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My girlfriend got knocked off her bike a couple of days ago. Despite 2 flashing rear lights she was hit from the rear. The driver stopped and stated to Police he didny see her....
Ruth is now very keen on being as visible as possible on the road. She is pretty shaken and wants to buy some hi viz and hopefully stylish road items. She is particularly after a bright pink breathable jacket.
Can anyone recommend any items that fit the bill please?
. The driver stopped and stated to Police he didny see her....
Expensive, but Rapha do their woman's winter jacket in hi vis pink, and their Audax brevet jersey and gilet.
These seem pretty impressive. Someone in my work wears one and I haven’t knocked him off yet
I've got a proviz helmet, nice and comfy and very hi viz. german company
The driver didn't look for her nothing to do with the light. If the driver said he saw her then he would have just admitted driving into her.
Sadly, I agree with this. Really sorry to hear about the incident, and the resulting nerves with riding again. However, unfortunately I tend to think that the only benefit from acres of hi viz (beyond a certain point) is to make the rider feel safer.
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Realistically, beyond a static and flashing pair of light on the F+R , and some appropriate clothing, I'm not sure there's much more you can do in the way of passive prevention
They couldn’t admit to didn’t see you because I was updating Facebook could they. The idea of being hit from behind by someone is frightening as beyond lights and hiviz your at the mercy of idiots.
Polaris RBS stuff is good. Had drivers stop and tell me they seen me from miles away.
Can be found at bargain prices too
I agree that the driver said the didn't see her because otherwise he would have to explain why he ran in to her. It annoys me what little punishment is dished out to motorists who collide with cyclists.
It seems the 'I didn't see' is sufficient excuse. I guess wearing hi viz might negate that argument. Hope she is ok though.
Wait for the punishment not seeing a well lit rider is driving without due care possibly
I saw a car take a sneaky short cut up a one way street.
At the start of the one way bit there was a copper on a horse.
If a driver doesn't see a man in fluorescent yellow on a horse in an urban environment he is never going to see a cyclist whatever you are wearing.
Scary.
Did anybody see the report on visability studies in the press a few weeks ago? Some research, done in Australia I believe, claims hi-viz jackets are a waste of time and hi-viz leggings are what you need.It was a very small scale project and I am not sure how much it proves. Drivers still need to be aware of whats in front of them for anything to be effective. Too many of the tinned life are oblivious to their road surroundings.
Go for highly reflective stuff, rather than just bright colours: Bright colours don't work in the dark.
I think neon green and yellow stand out more than pink in the daytime (whereas at night/when lights are on reflectives are more important). Showers Pass offer this neon waterproof jacket which also has some reflective fabric.
I would also suggest looking at women's professional team kits (although the choice and availability to purchase is nowhere near as good as the men's). The pro team strips are designed to be eye catching, because they are advertising. Very often the most eye catching kits are also the most hideous/tasteless, which is no bad thing: if it looks so awful that drivers can't help noticing it and thinking it looks awful, then that means they have registered the presence of the cyclist.
She might also like to consider getting a mirror. SJS Cycles have a good range here, and I particularly like the B&M mirror for drop bars, given that it is often more awkward to look over your shoulder when using drop bars as opposed to flat bars.
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I had an idea for a gilet or top with LED strips sewn into it. Not seen anything like it for sale for a while.
Not pink, but the fluro https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPXHYSPHWPJ/planet-x-hydrosphere-waterproof-jacket is my jacket of choice, with my 3-season red/black Altura Peloton Transformer https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/altura-peloton-transformer-jacket/ (8% TCB) a close second this winter.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-flashlight-thermoliter-socks/ , with fluro orange http://www.wiggle.co.uk/defeet-e-touch-dura-hi-vis-gloves/ and the fluro http://www.wiggle.co.uk/giro-savant-road-helmet/ typically completes my "don't say SMIDSY" look.
What was the police reaction to the driver's Smidsy line? Are they pursuing anything? Which force? Was this at night or in the day?
As above, someone who fails to see a well illuminated bicycle is simply not looking. I fully understand why a traumatic experience like this would make someone want to go all out on bright clothing, but if someone's not looking, they still won't see.
Apologies for not answering the question. But would like to know more about how the police are treating it.
Proviz jackets are crazy visible in the dark although doesn’t come on pink and probably saying it’s breathable would be stretching it, worthwhile for riding in well dark conditions though.
The driver didn't look for her nothing to do with the light. If the driver said he saw her then he would have just admitted driving into her.
Uunfortunately this - if flashing lights don’t get their attention nothing will.
The daylight hiviz seems to be more of a blame shifting thing IMHO likely to be used by lawyerists in defence of their clients running over people whilst facebooking.
Hmm might be awkward if your stopping off for a pint thou.
Not sure it is available in pink but I highly recommend a Sugoi Zap jacket. It is both fluoro yellow and then has reflective beads all over it so seems to be best of both worlds in terms of day and night visibility.
The standard Proviz reflective jacket, while being excellent at night in terms of being seen, is a dull grey colour during the day, which is not ideal. They do however now sell a version which is flouro so good during they day, and has the same reflective properties for when it's dark. Comes in a choice of colours including yellow, orange and green:
Women's version: https://www.provizsports.com/en-gb/reflect360-crs-womens-cycling-jacket.html
I have one of the green ones and I like they way it performs in terms of visibility.
Pros - good day and night visibility, waterproof
Cons - breathability not great, cut may not suit everyone, price.
Doesn't matter what you are wearing. The driver that hits you is the one not paying attention or driving too fast for the road and conditions.
If the driver failed to see two rear lights, bright clothing is going to make zero difference. Cyclists are not difficult to see on the road, and if the driver isn't looking, any measures on our part are largely redundant.
Agree. Proviz is amazing at night but rubbish in the day. When commuting I run a solid light on the bike and an flashing light on the helmet, front and rear.
Also wear a bright yellow cycling top and a high Viz and reflective backpack cover. Still had someone drive into the back of me at a roundabout as they thought I'd gone! There's only so much you can do, it really is just a matter of when not if.
I saw the study which recommended bright colours on the moving parts make the biggest difference. Bright shoe covers or ankle bands seem to work well. Assuming the driver was looking there is a better chance of getting noticed. Seems the human brain blanks out a lot of the visual information a bit like speed reading. Our small brains can't cope with too much information so you need an attention grabber. Another idea would be bright lights on the spokes.
How good are her rear lights? Some rear lights are very poor.
Inattentional blindness
It's not that cyclists are hard to see...it's drivers aren't looking for them
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