Reflections on reflecting

[pdonk]

When I started doing "dawn patrol" rides my wife insisted I add reflective clothing and tape where I could.

I wear Lululemon reflective socks, have added small pieces if tape to my helmet and shies, try to wear light coloured jerseys and fortunately one of the vests I have from a charity ride is bright yellow and baby blue with a reflective strip on the back.

So I guess I am in the reflective camp. However, I don't ride with lights on during the day.

[eri]

I agree the dark clothes are less than ideal but for a dark rainy winter day I think the bikes really need lights.

There was a lightless cycle commuter ahead of me in traffic yesterday in the pouring rain without a light and I was so concerned for him that if I’d had a spare light I would have given it to him. The bontrager flare type lights are pretty great.

I keep a roll of solas tape handy on my tool bench, put strips on the rims every 4 spokes on every bike in our house.

[Fat Cat]

Originally Posted by dustyrider

Here in Colorado road construction crew deaths increased by something like 60% last year. I wear hi-viz clothes for working around traffic and try to wear bright colors when riding but it sure doesn’t feel like hi-viz clothes even matters in the face of such entitlement.

Get Off Of My Road ! ! !

[ColonelJLloyd]

Originally Posted by dustyrider

Here in Colorado road construction crew deaths increased by something like 60% last year. I wear hi-viz clothes for working around traffic and try to wear bright colors when riding but it sure doesn’t feel like hi-viz clothes even matters in the face of such entitlement.

That seems like a statistic that comes from very small numbers in which and handful of instances constitutes a wild swing in percentage.

I'm the guy who yells at cyclists to get a blinky, hollers props at people that have a flashing collar on their dog, and carries blinkies with me to give to riders and runners without them.

[Fat Cat]

Originally Posted by ColonelJLloyd

That seems like a statistic that comes from very small numbers in which and handful of instances constitutes a wild swing in percentage.

Dead is dead if it's one or a thousand. Drivers don't GAF. It's a free country and they can do anything that they want because that's their right.

[ColonelJLloyd]

I don't know what your point is, but hitting someone dressed as a ninja in the dark is not how I want to start or end my day so I do what I do. It's a free country.

[zap]

I ride during the day.

I try to wear bright socks and shoes. I do use a rear Blinky light when riding solo, off when in a group.

Bibs are black. Jersey is whatever.

[Elmer]

My schedule dictates me riding in the early morning hours (dark hours) so I have lights on my bike and wear highly reflective ankle bands that my good friend Peter P. made for me years ago. It's the movement that catches the eye more than anything else IMHO. Unless the driver has his/her eyes focused on their phone that is.

[Fat Cat]

Originally Posted by ColonelJLloyd

I don't know what your point is, but hitting someone dressed as a ninja in the dark is not how I want to start or end my day so I do what I do. It's a free country.

Sorry. I edited the comment. You're perfectly right about the ninjas.

[Philster]

I don’t ride in the dark but use lights front and rear. I’m transitioning my wardrobe to bright colors. I wish the industry would provide better, higher quality bright clothes. Bike manufacturers should also be incorporating reflective paint in their designs. It’s not hard or expensive.

At the end of the day, I’m not sure this all makes much difference. If a driver isn’t looking, they won’t see you. It’s more a matter of meeting drivers halfway, or, to put it differently, taking away one excuse for cops and drivers to blame the victim.

[bigbill]

When I commuted in Oahu, I had an HID headlight, two Super flashes, reflective dots on my rim, reflective tape on the seat stays, top tube, and fork, reflective material on my panniers, and a jogger belt around my rack bag. The base security guys knew me by all my reflective stuff and lights.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Anyone have a recommendation for black reflective tape? Such for cutting and applying to rims and maybe shoes.

[Likes2ridefar]

Originally Posted by ColonelJLloyd

Anyone have a recommendation for black reflective tape? Such for cutting and applying to rims and maybe shoes.

Lots of options out there on Amazon and elsewhere tailored for motorcycles or similar so often cut in various shapes.

I use marine solas tape and cut to size though mine is silver, red and yellow. Marine solas tape, at least what I have, is insanely reflective from many angles and if you go wild will be highly visible in the dark when light hits you.

[professerr]

At a minimum, I wear the tallest neon socks I can find, for every ride, and outside of legwarmers, tights, etc, even if that breaks a Rule. Many come with a reflective stripe or two as well, though I never ride at night.

[mhespenheide]

Originally Posted by Philster

Bike manufacturers should also be incorporating reflective paint in their designs. It’s not hard or expensive.

There is a photo-reflective powdercoat that's quite effective. Unfortunately it's just grey when it's not lit, and that's maybe not the best aesthetic. I'd love to see some photo-reflective red or yellow paint of powdercoat.

Groody brothers have the photo-reflective grey powder.