I was in my jam jar this morning sitting at a red light on A10 this morning. Opposite me was a Dayglo Derek astride an SV650 in bright yellow with the biggest top box I’ve ever seen:w00t:
His lights went green and he launched that scoot in a fashion Vale would be proud of, front wheel in the air for what seemed ages. Really made me smile:D
Anyway, I’m on my merry way and within minutes I’m on a duel carriageway and WHOOOSH!! another Dayglo Derek, this time on an R1 comes past me, bib fluttering in his jet wash…lol
That fella must have been doing way way over the ton in a 50 zone:w00t:
So is today “Dayglo Stunting Day” or are the nutters wearing yellow in an attempt to appear normal;)
no seriously when was in town this afternoon about5pm on way home, some of the bikes/bikers i saw you really coud not see em and a rear light is feck all, was round nr the bbc place nr somerset hse, lstreet lighting is crap and it shocked me how much you really could not see these people.
As the wearer of dark alpinestars and dainese leather jackets and dark lids and black gloves I never thought i’d say this - but after having my accident I have decided to go ‘DAYGLO DEREK’ in an effort to be seen by the legions of blind fuckwits that menace our roads.
I haven’t got any evidence to support it (but based on common sense) I’m sure these things make you more visible and less likely to get knocked off.
And at the end of the day I’d rather look uncool (no offence Kevsta - I’m on your side ) than cool and dead/lying in the road with broken bones.
I found when I went from a standard issue Dayglo Derek bib top to a full blown pretend copper jacket with extra special reflective pads, people noticed me alot more, especially side on. Also if I wear it out of London where people aren’t used to Dayglo Dereks, drivers pull out of my way much faster on motorways
For what it’s worth I think that, given the p1ss-poor standard of observation by 99% of cagers, they ain’t going to see you whether you’re dressed in Black, hi-viz or wrapped with Christmas lights.
Pre-DAS I’ve been knocked off my scooter twice, both times I was hi-vizzed to the max, and once I was stationary where a guy (Merc driver, naturally) just ‘forgot’ to brake. Luckily Plod was in front of me and saw the whole thing…
For riding in the dark I use a reflective H belt. It’s silver rather than yellow (it’s an Oxford one from Argos of all places).
When I was out with a buddy last night to critised me coz it was blinding him when he was behind me. It really does reflect the light amazingly well.
If it doesn’t make any difference from not having one then I’ve wasted just a few quid. If it does (and it seems to) then it could make all the difference. I can’t justify why I shouldn’t wear it.
After V’s accident I went straight out and got myself a dayglo HG jacket and a Silver helmet.
I saw a Richa Jacket the other day that is similar, Nod at clubpromoto had seen my HG jacket and decided he should get some similar stuff in. So far they are selling well.
I think a lot of people have decided that being seen is better than being cool.
No I don’t think so. I don’t wear one because there’s zero evidence to suggest they actually serve any useful purpose. What’s more, despite bikes being hard-wired and the explosion of use of ‘high-viz’ accidents rates are climbing at an alarming rate.
) than cool and dead/lying in the road with broken bones.