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What's everyones opinion on hi-vis clothing???
Do you wear any?? if not why do you choose not to take advantage of making yourself as visible as poss??
If you do what do you wear and why??
Do you wear an "H" belt, Sam brown belt or an over jacket or waistcoat

Just another thought

Gary

kneescratch wrote:What's everyones opinion on hi-vis clothing???
Do you wear any?? if not why do you choose not to take advantage of making yourself as visible as poss??
If you do what do you wear and why??
Do you wear an "H" belt, Sam brown belt or an over jacket or waistcoat

Just another thought

Gary

No - I don't wear Hi vis stuff (except some of my kit has a bit of reflective piping) and I don't turn my headlight on in daylight either.

I don't wear the hi vis stuff as it's just extra stuff to put on and most of it looks a bit crap anyway.
I don't ride with my headlight on as I firmly believe that it is a distraction to other road users and puts those more vulnerable at increased risk (cyclists, pedestrians, 'ped riders etc) - especially when the light is beginning to fade.
The number of cage drivers that have their lights on when they needn't is something that really winds me up - just thoughtlessly putting others at risk. It makes their fellow drivers more lazy too as they just look out for headlights rather than what's actually on the road and its surrounds.

I tend to defend myself by good road positioning (both to improve my early visibility to others and to give me an escape route) and by working on the assumption that each and every one of them is likely to do what you hope they will not (although you can predict which are more likely to by their positioning, noting what they're looking at etc etc).

I dont wear any high vis stuff but I do have my lights on when in town or travelling normal speeds.

When motoring on i turn them off as like DR says it might distract them when I'm aproaching at warpfactor 9. And you get the element of suprise

I go for the stealth look too. However when I recently replaced my lid I went for a silver one instead of black as I read somewhere that of all the items of clothing that can make a difference in visibility terms the helmet is the most important.

As for headlights I don't think I could possibly ride with it switched off. I would feel horribly invisible.

I know it would be wiser to wear bright clothing but they don't make any fluorescent leather jackets that I know of and any tabbard type thing I have tried just blows open.

After getting knocked off at a roundabout I replaced my blue lid with a yelloew one for the same reason (although it was really a case of didn't look rather than didn't see).

I'd feel silly in hi-vis clothing although I do wear a yellow waterproof - just cos it was cheap.

And apart from when it's dark I mostly use the headlight on sunny days cos cos the contrast when you go under the trees can make you almost invisible.

kneescratch wrote:What's everyones opinion on hi-vis clothing???

How queer.

I've never worn any since I passed my test.

I don't have my lights on in sunny weather either unless its a requirement of the law (ie on foreign soil) or its dark because of trees/tunnels etc.

Never wear hi-vis and seldom turn my lights off.

I did try hi-vis clothing about a year ago... but for the same reasons highlighted above (extra kit to put on, blowing open and looking like a tart) I quickly stopped using it. I keep my light on by default... but D-Rider brings up a valuable point that I have not considered before.

Fausto wrote:I know it would be wiser to wear bright clothing but they don't make any fluorescent leather jackets that I know of and any tabbard type thing I have tried just blows open.

Not thought of trying one with a zip up the front then??

D-Rider wrote: I don't wear the hi vis stuff as... most of it looks a bit crap anyway.

...agreed...

D-Rider wrote: I don't ride with my headlight on as I firmly believe that it is a distraction to other road users and puts those more vulnerable at increased risk (cyclists, pedestrians, 'ped riders etc) - especially when the light is beginning to fade.

Bollocks. I'm more selfish. My headlight is on all the time (HID) and is designed to draw attention to ME, so my immature opinions on hi-viz become irrelevant!!!

Goldie wrote:

D-Rider wrote: I don't wear the hi vis stuff as... most of it looks a bit crap anyway.

...agreed...

D-Rider wrote: I don't ride with my headlight on as I firmly believe that it is a distraction to other road users and puts those more vulnerable at increased risk (cyclists, pedestrians, 'ped riders etc) - especially when the light is beginning to fade.

Bollocks. I'm more selfish. My headlight is on all the time (HID) and is designed to draw attention to ME, so my immature opinions on hi-viz become irrelevant!!!

Goldie the new Gio?

Thats it m8 get out the big stick

kneescratch wrote:

Fausto wrote:I know it would be wiser to wear bright clothing but they don't make any fluorescent leather jackets that I know of and any tabbard type thing I have tried just blows open.

Not thought of trying one with a zip up the front then??

Yes, but the zip slides down and the vest blew open. Just not designed for m/cycle use I guess.

I changed my Black XR1000 for a white Tour-X, the apature you look through is huge so I get improved visability and observation. I may get myself something relfective for winter this year, it's not so importand on the bike, but if for whatever reason you and your bike part company, you need to be seen in the road if you are to avoid being run over!