Screaming yellow works

[PamNY]

I think I can tell a difference in whether drivers see me when I wear screaming yellow. I can't prove it, and I can't act on it (I still assume I'm invisible).

But I do think I see a difference.

[indysteel]

I tend to agree with you. As a driver, I am MUCH more aware of riders in screaming yellow than any other color. I just wish they made more jerseys in bright yellow. I have a light jacket and a vest, but no jersey or tank.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I live in a small town. I ride in combination of highways, rural dirt roads, town traffic. A big mix.
I almost always wear a generous amount of screaming yellow on my bike.

Several times now I have been in a coffee shop or bakery before or after my ride and some stranger will come up to me and say "I passed you on the road while i was driving, and I just wanted you to know how great it was that I could see you so clearly with that bright color from a whole half mile behind you- I wish all bike riders would wear that color!". this has happened about 4 times over the past 3 years. I know that screaming yellow works. I see it for myself when i'm driving my car too. :)
Reflective tape, blinkies and reflectors all can help and are really needed at night, but nothing beats screaming yellow shirt/vest/etc during the daytime.

[emily_in_nc]

+1 -- I notice this so much when I am driving, or even when cycling and seeing other cyclists up ahead or coming in the other direction. I only have one screaming yellow jersey, as seen in my avatar (plus a jacket), but try to wear it especially on gloomy, overcast days or when riding closer to dusk.

[azfiddle]

I went to the Pearl Izumi outlet store last year and got 2 hi-viz jerseys marked down 75% each, and a hi-viz windbreaker- total $50 for all! I often wear the jerseys on late afternoon rides or when I commute.

[OakLeaf]

I had a motorist pull up next to me and slow down a couple of weeks ago. I thought he was going to harass me, but instead he complimented me on my visibility! :D

[Becky]

I'm a big fan of screaming yellow. I would love to find some screaming yellow jerseys with a little bit of a pattern or design to them, rather than a solid color. Has anyone ever found anything like this?

I have this (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodPI_0870.html), and this (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodCI_11029.html) appeals to me. Any other ideas?

[Trek420]

The helmet's screaming yellow, my bike's screaming yellow :D the vest and now I'm thinking about these:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodDF_ANY.html

Yes, not a scientific study but I sense and sometimes see drivers take that second glance.

[goldfinch]

I can't remember where I read it, but high visibility chartreuse is supposed to be the most visible color. I see more and more highway workers wearing that color. High viz yellow is right up there, as is blaze orange.

I used to ride motorcycles and I had a blaze orange helmet. There was a substantial difference in how cars kept their distance from me when I wore that helmet. I've wondered why bike helmets don't come in high visibility colors.

[TsPoet]

I'm a big fan of these

http://alertshirt.com/
especially their performance T's in ANSI colors.

[Trek420]

Thank you thank you thank you! I've seen cyclists wearing these:

http://alertshirt.com/trafficgloves.html

and have not been able to find them.

[chryss]

I bought this windbreaker http://bontrager.com/model/07260 at a LBS, and am blinded by its brightness and feel much safer with the cars zipping by. Also, as a somewhat unexpected bonus, it turns out to be an excellent wind jacket.

[KathiCville]

I have several screamin' yellow Brooks Nightlife tops and jackets---very high-viz! For summer, I have sleeveless and short-sleeved neon yellow jerseys by Terry.

This is the short-sleeved version: http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodTY_630024_0.html.

I saw a jersey somewhere recently that combined high-viz yellow with a neon pink. Great combo! Wish I could remember where I spotted it.

[Crankin]

My windbreaker is bright yellow, pretty bright, at that, but not typical hi-viz color. My winter riding jacket is bright red. I have the typical yellow-green hi viz vest, that I've been wearing a lot during this freezing spring weather.
I have a Nathan reflective vest I wear when I am riding in the dark or dawn. That, with a rear blinkie and 2 reflective bands which blink, on my ankles is quite illuminating. One time DH was coming home in the car when i came home from an early AM ride and he said he could see me half a mile away.
My regular jerseys are all kinds of wild prints. I do admit to having a black jersey, with print, but I usually wear it at this time of year, with the vest, as it's too hot to wear black in mid summer. Maybe not this year, though.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Ok, I just LOVE LOVE LOVE my new Brooks NightLife SCREAMING green (http://www.amazon.com/Brooks-Womens-Nightlife-Equilibrium-X-Large/dp/B004FPZOZ2/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1305812282&sr=8-15) lightweight top, and also the black version with touches of screaming yellow for those 'slightly less screaming' occasions! The material is so silky and light and cool, no back/shoulder sunburn, and the sleeves can push up nicely without being bulky. The screaming green is way brighter than the picture- shocking! :D :D

[Becky]

That looks like a nice top, Lisa. I so wish that Brooks would make cycling jerseys....I really like their Nightlife stuff, but have a rear pockets addiction ;)

[itself]

Interesting thread here:

http://equipped.outdoors.org/2010/06/brightest-most-visible-safety-colors.html

If I had a clue how to do it, I would start a company and make all high viz clothing. Screaming yellow is my favorite! Love this thread.

[pll]

I wanted to mention that Rudy Project's Sterling helmet is made in screaming yellow and screaming green (and pink). It is very expensive, though:

http://www.e-rudy.com/images/products/HL512201MUS_detail.jpg

http://www.e-rudy.com/index_inner.php?group_id=3&cat_id=112

After a nasty encounter with some bugs yesterday (eek), the bug stop this helmet has is making me think about it, but I cannot justify the price.

Also, Giordana has a jersey from a previous season (unfortunately not available on TE) that I love -- high visibility yellow with cranberry red accents:

http://www.gitabike.com/images_cart/gi_wssj_silv_fluo_me_v3.jpg

It's on www.gitabike.com under the Giordana stuff for past seasons.

[itself]

That Rudy project helmet is ridiculous at $225!

Let's hope that Proviz can get a distributor here in the states. Their helmets are awesome!

[OakLeaf]

I didn't yet read the ANSI analysis that was linked in the AMC article.

But I have to say that as far as orange being more visible than hi viz yellow in twilight - I have a bright orange running top (I would've linked to a picture, but either the screen colors don't reproduce faithfully, or it isn't made in that color any more). It's pretty much the same color as the suit the guy with the broom is wearing in that AMC picture. When I picked it out from the display in the well-lit LRS in the daytime, it looked every bit as bright as the HVY clothing. But when I took it back to the poorly-lit dressing room to try it on, the HVY continued to pop, while the orange nearly disappeared. I bought the orange top for variety because I liked the fit and fabric, but I only wear it in bright daylight.

Same with my ancient and still scary bright red Cortina wool jersey. If it's twilight or very cloudy, that thing just does not pop the way HVY does.

Maybe my eyes are different from most people's. :confused: But DH has made the same comment when we're riding together - that in very low light (not pitch dark), the HVY will pick up and seem to magnify any little bit of light to where it looks almost fluorescent, and is actually brighter than the reflective accents. I'll have to read that article.

[Becky]

Pll- I love that Giordana jersey! The Rudy helmet is nice too, but I'm with you about the price....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Highway Dept switched from hi vis orange to hi vis yellow years ago because they found the yellow was much more jump-out visible than the 'safety orange'.
Neon yellow and neon yellow-green do well. And you're right, plain bright red does tend to disappear in shadows and distance.