Hi-Vis Jackets

Greg T

I think they are great - anyone else wear one?

lost_in_thought

Er nope, I think they're for jessies. Also, blah blah urban camouflage blah.

*waits for the avalanche of posts*

snooks

lost_in_thought wrote:

Er nope, I think they're for jessies. Also, blah blah urban camouflage blah.

*waits for the avalanche of posts*

I saw a solider on a bike in full camouflage, Hardly saw him at all and that was in daylight!!!!

desweller

I think they ought to be banned. You could blind a driver and cause a serious accident, like a grazed knee or something, by reflecting so much light at him - totally irresponsible.

ansbaradigeidfran

I've got one, and I've been wearing it every time since I got back into this commuting lark back in October. I'm much happier riding along my dark country lanes with it on, and expect to keep using in right on through the winter (although it does need a rinse some-time: the muck and chain oil is building up).

As to whether I'll still be wearing one in summer after it (hopefully) warms up, I don't know. We'll see when we get there.

DesWeller, I disagree with you on the blinding. I'm no more reflective than a large roadsign. Or a skinny one, rather.

daniel_b

I LOVE em me!

desweller

ansbaradigeidfran wrote:

DesWeller, I disagree with you on the blinding. I'm no more reflective than a large roadsign. Or a skinny one, rather.

I can't find a 'tongue-in-cheek' emoticon so this will have to do!

Des

PS I also think that helmets are just stoopid. They make your head hot and that could cause you to do something crazy.

ansbaradigeidfran

DesWeller wrote:

ansbaradigeidfran wrote:

DesWeller, I disagree with you on the blinding. I'm no more reflective than a large roadsign. Or a skinny one, rather.

I can't find a 'tongue-in-cheek' emoticon so this will have to do!

Des

PS I also think that helmets are just stoopid. They make your head hot and that could cause you to do something crazy.

Dammit. I thought there might be sarcasm there, but I wasn't sure!

BTW, I'd go :P for tongue in cheek. There's tongue, at least.

chuckcork

So what does a reflective helmet do?

A mere metre of scotch-lite on mine....

daniel_b

greg66_tri_v2.0

Greg T wrote:

I think they are great - anyone else wear one?

Men that dig holes in the road?

Men that work on proper building sites?

laughingboy

Daniel B wrote:

Personally, I'm with the canary if the alternative is this:

redvee

I wear one of those bomber type jackets both on and off the bike when commuting to work etc but it ain't waterproof as I found out today when walking in the rain.

DiggingDeeper

Mr Greg T

Do you actually wear one or are you having a giraffe? It's not classic fixie plimsole, rolled up jean, spangly silver belt getup.

If you do chapeau.....................

Me, absolutely in winter. No point in summer. I am in building so got hundreds of flouro tops.

For those of you who like to ride incognito, Good Luck!!!!!!!!! I acknowledge however, even if I was the ReadyBrek kid (for those of a certain age) if the other party aint lookin you're meat.

DiggingDeeper

Follow up to previous post..................

Just read cake chomping thread and its move to commuting. Mr T possibly nearer my secong prognosis.

The chapeau I was going to throw his way is now some tiny weeny rapha style nonsense worn backwards, unless you put me right in your usual style.

Surf-Matt

I wear a Polaris hi viz vest thing over my jacket/top.

Amazing how many will spend tonnes on lights but then shun a hi viz top - which is MUCH more visible.

Funny old world cycling - people think certain things look "cool" - non cyclists however think we all look like geeks. Albeit fit ones.

spen666

ansbaradigeidfran wrote:

I've got one, and I've been wearing it every time since I got back into this commuting lark back in October. I'm much happier riding along my dark country lanes with it on, and expect to keep using in right on through the winter (although it does need a rinse some-time: the muck and chain oil is building up).

As to whether I'll still be wearing one in summer after it (hopefully) warms up, I don't know. We'll see when we get there.

DesWeller, I disagree with you on the blinding. I'm no more reflective than a large roadsign. Or a skinny one, rather.

I think you are supposed to put the hi viz jacket on you , not the transmission

fuddymox

laughingboy wrote:

Daniel B wrote:

Personally, I'm with the canary if the alternative is this:

Is the roadkill a little egret? I bet someone on here will know.

Do you think it was trying out it's own version of the hilarious, classic 'Chicken- road' joke?

il_principe

I don't get the point of these fluro jackets, they are no more visible than a red or black one in the dark. I don't wear one, however I do have plenty of reflective strips on my bag and shoes as well as 2 rear lights - it's the reflective stuff that's important not the colour of the jacket. So for now I'm sticking with my Castelli and Montane Velo jackets which are breathable and windproof and far better that some Altura cack that'll either boil me alive or fall apart after 3 uses...

linsen

Altura cack that'll either boil me alive or fall apart after 3 uses...

What do you mean either / or? Mine boils me and the letters are falling off!

lost_in_thought

This 'proper commuting thread' is coming together quite well! Spen666 will be very happy.

Are you proud of us Spen?

And I really do have to echo the sentiment about being 'boiled in the bag' by altura jackets.

So are the castelli ones both waterproof and breatheable?

il_principe

lost_in_thought wrote:

This 'proper commuting thread' is coming together quite well! Spen666 will be very happy.

Are you proud of us Spen?

And I really do have to echo the sentiment about being 'boiled in the bag' by altura jackets.

So are the castelli ones both waterproof and breatheable?

No, I'm not convinced there is such a thing as a genuinely waterproof and breathable cycling jacket. However because they wick so well and are windproof it doesn't matter if you get a bit wet, you still stay warm.

il_principe

Although if you must have fluro then this is great: http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=16216&src=froogle

artaxerxes

Has there been any serious research done into whether these hi-viz jackets reduce accidents, or make drivers more aware of a cyclist presence?
Certainly when I drive I notice the day-glo jackets, but then I am more aware of cyclists on the road in general being a commuter cyclist myself.

Nick6891

i dont bother with a high vis vest, i just have my lights and reflective strips along my clothing which i think makes you stand out more as a cyclist

rhext

I recently got a tabard, having concluded that my normal black top over black leggings on a black bike was possibly not the best stand-out combination for autumn/winter travel. I've not been hit yet, so have to assume it's working. It even keeps me a bit warmer.

It looks far from cool, but when I'm driving I find my eyes drawn to flourescent fabric at dawn/dusk, and of course the reflective strips light up like a christmas tree in headlights. I'd like to think that I stand out like that when I'm on the bike.

Why is so much cycling gear black????

Jen J

jashburnham wrote:

I don't get the point of these fluro jackets, they are no more visible than a red or black one in the dark.

Have to disagree there, at least in town where there are lots of street lights. I barely notice cyclists in dark colours when I'm out running, but if they wear something light (whether it's hi viz or just a pale colour) they are much more noticeable.

Agree that it's reflectives that get most attention though.

artaxerxes

Sorry for going in a different direction but I was wondering how visible you would be if you had two front lights, one pointing forwards, and the other one facing you to highlight your body (and any reflactives you might be wearing)

rhext

linoue wrote:

Sorry for going in a different direction but I was wondering how visible you would be if you had two front lights, one pointing forwards, and the other one facing you to highlight your body (and any reflactives you might be wearing)

Hmmmm, you'd need to be careful: this would tend to destroy your own night vision. Also, reflectives are designed to reflect light back in the direction from which it arrives. In this case, they'd reflect light back to your handlebars, rather than towards the cars which is where it needs to go. Try it yourself with a bike light in a dark room. Hold it away from you and shine it on a jacket. Now bring it next to your eyes (shining it at the jacket all the time) and see what happens to the reflectors.

greg66_tri_v2.0

jashburnham wrote:

No, I'm not convinced there is such a thing as a genuinely waterproof and breathable cycling jacket. However because they wick so well and are windproof it doesn't matter if you get a bit wet, you still stay warm.

The Assos rain cape is pretty good. Not perfect, but better than anything else I've tried.

The trouble with any breathable fabric is dirt. Once specks of dirt get clogged in the fabric, it ceases to be breathable, and becomes easily waterlogged.

There's a reason that gore-tex is demonstrated under a running tap in a sealed box...

simple_salmon

We give away free flouro/reflective waistcoats here and they're very popular. Also reflective snapbands for the ankles and they go like hotcakes.

Obviously people here BELIEVE they're worthwhile and they did come from a road safety company (and, like that dead bird, they weren't cheap).