Reflective tips

[bonker]

Anyone got any tips for the best reflective colours or patterns?
I know many moons ago when I rode a motorbike looking like a copper was deemed to be a good way to get noticed.
All ( relevant) ideas welcome.

 

[G-Zero]

Reflective ?.... http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/altura-nightvision-jackets.91969/This works for me and I've since added an Altura Nightvision pannier too.

Depending on lighting conditions, don't forget hi-viz and a good set of lights.

 

[akb]

+1 for the high vis and good set of lights. Both constant and flashing lights. Set your self up like an illuminous Christmas tree!

 

[SquareDaff]

I've got the Altura Night Vision Evo jacket in red - lights up light Blackpool illuminations as soon as headlights hit it. In terms of pure reflective's I've also added Schwalbe M+ tyres with reflective sidewalls for "side on" visability. Oh, my SPD shoes also have reflective backs and my Ortleib panniers have big reflective patches on the front and back!!

And that's before we get to lights!!!

 

[siadwell]

Sekuclip 3M spoke reflectors are simple to fit and effective.

Available from Amazon (e.g. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aero-Scotchlite-Reflective-Certified-Approvals/dp/B002QV7XTC), Halfords and periodically Lidl.

Norm of this parish has a photo there on Amazon that shows how much better these things are than the standard plastic wheel reflectors - they also work from a greater range of angles.

 

[fossyant]

I've got the Altura Night Vision Evo jacket in red - lights up light Blackpool illuminations as soon as headlights hit it. In terms of pure reflective's I've also added Schwalbe M+ tyres with reflective sidewalls for "side on" visability. Oh, my SPD shoes also have reflective backs and my Ortleib panniers have big reflective patches on the front and back!!

And that's before we get to lights!!!

Still didn't see you !

 

[fossyant]

One tip:- watch your sides - those spoke things are very visible (not got them myself but seen a few bikes with them). Reflective stickers strategically placed, and stuff on your kit.

And UFO lights (i.e. what the flip is that ? type reaction).

Oh and never think someone has seen you. I nearly ended up as a bonnet ornament this morning - must have seen me, noooooooo !

 

[SquareDaff]

Still didn't see you !

Neither did the dozy woman driver this morning who very almost pulled out on me!! Thinking of fitting a flashing blue light next - EVERYONE sees those!!!

 

[fossyant]

Neither did the dozy woman driver this morning who very almost pulled out on me!! Thinking of fitting a flashing blue light next - EVERYONE sees those!!!

Military grade lasers. Powered by 4 AA's - only get one shot !

 

[gaz]

DO NOT GET A JACKET WITH REFLECTIVES, it's a waist of money. you are better off putting reflective material on your legs, feet and bike.

The reflective material needs light to be shined on it for it to be effective, thus making anything above the waist pointless as car lights have a limited height.

 

[G-Zero]

DO NOT GET A JACKET WITH REFLECTIVES, it's a waist of money. you are better off putting reflective material on your legs, feet and bike.

The reflective material needs light to be shined on it for it to be effective, thus making anything above the waist pointless as car lights have a limited height.
/quote]

A waste of money ?... I don't think so and I wonder how we manage to reflect light back off all those tall road signs then ?

I don't disagree that light has to reach reflective material to bounce back, but that's a very poor set up of lights in your pic and doesn't reflect the set up from a modern car, which does reach 'higher than car roof' road signs.

Restricting all your reflectives at lower levels is not as safe IMO, as you are restricting the view of what's visible across the top of cars, the same reason as I have helmet lights on.

 

[mattsr]

DO NOT GET A JACKET WITH REFLECTIVES, it's a waist of money. you are better off putting reflective material on your legs, feet and bike.

The reflective material needs light to be shined on it for it to be effective, thus making anything above the waist pointless as car lights have a limited height.

I'm sorry, but I cannot agree with that. They are very poor car headlamps if they don't reach above waist height, particularly on full beam, and that's before one takes account of gradients and suchlike. Also, as G-Zero points out above, if your theory was correct, then all our street signs would become invisible at night. And of course, a reflective jacket will also reflect indirect light, from other vehicles, street lamps, etc.

And besides, whether you believe they're any use or not- and I certainly believe they are- if you're going to buy a cycling jacket, why not buy one that's reflective?? Better safe than sorry.

 

[gaz]

.

The light set up is from a modern Jaguar.. Poor lights? I don't think so.

I'm sorry, but I cannot agree with that. They are very poor car headlamps if they don't reach above waist height, particularly on full beam, and that's before one takes account of gradients and suchlike. And of course, a reflective jacket will also reflect indirect light, from other vehicles, street lamps, etc.

And besides, whether you believe they're any use or not- and I certainly believe they are- if you're going to buy a cycling jacket, why not buy one that's reflective?? Better safe than sorry.

Please look at how reflective material works and how the set up of car lights are. You will notice that the reflective material reflects light back at a very small angle, thus lighting from another source on another plane (street lights) are very ineffective.
Whilst yes car lights will hit the reflective material if you have rolling hills or gradients, and that is good, but what about on the flat? You are much better off putting reflective panels in the line of the car headlamp and on something which is moving, it gains much more attention than a reflective panel above the line of a car head light and on a body which isn't moving.

Your comment on signs is an interesting one, have you ever noticed the difference between a full headlamp and a normal headlamp against the same sign. The difference is vast, and this is why in towns the street signs have their own light source.

 

[Beebo]

gaz i think you are too close to the car. try repeating the experiment at a distance of 30m.

 

[gaz]

gaz i think you are too close to the car. try repeating the experiment at a distance of 30m.

30m will probably give a slightly different result, but the bottom line will be the same. Reflective's lower down and on moving body parts are better at grabbing attention than those higher up and on non-moving body parts.