On 25 Apr, 15:44, Toom Tabard wrote:
On 25 Apr, 15:15, "mileburner" wrote:



"Toom Tabard" wrote in message

...

On 25 Apr, 11:06, "mileburner" wrote:
"Toom Tabard" wrote in message

...

I'm aware of the effects of risk compensation

The main benefit of wearing a helmet that often seems to be overlooked is
that it helps the wearer to ride faster and take more chances. Cornering
can
be done faster, braking done later etc. and an overall feeling of
euphoria
can accompany the feeling of being indestructible. Knee and elbow pads
can
also help, gloves are essential for this.

Yes, and if you also wear a high-viz jacket, you'll be seen five miles
away, but will have been forgotten about and invisible by the time you
get close. (Understandably) not many people know that ;-)

Hi-viz is exceptionally good because it confuses the drivers. Under normal
circumstances, a cyclist cannot be seen from the front which is why drivers
pull out into their path. But if you wear hi-viz, the reflected light burns
deeply into the retina and sends a signal to the brain to force them to try
and work out what this bright coloured object is coming toward them. By the
time the have worked it that it is a cyclist, you are already past safely
them.

I've experienced this as a cyclist (in very few instances), but not as
a driver - it must be down to subjective skill. But, on balance, hi-
viz works.

When the traffic is approaching from behind, the drivers naturally assume
that the cyclist is actually sitting on a JCB, but the JCB is invisible.
They cannot work out why they cannot see the invisible JCB but to be safe,
they overtake very wide in case it appears.

Indeed, it doesn't matter what you are, unless they expect you to pull
in a dig a ditch - hi-viz works.

Maybe its not a JCB, but one of those mini dumpers will make a decent
indentation into the side of a regular car, which ARE topped by a
driver wearing a hi-vis jacket/vest and no other change from a cyclist
above the hips. Same height, same profile. Wear a high vis and they
think your driving a mini dumper.