How to be seen
Riding in the dark can be dangerous. To help keep you safe, I’ve put together a selection of high-vis products perfect for commuting. Read on to be seen:
Every commuter knows what it feels like to be overseen while riding. Usually, you come away from a close call shook and maybe angry, but every time it happens you realize how dangerous it can be to ride when it’s dark. To help solve this problem, bicycle lights are a must and reflective high-vis clothing can make you more noticeable to drivers and other cyclists. I ride to work every day and below is a selection of some of the best products that I have found.
Neon yellow is super easy to see.
Reflective elements make being seen easier.
Helmets
First and foremost, a highly visible helmet/cap/cover is a great place to start. The best products use loud neon colours and reflective strips to get attention. I personally like the Alpina Valparola RC helmet in the ‘be visible’ colour. It is well ventilated, which in colder temperatures has me putting on the GripGrap Skull Cap to keep me warm while also increasing how well I can be seen. However, for those who already own a non-reflective helmet, the VAUDE Helmet Raincover is great for increased visibility and it blocks out wind as well as rain.
Gloves
Bicyclists don’t have turn signals, so signalling where you want to go requires putting out a hand. When the sun goes down, you hand signal is best noticed with a high-vis glove. Most manufacturers produce a thermal, neon version and one of my favourites comes again from GripGrab. The Primavera Hi-Vis gloves are both warm and reflective, making them hard to miss.
The Endura Luminite Series
Straight out of Scotland, the Luminite Series is essential for any commuter. The line-up is waterproof, windproof and super reflective. They can be easily put on over normal work clothes and they are breathable enough so that you don’t show up to the office super sweaty.
When headlights shine.
The Endura Luminte II Jacket
The last few weeks, I keep getting asked “Hey, is that a light on your jacket?” When I walk in the office, people definitely notice the neon yellow colour, but the integrated LED light is what really catches their eye. It has three modes and really helps supplement my rear light. The Luminite II jacket is also completely waterproof with taped seams, which makes rainy winter rides to and from the office a no brainer.
The Endura Luminite Pants
I honestly don’t know what I would do without these pants. I get my jeans on for work and pull the Endura Luminites over and I am ready to ride no matter the weather. The zipped ankle makes pulling the pants on over shoes super easy and the popper system lets me adjust the leg length. At first, I was a little sceptical about wearing black pants, when the whole point was to be seen, but the reflective elements on the Luminite Pants contrast really well.
The Endura Luminite II Overshoes
The last piece of Luminite kit keeps socks dry and shoes clean. The overshoes are super robust and also have reflective elements that help to be seen. Especially, since they move with the pedals. Besides keeping my feet dry no matter how hard the rain, the Luminite Overshoes are super easy to take on and off. They can also be pulled over clipless as well as work shoes.
Make your clothing, gear and bike reflective
To add even more reflective bits to my bike, I also use the Büchekl Sekuclip spoke reflectors. They clip quickly around the spokes and when riding they produce a circular disc of reflection in my wheel. This makes me even more noticeable while riding and they work great for Road, MTB and City & Touring bikes with 1.8-2.0 mm thick spokes.
Sometimes you already have the perfect winter clothing, but they aren’t reflective enough. An easy way to fix this is with Holmenkol’s Reflective Marking Spray. When I first heard of it, I wondered if it really works. Does it stand up to rain, can I easily remove it from my clothes and other such questions were on my mind. When I tried it out, I was surprised. The level of reflection is amazing. Applying it to clothing, or any material for that matter, just needs a steady hand. Removing it is also easy with soap and water or by throwing the apparel in the washing machine. When it comes to rain, it stays put and doesn’t fade. For those who ride a lot in the dark, I can only recommend the spray.
Applying the spray is super easy.
The reflective film is easily noticed.
Always be seen
Since I have been wearing reflective clothing and gear, as well as using Holmenkol’s Reflective Marking Spray, I have noticed a dramatic decrease in the amount of times I’ve had to slam on the brakes because someone didn’t see me. Riding with neon colours and reflective elements makes me feel safer and has reduced the stress of my morning and evening commutes. For those of you that ride when it’s dark, I can only recommend high-vis apparel and gear.
