How to make myself more visible?

[makbike]

I commute to work several times a week. Unfortunately I must travel east in the morning which means I'm riding into the sun. This morning a colleague told me she had a really had time seeing me because of the sun. Do you guys have any suggestions on how to make myself more visible on my morning commute?

[PscyclePath]

I commute to work several times a week. Unfortunately I must travel east in the morning which means I'm riding into the sun. This morning a colleague told me she had a really had time seeing me because of the sun. Do you guys have any suggestions on how to make myself more visible on my morning commute?

1. Hi-vis yellow (or is it chartreuse) jersey and/or reflective vest. You'll be surprised how much that color shows up under various road conditions. Bright orange or yellow is probably next best. Red is less effective, since it often blends into shadows and the background, and there's a surprising number of us males out there who are red/green color blind. Hot, fluorescent pink is a surprisingly visible color Avoid jerseys or outer garments that are mostly black, grey, blue, green, or brown.

2. Blinky lights. Yep, even in the daytime that helps you stand out from the background noise. And if you're out around sunrise or twilight, you need to have a full set of lights (white headlight, red tail-light, both easily visible from at least 500 feet away) mounted on the bike and turned on. Lights - not just reflectors. We've lost two riders here in Arkansas in the past year from the simple lack of lights.

3. Roadway positioning. Don't be a "gutter bunny." Position yourself where motorists are going to expect other vehicles to be... Typically in a narrow lane that's going to be somewhere between the right-hand wheel track and the center of the lane. Ride predictably -- in as straight a line as possible -- and don't weave in and out of the gaps between parked cars. Always scan behind you to make sure there's no overtaking traffic to either side before you change lanes or move laterally on the roadway. Get a rear-view mirror, and use it. Don't forget to check over your shoulder as well, regardless of whether you're using a mirror.

You get the same effect in the late afternoon while riding west into the setting sun, btw...

Tom

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

HI-vis yellow, definitely. Drivers tell me they see me from a mile away.
I have lots of Brooks Nightlife gear. Probably the most versatile piece of all is their regular vest, which Terry now has on sale:
http://www.terrybicycles.com/detail.html?item_no=2052&c=On+Sale
It's lightweight, has convenient pockets, and is blindingly bright.

[indigoiis]

Even those cheapo construction worker safety vests work wonders. You can pick them up at Home Depot or other stores for a few bucks.

Also, I agree on the positioning thing. I have one road which is 45 mph, little shoulder, into the sun morning and evening, with hills. As I crest a hill, if I am going slowly, I try to stay a little outside of the white line, steady and straight (seated). It seems to work so far.

[Becky]

Try a Planet Bike Superflash blinky light. These things are so bright that DH and I actually have them angled down slightly to avoid blinding each other. Even then, they're plenty bright. We also run headlights on the commuters year-round, morning and evening.

Screaming yellow is good stuff too. If you don't have any, I highly recommend it.

[Geonz]

I have been told that it was my bright yellow that was visible in the morning sun. Of course, my wide profile (the bike more so than my backside, I hope ;) ) helps, too... get an Xtracycle for visibility!

[Chile Pepper]

I just bought this red jersey: http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=31148

Is that not bright enough? I was looking for a high-vis yellow jersey, but couldn't really find anything that looked shockingly bright. I don't want to wear a vest over my jersey on my normal rides. Does anyone know of a jersey in that colore?

[Irulan]

I just bought this red jersey: http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=31148

Is that not bright enough? I was looking for a high-vis yellow jersey, but couldn't really find anything that looked shockingly bright. I don't want to wear a vest over my jersey on my normal rides. Does anyone know of a jersey in that colore?

Look for international lime shirts. Why WOULDN'T you wear a safety color/vest over your jersey if you are worried about visibility?

[Becky]

Voler and Pearl Izumi both had screamin' yellow jerseys in their summer lines this year. Not sure what's still available now that fall is approaching....

[tulip]

Great source for safetywear, including international lime. Good prices, too.

www.alertshirts.com

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I was looking for a high-vis yellow jersey, but couldn't really find anything that looked shockingly bright. I don't want to wear a vest over my jersey on my normal rides. Does anyone know of a jersey in that colore?

Again, google Brooks Nightlife and you will find all kinds of jogging/biking wear including jerseys....all in SCREAMING hi-vis yellow. :)

[Chile Pepper]

Why WOULDN'T you wear a safety color/vest over your jersey if you are worried about visibility?

I guess I'm concerned about restricted movement from the extra layer--and overheating in the summer (although it's winter here now, and I'm wearing my yellow windbreaker without any trouble).

I just found this, which looks about as bright as it gets: http://www.cbssportsstore.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2811000#featBen

Has anyone ever tried a Danskin jersey?

[smurfalicious]

Avoid jerseys or outer garments that are mostly black, grey, blue, green, or brown.

Ugh, my entire wardrobe is blue except one or two pieces. My old bike was blue so I wanted to match, and only rode MTB. Grrr! Even the new kit I ordered is black and blue.

Why can't there be cute yellow stuff? I like yellow, but I hate spending money on boring bike clothes.

[pardes]

How about a very long peacock feather stuck to your helmet and waving in the breeze? No? Okay, how about one of those revolving flashing "danger radiation" flasher lights stuck on your helmet?

Seriously, flashing headlights and tail lights will help. As a newbie I use them in the daylight when traffic gets nasty.

Hey, here ya go....a Whelen Super-LED 360° Beacon. That's what I want on top of my helmet!


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t7/threedogwrite/EMS-flashing-light.jpg

And speaking of flasher lights.....


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t7/threedogwrite/flasher-sign.jpg

[crazycanuck]

Pardes, can I join your party ;) :p :) You're too cool!

I want one of those flasher signs!

[emily_in_nc]

Performance sells a sheet of high-viz, reflective yellow stickers you can put anywhere on your helmet. They work!

[Becky]

Hey, here ya go....a Whelen Super-LED 360° Beacon. That's what I want on top of my helmet!

And speaking of flasher lights.....


If you ever get a 360 beacon, you have to post pics here :D And that sign is too much! LOL!

[Mr. SR500]

Marcie,

Might have a friend try a couple different to see what might work best. Might try orange for a rising sun.


How many more centuries have you completed?

[makbike]

How visible will the bright yellows/greens be if I'm riding east into the rising sun?

I talked with my colleague some more today and she said the thing she noticed the most was that she could not see me sign my intent to take the lane. Do you think reflective gloves of some sort would help?

Mr.SR500 - I've now logged 20 centuries for season (March to present). The club puts one on almost every weekend. The one this weekend is suppose to be very hilly/tough.

[Becky]

How visible will the bright yellows/greens be if I'm riding east into the rising sun?

I talked with my colleague some more today and she said the thing she noticed the most was that she could not see me sign my intent to take the lane. Do you think reflective gloves of some sort would help?


I'd wear the yellow before orange. I have an awesome orange jacket, and DH tells me that I blend right in with the sun when it's near the horizon.

What about something like this? http://www.safeturn.com/ I have the same concern about signaling, but I'm not sure that reflective stuff would be bright enough to overcome sun glare. I did buy some reflective iron-ons from www.lightweights.org, but haven't tried them yet. (BTW, their wheel stickies are excellent!)

I'm eager to hear what others are doing for the signaling issue!

[tulip]

Your route sounds really dangerous. I used to have to drive on a road like that--right into the sun. I couldn't see anything!

Is there anyway you can alter either your route or your time? It just sounds really dangerous and something that a yellow shirt will not solve (although it might help).

[Geonz]

I was thinking along those lines. There are stretches of my route that are dangerous at the equinox 'cause the sun comes up directly in front of me... b ut generally since I'm going west in the a.m. and east in the p.m. it's traffic coming the other way that would miss seeing me, which isn't as big a deal. Still, 'round that time I tend to take the long way in.

[makbike]

Tulip,

This is the best route to work. The other road, a back road, is heavily traveled in the morning (students, parents and buses). The cars literally fly down this back road and frequently the cars are not in their appropriate lane. It too is a road that goes west-east and so once again I would be riding into the sun.

[Serendipity]

Someone else mentioned this, I think, but can you change your time a bit - even 15 minutes to half an hour earlier or later - seems to make a huge difference when the sun is in the driver's eyes.

Sounds like a tough route - keep safe!

[makbike]

The time I leave is also pretty firm given traffic. If I leave earlier I'm amongst all the elementary school parents who drive their kids to school on the route I travel. I have to be at work at 8 so I try to leave around 7:45 (it is only a 7 minute commute).

[sfa]

With a seven minute commute, I wouldn't worry so much about overheating and would just suck it up and get a high-vis vest. Another cheap solution for your signaling hand are these blinkie LED buttons (http://www.sciplus.com/index.cfm/go/front.tagged/tag/36145) Since you're going such a short distance, you could slap one on to your glove or sleeve and just keep it on for the whole ride. They have strong magnetic attachments, and while they aren't designed for cycling, when my husband bought some my first thought was "wow, I could cover myself with these and be really visible! And look like something from a Disney parade!"

This is something that's likely only going to be a problem for a few weeks each fall and spring. I used to commute into the sun like that and it was always horrible for a few weeks, and then it would get to the point where the sun was either high enough or low enough that visibility was easier.

Sarah

[crazycanuck]

I don't know if this is something you'd use but i'll throw the info here for you.
I know nothing about this item however I want one..


http://www.bikesportz.com.au/products/exelite/lumi_strip.html

[jaydee]

In winter, just before I get to work, I drive along a busy road that heads straight into the low morning sun. There is an on-road bike path on the edge of the road, but it is still so difficult to see if there is anyone in that lane as you turn into the road. There was one young male cyclist who probably looked super-sexy in his black gear every morning - but who just couldn't be seen from the car. One morning I still had all my cycling gear in the car, including a $5 UV yellow with reflector stripes vest. I pulled up in front of the cyclist and when he came near, I just held out this vest to him. He stopped and asked what I wanted - I told him to please take the vest and wear it as I just couldn't see him on the road. He was slightly taken aback, but said thanks and put the vest on. I often see him in the morning now, wearing the vest - I always give a toot of the car horn just after I pass him and give him a wave.

The workers' vests have a fluorescent / UV thread in the weave so that they show up in sunlight and can be seen from a great distance. In the evening, the fluorescence does not react to artificial light which is why you then need the reflective stripes.