Not without that lime green vest you don't...

[genec]

"Aw Honey... it's bike to work day... I don't wanna look like a fred out there. Com'on, just today, let me go without it."

"Nope. I don't want you out in that traffic without that lime green vest, now go back and put it on... "

So I slink back into the bedroom and put on the lime green dayglow vest... and then do "Bike to Work" day looking like a fred (like usual, actually).

So does your significant other control certain aspects of your cycling?

--whipped.

[deputyjones]

I always have to carry ID so "When you get smoked on the highway at least they will know who to call." My wife has been a paramedic for 10 years in an urban environment.

[filtersweep]

If it makes you feel any better, "everyone" around here commutes in those in the winter, when it is dark all morning. Even kids walking to school wear them. There is a new law in the EU that requires all drivers to have a vest within reach from the drivers seat to wear in the event of a roadside mechanical. Fashion takes a backseat to safety--- except in the US, of course.

"Aw Honey... it's bike to work day... I don't wanna look like a fred out there. Com'on, just today, let me go without it."

"Nope. I don't want you out in that traffic without that lime green vest, now go back and put it on... "

So I slink back into the bedroom and put on the lime green dayglow vest... and then do "Bike to Work" day looking like a fred (like usual, actually).

So does your significant other control certain aspects of your cycling?

--whipped.

[littlewaywelt]

None. I'm happy and motivated to wear colors like that if helps increase the odds that I get to kiss my kids & wife at the end of the day.

Bike to work day is a reason to not wear the vest? You're kidding right?

IMHO, there's nothing that looks more amateur and noobish than someone that doesn't wear that kind of stuff and maximize visibilty in every way out there.

[yak]

...

So does your significant other control certain aspects of your cycling?

--whipped.


Only the price of my bikes ;-)

[Ginny]

I make my DH wear his roadID when we ride.

[hotbike]

"Aw Honey... it's bike to work day... I don't wanna look like a fred out there. Com'on, just today, let me go without it."

"Nope. I don't want you out in that traffic without that lime green vest, now go back and put it on... "

So I slink back into the bedroom and put on the lime green dayglow vest... and then do "Bike to Work" day looking like a fred (like usual, actually).

So does your significant other control certain aspects of your cycling?

--whipped.

I would not want to ride without my reflective vest. A new law in NY State says it should be 1) ANSI Lime Green, or 2) Strong Yellow Green.

I have a bib style vest that I bought last year in the LBS, it's orange mesh with horizontal reflective lime green stripes,

But,

About two weeks ago I was driving my van, and I saw something very bright lime green lying in the street.
I stopped my van, got out and picked it up.
It was a Lime Green vest thta the construction workers wear!
It has vertical silver eflective stripes.
I took it home and ran it through the washing machine. The tags say "maximum 25 washes"
and "3M scotchlite reflective striping"

I wear the lime green vets now, because the other one had no sides, and it was a pain in the neck to pull over. The new used vest has a velcro front zipper.

As for what Mellisa has to say, her Uncle taught her to drive one of his Kenworths before I adopted her, and she says if a truck comes up behind me, I should pull over to the curb and lean the bike so the end of the left handlebar does not stick out past the curb.

You do realize that trucks are eight and a half feet wide? Cars are only five and a half feet wide.

[slowandsteady]

Nope. I am an adult and I dress myself.

[CommuterRun]

Being car-lite, mine hates when I don't ride. I have to be at work by 6. She has to get the kids up, dressed, fed, ready and off to school, then she drives to work. In order for our schedules to jibe, on days I don't ride we actually have to leave earlier for her to drop me off, than I leave when I ride.

Don't feel bad about the vest. My morning commutes are before daylight year-round. How I dress is somewhat determined by which bike I take, but even on the road bike in full kit I wear a vest that not only has hi-vis reflective striping, but also red, flashing, LED lights built into it.:)

[I-Like-To-Bike]

So does your significant other control certain aspects of your cycling?

None at all. She doesn't interfere or control anything about my bicycling; and I never interfere with her gardening pursuits. Works for us.

[slowandsteady]

None at all. She doesn't interfere or control anything about my bicycling; and I never interfere with her gardening pursuits. Works for us.


I don't know why, but the thought of someone interfering with someone's gardening pursuits sounds absolutely hysterical.

[genec]

None. I'm happy and motivated to wear colors like that if helps increase the odds that I get to kiss my kids & wife at the end of the day.

Bike to work day is a reason to not wear the vest? You're kidding right?

IMHO, there's nothing that looks more amateur and noobish than someone that doesn't wear that kind of stuff and maximize visibilty in every way out there.

Sure I'm kidding... but in reality I usually wear orange and red... I wear the old vest when it is cooler... but it sure was funny being stopped at the door this morning... "where's your vest..." "Com'on babe, ain't the orange enough?" ;)

[genec]

None at all. She doesn't interfere or control anything about my bicycling; and I never interfere with her gardening pursuits. Works for us.

Actually I do interfere with her gardening pursuits... she tends to be too aggressive when trimming the expensive show plants... and doesn't trim low enough at the branches.

We like cycads, palms and bromiliads... and sometimes she trims just a touch too much on the cycads. Poor plant ends up with "white sidewalls" until it sprouts new leaves.

[noisebeam]

Don't mess with my garden.

[Niles H.]

If it makes you feel any better, "everyone" around here commutes in those in the winter, when it is dark all morning. Even kids walking to school wear them. There is a new law in the EU that requires all drivers to have a vest within reach from the drivers seat to wear in the event of a roadside mechanical. Fashion takes a backseat to safety--- except in the US, of course.

The EU seems to have some tendency toward losing track of individual freedom(s).

***
(There is something about mandatory helmet laws that is a bit offensive (except for children). Do we really want to go down the path of treating people (more and more) like children? Or would it be better if we did it less and less?

What about individual responsibility? What about that old statement regarding freedom, 'Where is virtue without freedom?' -- if we are forced to do everything, where is the room for non-coerced actions that spring from another source?)

[slowandsteady]

Actually I do interfere with her gardening pursuits... she tends to be too aggressive when trimming the expensive show plants... and doesn't trim low enough at the branches.

We like cycads, palms and bromiliads... and sometimes she trims just a touch too much on the cycads. Poor plant ends up with "white sidewalls" until it sprouts new leaves.


When asked by a recently engaged woman what the secret to a long and happy marriage was, my happily married spouse of 8 years replied..."apathy."

Seriously, just let it go. Let it all go. Most of what people focus on doesn't matter at all. How many times have you heard that people argue all the time but they don't even know what all those arguments were about? That never happens to me. I can't even remember the last time we argued.

[Niles H.]

...control certain aspects of your cycling?

--whipped.
control, obedience training, and obedience are not a large part of one's ideal relationships

if they rear their heads, they can get addressed directly

***
A cousin would simply answer his wife with "Yes, maam, doan want no trouble, maam."

[Niles H.]

Asked why they got along so well, one couple explained it this way,

Husband: "I just do whatever she says."

Wife: nodding and laughter.

[Wulfheir]

A couple of weeks ago I saw some construction workers wearing high-vis cycling vests. I guess we aren't the only ones who recognize the benefit. :P

[DM4]

Are there some magical properties that these ridiculous vests possess? Are they impact resistant? I have been cycling for almost 40 years and over the course of that time have ridden well over 100,000 miles. I have never nor will I ever wear anything as hideous as a reflective vest. You will not find anything reflective on any of my bicycles.

I have never had a collision with a car. The only near collisions I have ever had were due to people not paying attention when they drive. An ugly vest is not going to cause people to dive with more care.

[slowandsteady]

Are there some magical properties that these ridiculous vests possess? Are they impact resistant? I have been cycling for almost 40 years and over the course of that time have ridden well over 100,000 miles. I have never nor will I ever wear anything as hideous as a reflective vest. You will not find anything reflective on any of my bicycles.

I have never had a collision with a car. The only near collisions I have ever had were due to people not paying attention when they drive. An ugly vest is not going to cause people to dive with more care.


Not all collisions are with inattentive jerks. Sometimes you just aren't that visible. The vest helps.

[sgtsmile]

I don't know why, but the thought of someone interfering with someone's gardening pursuits sounds absolutely hysterical.

Sounds dangerous to me... ;)

[Godwin]

I just sport a backpack like this http://i21.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/92/e8/b488_1.JPG
and put reflective materials on my commuter so it doesn't really look like it shouldn't be there: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/somegodwin/PDR_0056.jpg.
(No significant other here to tell me what to do).

[slowandsteady]

I think I just burned my retinas.

[sgtsmile]

The EU seems to have some tendency toward losing track of individual freedom(s).

***
(There is something about mandatory helmet laws that is a bit offensive (except for children). Do we really want to go down the path of treating people (more and more) like children? Or would it be better if we did it less and less?

What about individual responsibility? What about that old statement regarding freedom, 'Where is virtue without freedom?' -- if we are forced to do everything, where is the room for non-coerced actions that spring from another source?)


Um, right. I recall being in Germany a number of years ago and following the case of a person charged with some terrorist activity. The police used a gun in capturing him, and the scandal that brought about - since the force used was deemed excessive since the guy was running at the time - cost some government ministers their careers. Why? Cause of a violation of rights.

A German explained it to me this way: They went down that slippery slope before, and are not willing to let it happen again.

[AlmostTrick]

I'm the boss in our marriage... my wife said I could be. :)

When I first started bicycle commuting I got myself a Hi Vis reflective vest based on the recommendations on this board. When I showed it to my wife I said "Look, just like the highway workers wear!" She responded "Oh great, those guys get hit all the time!"

But she does understand the benefits of being visible and prefers that I wear it or other Hi Vis clothing. I chaulk it up to love. :love:

[rando]

my wife prefers that I wear a helmet... so I do... :)

[o-dog]

I like hi-vis clothing, wouldn't be on the bike without it.

I don't think it makes me look like a "fred" whatever that means, I think it makes me look like a commuter, which is what I am.

[Dchiefransom]

I don't have a hi-vis vest, I don't like wearing more layers when it's hot. I have two jerseys that I wear that are hi-vis yellow( Performance), a hi-vis yellow cycling vest, and a hi-vis yellow cycling windbreaker. The seat bag on the back of my recumbent is hi-vis yellow.

[East Hill]

I don't know why, but the thought of someone interfering with someone's gardening pursuits sounds absolutely hysterical.

Oooh, if you bought as many orchids as I do...:) .

Back on topic: I have one hi-vis green windbreaker, and two hi-vis green vests. The vests have reflective material, but not the windbreaker. The only time I don't wear the hi-vis is when I'm strictly on the MUP. Does my husband make me wear the hi-vis? No. I wear it because I want more people to see me better.

East Hill

[MikeR]

Asked why they got along so well, one couple explained it this way,

Husband: "I just do whatever she says."

Wife: nodding and laughter.We’ve been married 37 years. I tell people that I know the secret to a long and happy marriage.

For a long marriage learn to say 3 sentences – and say them 3 times more than you think necessary:
1 Yes Dear.
2 You’re right.
3 I’m sorry.

That usually gets a laugh, but when the laughter stops I say “The secret to a long AND HAPPY marriage is when you BOTH learn to say the sentences.

[hotbike]

I like hi-vis clothing, wouldn't be on the bike without it.

I don't think it makes me look like a "fred" whatever that means, I think it makes me look like a commuter, which is what I am.


A 'FRED' is a device the railroads use. "FRED" stands for Flashing Rear End Device.

Also known as an EOT, or End Of Train device.

The FRED is used on trains that don't have cabooses, It had it's own battery, and has a yellow strobe light. The FRED also monitors air pressure in the brake line and transmits a wirless signal to the conductor and enginneer if brake failure is immenent. The FRED mounts on the coupler of the last car of the train.

[blonduathlongrl]

"Aw Honey... it's bike to work day... I don't wanna look like a fred out there. Com'on, just today, let me go without it."

"Nope. I don't want you out in that traffic without that lime green vest, now go back and put it on... "

So I slink back into the bedroom and put on the lime green dayglow vest... and then do "Bike to Work" day looking like a fred (like usual, actually).

So does your significant other control certain aspects of your cycling?

--whipped.
NO, I dont ask permission to buy certain equipment and go though all this guilt, and neither does he has permission to dress me up.. what I do is reverse, I have HIM buy what I really want and tell him when Ill return.

signed,
the one who does the whippin':p

[sbhikes]

I just came back from my nephew's graduation from the Marines basic training and even the Marines wear reflective vests as they march around the base.

[Zeuser]

IMHO, there's nothing that looks more amateur and noobish than someone that doesn't wear that kind of stuff and maximize visibilty in every way out there.

Guilty as charged. I really ought to go shopping for one soon. Honestly, there's really no excuse for me not to have one.

[genec]

signed,
the one who does the whippin':p


Ooooo... Ouch. ;)

[bhtooefr]

I've got this $1 vest that is one piece of flourescent green mesh, with flourescent orange around the edges, and reflective tape. Hole for the head, and a ways down, some spandex straps. It's meant for horse riding at night. Works fine for bike riding during the day, IMO. :)

[slagjumper]

Studies show that motorists give helmet-less woman the most room when overtaking. Don't let your wife find out or she's get you some long blond braids to clip on under your helmet to go with the LG vest. That might make looking like a male Fred, good.

My wife knows that I wear a helmet, but all that she requires is a super-sized life insurance policy with a double indemnity clause that covers cycling.

[John E]

Several years ago my wife bought me a "screaming yellow" Pearl Izumi windbreaker, which I always wear when cycling in cool weather. For warmer weather I have various bright-colored jerseys and T-shirts.

[Todzilla]

I'm just her Ken doll. She makes me wear the blaze orange vest, so that motorists will say "Hey, I'd better watch out for that lame geek on the bike up ahead."

Here is an entirely fictitious song I wrote about our relationship: The Trap (http://www.toddejones.com/songs/TheTrap_mix4.mp3)

Seriously though, she's awesome and since I'm a parent, I do have to preserve my ability to support the family, so the vest it probably okay...

[noisebeam]

From what I've seen there are high-vis (night and day) gear that with equal effectiveness can range from mildly freddish to full on.

I have no issue with fred, but if it is a concern there are options that can help hide your identity without hiding your presence.

Al

[littlewaywelt]

Studies show that motorists give helmet-less woman the most room when overtaking. Don't let your wife find out or she's get you some long blond braids to clip on under your helmet to go with the LG vest. That might make looking like a male Fred, good.


I saw that study. That's why I've added a neon-colored pony tail to the back of my helmet.

[powerhouse]

A 'FRED' is a device the railroads use. "FRED" stands for Flashing Rear End Device.

Also known as an EOT, or End Of Train device.

The FRED is used on trains that don't have cabooses, It had it's own battery, and has a yellow strobe light. The FRED also monitors air pressure in the brake line and transmits a wirless signal to the conductor and enginneer if brake failure is immenent. The FRED mounts on the coupler of the last car of the train.

There's a difference between the railroad device and wearing hi-viz clothing and vests


It's obvious that wearing hi-viz clothing and vests are for a definite purpose; the safety of the bicyclist.
It's also obvious that using safety lights on the back of racks and panniers would be for the same purpose.

Don't let using hi-viz clothing give you a bad name.

[DM4]

Oooh, if you bought as many orchids as I do...:) .

Back on topic: I have one hi-vis green windbreaker, and two hi-vis green vests. The vests have reflective material, but not the windbreaker. The only time I don't wear the hi-vis is when I'm strictly on the MUP. Does my husband make me wear the hi-vis? No. I wear it because I want more people to see me better.

East Hill

Screw the hi-res dork wear. When I REALLY want people to notice me I ride naked.