New Bike Helmet day today

[Dogtrousers]

Weren't those watches luminescent rather than fluorescent?

OK I'm setting myself up for a fall here but I from memory:

I think the watches are specifically phosphorescent. But both phosporescent and flourescent things are luminescent.

Flourescent things re-emit the incident light (almost) instantaneously. Phosphorent things save the incident light up and re-emit it over a period of time (which is how those watches with "luminous" tips on their hands worked - you had to charge them up under a light source first).

I think luminescent is just a blanket term for things that give off light.

But I could be wrong, and don't have time or inclination to look it up.

 

[icowden]

Does it actually fluoresce at night like old school analogue watches? If not, it’ll be no more noticed by a driver than a black helmet.

I take it you aren't aware of reflectivity then?

I have, on a couple of occasions in the late evening / night seen an oncoming rider on some of the winding roads around here by virtue of a reflective helmet reflecting the streetlights.

 

[rogerzilla]

Really old watches were radioluminous, using radium to keep the phosphors glowing. Current watches have pretty useless lume which only glows brightly for a few minutes after exposure to light.

 

[matticus]

I take it you aren't aware of reflectivity then?

I have, on a couple of occasions in the late evening / night seen an oncoming rider on some of the winding roads around here by virtue of a reflective helmet reflecting the streetlights.

Black objects reflect light too.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I take it you aren't aware of reflectivity then?

I have, on a couple of occasions in the late evening / night seen an oncoming rider on some of the winding roads around here by virtue of a reflective helmet reflecting the streetlights.

and you know this “fluorescent“ helmet is more reflective than any other helmet how?

Personally what I notice first at night is bike lights. I have no idea what colour helmet the rider may or may not be wearing.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Weren't those watches luminescent rather than fluorescent?

They were (oops) but I’m not aware that fluorescent means it is any more noticeable after dark than any other colour.

 

[Dogtrousers]

They were (oops) but I’m not aware that fluorescent means it is any more noticeable after dark than any other colour.

I don't know where night visibility came into this - I think the OP was asking about daytime visibility, or at least wasn't specific about time of day.

Flourescent materials get an extra bit of oomph by converting ultra-violet light from the sun into visible light. As there isn't much/any sun at night, unless you are in the arctic or antarctic, this isn't going to work at night. So to make yourself seen you'll be relying on your lights, primarily, plus any reflective bits you happen to have. Possibly on your hat.

 

[classic33]

I don't know where night visibility came into this - I think the OP was asking about daytime visibility, or at least wasn't specific about time of day.

Flourescent materials get an extra bit of oomph by converting ultra-violet light from the sun into visible light. As there isn't much/any sun at night, unless you are in the arctic or antarctic, this isn't going to work at night. So to make yourself seen you'll be relying on your lights, primarily, plus any reflective bits you happen to have. Possibly on your hat.

Or ride an unusual bicycle/cycle

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Or ride an unusual bicycle/cycle

Which is far more effective as we know

 

[Alex321]

View: https://youtu.be/9OrKLGEOVRA

I did that once, as a teenager. It was a headwind, and in the dark (riding home from school). Bent the forks on my bike into a sort of reverse "S" shape.

 

[FishFright]

Just get a lid from Planet X - cheap and does the job. Happy with my 3 from them...

None of theirs fit my my head , but thats not unusual so I always got brick n mortar for helmets so I can try some on . I even buy them from that shop!

 

[Alex321]

I have an Aldi Bikemate helmet. While I can't quite be 100% sure how hard I hit my head, there are scratches and mud on the helmet after my crash a fortnight ago, so my head definitely did hit the ground and I never felt any pain to the head, nor did I black out or anything similar, so it seems to have done its job.

It will, of course, now be retired, but I have another the same (unused - bought for a grandchild who didn't then want it).

 

[mjr]

Almost nobody looks good in it. Even some national-team pro riders look awful. There is a rude cartoon of a FPKW with a disc-wheeled TT bike that I'll post later if not beaten to it!

Not Safe For Work, click to reveal in compatible browsers:

Spoiler: NSFW

 

[cougie uk]

I take it you aren't aware of reflectivity then?

I have, on a couple of occasions in the late evening / night seen an oncoming rider on some of the winding roads around here by virtue of a reflective helmet reflecting the streetlights.

Are you sure of that ? The light reflects back to the source hence it being so bright.
If you have a headlight or even better a helmet light roadsigns reflect back very well. They don't reflect streetlights well at all.

Reflectives are great but only at night.

 

[GuyBoden]

I've been thinking this for a while.

Would using a motorcycle helmet be a safer option than cycle helmets on urban roads?