Winter gear...

JohnVilliers

Hi
I've just registered and already love this site. Can you please recommend me a good commuting jacket for the winter and also a helmet (nice and bright so I don't get knocked off) - maybe some other hi-vis extras too? :idea: !!
Thanks
John :idea:

MichaelW

I like MET helmets, thier adjustment system fits all shapes as well as sizes. The cheaper models have fewer vents and they come with rain visor.

My winter jacket is a Paramo, good in the wet and dry, now in its 7th season.

badgerman26

Check this dhb jacket only dark as new version hiviz coming.

Bargain n good reviews.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/dhb_A ... 360037015/

Altura also good n do a night vision. V bright.
Don't own either but bet people on here do n can advise.

Cheers

JohnVilliers

Thanks guys - are there any fluorescent yellow helmets around? No manufacturers seem to do them!

The Rookie

The Silver Boardman road helmets are quite reflective, very comfy and have good ventilation.

As for tops, my softshell and waterproof outer both have reflective panels on the back, I only use the waterproof when its raining or I get too sweaty.

Simon

skerto

a new uk company selling all sorts of reflectives. helmets are flouro and built in LED's. only available from Rutland Cycles at the moment I think

http://www.proviz.co.uk/products/

JohnVilliers

Ah yes! At last I've found a fluorescent yellow helmet. Those jackets look pretty effective too, might have to find a retailer in London and check one out in the flesh. Never seen a light-emitting jacket on the roads before.
Thanks a lot!

JohnVilliers

Just bought one of these!
http://www.proviz.co.uk/products/jacket.html

CommuterMark

What's the lighting system like in the dark, can you take a photo? :idea:

JohnVilliers

Having problems upoading photos but there are a few demos on youtube. I've pasted a few in for you to check out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln-NtXNh ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qbhQzX9 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMwUqNhx ... re=related

I love my new jacket and have had quite few fellow commuters asking about it so it's obviously making me stand out which is what I wanted (for safety reasons of course).

J

asprilla

JohnVilliers wrote:

Having problems upoading photos but there are a few demos on youtube. I've pasted a few in for you to check out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln-NtXNh ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qbhQzX9 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMwUqNhx ... re=related

I love my new jacket and have had quite few fellow commuters asking about it so it's obviously making me stand out which is what I wanted (for safety reasons of course).

J

You blatantly work for them since it's all you've talked about on these boards. Excuse me if I advise folks to take anything you say with a pinch of salt.

PBo

Asprilla wrote:

JohnVilliers wrote:

Having problems upoading photos but there are a few demos on youtube. I've pasted a few in for you to check out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln-NtXNh ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qbhQzX9 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMwUqNhx ... re=related

I love my new jacket and have had quite few fellow commuters asking about it so it's obviously making me stand out which is what I wanted (for safety reasons of course).

J

You blatantly work for them since it's all you've talked about on these boards. Excuse me if I advise folks to take anything you say with a pinch of salt.

Not just me then!!!

There has been a rash of discussions of proviz stuff in the last few weeks - nearly always by members who've only just joined up. I've flagged a few to admin - who remove them - but it's tedious.

I even called them out on the "what you've just bought" thread too.

To be fair, John has asked about tyres too, so he may just be unlucky - or getting cleverer!!!!

Boards like this work on the sense of community, and that you can get a range of opinions and experiences to help you. If they are not genuine, then the trust breaks down......

Personally, i wouldn't get the proviz stuff now, as their dubious "marketing" makes me doubt their integrity...

JohnVilliers

Asprilla - I have just joined this forum as I wanted to get some useful info as I'm a new commuter and don't actually know much at all about cycling kit. I've been on a few cycling holidays in the past and have recently moved to London so it's the obvious mode of transport for me to get to work.
The reason I asked about Proviz was because I saw a cyclist wearing a jacket and wanted to hear peoples thoughts on their gear......For you to go start accusing me of working for the company I find extremely rude and offensive. I am a man of integrity and I would never do such a thing.
To be honest I'm not sure I want to post on this forum now if people like you are members!

asprilla

If I'm wrong them I appologise wholeheartedly, however there a re an awful lot of coversations on this board suddenly going along the lines of:

New1: Hey, can anyone recomment a hi-viz helment and a jacket that lights up?

/ Time passes

New 1: Look what I found guys, it's the shizzle and an absolute bargain price

New 2: Hey that looks great, I can't imagaine commuting without it.

New 1: I know, isn't it just fantastic?

Etc, etc, etc.....

It's pretty much the same conversation appearing all over the place.

JohnVilliers

Apology accepted. Thank you.

I do see where you're coming from but have you thought that perhaps it's the time of year when people want to find out about kit as it's getting dark and Forums are a pretty good way of asking cyclists in the know? That's why I joined and I bet I'm not the only new cyclist on this forum who has joined for the same reason.

Anyway, enough said.

nightoff

How about thoughts on temperature regulation with these light up jackets. I bet they get awful hot and sweaty in there. I have an eVent jacket which is very good compared to my Lidl special. It still gets clammy on a fast commute. TBH i keep it as a last resort for very heavy downpours. I prefer to wear a normal long sleeved jersey and carry a change of clothes. For hi viz i just use a cheap vest. Works for me.

PBo

nightoff wrote:

How about thoughts on temperature regulation with these light up jackets. I bet they get awful hot and sweaty in there. I have an eVent jacket which is very good compared to my Lidl special. It still gets clammy on a fast commute. TBH i keep it as a last resort for very heavy downpours. I prefer to wear a normal long sleeved jersey and carry a change of clothes. For hi viz i just use a cheap vest. Works for me.

There are many discussions on breathability - and it seems that it is rare to get good breathability without splashing out. There is no reason to think that the proviz won't be as breathable as other jackets at that price, but for those of us who run warm, or really hammer the commute, it'll probably get sticky - that's the nature of the beast!

flyingbanana

+1 for cheap reflective vest. I got a non-branded one in the LBS for about £8 made out of a dayglo mesh (like a Rab C. Nesbitt civet) so there's no heat or sweat penalty and it has hi-viz reflective stripes to be-safe-be-seen.

Can be put ontop of anything underneath it - waterproof, thermal, t-shirt yadda yadda - to suit the weather. If it's p*ss*ng down or snowing or frozen I'll stick a Paramo smock on underneath it. None of the hi-viz waterproofs aimed at commuters I've ever tried come close to the breathability, waterproofability and keepingyouwarmability performance of a Paramo.

PBo

....someone will be along in a minute to claim that they've just brought one and it's fantastically breathable, the best they've ever had....and they will have signed up in the past few weeks and have a single post count....

(not you, John)

JohnVilliers

Haven't really put it to the test yet as my commute is only about 20mins. So far so good though. I'll report back when I do a decent ride.

sc999cs

You could look at this, a yellow helmet cover. http://www.beseenonabike.co.uk/

solsurf

I think yellow is not always that great in certain light it doesn’t always distinguish itself from green and around the lanes where I cycle that’s not good. I find Red orange and white stand out the best.
If I had the cash at the moment I think I’d buy the mavic vision stuff that’s bright orange.

cjcp

I find Red orange and white stand out the best.
[/quote]

Have heard something similar, which is why some workmen use orange.

rodgers73

The Aldi gear is indeed great suff - I came in today in their winter trousers and long sleeved top. I was toasty warm all the way. Get it while you can!

MrChuck

Bell do the Metro helmet in a range of pretty bright colors, relative to the norm anyway- not as bright as that Proviz one though.

IIRC you can get lights and winter liners for them too.