Being seen

[dern]

Not a question for you fair weather w/e boys who live with your mums but for the commuters amongst us. The nights are drawing in and I'd like to be seen better on my commute home through the hoards of weekend bikers driving their bmws home listening to Cold Play ;).

My old reflective jacket looks like like shite having been dumped on many a dirty floor so shall I buy another sleeveless vest type over jacket thing or shall I buy some of those reflective band thing that you see people wear? I don't really want to look like a cock and all but also really don't want to be run over and if people mistakenly believe I'm a police man and pull out of my way so I can filter quicker then it's a boon.

Or is there a cooler version? I've often thought about writing in black pen "laugh at my reflective safety jacket and I'll follow you home, break in to your house and shit in your slippers" but by the time you do that there's not much reflective material not covered in a pathetic attempt to be humorous and not to look like a librarian.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Mark

[Carrera2]

HiVi jackets are meant for day time use really if that's the sort you're thinking of.

My winter Rukka kit has some really effective reflectors on it - not that that helps you much unless you want to buy some Rukka gear.,..

[m1spw]

Buy a big white police style bike (are they Honda's?) and always wear a white helmet with a wire coming out of it and a reflective jacket - easiest way to make sure people notice you

but seriously, he little reflective bands look much better - the vest style jackets tend to be worn only by workmen coming home on there scooters round here

[dern]

Carrera2 said:

HiVi jackets are meant for day time use really if that's the sort you're thinking of.

The yellow ones? Oh, that makes sense I suppose. So I need some of that mega-reflective type stuff.

Carrera2 said:

My winter Rukka kit has some really effective reflectors on it - not that that helps you much unless you want to buy some Rukka gear.,..

Just bought a new hein gerricke jacket which has the odd bit on it but not that much.

Cheers,

Mark

[Carrera2]

Yeah they're the ones Dern. Actually I read an article the other day saying that people are now so used to seeing HiVi on roadworkers etc, it's now advsiable NOT to wear it! Can quite believe it myself but there you go...

[BliarOut]

One of these should get you through the traffic pretty easily



And a bargain for only £11.90

www.haxton.co.uk

[dern]

Looks like a can get a shed load of relective tape and do myself up like tron, nice one

[Davel]

HG do a 'Daylite' hi-viz jacket and I've bought one for the winter.

Waterproof, warm with a storm type neck - oh and you feel like moses as the traffic parts, to allow you past!

[Carrera2]

Davel said:

HG do a 'Daylite' hi-viz jacket and I've bought one for the winter.

At the risk of sounding like a know-it-all, the name daylite kind of gives the point of it away. It's for use in the light.

Reflectors are whats needed at night not HiVi. The relectors on my Rukka gear just look a dull white during the day but at night they almost glow. HiVi does the opposite.

Next time you see a traffic copper - you'll notice that it's the refelctive bands on the HiVi that do all the work at night.

[zzr]

Isn't it more important to make sure that the people around you HAVE actually seen you, rather than rely on them looking for a hi-vi or reflective jacket, after all none of these make any difference if they are not looking!! I have thin reflective stripes on my gear but don't wear any hi-vi or other reflective supplements.

A few tips for being seen if you are riding in traffic(or any other situation for that matter):

Keep your eye out for the drivers looking in their mirrors as you approach from behind them.

If you see a driver on the phone, chances are they won't see you straight away so make yourself known to them.

Keep your lights on all the time and make sure they all work and are clean.

If sensible to do so while moving along, putting your headlight in alignment with there wing mirrors quickly gets attention (but don't blind them).

Keep your number plate clean as this is a reflector.

Hope this helps you be seen.

Paul

[Mark_SV]

Hi,

A few options ...

- Buy some reflective tape used in sailing; it sticks well to fabric jackets and/or bikes and gives much brighter reflection than other reflective stuff.

- Various options from Respro:
www.respro.com/urbancommuting_moto
The helmet bands or possibly reflective pelmet might be good options. The pelmet keeps your neck toasty too - pure genius for chilly winter commuting

- Discrete look: check out the Black Diamond sticker set from Respro: scotchlite that's black in colour but reflects as white in the dark

[YamR1,V64motion]

hey i dont ride in the winter, had some offs in the past, and i dont need to for work, would rather the car also stops the salt and muck getting into the bike,but dont drive a BMW and it would be cold day in hell before i listened to Coldplay by choice,seriously though, get some high vis stuff and be careful,watch out for those leaves they can really catch you out.

[dern]

zzr said:

Hope this helps you be seen.

...and which way around do I sit on it again?

Thanks Paul, I'm aware of the techniques but just want a more visible jacket... simple as that.



Thanks all for the suggestions.

Mark

[Davel]

The HG Daylite jacket is in hi-viz yellow with lots of reflective strips on it, for night-time riding!

It works very well day or night..

>> Edited by Davel on Wednesday 2nd November 13:09

Having worn it through some pretty shitty weather last week both in daylight and night time, the biker behind me told me that he could see me for miles in either conditions.

Pity the pratt in the white van, who tried to pull out on me, couldn't - even though I probably looked more visible than a christmas tree.

The only bad thing is that it soon starts to show the dirt which is thrown at you from the vehicles in front of you...

>> Edited by Davel on Monday 7th November 15:50

[dern]

Bit of feedback on this 'fascinating' subject

Got some reflective self-adhesive tape and stuck a couple of band across the top box and the top box mount plate. Straight away people drove further back at night on the motorway. Top idea if you've got a top box but if you haven't then the jacket is as good if not better. Useless in the day time.

Got a sleeveless class 2 reflective bib in yellow with silver reflective bands. As soon as I put this on people gave me more room day and night and tended to let me past while I was filtering. Only problem was that it was fastened using velcro so at high speed it came undone and turned into a flag that you could no longer see from the front so pretty useless really.

Bought a sleeved class 3 reflective over jacket. This is yellow for daytime visibility and has white reflective bands all over the place and red bands where your braces would be if you like that kind of thing that are even more reflective than the white stuff. You can see this thing from miles away and it doesn't ride up or come undone (zip) at high speed. People climb over themselves to get out of your way... highly recommended for the commute.

Regards,

Mark

[bikerbabe18]

get some of those reflective stickers as seen in the motrax book. stick em on your front and rear fairings and the back of your jelmet. Not only do they look good, but you won't fail to be noticed!!

[Thelemming]

The "tron" joke actually makes me think of a serious solution.

How about a jacket with illuminated piping or other areas (doent have to be that bright to get you seen) powered by a small battery in the lining?

Should be do-able, but unless it was built-in from scratch would look terribly crap...

[dern]

bikerbabe18 said:

get some of those reflective stickers as seen in the motrax book. stick em on your front and rear fairings and the back of your jelmet. Not only do they look good, but you won't fail to be noticed!!

I think they'd look ok at night (and nearly bought some) but would look a bit toss during the day (so didn't). The issue for me is that they'd light up white which isn't going to help in the slightest if someone is looking at the front of the bike (and you) and behind you is a load of cars. If that was any use then your headlight alone would be sufficient. I know the reflective jackets look relatively wank but at this time of year I'd rather be visible.

Mark

[dern]

Thelemming said:

How about a jacket with illuminated piping or other areas (doent have to be that bright to get you seen) powered by a small battery in the lining?

If that was a viable and economic solution then workmen who wear reflective jackets/bibs/etc would wear something like that.

[Davel]

You can get things like that but you'll have to change the battery quite often - and you'd look like you'd escaped from Laserquest!