Safety vests

**placidfemme** · 23rd June 2005, 09:30

I was just wondering... how many riders actually wear those reflective yellow/orange safety vests? And if so... do you think they actually help you?

I was given 2 when I brought my ZXR. Never wore them and so I gave them to my partners father who rides a Mountain Bike to work...

**Eurodave** · 23rd June 2005, 09:35

Id like to wear one but Im worried that someone might see me!!!!

**vifferman** · 23rd June 2005, 09:37

They work best if they make you like like a traffic cop. For that you'd also need a white bike and helmet.

**Ixion** · 23rd June 2005, 09:38

Yes. And they do work. People notice them. Of course only some people. Others would not notice a nuclear bomb explosion under their noses. And some of the ones who do notice will then ignore me anyway. But it cuts down the odds.

I actually conducted a wee experiment with the aid of Mrs Ixion. Our deck has a good birds eye view of surrounding roads in several directions. I rode around the neighbourhood wearing no vest, red vest and yellow vest, in turn, a number of times, whilst Mrs Ixion watched and noted when and at point she noticed me in the traffic.

The vests were much more noticeable, and yellow better than red.

But, usual caveat, whatever you do or wear assume that noone at all has seen you

**placidfemme** · 23rd June 2005, 09:39

Yeah... I've only ever seen one biker wearing a vest... and it wasn't really that noticeable... I noticed him more due to the fact that I'm a biker... and as bikers do... we tune into our "bike-dar" (same as gay-dar but different lol)

**XP@** · 23rd June 2005, 09:53

Yup, I wear one, but it only comes out in winter or on night rides.

you still get some plonkers coming up from behind you.
I have a suspision that some of them see red, after following you for 10 km's then realising that you ain't a cop.

I desparatly need a new vest though, mins is toast coloured. But I can't find a decent one. The velcro ones don't work, the zip up ones are ok, if you remember to attach the zip to your jacket (i use a clip with a bit of cord attached. But the design of the full vest just catches too much wind. The cycle ones are too flimsy.

Does anyone know if you can get one specifically designed for bikes?
I imagine something with:
* just the reflective stuff, set up like a backpack, but without the pack.
* lots of reflectuve stuff high up so it is visible over a tail box.
* if you come off it will fall apart not catch on something and strangle you

It would also be nice to have some more reflective stuff near the hands. My indicator gave up last night and in the dark hand signals are usless.

**Odin** · 23rd June 2005, 09:57

Sorry... it might be safer but dam, I'll never wear one.

Anyway, i don't think many more cagers will notice you and its really the ones that wouldent notice you if you were on naked with flames out your ars that you have to worry about.

I like black bike, black leather and that but do have my headlight on at all times.

**Matt Bleck** · 23rd June 2005, 10:03

I have one but it doesn't go with my boots!

**zadok** · 23rd June 2005, 10:07

No. The closest I come is having silver reflective lines as part of my jacket design.

**placidfemme** · 23rd June 2005, 10:10

Originally Posted by XP@

Yup, I wear one, but it only comes out in winter or on night rides.

you still get some plonkers coming up from behind you.
I have a suspision that some of them see red, after following you for 10 km's then realising that you ain't a cop.

I desparatly need a new vest though, mins is toast coloured. But I can't find a decent one. The velcro ones don't work, the zip up ones are ok, if you remember to attach the zip to your jacket (i use a clip with a bit of cord attached. But the design of the full vest just catches too much wind. The cycle ones are too flimsy.

Does anyone know if you can get one specifically designed for bikes?
I imagine something with:
* just the reflective stuff, set up like a backpack, but without the pack.
* lots of reflectuve stuff high up so it is visible over a tail box.
* if you come off it will fall apart not catch on something and strangle you

It would also be nice to have some more reflective stuff near the hands. My indicator gave up last night and in the dark hand signals are usless.

I've never heard of any specifically (sp) for bikers... But I'm sure someone will know someone who could possibly make them... Then with all the bikers in-put as to what would be best (design wise) we might be able to place a small order (I doubt many bikers would want one... even if it was made specially for them).

I personally don't like looking like a glow stick on two wheels... but I prefer to ride at night when going on leisure (sp) rides, so if this could be organised I'd be happy to front up some $$ for two.

**vifferman** · 23rd June 2005, 10:11

Originally Posted by zadok

No. The closest I come is having silver reflective lines as part of my jacket design.

Yeah, mine has that too, as do my boots (including panels that look grey, but are reflective).

Originally Posted by @XP

Does anyone know if you can get one specifically designed for bikes?

If you don't find something, how about reflective stickers on your helmet, and attaching something reflective to your jacket (armbands, sash, sew on some reflective material)?

**Odin** · 23rd June 2005, 10:34

Originally Posted by vifferman

If you don't find something, how about reflective stickers on your helmet,

As far as i understand the glue on some stickers can weaken the helmet so just be carefull with that option.

**justsomeguy** · 23rd June 2005, 10:46

Frosty and co had a nice set with them at Taupo and it stayed on at the race track.......

**placidfemme** · 23rd June 2005, 10:47

Yeah, the reason why I ask this question... is because my partner and I don't have a computer at home... and I have access to the net at work... so I'm compiling a document (80 pages so far) on articles and tips for bikers off different web sites, and this one article said that a good thing to do when going on group rides, is to have the leader and the last biker wearing safety reflective vests... which got me to wondering how many bikers even wear them...

Judging by the results so far... not many.

P.S. Once I've finished my little document, I'll post it on here for anyone else to print out if they like...

**sAsLEX** · 23rd June 2005, 11:00

Originally Posted by vifferman

If you don't find something, how about reflective stickers on your helmet, and attaching something reflective to your jacket (armbands, sash, sew on some reflective material)?

yeah my fog city came with some little reflective stickers so i chucked them on the helmet, prob makes bugger all difference though