging times.
All donations are tax deductible with 501c3 not-for-profit Nevada Bicycle Coalition as the pass through organization (EIN: 39-2067469). We are waiting on our Charitable Giving Fund approval. NevadaBike.org.
I tried to buy Monkey Lights a few years ago but they weren’t available in time to use on the playa. I got Hokey-Spokes instead, same concept I believe. Here’s the bad about Hokey Spoke. They are heavy and noisy and eat batteries. Each one take 3 AA Batteries. If you put 3 on a wheel that’s a lot of weight. They also make a lot of noise. I know that they are LEDs and aren’t supposed to use a lot of energy but they also work on radio waves. Many times I will go out in the morning and they are on. From what, I don’t know. A garage door opener, a police car driving by, beats me, but they are ALWAYS an (no on-off switch, at least on the model I have).
I am leaning toward trying these Nite Ize Spokelit Bicycle Light by Nite Ize, they seem to be much simpler.
The Hokey Spokes ARE cool if you put enough on one wheel and you go fast enough.
Hope this review helps – dave