how much high vis

[redjedi]

I wear a hi viz windproof jacket at this time of year. It may not always help you be seen, but it didn't hurt when after I got knocked over by a minicab, the policeman was taking our details he asked the driver the usual "have you been drinking..etc?" questions, then looked at my lights and hi viz jacket and said "well you can't say you didn't see him!"

The driver admitted liability on the scene.

Enough reason to continue to wear one.

 

[ChrisKH]

High vis jacket/vest and a creative reflectives cover on my rucksack with a great big arrow pointing to the right. Don't care what I look like to be honest.

 

[marinyork]

Depends. If you are going through a problem area where you are likely to have stuff thrown at your as a cyclist wear no hi viz, wear dark clothing and if possible temporarily switch off your front lights for 10 or 15 seconds. If you are going along country lanes or whatever late at night then wear it. I think good lights are very important. You'll still get SMIDSYs even kitted out like this. I've had 3 since the clocks changed.

 

[Radius]

I have a very very bright white Nike sports running top with reflective tubing. Hard to miss that (also reflectors on pedals and one wheel, and lights of course)

 

[SoulOnIce]

I judge what works from seeing other cyclists ahead of me

I do this too - but I judge on how well I see cyclist when I'm driving as oppose to cycling. I reckon I've got less to fear from a cyclist than a car driver.

If you don't drive, get a friend who does drive to take you out in their car at night and drive around. You will be surprised at how easy it is to not see a cyclist until they are quite close up. You will also be surprised at how many fools there are out there with no lights.

 

[marinyork]

I do this too - but I judge on how well I see cyclist when I'm driving as oppose to cycling. I reckon I've got less to fear from a cyclist than a car driver.

If you don't drive, get a friend who does drive to take you out in their car at night and drive around. You will be surprised at how easy it is to not see a cyclist until they are quite close up. You will also be surprised at how many fools there are out there with no lights.

That's a bit of a simplistic statement. Visibility of cyclists from vehicles varies widely based on conditions such as the source of light and how clean it is. For example if I wear a mix of very dark colours and a couple of light ones I actually become more, not less visible on a dual carriageway I cycle on. On another bit on my loop wearing dark clothing makes you invisible.

 

[SoulOnIce]

That's a bit of a simplistic statement. Visibility of cyclists from vehicles varies widely based on conditions such as the source of light and how clean it is.

Agree. Not sure my comments actually contradict this statement!

For example if I wear a mix of very dark colours and a couple of light ones I actually become more, not less visible on a dual carriageway I cycle on. On another bit on my loop wearing dark clothing makes you invisible.

Just to be pedantic I'm not sure how you can judge how visisble you are when cycling in different conditions without either asking someone else to follow you around and then tell you. Or you could look at other cyclists in similar conditions - for example getting a mate to drive you around so you can make the assessment.

 

[Tynan]

best thing at night is a proper really intense light, reflectives are good too though

I wouldn't be at all suprised by how many cyclists ride without lights in dark clothes, I've had a couple of rather near misses with them lately, goes without saying they tend to ride with a complete lack of awareness

 

[marinyork]

Agree. Not sure my comments actually contradict this statement!

Just to be pedantic I'm not sure how you can judge how visisble you are when cycling in different conditions without either asking someone else to follow you around and then tell you. Or you could look at other cyclists in similar conditions - for example getting a mate to drive you around so you can make the assessment.

I've done both. I've swapped kit/lights with a mate when out cycling, asked them and driven around. I've also messed around in truely pitch black conditions and fog to carry out some basic field tests. The fog tests a few weeks ago were very pleasing as my 3rd set of front lights performed much better than expected in fog.

The light saturation on the dual carriageway is even more stark from within a car as it tends to orange it out slightly. On a bike you don't get the saturation or glare being magnified by the glass but it's still pretty bad. If rain comes along you're absolutely done for in some circumstances.

The simple conditions are on country lanes with little light pollution. Unfortunately hedges, hills and bends negate the benefits because drivers are not looking down a long straight road and also the view will be obscured. If it was a perfect straight road you can see quite a few lights from a mile or more away if there is little light pollution.

 

[Maizie]

All depends...
* Sunny day - short-sleeved top in a horrid yellow (I really don't suit yellow, but it is the colour of Marmite and Tunnocks tops, so there you go).
* Not so sunny but not wet - long-sleeved top in a bright read, with a hi-viz 'waistcoat' over the top (a gift from my former-traffic-cop ex-step-father - unfortunatly the big reflective panel with 'POLICE' written on it has been removed).
* Rather chilly or wet day - short-sleeve top with Altura Night Vision waterproof in glowing yellow on top.

Also have two front lights, two rear lights, and my Bikebin is now covered in silver reflective tape (similar to what road signs are made from). Oh, and Altura NV gloves with the reflective bits on the little-finger side, and bits of reflective piping on both long and 3/4 bottoms...

Fortunately I don't live or commute through anywhere where looking like a cyclist is an offence.

 

[goo_mason]

'Executive' Hi-Viz / Refective waistcoat I got cheap from a workies' supplier online, with reflective detailing on my rucksack cover, overshoes and Night Vision gloves - plus Ay-Ups and a Cateye LD-L1100 on the bike.

I have a Creative Reflectives rucksack cover for my big rucksack, but not for my Deuter Race EXP Air yet. Hoping to get the smaller size cover from Santa.

I find it hard to spot the cyclists with no (or feeble) lights and wearing dark clothing out on the roads, so I make sure I've got more of a chance of being seen by the more observant drivers out there.

 

[Maz]

Plenty of hi-viz for day (fluoro yellow) and night (reflectives).
I have a 70 dual-carriageway to negotiate. The more hi-viz the merrier.

 

[GrahamG]

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.

See I just don't get this - as long as you're not riding in the gutter or darting up the inside of queueing cars, I fail to see how you could miss any cyclist in the day time.

*Edit - night rides on country lanes get a hi-viz vest regardless.

 

[cyclenic]

Wow thanks guys for all the replies.

What does 'SMIDSYs' mean?

And can anyone suggest any decent lights? (not massivly expensive though)

 

[summerdays]

Sorry Mate I Didn't See You (=you are a lower life form that I don't need to pay much attention to)

Best cheapest rear light Smart Superflash - £15 or may be found cheaper. Though it may have lost its "I'm the brightest crown" to the BLT one which is about £25 but not as cheap - can't comment on it as I don't have one of them.