Like Pretty Jerseys but They Don't Feel Safe

[Ana]

Where do you wear your pretty jerseys? I've been eying this one forever but I am not sure when/where I would wear it because I like to wear, at the very least, contrasting colors that standout from the landscape (i.e. red, yellow, orange, etc) and also feel safest in my high-visibility if I'm going to be on a busy street.

[Tri Girl]

You could always wear the pretty jerseys on organized rides where there will be LOTS of cyclists on the road (safety in numbers and all). What about on MUT's where you don't have to interact with cars?

[shootingstar]

At least the back of jersey is not dark. The black in the floral design keeps jersey colour from being too washed out from afar in bright sunlight. On a cloudy day, shouldn't be too worrisome.

Not every single jersey I have so far is in high vi colour, though 90% of them are. Some cycling I do is in quieter areas, just a hop skip and jump, several streets parallel to major arterial roads.

I worry particularily about high vi when I know the ride will extend into darkness hrs. or if I'm going on a long ride where another rider(s) need to see where I am at... But by default, most of my jerseys are high vi anyway.

It looks like a great jersey to also wear when stopping by to visit/chat up for a few hrs. with friends. If you look good in the cut, colours, go for it.

[Andrea]

Get a super bright blinky light and keep it on at all times. You can get away with dressing like a ninja if you do that.

[OakLeaf]

I'm with you. I wear my pretty stuff when I'm not in a position to get run over by cars. (And I keep a safety vest in the car if something happens that I do have to get out.)

No blinky light can approach the visibility of, whatever it is, a 12" x 18" "flag" aka my screaming yellow jerseys - particularly not in bright sunlight, where the light won't be seen at all.

Sure I look like a dork inside the grocery store in hi-viz yellow and cycling shorts, but I'm so over caring. If it's that important, I'll bring something else to change into.

[Zen]

When I saw a guy in a red jersey disappear in the shade i have become more conscious of the high viz effect.
one of my favorite jerseys is red

[TxDoc]

I try to use bright yellow/red or team colors when I'm by myself - and whatever I like when I'm in a big group.
But hey - once I was hit by a woman in a truck who ran a stop sign and said she had not seen me, and I was wearing bright USA team blue/red kit... go figure that one out

[TrekTheKaty]

My favorite jersey is a bright yellow jelly belly jersey. I love jelly belly, and if you miss me in that--well, you're blind.

My second favorite jersey is a red, white and blue flag jersey--because someone here thought a red neck in a pickup truck might be less likely to harass someone wearing the flag. But I guess TxDoc proved that wrong (hope you were ok).

I definitely take visibility into consideration when purchasing jerseys.

[Kiwi Stoker]

A friend of ours was taken out broadside at an intersection- he was wearing screaming yellow vest with reflective, bright pants and a bright top. It was an overcast but bright day (so no deep shadows) and no trees or anything. He got collected, rolled right over the roof and broke his kneecap. His bike got dragged 200m before falling off the car- the car didn't stop.

I think it really doesn't matter how bright or reflective the clothing you wear (although wearing all black is just wrong), unalert drivers are not going to see you. I always ride in a group. Its easier to miss/ignore a single cyclist.

[Biciclista]

if people are looking down at their cellphones, lunch, stereo, whatever, you could be nude with flashing lights and they're still not going to see you.
On the other hand, if you're wearing a pretty jersey like this one, you're probably going to get some smiles from passersby. Fortunately, most people ARE paying attention.

[OakLeaf]

Two things.

First of all, many (possibly even most, but I doubt it) - anyway, many drivers ARE paying attention, and those are primarily the ones I wear the screaming yellow for. It's the difference between them seeing me for the first time at half a mile versus them seeing me for the first time at 100 yards. They have a lot more time to slow down, move over, hold their line, whatever. Next time you're in your car approaching a bicyclist or motorcyclist, pay attention to when you see them for the first time. I guarantee it'll be far, far longer if they're wearing hi viz.

Second of all, if someone does run me over, I want them to be punished, and I want to be adequately compensated if I survive. That's why I nickname my jerseys "Exhibit A." It's true, as I've said many times, people rear-end school buses and garbage trucks every day and never see them. But they don't get away with it in court. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, people who run over bicyclists and pedestrians DO get away with it in court, because they whine "I didn't see them" and they find sympathy with the trier of fact. With my jersey blinding the jury or judge, that excuse won't fly.

[kenyonchris]

A friend of ours was taken out broadside at an intersection- he was wearing screaming yellow vest with reflective, bright pants and a bright top. It was an overcast but bright day (so no deep shadows) and no trees or anything. He got collected, rolled right over the roof and broke his kneecap. His bike got dragged 200m before falling off the car- the car didn't stop.

I think it really doesn't matter how bright or reflective the clothing you wear (although wearing all black is just wrong), unalert drivers are not going to see you. I always ride in a group. Its easier to miss/ignore a single cyclist.

Our bike shirts (slated to be revamped) are navy blue. I pedal in it at night. In the dark. I have a blinky light and reflectors in various places, but when I am pedaling uphill at midnight in my dark blue gear I literally CRINGE every time a car passes. Just being out in daylight I feel screamingly loud.

If I have to direct traffic at an accident we are required to wear these horrible bibs that say POLICE on it in big reflective letters. And I will tell you that I have come mighty close to having my butt run over...I will be a flattened girl, but at least I will be wearing my vest.

On the horse I am so reflective that no one can take a picture. He has reflectives on his browband, noseband, breastplate, legs, and my stirrups. And still people are surprised by a loud, clopping, huge, reflective horse. I call my large fellow my "stealth horse." He is 18 hands and 2500 lbs and walks like he is stomping on large colonies of ants, but I can walk up on people as though I am on foot....or the bike...because people, when they are distracted, are oblivious. But the effect is MUCH more dramatic when people turn around to have his big head in their face than when I walk up on foot or the bike.

You can never be too reflective or too visible, because I am telling you (as I negotiate life in various stages of reflectibility) people will be surprised by you. At least when you dodge imminent road rash, you can mutter, "what, are you BLIND?" when you are as visible as possible.

[Biciclista]

Kenyon, I'd love to see a picture of you on your 18 hand horse. Or just the horse even. What breed is this horse?

[kenyonchris]

Kenyon, I'd love to see a picture of you on your 18 hand horse. Or just the horse even. What breed is this horse?

Here he is....practicing his stuff. He is a big goof. I look like a monkey on him!

[TxDoc]

Here he is....practicing his stuff. He is a big goof. I look like a monkey on him!

That's a great pic! Wonderful horse, thanks for posting this!!!