Andy and all, Most of us (cyclists, pedestrians -- even drivers) seriously underestimate our visibility to others, no matter what time of day or year it is. Your mention of wearing "reflective vests" is worth adding some additional details.
CLASS 2 SAFETY VESTS -- NOT RUNNER'S VESTS I use and recommend wearing an ANSI "Class 2" reflective vest at night, in traffic, or wherever visibility is compromised (rain, fog,sleet, etc.). Combining a neon lime or international orange vest made of mesh or polyester fabric with wide reflective stripes visible 360 degrees around (including vertically) works very well. (Avoid cotton, vinyl, or canvas-like fabrics to ensure you won't drown in your own sweat.) My latest vest cost me $16 at Economy Lumber in Oakland, CA just three months ago. Your local hardware store, Home Despot/Lowe's, or safety supply outlet, as well as U-Line, Grainger's, and other business supply houses will have what you need. Make sure there is room underneath for any extra layers needed in very cold weather. VISIBLE WORK GLOVES I wear Custom Leather Craft (CLC) *#128 "High Visibility" *gloves (orange with lime yellow and reflective accents, plus device-friendly fingertips for those so inclined) year-round on my town bike. In colder weather, I wear light liners or fingerless cycling gloves underneath my CLC 128s. (Washing them regularly renews their brightness, BTW.) SEE: https://cdn.goclc.com/pdf/2018/work-gear-catalog.pdf (scroll down to page 71) They are made of synthetic and breathable materials so they work well in heat or cold. CLC now has LIGHTED gloves, too: see p.74 of their catalog for their *# L 146 "Safety Viz Pro"* gloves, a great way to "light up the night." Wear a brightly-colored helmet and decorate it with liots of reflective neon stickers. Reflective legbands (available at many bike shops) are another year-round essential for adequate "conspicuity." Multiple flashing red lights (I lover my Planet Bike "Superflash" lights and my even-brighter rechargeable 50-65 lumen tail light. And don't forget one flashing white light and one steady white light up front and/or on your helmet. Safe travels to you all every night! Jon Spangler League Cycling Instructor #3175 Alameda, CA USA On Friday, October 12, 2018 at 2:45:48 PM UTC-7, ascpgh wrote: > > The season has set for the rides at the end of the day, my local group > rides are over and to keep riding are adjustments are necessary and have > been made. This week I have had the pleasure to get out twice with lights > and the dark season paradigm of my place in the urban landscape. > > Tuesday I met my usual cohort from the group rides and we headed out at > actual sunset. We added reflective vests to augment front and rear lights > to compensate for the new time darkness settles. We're both experienced > riders and the muggy weather in the 70°s kept us lathered on our climbs and > faster segments. Darkness demands a return to caution perhaps taken lightly > through the summer when you can see everything and all is familiar. > > There is restorative effect to the renew need for caution and mindfulness > that a couple of crusty old riders hadn't experienced in a while otherwise. > It makes the miles and sights new again. In this episode we concluded by > having a meal and prolonged conversation afterward. The moules frites, > brisket, crusty bread, ales and stouts rewarded the reflections of the ride > and all sorts of things from the past. My friend is going to carry my > interests to the Philly Bike Expo and we hashed over many topics of > interest to a couple of traditional bike technology aficionados. > > > <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4FjxkSjEfVo/W73BSpX0lYI/AAAAAAAAMVw/F2ErzGZFksgLsGXNOThe0IHg4DxM_j3jwCL4CGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_6328.jpg> > > <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3bgcfmAjA8o/W73BSmY_XKI/AAAAAAAAMVg/j_ijBaMqjk0XBr2zp3XlmEU20zKEE2D3gCL4CGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_6330.jpg> > > <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qMIZ1Q1OkTw/W73BSj4Q0JI/AAAAAAAAMVg/thZv8dkQmG4cN0gItOhm86R_6UMKtFZAgCL4CGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_6336.jpg> > > > Thursday night was going to be the arrival of fall by proclamation of the > TV meteorologists and our friend who expressed a real interest in riding at > night was in a pharmacology exam until almost sunset but texted that she > was absolutely game to ride, so I met her and began the evening with dinner > instead of finishing with it like Tuesday. > > > We had burritos from the truck in the nearby neighborhood rising from the > ashes around here. It was nice enough to eat at their picnic table in the > parking lot of the pizza joint sponsoring them. After finishing and getting > going I found myself in a very different mode with a rider who's been rind > in the city for a bit more than a year. I concentrated on sight and sound, > moved from intermediate destination to another at a steady pace to avoid > fearsomeness and found myself really enjoying showing someone this secret > playground by just riding. > > > The two of us actually rode farther and longer than my friend and I did > Tuesday night. We saw the neon and LED lights of the city, the sounds, the > wildlife (natural and human), a collegiate women's soccer match, the local > darkness and rough to go with the light and smooth. By the end we were both > very happy to have taken the time and effort to go, do and see all that we > did (and eat a burrito). > > > <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tbOo6gHs0x8/W8AL_2pCZiI/AAAAAAAAMX4/9bY1J4qzL3szQyNMPVYGDPVuephXcL4YwCL4CGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_6339.jpg> > > <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jjwe6Foy4Pw/W8AL_2vhqhI/AAAAAAAAMX4/0Srg2nGQlJ8s7yJ3VoMj20Ce1dhDCoScQCL4CGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_6342.jpg> > > <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PDW-6yz9mbw/W8AL_4xGRTI/AAAAAAAAMX4/lDPAftkrYfMZw5Y841cSuN30XAJch6IkQCL4CGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_6343.jpg> > > <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Recwk1WLPD8/W8AL_yiKb1I/AAAAAAAAMYc/GPbfU1vr35Evua2QdF36X3zcSSSH_BFAACL4CGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_6349.jpg> > > <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WQbUbw9-st4/W8AL_1Nx7QI/AAAAAAAAMX4/VoUgy_GvgvswMsCLUiD6zaQ0fz2PkE5BQCL4CGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_6351.jpg> > > <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iN8PJPjYMEU/W8AL_ya2_fI/AAAAAAAAMX4/Sbys3iKs74QFjoHpu7RbOC1Y0j1T5TqkQCL4CGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_6353.jpg> > > > I'm humbled by the reset I get by breaking my habits, whether by showing > someone new something or the familiar but via a different manner. > > > Andy Cheatham > > Pittsburgh > > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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