Hi-Vis OR Lights

[gaz]

I think the best of reflectives is when it is moving ... so an ankle snap band rotating in a pedalling motion does catch the eye of a motorist or those narrow 3m spoke reflectives when seen side on.

Reflective material on the legs also has the added bonus of being in the stream of light that comes from car headlights.

 

[Bicycle]

I usually ride in a bright long-sleeved race top (Giro Pink or TdF Yellow) with 2 rear and 2 front lights.

I usually switch on only one light each end; the other is a spare or for rain/mist etc when I'll use everything I have.

My helmet (when I wear it) is a light, bright colour. I sometimes wear a hi-vis gilet (but normally for the cold, not visibility...)

I base my after-dark precautions on what I see working or not working on other cyclists when I'm driving.

I do think vi-vis is a good thing (like other posters).

I drive past many, many cyclists with one front and one rear light who are almost invisible but clearly think otherwise.

Dark clothing just seems to suck away the visibility of even a modestly illuminated rider. I have no idea why.

Be very visible. Be as visible as you can be. You'll never know how many times it has done you a favour.

My only caveat here is that I wouldn't put front lights on flash mode.. as a driver I find myself distracted and iriitated by that and it's often right at driver's-eye level. I'll put my rear/s on flash, but never my front/s.

 

[cyberknight]

an LED light that that runs on AA or AAA rather than CR2332 button battery or similar.

Or even better 18650 powered lights for the front on unlit roads.

On the back i run at least 3 superflash lights and the front is either 2 cree (p4 ?) torches or a cree torch and a MS p7

I think everything else has been covered in this thread, you need to have a combination of hi-viz,reflectives and good lights to cover all options.

 

[joebingo]

NO!
Lights are what make you look like a vehicle and are only a good thing. Lights are also a legal requirement when cycling in darkness, where as you are not required to wear Hiviz
I personally think hiViz in cities is pointless as every Tom dick and Harry has it and you don't stand out.
My 3 front lights and 4 rear lights are working for me.

/Thread (well, should have been)

In London, I'm using some generic front light and a cateye LD-1100 at the rear (+panniers with reflective panels). I don't bother with hi-viz, I do wear white lycra though...

 

[BentMikey]

I think everything else has been covered in this thread, you need to have a combination of hi-viz,reflectives and good lights to cover all options.

See pictures - with good lights you may as well not have hiviz, as it's essentially invisible behind the lights.

 

[cloggsy]

Why not use both; be safe, be seen!

 

[PoliceMadAd]

I use 3 rear lights, top and bottom flash and middle is constant, and 2 front, both flashing in urban or 1 flash 1 constant in darker areas. And a very light yellow/green jacket, and a fluro backpack. And STILL people fail to take notice of me (or just don't care for my safety).

 

[Jezston]

I use 3 rear lights, top and bottom flash and middle is constant, and 2 front, both flashing in urban or 1 flash 1 constant in darker areas. And a very light yellow/green jacket, and a fluro backpack. And STILL people fail to take notice of me (or just don't care for my safety).

This is something I often wonder: Surely if you have ONE half decent pair of lights - if someone doesn't see them, is it that they just aren't looking, and any more won't make a difference?

 

[PoliceMadAd]

I don't really know myself, some drivers give me more time and room, others act as if i'm invisible. I think they just think 'oh it's just a cyclist'

 

[400bhp]

The person that got me asking the question feels that because he's wearing a hi-vis vest & the street lighting means he doesn't need lights. He passed me on his way to work about an hour ago, doing over 30, downhill, approaching roadworks.

Tried telling him, but he's of the opinion the vest is sufficient.

Darwin will catch up with him soon.

 

[Davidc]

This is something I often wonder: Surely if you have ONE half decent pair of lights - if someone doesn't see them, is it that they just aren't looking, and any more won't make a difference?

Some of it is diversity in case of failure, some that a mix of steady and flashing is better than either on its own, especially on the back. I'm another with 3 at the back and 2 at the front most of the time, 3 at the front sometimes.

As I've already said, if someone doesn't see me they're blind or not looking.

 

[marinyork]

Some of it is diversity in case of failure, some that a mix of steady and flashing is better than either on its own, especially on the back. I'm another with 3 at the back and 2 at the front most of the time, 3 at the front sometimes.

As I've already said, if someone doesn't see me they're blind or not looking.

It's also what the eye can resolve. In theory set the right distance apart someone's eyes will see two lights as one big light (not as bright as some supermassive one) under certain conditions. This is not a bad strategy.

 

[BentMikey]

I don't really know myself, some drivers give me more time and room, others act as if i'm invisible. I think they just think 'oh it's just a cyclist'

*Exactly*. This is one reason it's good not to look like a cyclist to other road users. When they don't know what you are they treat you with much more caution and they give you far more space than when they know you're a cyclist.

 

[BentMikey]

Why not use both; be safe, be seen!

Puzzled. Can't even see my bike's reflectors behind those lights. How does adding more invisible stuff make you more visible?

 

[Norm]

Puzzled. Can't even see my bike's reflectors behind those lights. How does adding more invisible stuff make you more visible?

A very specific set of circumstances, BM, with the other light to be pointing straight at you.

I ride with my lights on the road 10-30 feet in front of me and I have seen reflectives from cyclists heading towards me when I'm in the car. Reflectives also give 360 degree coverage.