Wildwood 

There have been many studies about on-road bike/auto interaction.
A British one found if you have a baby carrier, even without baby, you get the greatest 'passing allowance' of all cyclists. just think of how much more power you will build climbing the mountain.

I just try to look weird on the bikes to get noticed, but in your territory weird is the order of the day. Used to be - Hwy9 on a dreary, foggy morning = blinkies galore.

I do miss the Santa Cruz Mts roads. Probably still as narrow, twisty and earthquake cracked as I remember them.

edit: as a positive contribution - you could call Grant P and see if they still have the patented SpeedBlend tires. These (ooopps, this rear is my last 1) came in a generous 28mm, . Guaranteed to be noticed at road speeds.

Milton Keynes

Or asphalt grey.

Milton Keynes

This one I need. Does it come in an XXL?

Milton Keynes

One of my hobbies is ham radio, and after looking up the Morse Express website I had to explain why www.morsex.com was in my browser history.

Milton Keynes

Wear one of these with a handheld radio on your belt and you can go virtually anywhere.

Milton Keynes

My mother-in-law gave me a brand new hi-viz yellow coat with reflective bands on it similar to this. I have yet to wear it since it's pretty think and probably too hot to wear on a bike, even in cold weather. I'd be sweating buckets in all but well below freezing weather. And it's not something I'd just wear out somewhere.

livedarklions

I wear yellow shirts, which works well for me. I didn't mean to imply that there's anything wrong with preferring the vest, just that it doesn't work well for me. I find them awkward, and they rub unpleasantly on me in the positions I ride.
I'm glad you found something that works for you. Sorry if I came off snarky, didn't mean to.

canklecat

From observing friends and other road cyclists, some of whom prefer black or gray kit, a white or hi-viz helmet can make a big difference in visibility. A black helmet is the last thing I'd choose. Mine are white, white with hi-viz orange on the rear, and hi-viz yellow. My aero helmet is gray and I'm considering adding some hi-viz color and reflective tape. I also add front and rear helmet lights most rides -- small, flat Blackburn 2'Fers, very discrete, lightweight.

I've watched other roadies who were wearing black/gray, including helmets, from a distance, as they passed through patches of sunlight and dappled shade. They virtually vanish into invisibility in the shade along roadsides, even in daylight. The eye adapts mostly for daylight so even in daytime the shadows under trees can hide us.

And I usually run at least one headlight and taillight, day or night. Usually two or more at night. I've had cars slow beside me while passing and comment on how much easier it is to see me. That's good. My theory is that it doesn't take blindingly bright lights to be seen, but multiple lights help drivers quickly estimate our orientation -- direction of travel, distance and relative closing speed. Basic human physiology stuff -- our binocular vision is aided by two or more points in the distance.

I'm not particular about jerseys and usually buy whatever color is on sale in the jersey I want. I snagged three Pearl Izumi aero jerseys last year, two in hi-viz yellow, one in blue, because they were half price or less. The blue was just luck. Usually it's the hi-viz colors on sale because the cool kids won't wear 'em. Those PI and my Garneau and Bontrager jerseys all have pretty good reflective patches for night visibility. The Garneau has the best reflective trim -- it appears matte gray/black in daylight, but very bright under light at night.

But nothing helps drivers who aren't looking or don't give a damn. I've encountered my share of both kinds.

Slightspeed

I have both of those things, hi- viz jerseys and AOL.com account. Both seem to work pretty well, especially the high viz jerseys.

tkamd73 

Why don’t you try a sky blue jersey with some clouds on it, or may a farm field, or some other roadside scenery, drivers will always see the bike first. 🤪
Tim

rsbob 

Riding today in a hilly area with long shadows on several stretches, I could just barely make out approaching cyclists on two separate occasions because they wore black and gray with black helmets and no lights. I could imagine seeing a car going wide to pass me taking them out. They no doubt saw me a long way off with white flashing LEDs and high vis vest and white helmet. Could almost hear them saying, look at that old dork, as I was thinking, ‘potentially deadly slaves to fashion.’ I wanted to put “Kick me” signs on their backs, but don’t wish them ill.

Tomm Willians

Pulled that up and read into the second page .......wow 😳😳😳😳😳

afm199

I ride motorcycles and bicycles. On bikes, I always wear hi vis. Thirty years ago I loved my cool Gios blue and white wool jerseys. Today all I want is to be highly visible. I always wear high vis, use a led blinking light, and a mirror.

I have had several motorcycle experiences where a driver just did not see me. I know because I chased them down, flagged them over, and explained that they had nearly killed me, and the legal and moral consequence, had they done so, would have destroyed their lives. They all said the same thing: "I just didn't see you."

Geno929

Awesome kit, but Amazon has a three week backlog! HeeHee

Milton Keynes

I really had no idea that AOL was still around.

sacr

I don't buy the if "if every-one is wearing hivis, I wont stand out" theory. For my eyesight, his vis yellow immediately gets my attention.....for example in the distance I see the hivis and then when getting closer i see there are five other riders there dressed in camoflage. It is just important in bright sunlight to be wearing hi vis, its going to be more noticeable then high intensity flashing lights, roads are generally black...............

It seems to be more of a vanity thing to wear dark, and/or not have suitable lighting. High intensity flashing lights, yes they work, and i use them front and rear, the front one is especially bright and it really makes motorists notice you and perhaps not pull out in front of me. But they are not the whole package, unless you have them projecting to the sides as well, yes most incidents are from cyclists getting hit from behind, but poeple not seeing you from side on is an issue too.

I wear also wear fluro socks, and make sure Im turning the cranks over even when coasting downhill to create the movement image. My present helmet is dark......my next will be a fluro colour, the only thing that helped me pick up a cyclist recently when driving my car was the fluro helmet(the cyclist was riding when it was dusk with no other visual aids)

My 80s touring bike still has the toe clips and pedals with reflectors on both sides, another reason I wont be changing to cleats. There is a reflector on the rear mudguard(its technically illegal where I live for bicycles not to have front and rear reflectors, but never enforced) I also have left in the orginal spoke mounted reflectors, typically one mounts them opposite the valve for balance, yet they can be moved anywhere to get your wheel perfectly balanced(I actually run two per wheel), they really dont weigh much at all and in theory could only add microsecs to your ride times, but Im guessing to some out there they are as sissy as having streamers coming from the handlebars? My current tyres also have a reflective band on them, from any angle I light up like a christmas tree!

Reflective 3m tape, have put a couple on my helmet and some on my bike pump(have resisted putting any tape on the frame of the bicycle.

downtube42

After a cyclist was killed just a few miles ahead of me, on an Ohio brevet*, I rethought everything including quitting cycling. I came across the scene; I'll just stop there.

I thought about spinny reflectors, a giant flashing beacon glued to my helmet, or a dozen blinkies. Eventually I covered my bike with reflective tape of different colors, doubled up on tail lights, and carried on. Everybody dies, I decided, and I like to ride my bike.

I think high vis increases your chances of being seen, but it's not guaranteed either way. Wear want you want, but most of all enjoy the ride.
Edit: I forgot one important thing. If it feels unsafe, get off the road.

*Although I'm a randonneur and ride plenty at night, this particular collision occurred mid-day, weather clear as a bell, on a straight flat road with probably a half-mile straight line visibility and no traffic. The car that hit him from behind was probably the only car in fifteen minutes.

Cyclist0108

Oy. I am really sorry.

Illgot

I bought a Reflectoes vest. Good thing is it is the solid silver reflective vest. Bad news is it does not breathe so you'll end up sweaty. I stand out like a beacon since the whole front and back are reflective ant not just strips.

Cougrrcj

My internet experince started with AOL in the late '80s, and still have my AOL account. I only switched to gmail as my primary account because some vendors would not accept a AOL account for some reason.

royphotog

From more miles on a motorcycle than a bicycle, I have learned that high vis is helpful, but the best defense is situational awareness. Know the situation you're in and avoid bad situations. Anticipate what the other person is going to do. I know that is easier said than done and I find it a little harder on a bicycle when your riding on streets with lots of traffic that is going much faster than you are.

Cyclist0108

Is that an AOL avatar?

Cougrrcj

Not really. Or as I prefer to put it - and as Joe Walsh puts it -- "I'm an analog man in a digital world"