High Visibility Vests and Backpacks

07Lapierre

I passed two guys on bikes this morning, both had hi visibility vests on (good idea on these dark mornings). But both guys had dark backpacks on over their vests!. :rolleyes:

I know its only September and the winters hasn't really kicked in yet, but guys/girls, if your going to invest in hi visibility vests, please use them properly. If you have a back-pack, put a light on it or at least some reflective tape. Better still, instead of getting a high visibility vest, why not get a hi visibility backpack cover like this one;

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=23555


Happy/Safe Cycling everyone.

lukester

Good point. Does anyone know if you can buy high viz bib shorts anywhere? Actually, scratch that, make it bib tights, for winter. And HV shoe covers?

Maybe we could post pics on this thread of good high vis gear for year round riders?



This looks good, for starters:

Lumen

Ghost Rider

Bit on the big side, isn't it? (Or is that just a close up?)

Caroline_ie

@lukester - is it really a good idea to be cycling while wearing something with a target on your back ...? :P

fletch

I buy high viz vests about two sizes too big for me, then wrap it around me and my bag.

lukester

Lumen wrote: »

Thanks, but do they have reflective piping on the sides and back? Also they look quite summery, do they do a thermal version with long sleeves?

lukester

This solves the rucksack problem too, I want one:



Found these shorts, would be okay over padded shorts I guess:

Lumen

lukester wrote: »

Found these shorts, would be okay over padded shorts I guess

Yes, if you want to look like a bollard.

lukester

Lumen wrote: »

Yes, if you want to look like a bollard.

They are a bit baggy. I really am looking for bib tights like that.

Lumen

lukester wrote: »

They are a bit baggy. I really am looking for bib tights like that.

No bib tights, but...



Or...

Gavin

There's a school on my commute and they must have given high viz vests to the children. They all wear them. It's ludicrous.

You just need lights on your bike when it's dark. Otherwise people have eyeballs wot can see.

ednwireland

why are those respro backpack covers so expensive ? i need one but surely they should be a tenner at most ?

found cheaper ones loads of reflective stuff here

http://www.beseenonabike.com/shopuk/


hah lukester already been done radiating red light, sorry lukester i assumed that was a wind up just realised the next photo was the one you posted, doh!



http://www.flashwear.com/online_store/high_visibility_safety_accessories_2.cfm

07Lapierre

Gavin wrote: »

There's a school on my commute and they must have given high viz vests to the children. They all wear them. It's ludicrous.

You just need lights on your bike when it's dark. Otherwise people have eyeballs wot can see.

Is not Ludicrous. why shouldn't every child have a vest? Mind you, Vests are no substitute for a decent set of LIGHTS. I see loads of people every winter cycling around with reflectors/vests and no lights. Vests do not Light up the road ahead. How these people avoid potholes is beyond me.

I know there are still plenty of people who cycle at night with no lights / reflectors/vests etc. so I'm not trying to discourage anyone from wearing a vest. I do think its important that people are aware that reflective vests work best in tandem with lights. I don't think you can have too many lights /reflectors, but i for one think two rear lights and one decent front Lamp combined with a hi-visibility vest is the minimum needed for cycling at night these days.

bazwaldo

I just bought some LED lights and they have the usual options of flashing or continous. I think the front should be continuous. Its quite bright so having it flashing might be too distracting for oncoming traffic.

But what do people prefer for the back one? There must be about 7 options, ranging from continuous, strobe flashing (different speeds), or like KIT from nightrider. There are 5 LEDs on it.

Gavin

07Lapierre wrote: »

Is not Ludicrous. why shouldn't every child have a vest? Mind you, Vests are no substitute for a decent set of LIGHTS.

Good point. The children should be issued with Lights, helmets and bells around their neck to warn motorists and scare away dirty old men.

Lumen

bazwaldo wrote: »

But what do people prefer for the back one? There must be about 7 options, ranging from continuous, strobe flashing (different speeds), or like KIT from nightrider. There are 5 LEDs on it.

One flashing, one continuous on the back. The problem with flashing only is that it makes it difficult for other road users to judge your position and their distance from you.

tomasrojo

I think Private Eye once had a cartoon that showed life before high-visibility jackets. The streets were littered with dead public-service workers and children.

petethedrummer

They should just paint everything luminous yellow.

petethedrummer

edit: double post

Chips Lovell

Lights for the win. I doubt the utility of high viz and am very uncomfortable with all that its stands for.

lukester

tomasrojo wrote: »

I think Private Eye once had a cartoon that showed life before high-visibility jackets. The streets were littered with dead public-service workers and children.

I worked on a building site many moons ago before high vis jackets were compulsory. The amount of lads who nearly got killed, crushed or maimed was incredible. One fella nearly got flattened by a JCB. Another nearly got his arm taken off. I'm not even sure, but I'd say I probably had a fair few lucky escapes myself.

Lumen

lukester wrote: »

I worked on a building site many moons ago before high vis jackets were compulsory. The amount of lads who nearly got killed, crushed or maimed was incredible. One fella nearly got flattened by a JCB. Another nearly got his arm taken off. I'm not even sure, but I'd say I probably had a fair few lucky escapes myself.

Do you wear hi-viz on your Fireblade?

lukester

Lumen wrote: »

Do you wear hi-viz on your Fireblade?

Head to toe. High viz boots, helmet, gloves, one piece leathers. I have high viz reflective stickers above the exhaust and on the sides of the fairings. I also have high viz rim tape on the wheels, and strips on the swingarm.

tomasrojo

Where can I get hi-viz facepaint?

lukester

tomasrojo wrote: »

Where can I get hi-viz facepaint?

Clown shop.

lukester

Something like this would be really handy on the bike, the movement of your legs would make you really stand out in the dark:

tomasrojo

I noticed years ago that hi-viz on its own does nothing to make you visible to waiting cars when you're cycling on a roundabout, especially in more poorly lit areas. Because the car headlights throw light predominantly downwards and to the left, they don't illuminate approaching cyclists at all.

I'm not saying that anyone is arguing that hi-viz is adequate on its own. I just thought it was interesting, and probably little known.

07Lapierre

Gavin wrote: »

Good point. The children should be issued with Lights, helmets and bells around their neck to warn motorists and scare away dirty old men.

Nah...Wouldn't work. Dirty Old men are not scared of hi Visibility vests! Maybe issuing the teacher with a Hi Viibility ShOTGUN might work?

The Oggmonster

Try here lads for Hi-Vis rucksacks

http://www.portwest.ie/pdetails.php?c=17&p=B905&ct=47