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  • April 5, 2013 at 7:41 pm #18420
    Cycle_Jim

    Okay, so my girlfriend is worried about me being hit by a car and wants me to get some sort of high vis top whilst cycling. She suggested a high vis sash :B , I refused B-). I use a front/rear light combo everytime I’m out. I was thinking of getting a fluro top (do these only really work in dull light or will they be good in summer too?) but wondering if I’d be better off with a bright coloured top (red or something) Suggestions/advice welcome and any ideas for tops to get.

    Cheers

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  • April 25, 2013 at 5:06 pm #726487
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    giff77

    cojones wrote:I am doing the

    cojones wrote:
    I am doing the London – Paris this year and one compulsory piece of kit is as follows…

    Hi-viz vest compulsory!
    With BS EN471 class 2 standard label to wear in bad weather conditions

    Now I have two questions…where the heck do I buy one and why would the French be interested in a BS item?!!

    You should be able to pick one up at a local builders merchants/protective clothing store. It’s probably not so much the French interest in a bs# but the fact that Discovery operate out of the UK and this is our equivilant to the Euro version and therefore easier to get the hold of. Incidentally, I’m doing the same route but the other way.
    Edit – just found out that the EN is the international reference, the BS refers to the UK

    Also rail workers have always worn orange (since 1964) and are not migrating from yellow :B :B :B

    April 25, 2013 at 8:17 am #726485
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    Steveal

    Regarding bs en 471… I
    Regarding bs en 471… I brought an ex police high viz tunic from a local army surplus store last year for commuting in the dark. It is labelled up with bs en 471. It’s not a waterproof one, but is a bright yellow and has two wide reflective bands all the way around the body, two around each long sleave, and one up and over each shoulder. My thinking was that it would be dark and the fashion police wouldn’t know it was me… oh, and it was only £4 ! I suspect its the reflictive bits that satisfy the bs en standard. I got a smaller size than I would normally so it didn’t flap around too much. I did see a gillet in decathlon the other day that had a different number (bs en 1150). It was cycling specific and looked pretty good for what it is imo. I’m not sure if any of this helps though! Good luck with the ride.

    April 24, 2013 at 10:06 pm #726483
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    pirnie

    I’m wondering if the
    I’m wondering if the compulsory Hi-Vis vest is anything to do with the french law that you have to carry one in a car? No idea if that applies to bikes though.

    April 24, 2013 at 10:05 pm #726481
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    colhum1

    I have fitted a white led to
    I have fitted a white led to the left side of my lid…certainly helps with cars about to turn right from junctions in front
    and a red led fitted into a vent hole at the back of my lid….
    I set both to fast strobe and seems to work, certainly notice the reaction of drivers approaching from behind.
    As for Hi-Viz…for my pennies worth orange type seems more effective in daylight…maybe why rail track and road workers are moving away from the yellow type.

    April 24, 2013 at 10:04 pm #726479
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    dave atkinson

    deadhead1971 wrote:I commute

    deadhead1971 wrote:
    I commute to work with a little rucksack, with one of those hi-viz HUMP covers on it. I recently also got a hi viz altura night vision jacket. Don’t think it really makes much difference in bright daylight (women driver still try to kill me on roundabouts, going on recent experience) but when it’s dark enough to need lights, the extra hi viz gear makes cars give you a bit more room.

    *dons nerd hat*

    hi-viz clothes don’t work after dark. fluorescent fabrics work by reacting to ultraviolet rays, not visible light. There’s no UV in car headlights.

    After dark you need reflectives, not hi-viz. plenty of that on humps and altura night vision though.

    April 24, 2013 at 8:29 pm #726477
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    cojones

    Cycle_Jim wrote:Got to be

    Cycle_Jim wrote:
    Got to be said, I have no idea! Could try halfords maybe or failing that B&Q? builders style. Just out of interest what are the other required kit

    This is just the ‘cycle’ part of the kit list…overshoes? In July?

    Cycle helmet – Compulsory
    Cycling shoes / trainers – Make sure you train in them and they are comfortable. Stiff sole recommended for increased power transfer between foot and pedal
    Cycling socks (2 or 3 pairs) – No need for a clean pair per day but enough to have dry socks each morning
    Cycling gloves (fingerless) – Essential for comfort and grip – gel padding reduces road vibration; thin full- fingered gloves may be useful on cold mornings
    Padded cycling shorts x 2 – Lycra with chamois insert better than ‘baggies’ for full days on the bike
    Cycling leggings – For cooler days or to put on over shorts at lunch-stops
    Cycling tops / T-shirts x 2 – Traditional cycling jerseys have useful pockets at the back and usually wick moisture well; tops made from cotton absorb sweat – not recommended
    Wicking base layer – Recommended if cycling tops do not wick moisture well enough
    Thermal jacket / warm top – For cooler days / lunch-stops
    Waterproof windproof jacket – Good quality (eg gore-tex) essential; material should be highly breathable and have good wind resistance to prevent cold air reaching your chest
    Hat / cap – For sun protection off bike
    Sunglasses – Must fit well so stay in position when looking down; wraparound style useful
    Overshoes – Optional – keep feet warm and dry in wet conditions
    Hi-viz vest compulsory! – With BS EN471 class 2 standard label to wear in bad weather conditions

    April 24, 2013 at 8:28 pm #726475
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    sm

    Compulsory clothing for a
    Compulsory clothing for a sportive? And I thought compulsory helmets were bad, what next, compulsory glasses, gloves, bananas in your back pocket?

    April 24, 2013 at 8:14 pm #726473
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    deadhead1971

    I commute to work with a
    I commute to work with a little rucksack, with one of those hi-viz HUMP covers on it. I recently also got a hi viz altura night vision jacket. Don’t think it really makes much difference in bright daylight (women driver still try to kill me on roundabouts, going on recent experience) but when it’s dark enough to need lights, the extra hi viz gear makes cars give you a bit more room.

    April 24, 2013 at 8:08 pm #726471
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    Cycle_Jim

    Got to be said, I have no
    Got to be said, I have no idea! Could try halfords maybe or failing that B&Q? builders style. Just out of interest what are the other required kit

    April 24, 2013 at 7:40 pm #726469
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    cojones

    I am doing the London – Paris
    I am doing the London – Paris this year and one compulsory piece of kit is as follows…

    Hi-viz vest compulsory!
    With BS EN471 class 2 standard label to wear in bad weather conditions

    Now I have two questions…where the heck do I buy one and why would the French be interested in a BS item?!!

    April 18, 2013 at 12:17 am #726467
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    Tour Le Tour

    I am a fan of lights and
    I am a fan of lights and reflective bits in the dark. Hi-vis doesn’t do as much good as these two, IMO.

    April 10, 2013 at 9:12 pm #726465
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    Cycle_Jim

    Well I think I’ll go for some
    Well I think I’ll go for some bright colours, but at the same time not really wanting to look like I’ve just come from a rave. I do think that people wearing hi-viz sometimes believe that good cycling isn’t needed ‘cus they can be ‘seen’.
    I know that if someone’s not paying attention then there isn’t anything I could do no end of lights/fluro will help.

    Good excuse to spend money on new summer (fingers crossed) and spring gear 🙂

    Thanks for the help so far guys!

    April 10, 2013 at 8:32 pm #726463
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    gazza_d

    Doesn’t matter what you wear.
    Doesn’t matter what you wear. If a driver is looking at his mobile phone or fannying with his radio he ain’t gonna see you!

    At night (not that I go far in the dark) a couple of decent LEDs with different flashing patterns will catch the attention.

    As for during the day, frankly you shouldn’t need anything. I wear colourful tops, but avoid hi-viz like the plague as I hate it and it seems to be an idiot magnet!

    April 9, 2013 at 12:14 pm #726461
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    notfastenough

    A sash?! You’d look like
    A sash?! You’d look like you’d just come from working in the clothes section at Next! :& 😀

    How about a little flasher on the back of your helmet, a couple of fibre flares on the seatstays and a jacket with some 3m reflective bits?

    You could opt for a Campag or Castelli jacket, some of those are reasonably colourful.

    Look on the bright side, at least you’ve got budget approval for new kit!

    There are a few silver/grey jackets about, and I think they more or less disappear in rain/spray, so probably best avoided.

    April 9, 2013 at 7:12 am #726459
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    chiefoldmist

    I think getting something
    I think getting something reflective is far more effective in the dark than flouro – as previously suggested and in the words of robin Williams in good morning Vietnam “clash”

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