High Visibility

nigeve

Following on from DonDaddyD’s excellent thread about lights I thought I’d continue the depressing topic of fading light and strong winds with my thoughts about hi visibility clothing….
I got home at 7.30 last night having battled strong gusts in my face for 10 miles and managed to average a rather poultry 10mph. To further my irritation I was completely rinsed by 3 girls all wearing team colours and riding expensive looking road bikes who seemed to ride as if the wind were behind them. But I digress…I was aware that the light was fading even at that time of night...
I had assumed that I would by myself a bright yellow high vis Gortex jacket for when the clocks changed. I don’t mind spending a bit of money because I’ll be spending two hours a day wearing this so I want breathable and waterproof… As much as I concede nothing quite marks you out like a bright yellow coat are there any alternative colours that are good for riding in..? Is there a general consensus that darker clothing with fluorescent strips are adequate with good lights or is there really no substitute for a bright yellow hi vis jacket..?
Always happy to read anyone else’s thoughts on this before I make my purchase…

Wallace1492

I have a high Viz yellow jacket that I wear in winter, just think it looks quite snazzy, but is sometimes too warm.

sarajoy

In my opinion when I'm behind the wheel - reflective fabric is FANTASTIC. As long as you've got lots of that stuff, I couldn't give a monkeys what colour the rest of it is. For the duller but not dark times, best it isn't grey or black for maximum visibility - as long as it's something that's lighter than the road/buildings/foliage around you.

I tend to pack away my cheapo highvis vest whenever I go out on the bike when it'll be dark home - nerdy yes but it's no use looking cool going into the back of an ambulance.

glamrox

Personally, I'm not so sure HiViz yellow works anymore, it is far too common and I think therefore people don't notice it as much. I have heard HiViz pink is actually a far better colour to make you stand out but I have no facts or figures to back that up.

TommyEss

I've never used hi-viz, but do like reflectives. My (quite possibly flawed) logic, is that in the daytime, I make myself visible by riding in primary, and at night time, I use the reflectives.

For that reason I got the grey Altura Night Vision jacket - since I detest hi viz, but the reflectives are the only bit that stand out at night, irrespective of the background colour.

For road riding in daytime, most of my tops are reds or whites (apart from my Reading CC kit - which is bright canary yellow and navy - so probably quite hi viz without being dayglo...!)

tailwindhome

sarajoy wrote:

In my opinion when I'm behind the wheel - reflective fabric is FANTASTIC.

+1

In cities it may be different but on dark country roads Hi Viz reflective strips on clothing are essential.

beverick

I think there's a lot of confusion as to what 'high viz' actually means. Gordy yellow or green tops (certain shades of blue and red as well for that matter) are fine in bright daylight but lose their impact in low light conditions.

I agree with the idea of lights and reflectives during dark winter nights together with light coloured clothing. In summer it's usually something bold, ight or downright gordy to provide a bold outline.

Bob

TommyEss

Hi Viz = Dayglo/neon/fluorescent yellows and oranges - they reflect both the visible spectrum as well as the UV spectrum, giving an extra *zing* (and being awesome for ravers under blacklights in night clubs)

Reflective = Reflects back a bright light source, especially car headlights. Normally silver under regular daylight (though stealth black ones are appearing on some high end kit - Rapha and Howies both use one made by Schoeller I believe)

Hi Viz does next to nothing at night time, as there's not enough UV light around to take advantage.

Reflectives do dext to nothing in the daytime, as the light is not concentrated enough to be reflected back well. They may, however, provide fancy silver detailing on your favourite jersey, however, like the fancy flashes on my Gore longsleeve top!

the_hundredth_idiot

Problem for many of us is that in the winter months the commute is a mix of dark and light.

So I've gone for a high-viz yellow Altura Night Vision (on sale at Evans at the mo). That way I'm visible on my morning commute (in the daylight usually) and visible on my evening commute (which is already often in the dark ). But I'm not a fan of high-viz yellow so was tempted with Altura's black version.

prawny

I like bright coulours without going hi-viz yellow, I don't know why but I feel a bit more vulnerable in yellow, cars seem to give me less room.

Reflectives are the best for the dark but for clothes I like red or blue with a smattering of LEDs on the bike for good measure.

rolf_f

Any recommendations for good value rucksack covers? As I wear a rucksack on my commute, I think a cover would be more useful than reflective jacket bits so if anyone knows of one that isn't excessively pricey for what it is......

rolf_f

nigeve wrote:

I got home at 7.30 last night having battled strong gusts in my face for 10 miles and managed to average a rather poultry 10mph.…

That's bloody fast for a chicken

ride_whenever

I've got natty black reflective tape on the black seatstays and forks of my pompino, looks black unless you hit it with bright light when it lights up like no ones business.

R_T_A

Rolf F wrote:

Any recommendations for good value rucksack covers? As I wear a rucksack on my commute, I think a cover would be more useful than reflective jacket bits so if anyone knows of one that isn't excessively pricey for what it is......

I've been using the Respro Hump waterproof for a year and it's been brilliant: http://www.respro.com/products/urban-commuting/motorcycling/hiviz_hump/

There are loads of colours, and I think one even has an LED in the piping.

nigeve

Rolf F, I didn’t think it would take long before someone spotted my school boy error… I was tempted to edit it out. Go to the top of the class



It seems a lot of good things are said about Altura Night Vision jackets. I was going to check them out but I’ve decided to try to find something reflective and Gore-Tex. Not too fussed now about bright yellow. I don’t wear yellow now so it doesn’t sound like I’ll get any extra benefit wearing it in winter. Good reflection is a must though…
I’m determined to continue cycling all through the winter until it is lashing down or icy…

8)

il_principe

I hate hi viz jackets, just use reflective strips on my courier bag, far more effective IMHO and doesn't make me look like a construction worker/policeman/trafficwarden/lollipop person/medic/steward/fire marshall etc etc etc

rolf_f

R_T_A wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

Any recommendations for good value rucksack covers? As I wear a rucksack on my commute, I think a cover would be more useful than reflective jacket bits so if anyone knows of one that isn't excessively pricey for what it is......

I've been using the Respro Hump waterproof for a year and it's been brilliant: http://www.respro.com/products/urban-commuting/motorcycling/hiviz_hump/

There are loads of colours, and I think one even has an LED in the piping.

Have to admit the reflective (non hi vis) one looks pretty smart - but £35 seems a lot....



nigeve - sometimes you just know that a mistake is too funny to remove even if you want to!

TommyEss

ride_whenever wrote:

I've got natty black reflective tape on the black seatstays and forks of my pompino, looks black unless you hit it with bright light when it lights up like no ones business.

Ooh - where did you get that tape? I might relfectify my pompino - already got reflective sidewalls on my tyres.

Might try and do a lightning bolt...!? :P

Donimo

Something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 0342139279

Donimo

fossyant

Il Principe wrote:

I hate hi viz jackets, just use reflective strips on my courier bag, far more effective IMHO and doesn't make me look like a construction worker/policeman/trafficwarden/lollipop person/medic/steward/fire marshall etc etc etc

Must admit I am the same......lots of lights, some flashies on the rucksack, reflective tape etc

Going to get some of that black tape for the new bike.

tjwood

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/94334/Wor ... aistcoat-L

Less than a fiver. And has BS-approved quantities of both retroreflective and fluorescent material.

(And less than half price if you buy a box of 25! ;-))

I'm tempted to take a pair of scissors (and possibly needle and thread!) to one of these to fashion some kind of rucksack cover.