Commuting - High Visibility Wind Breaker?

What is it with cycling? If it's designed for cycling, it costs a minimum of $100! I just want a yellow, high visibility wind breaker...nothing fancy. I don't care if it's cut specifically for cycling. I don't care if it's waterproof. Just a cheap nylon wind breaker. Does such a thing exist?

I got a Canari Hi-Viz yellow nylon shell at Dick's Sporting Goods (cousin of FogDog, Sports Authority, et al) for like $30. Cycling specific, even. Not terribly breathable, but brighter than a thousand suns.

Performance has a cheap plastic job that seems to be really good for rain. Bet you'd sweat your butt off in it though...

The Canari attracted my eye too. If I got one, I'd consider ironing on some Scotchlite tape (http://www.identi-tape.com/iron-on.html). I'd probably get the 2-inch-wide stuff and iron a complete stripe of it around the waist, as low as possible, and then a stripe up the rear of the arms & across the back, and another stripe across the front.

To give a feel for the relative value of reflective tape versus hi-vis cloth, here's my reflective vest in daylight with some camera flash...

http://www.mechbgon.com/visibility/class3vest.jpg

...and here it is in darkness with no ambient light, just camera flash. The hi-vis cloth is basically not there, just reflective tape.

http://freepages.thesecretlabs.com/~mechbgon/arsenal.jpg

A much better, and way more flexible, solution is to buy a
lime green safety vest to wear OVER your choice of coats.

These vest ,in lime green, will get you noticed while making
the clothes or coats you are wearing a non-issue. Wear
whatever you want to mate 'cause you won't need no stinking
special bike clothes if ya got a vest. :D

What is it with cycling? If it's designed for cycling, it costs a minimum of $100! I just want a yellow, high visibility wind breaker...nothing fancy. I don't care if it's cut specifically for cycling. I don't care if it's waterproof. Just a cheap nylon wind breaker. Does such a thing exist?

Mountain Eqipment Co-Op

mec.ca

This jacket is $65.00 canadian. It's available in yellow. I've had one for three years. It's well made, problem free.

http://mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442587481&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692343&bmUID=1159887291324

Yup. Safety vest.
http://alertshirt.com/index.html

Mountain Eqipment Co-Op

mec.ca

This jacket is $65.00 canadian. It's available in yellow. I've had one for three years. It's well made, problem free.

http://mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442587481&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692343&bmUID=1159887291324

+1 I just bought one of those two weeks ago and I really like it

+1 I just bought one of those two weeks ago and I really like it

+2 - I've had one for two years, love it.

Something like Montane Featherlite (http://www.montane.co.uk/productdetails.php?productid=42&rid=7)velo

My older version of This (http://www.sprayway.com/products/mens/mens-mountain-lite/microlite-iv-top)is yellow with reflective stuff.

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/400/10_5202YEL.jpg


Pearl Izumi Zephrr - very breathable, high vis in daylight, good 360 reflective material at night, with other great cycling specific features for less than $50.

I've been extremely happy with my Performance Bike Neon reflective vest for $28. For warm weather riding mostly. I agree that many LBS keep prices astronomically high for some strange reason; Performance Bike, however, has the best prices by a longshot around here in terms of retail stores. Nashbar also has great prices. As an example of the sticker shock, the MINIMUM priced mens helmet at a small, not-fancy LBS in Venice, CA was $85 (a good helmet, though), where at Performance, you had the full range from $30-$150.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pearl-Izumi-OpTik-Jacket-Sz-Med_W0QQitemZ110039247427QQihZ001QQcategoryZ2904QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosti ng

I just bought a nice yellow/reflective Performance jacket with back pocket and pit zips from the local Goodwill store for 7 bucks.

If you can't find something cheap locally, I suggest the Performance Century Jacket (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19931&subcategory_ID=1130#), hi-viz yellow, reflective trim, only $34.98 online right now. I have one, it's just right for days it's a little too chilly in the morning. When you get warmed up, just unzip and let it fly behind. Breathes OK, water resistant (fine for riding through a shower), and you can stuff it in a jersey back pocket for storage.

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/150/10_5390HVY.jpg

Thanks for all the tips. I prefer to deal with local businesses if possible, so I settled on this Giordana wind breaker. (http://www.gitabike.com/cgi-bin/shop/sc_searchz.cgi?user_id=99479&database=dbase_shop.exm&template=gio_win_sr2.htm&0_option=1&0=gi-jckt-stor) I got it for $55 from my LBS. I wore it in this morning, and it's great. Seems quite breathable, light, and definitely visible enough.

If you can't find something cheap locally, I suggest the Performance Century Jacket (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19931&subcategory_ID=1130#), hi-viz yellow, reflective trim, only $34.98 online right now. I have one, it's just right for days it's a little too chilly in the morning. When you get warmed up, just unzip and let it fly behind. Breathes OK, water resistant (fine for riding through a shower), and you can stuff it in a jersey back pocket for storage.

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/150/10_5390HVY.jpg
+1 I like mine very much.