Mist and fog tactics to be seen?

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

It's misty and foggy up here at the moment. If its like this I usually stick on a workman type hi-vis waistcoat.

I don't know if it actually helps me to be seen in these conditions, but it makes me feel a little safer.

Cars have fog lights and sometimes even they aren't enough if its dense. I have thought of getting another Hope District rear light.

What do you guys do different, if anything on days like this? And do you feel any safer or less safe?

 

[fossala]

I hope my lights are bright enough to cope with the fog. If it's cold my wind proof jacket is bright yellow, I bought it after a car pulled out infront of me, put me in hospital and said SMIDSY.

 

[BSRU]

A Dinotte 400R is fine in the fog, assuming the driver is paying attention.

 

[fossyant]

2 x Hope Vision 1's and 2 x C&BSeen rear barstewards ! (Bit like the Hope District)

 

[fossala]

Sorry my lights are B&M luxos B for the front and a Toplight brake light plus for the rear. Both are dynamo driven. In my rack pack I have some cheap lights as backup. The 25 lux white ones that where in the bargin thread a while back and some rear flashy thing.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

2 x Hope Vision 1's and 2 x C&BSeen rear barstewards ! (Bit like the Hope District)

I really like he look of these. The data sheet doesn't give a run time on flash mode. Any idea how long it'll last on flash?

 

[fossyant]

Hard to say how long the c&b rears last. Should be over 6 hours on flash. I run 2 off a custon 5600 mah pack and I just keep it topped up.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Sorry my lights are B&M luxos B for the front and a Toplight brake light plus for the rear.

Where did you get your Toplight brake light plus? I'm looking for one of those online but can't determine if that's what I'll get or the non-brake light version.

GC

 

[fossala]

Where did you get your Toplight brake light plus? I'm looking for one of those online but can't determine if that's what I'll get or the non-brake light version.

GC

bike-discount.de Cost around 20 quid IIRC, got it at the same time as the Luxos B (60 quid).

 

[potsy]

Was a bit foggy in the park this morning, thankfully at 4.45am there aren't many people in there

I have only ever ridden once in heavy fog, was a scary experience as vehicles came out of the gloom seemingly from nowhere, luckily that too was an early morning commute with little traffic.

 

[ColinJ]

Bright lights and reflective gear will obviously help, but the simple truth is that many people drive like idiots in fog and if you encounter one of them at the wrong place at the wrong time, then you've had it!

 

[Maz]

If it's too foggy when I set off, I don't cycle.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Powerful lights and plenty of 'em front and rear in case the drivers are actually looking. (They ain't by the way)

The power of pray, trust in luck, and opting for secondary for the whole journey in case they ain't. (They ain't by the way, have I said that already)

I confess I won't willingly ride in in the fog any more. Bad things have happened to me on foggy mornings. Foggy dark nights are better for some reason. Drivers delight in telling me "You must be made riding a bike on a morning/evening/afternoon/night like this.

I prefer dark colours over flouro in the fog. Or in any other weather condition. Hi-viz doth offend mine eye.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Bright lights and reflective gear will obviously help, but the simple truth is that many people drive like idiots in fog and if you encounter one of them at the wrong place at the wrong time, then you've had it!

Twice since 2008 I've been driven/pushed off the road and onto the verge/into a ditch by twats on country lanes driving/overtaking badly in the fog. Hate the stuff.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

last time I cycled in dense fog, my husband came to 'collect' me. After he drove passed me and pulled over, he actually stated I was more visible than most of the cars were simply because of my rear light. It was reflecting/bouncing its flashing light off the water droplets in the air and highlighting much more of them than any of the cars' lights were on the unlit road I was on at the time. I have a cateye TL-LD1100 rear light and only had a single strip on flashing (it is a dual strip light). I was also wearing my normal hi-viz dhb waterproof top as well.

What we have found (on tour) is that putting a workman's hi-viz top over your waterproof (if breathable) kills the waterproof superbly - in that it can't now breath and you get very wet. Better to get something with plenty of built in hi-viz or find some other way of attaching hi-viz/reflectives to you or your bike.