ohh drats- and that was my Favorite

[Pika]

jersey....
today half way into my 6 hr training ride a complete stranger stopped my on the highway ( there is only about a 5km stretch that I need to be on the highway) and told me that I blended too much with the green fields and that she couldn't see me at all. ( I was on the very wide shoulder and hadn't even noticed her going by).
It was my "she likes hills jersey".
I think she was just trying to be helpful but after a long pause with her looking expectantly at me - I said - well really there is nothing I can do about my shirt right now- but thanks for telling me- I appreciate it"
It was a slower ride home since after that I was paranoid to get into aero since once she pointed it out even though I wasn't on the highway I was riding in a very rural area with green fields on both sides of me.
Guess I have to wait for the doldrums of fall and brown fields to break out that jersey again! Anyone else have this mentioned to them? Suggestions?

[Crankin]

I have the jersey. I am not going to stop wearing it...

[ridebikeme]

I tend to be the person that makes that comment to people. I always wear bright colors, and suggest the same thing to friends, customers etc... While I definitely believe the colors catch peoples attention... I wonder what will capture the attention of people that drive while talking on cellphones etc?:D

[OakLeaf]

That's exactly why I didn't buy one of those jerseys, and I really love the design.

For the right design I will compromise on my usual "nothing but hi-viz." But I will not, ever, wear anything that's the same color as grass and sky, on public roads.

I joke that the only reason I enter foot races is so I can wear something other than hi-viz when I run. I don't race bicycles any more...



And it's not about the people on the phone. They're not going to see me in my hi-viz, either. It's for the people who are paying attention, who first see me a half mile away with plenty of time to react, instead of 100 yards away. (And, should one of those people on the phone hit me, it's for the jury.)

[Irulan]

Suggestions? I'd take the comment under advisement and choose to be more visible to cars. Be glad they cared enough to say something. Chances are if they can't see you very well, other drivers can't either.

[Pika]

absolutely- will take comment under advisement- and I did thank her for stopping me- I was sorta hoping that there was another option other than never wearing that jersey and that kept me safe..
I think I will be like Oakleaf and not purchase anything but high-viz from now on- just a shame because that design("she loves hills" always makes me smile...

[sfa]

You could always wear a high-viz vest on top of your favorite jersey. Most seem to be designed for nighttime so above all else they are reflective, but most are also a high-viz yellow or orange so can work during the day too.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/search.ep?keyWords=safety+vest&search-form-submit=go

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Several times I've had drivers stop to tell me that they could see my hi-vis neon yellow biking wear from a half mile away, and wanted me to know how much they appreciate that.

[Skierchickie]

absolutely- will take comment under advisement- and I did thank her for stopping me- I was sorta hoping that there was another option other than never wearing that jersey and that kept me safe..

How about a blinky light? I think a wildly-flashing red light catches the attention of others way better than the color of your jersey. I tend to wear what I like, and if I'm worried about it I clip my blinky onto my seat pack. You can get really really small ones if you're worried about weight.

[sundial]

I ride on back roads that take me by the farmlands. I was blending in with the landscape a little too much so I mounted a PlanetBike ultra flash light on the back of my helmet. Motorists have been very responsive to my blinky. :)

[Grog]

That's exactly why I didn't buy one of those jerseys, and I really love the design.

Same here, sadly. I got the red one (flourishes) which is GORGEOUS. (I'm going to wear it for the first time today.)

I was riding with my husband the other day and I noted that he was blending in perfectly with the pavement: dark bike, dark grey panniers (who designed that??), light grey jacket with teal blue accents.

I agree with the red blinkie suggestion, especially something powerful like the Planet Bike superflash, which will be seen even in daylight.

The hi-viz vest is also a good idea.

[jobob]

Road ID also makes the Firefly Supernova, a nice little light which is very lightweight and works great on a helmet.

http://www.roadid.com/Common/Catalog.aspx?C=Firefly

I have a Bell helmet and the light attaches very easily to the back with a strip of velcro looped thru the back vents. (Admittedly, that setup might not work as well with other helmets, it depends on how the back vents are arranged.)

It's so lightweight I don't know it's there, and I can easily turn it on or off by reaching back and twisting the light cover a few turns. It can be run on constant or blinky mode, but that cannot be changed on the fly, you have to open the case and flip the battery. I always have mine on constant anyhow so that's no biggie for me.

If it doesn't attach well to your helment, Road ID also provides a small plastic clip with which you could attach it to your back collar or some other creative location. Although even if it doesn't attach smack-dab in the back of your helmet, you could probably easily attach it a bit off center towards the left side.

I was told drivers could see my light from a pretty good distance, and it was especially visible since it was on my helmet and not attached to my bike. And even though I don't have it on blinky mode, the movement of the light on account of my head motion is enough to attract attention. If I hear a car coming up I actually move my head a bit more for just that reason.

Last I heard, the red light is currently out of stock. A friend has the blue one but I don't think it's as visible as the red one. Hopefully the red ones will be back in stock soon - they might already be there.

ed to add: It looks like the red ones are back in stock, yay!

HTH, - Jo.

[Catrin]

I ride on back roads that take me by the farmlands. I was blending in with the landscape a little too much so I mounted a PlanetBike ultra flash light on the back of my helmet. Motorists have been very responsive to my blinky. :)

Good idea, I had not thought about this. Now that there are massive farm machines are on my country roads I want to make sure they see me! Not that I don't see THEM...

[malkin]

Wear that jersey when you ride some place where the hills turn brown in summer time.

[Pika]

I like the idea of blinkys and yes the fields will soon be brown and then I won't blend so much- I guess the jersey is on hiatus more than fully retired:)

[ny biker]

While you're checking out that Road ID page -- I have the Firefly ankle things and they're excellent. Another great way to increase visibility.