Hi Viz - Do you or don't you?

[John the Monkey]

I was cycling through Rusholme at night recently. Think there was a football match on cos there were several police officers and a traffic jam. Despite the high viz jacket and the police officers, two drivers took it upon themselves, in full view of the officers to suddenly turn out of the traffic jam without indicating or looking.

The key to that is the location.

I've never seen the Highway Code interpeted as liberally as it is at the upper reaches of Oxford Road.

 

[hackbike 666]

Don't wear any day-glow tabbards - just make you look like every other POB.

I couldn't give a T055

 

[Arch]

My waterproof is a yellow Endura, so if it's not to warm, I'll be wearing that. Daytime summer rides I'll probably be in t-shirt, which could be any colour, or CC cycling jersey - I don't bother with my hi-vis waistcoat over it.

In wnter (and I'm not sure why only in winter, possibly because it's another layer in the cold, possibly because it's only in winer that I tend to ride in the dark) I add my hi-vis waistcoat over my yellow jacket. But then it has POLITE printed on the back in reflective letters on blue, so it works two ways.

 

[asterix]

When I had a job to commute to I used one of those 'sam browne' belt things in the dark. Otherwise just ordinary gear.

 

[Arch]

I guess the Sam Browne is even more effective if you set it up in the original style, with a revolver attached....

 

[HJ]

I have a yellow Altura night vision jacket which I wear if it is raining or cold, but I don't think it make that much difference. I also use DiNotte 400L Road Rider's experience lights which really do make a difference...

 

[HJ]

Oh and in summer I sometime wear shorts, then I have hi-viz legs...

 

[Cubist]

Winter dawn dusk and nightime I wear kit with reflective detail: shoes, mitts, jacket/jersey, bibs. I have cut up some of those stick-on reflective hedgehogs the kids get from school and liberally dotted them on my helmet (madam!) The thing which makes you stand out most in my opinion is strobe lighting (tesco micro leds)


I PERSONALLY don't think dayglo is very effective, as approximately half the population of the UK now wear Hi-Viz vests, nearly all of them walking along my route to work, so it no longer makes you stick out like it used to., I chose a yellow Altura waterproof anyway. It was bright to start with, but has faded with use. I prefer to rely on reflective detail at night.

As a cop I know you just can't beat Scotchlite.

 

[smeg]

Most of the time I wear blue shorts + either my red & orange motocross jersey or the yellow cycling jersey, and when it's very cold and/or raining a lime green/yellowish jacket. None of it is reflective as such though.

 

[akaAndrew]

Yes, at night, it's the law here. Though whether the local gendarmes would bother ticketing you if you didn't, I don't know.

 

[Joseph]

cold weather: ex-police (legally obtained!) yellow jacket with reflective tape

wet weather / dark: altura night vision

general 'ok weather'/slightly cold/slightly wet riding: hi-vis yellow/reflective rugby shirt

warm weather: just a t-shirt (sometimes in bright orange)


I'm not sure I've noticed any particularly different behaviour from drivers compared to wearing / not wearing the hivis. (Apart from the ex-police one... some observant drivers seem to suddenly hide their mobiles!)

 

[hackbike 666]

1) Half the population wear black...including peds but I have never almost collided with a ped in Hi-Viz.

 

[scouserinlondon]

my cheapo 'breathable' jacket from Halfords is dayglo orange with reflective piping, but it's shoot at being breathable, so I think I'll plump for my black berghaus during winter with a builder's high vis jacket over the top.

 

[scouserinlondon]

I have a yellow Altura night vision jacket which I wear if it is raining or cold, but I don't think it make that much difference. I also use DiNotte 400L Road Rider's experience lights which really do make a difference...

is the Altura NV any good?

 

[garrilla]

is the Altura NV any good?

Yes. Great value for money. Good protection. Had mine 3 winters and have had to patch-up the trousers in a couple of places, but all seams still dry on jacket and trews. Makes winter riding near-comfortable.