| While many people in various countries campaign for | | | | greys, dark blues and anything which helps you to melt |
| changes in their laws, to compel cyclists to wear | | | | into the background. Some people like the flashy |
| proper bike helmets, arguably they are missing the | | | | abstract designs made up of dozens of colors; these |
| most important point in road safety: to be seen. Cycling | | | | are okay, but don't forget this is how camouflage is |
| shirts and other attire designed for biking can feature | | | | designed to work, by breaking up your body outline. So |
| outlandish designs or obnoxious color schemes, the | | | | it is probably best to choose a really bright canary |
| kind of style you would never normally dare to wear. | | | | yellow or a luminous lime green. These stand out |
| Out on the road cycling though, it is precisely these | | | | perfectly to others on the road. |
| eye-catching jerseys that draw the attention of other | | | | The typical danger times for cyclists are at night, and |
| road users. If they cannot miss you with their eyes, it is | | | | during the transitions at dawn and dusk. It is a wise |
| far less likely they will hit you with their truck! So while it | | | | idea to maximise your protection at these times, and |
| is important for riders to protect themselves with | | | | even to incorporate some extra tactics during the |
| bicycle helmets, it must be remembered that a helmet | | | | daylight hours too. High visibility vests, like those used in |
| is only necessary once you have failed in your number | | | | construction, are cheaply and readily available. They |
| one objective: to be seen. | | | | have highly reflective material which will guarantee you |
| There are a number of other advantages to wearing | | | | are seen at night. Using wrist bands made of the |
| a cycling shirt instead of a standard cotton shirt, most | | | | same reflective material will be spotted by vehicle |
| related to comfort and aerodynamics, but one great | | | | drivers, and they make you look wider as your hands |
| feature is that the pockets are at the back. This is | | | | are spread apart on the handlebars. |
| helpful in terms of the mechanics of riding the bike, as | | | | As a high proportion of road collisions involving cyclists |
| you will not need to worry about heavy objects in your | | | | result in severe injuries, it does make infinite sense to |
| pocket stretching down and banging off your knees as | | | | protect your head with a bicycle helmet, so that |
| you pedal. More importantly, things will be less likely to | | | | hopefully any brain injuries are avoided. But this is |
| fall out of the pockets, which could easily land under | | | | always going to be the second best outcome; better |
| the wheels and cause a bike accident. | | | | to be seen in the first place and avoid the accident |
| So hopefully you are now convinced that cycling shirts | | | | altogether. Each time you go out riding your bike, go |
| can offer you a safety advantage on the road. The | | | | through your checklist: bright cycling shirt, "hi viz" vest, |
| next question is: what color is best? It doesn't matter | | | | bike lights, helmet. They are all lifesavers on the |
| really, as long as it is brightly colored. Avoid blacks, | | | | highway. |