how much high vis

[cyclenic]

How much high vis does everyone wear? I only ride until later afternoon, and still in day light, but as car drivers seem to be oblivious to my presence
How much high vis should i wear?
And what items are the best?
Do i need to be seen from space

 

[sheddy]

I try and wear a vest anytime day or night that I'm on the bike

 

[fossyant]

I don't wear high vis - usually have bright blue or red tops for the day, but they don't work at nights. Have lots of lights though, and a few reflective bits/stickers here and there, and a 'sam brown' belt thingy for night !

 

[spandex]

None and I do not intend to EVER

 

[Joe24]

My trousers have some reflective trim on, and so does my coat(i think)
Thats about it though. Dont want to wear any this year, wore a hi-vis last year and it just isnt good.

 

[palinurus]

Good lights. Rarely hi-viz, although I've got a bright yellow windproof I sometimes wear. Reflective bits on my courier bag and some reflective tape on the sides of my commuting bike (that stuff was on the frame when I acquired it, I doubt it's much use).

 

[TWBNK]

I have a lightweight hi vis polo shirt that I can just throw over whatever I am wearing. It only cost a few quid from JJB and it seems to do the job. I wear it most trips out, but at the mo with working 12 hour shifts it seems all my cycling is done in the dark so I do feel a lot more comfortable with having the reflective strips on the shirt.

Even so it still doesn't take away the fact that the cars will simply miss you or misjudge your speed.

 

[John the Monkey]

I have a dhb jacket I wear in cold or wet weather, and a gilet from prendas that tends to go on in autumnal weather. I picked up some Pearl Izumi armwarmers (these are excellent, btw, and they do do them in non flouro colours) to go with the latter on colder days.

Having the yellow stuff on short circuits a lot of pointless argument - the drivers can get straight to the "you don't pay road tax and all jump red lights" stuff once the "how can I be expected to see you when you aren't in dayglo" stuff is dealt with.

 

[Baggy]

I wear brightly coloured tops in daytime, have loads of lights at night (and early morning/dusk) bits of reflective stuff on gloves, shoes etc and wear a reflective band on my right arm so when I signal right it draws attention.

 

[SoulOnIce]

I always used to think hi viz stuff made folk look silly and I never wore it. That was before I learned to drive. I now realise how easy it is for car drivers to not see cyclists, even in the daytime.

So I often wear hi viz in the day, especially on long runs. I always wear hi viz with reflective strips at night, along with a reflective "snap on" on my ankle and loads of lights.

This evening I was driving down an unlit country road that I often cycle down on my way home from work, and there was a cyclist with no hi viz and little reflective wear with only a flashing red light. I did not really see him properly until I was quite close. Made me realise that my "look as bright as possible" thing is the right approach.

It's all well and good worrying about looking a berk in hi viz, or saying that drivers should pay more attention. But that is all academic if you end up getting killed or badly maimed.

Safety comes first for me - I will leave the fashion and pious pontificating to other reckless fools.

 

[alp1950]

High vis gore phantom jacket, reflective ankle bands, northwave vortech gloves with reflective print, reflective trim on bibtights and shoes, fluorescent tape on rucksack.

Does it do any good? Don't know but if it reduces the risk of a collision even by 1% then it's worth it IMHO.

 

[BentMikey]

No hiviz at all here. The bike has a good reflector front and rear, and bright lights. Mind you, it could be argued that I'm an utter hypocrit, because a recumbent is more HiViz than hiviz itself.

 

[Tynan]

I judge what works from seeing other cyclists ahead of me

A decent gillet with dots and bits in the summer evenings and I'm now in the full on Nightvision now it's cold, something light and bright does for me in daylight

plus I run a very bright front light on pulse and a couple of good rears in the day time, I'm confident it helps me be seen and I think it also shows that I'm taking things seriously, along with road position and so on I think that helps

 

[summerdays]

I wear a night-vision jacket in either grey or fading yellow, when the weather is cold or wet. In summer and bright conditions I will often wear light coloured tops, and I have just ordered a pink gillet for summer time too. It doesn't bother me wearing the hi-vis, which is a good job as I have to wear it for work anyway.

 

[HLaB]

I wear a Hi Vis vest or gillet in winter, the rest of the year I'd only wear them occaisionally when I've set off in the dark. Hi vis isn't always the answer to be being seen. For instance this morning on a mini roundabout turning right I was wearing the hi vis and a estate coming the other way came straight out without giving way, even though I was actually 2m in front of him, he braked and apologised but I was deliberately in a primary position giving me lots of get out room, so no real harm done.