Just wondering out loud

[martint235]

Not dark enough for hi-viz yet and when I do wear it it's only the reflective bits on Night Vision Pro jacket.

Currently running one front and one rear light in the morning as it's about dawn when I leave home so fairly light. Will run two front and back in proper dark/rain/fog.

That said I don't really fade into the background too much.

 

[SKoob]

Have some mini led lights on flashing and my clothes and panniers have some reflective areas which seem to work really well. I don't see how a bright Orange or Yellow jacket helps when its pitch black.

 

[Crackle]

I'm heartened by the fact you saw them all, HiViz, lights or wot not.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Have some mini led lights on flashing and my clothes and panniers have some reflective areas which seem to work really well. I don't see how a bright Orange or Yellow jacket helps when its pitch black.

currently at those time (here at least) it is dusk around said times

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I'm heartened by the fact you saw them all, HiViz, lights or wot not.

Too many years of RoSPA Advanced level driving at grade 1 (gold) - think about 21 years and I'm not 40 yet.
Apparently, so my OH tells me, I see way too much!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I use lights when I need too, i.e. when on the road etc, but if I am going along a traffic free Cyclepath which I know like the back of my hand whilst in the dark and which I know there will be next to no people about, I often switch the lights off and just use my night vision instead.

I find you see a lot more that way, even if you aren't visible yourself*


* - If I see a cyclist/ dog walker etc ahead then I'll switch the head light back on again to indicate my presence unless I think it is better they don't know I'm there if you catch my drift.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Using my lights outwith the dark of night though, that hadn't really occurred to me, so, no, I only use the lights when I NEED to, and I suspect it will be the same for quite a lot of the people you saw.

I am not scared of the dark or, in fact death by the way.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

...I am not scared of the dark or, in fact death by the way.

Neither am I on either account, in fact I hate lights on unnecessarily, don't bother with external lights at home and live rurally so no street lights...as for the death thing, having faced it and stayed totally calm when fighting off a pack of dogs that had every intention of killing me - no screaming, no yelling, just preoccupied fighting me verse dog - rest of the world did not exist at that point.

What I don't see the point in, is dying for want of being seen on the UK roads amongst vehicle (usually car) drivers that are on the whole too pre-occupied with their own lives to even acknowledge what the outcome of hitting a cyclist would be on said own lives.

 

[Arch]

One area where I think many cyclists are missing a trick is with pedal reflectors. I've read a few accounts by drivers saying that the orange up-and-down reflectors are very effective at alerting them to a bike up ahead. Yet very few pedals actually have them, despite them being a legal requirement after dusk.

One one bike I've kept the little clip in platform ones that came with a new set of Shimano SPD pedals. But they're only practicable on double-sided pedals. I've yet to come across reflectors that can be added to single-sided SPDs.

Reflective ankle bands give the same up and down effect, and work for anyone who has ankles.

I've just ridden home at about 6.30. For the first bit, work to the takeaway, about half a mile, I hadn't put my lights on. It was still light, effectively, but a lot of cars had theirs on. So while I waited for my burger, I dug my little Skullies out and put them on for the final mile.

I wear a bright yellow coat, which I think helps in that tricky pre-dusk period when some have lights on and some don't.

Also, all required reflectors on the bike, and bits of scotchlite tape here and there on panniers etc.

 

[cyberknight]

Lights taht can land a plane according to workmates and tons of reflective bits on the bike and myself "Cover my ass from all angles" approach when commuting on unilt country lanes before sunrise so i give no one any excuse for not seeing me.
Works a treat as i cant remember the last time i had a near miss with a car, cycle ninjas are another matter of course ...............