Illuminite and visibility

[bikerTeen]

Unlike many people my age (17), I am not invincible. For night rides I use my HID headlight, 2 rear blinkies, hi-vis yellow vest, and reflective ankle straps.
You see, if I get mowed down by a motorist, I don't want it to be because they didn't see me.

In Performance, etc. I'm seeing a lot of jerseys, jackets, vests, and even tights made out of "Illuminite" material, which is reflective at night:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/images/POPUP_Illum_large_image.gif

How good is this stuff? The photos look good, but it looks like ScotchLite or Reflexite material would be brighter. Do you have any Illuminite clothing or have you seen a cyclist with it? Would adding it to my current setup make me more visible?

[late]

Illuminite is great stuff. I have a safety vest that uses it; and I noticed a change in driver's behavior instantly. When I put it on, they give me a couple extra feet. I got it from Glowdog. I think garments made of illuminite are a great idea; some do not breathe well enough for a cyclist. But you can always send it back if it doesn't.

[cyclezealot]

I got mine from Performance. Took a long time to wear it a second time..It was raining on the inside. Breathes, not at All! Too late to take it back.. Is it all made of the same stuff and not breathe? Polling those with illuminate, how many says it breates well...? But if you do not mind the vapor lock on the inside, it really shows up....

[BlastRadius]

I got mine from Performance. Took a long time to wear it a second time..It was raining on the inside. Breathes, not at All! Too late to take it back.. Is it all made of the same stuff and not breathe? Polling those with illuminate, how many says it breates well...? But if you do not mind the vapor lock on the inside, it really shows up....

I've been thinking of getting an Illuminite shell from Performance. Which item is your's that doesn't breathe well so I can avoid it?

[cyclezealot]

I've been thinking of getting an Illuminite shell from Performance. Which item is your's that doesn't breathe well so I can avoid it?

But this jacket does not breathe...Seems their ad in their catalogue said it did...The label on the collar does not mention what material it is made of.. It is an 'Illuminite' product.The shell has an plastic feel about it.. I wonder if its pores have been clogged by me, somehow.. The jacket is a yellow, long sleeved and with a vent in the back.. The vent is not enough... Hope this is descreptive enough..

[caloso]

I have a pair of Illuminite gloves. Absolute necessity for commuting in winter.

[late]

Hi,
http://www.glowdog.com/products/p00055.htm
this is my vest. It may have changed in size, but....if it's the same size.....that guy in the picture is about 5' 2". The vest doesn't breathe, but it's small enough that it's not an issue. I have been considering illuminte jackets; was hoping one of the forum members would try one and find out if the new ones breathe enough for a cyclist. Btw, the t-shirts work ok, and the amount of illuminte in them is pretty small.

[BlastRadius]

My backpack would cover up the vest... They should make an Illuminite Backpack. It should include a section for a bladder, have springy thing that keeps it off my back, include a pouch at the top for my 10w helmet light battery, a skinny slot for a folded tube and a mini-pump, and still hold the other stuff I carry with me.

[slvoid]

You don't really end up looking like the guys in the photo, definitely seen but probably the same visibility as spec'ed 10 mile orange at night. I've seen those 10 mile visibility orange hunting vests and they literally hurt the eyes in normal indoor lighting.

If you go to their site: http://www.illuminite.com/accessories.asp
They sell a backpack and a messanger bag with the illuminite material.

You can also try a lightman strobe, http://www.storesonline.com/site/440848/page/187359 or one of these strobes http://www.epartyunlimited.com/portablestrobe.html#, I heard someone describe it has portable lightning between his legs, which is pretty hard to miss, especially if you have an amber and red flashing behind you. Plus rather than emitting tiny beams flashing directionally, strobes provide a bright omni directional flash in equal intensity from the back or side.

For the most part, drivers usually don't see you at intersections and whamo! They (usually) don't purposely try to run you over from behind. Statistics would show that most collisions are actually from the side rather than from the back.

Myself, the side and back of my bike's covered with reflective tape. I also put 1"x1" squares of it between the pokes on my wheel in 4 large patches, they create a glowing trail when car lights hit them from either the side or behind (but not normal to my direction of travel). I've tested it and from an intersection or behind, the whole thing's a white glow.

I also use a rear blinker with 7-LED's including 2 that are visible from the sides. In the front, I have a light & motion dual which in itself has two windows on the side of the light that emit a pretty bright beam. The main beam is 11W and is pointed slightly lower than the 15W high beam which is a spot aimed forward. The total coverage is a cone about 120 degrees wide with spill covering almost 180 degrees. I also have a single LED blinker aimed about 10 degrees to my right when I approach intersections.

If there's a car at an intersection that I haven't made eye contact with the driver, I have a thumb switch on my right handle bar so I can brake with my left and at the same time tap the switch a few times to flash the driver with 15W of light.

If you get some cheap blinkies and attach them to ankle bands, you the flashing blinker moving along with your pedal stroke, I've heard this is probably the thing that attracts the most attention in the peripheral vision of drivers other than portable lightning.

[late]

Hi,
nice thing about the vest is that it rolls up nice and small. I leave it on the bike, and just pull it out when I need it.

[ksturch]

Hi bikerteen,

I suppose there is a limit to how vizible cyclists can legally be at night without strapping a lighthouse to your head.

The illuminite looks interesting but again is still passive since it requires you to be in direct view of car headlights.

Another product that may interest you is something called the lumin8er at www.safe-and-seen.co.uk. It does the same kind of thing as the illuminite but also lights up using electroluminescence.

I've ordered one but am waiting for the velcro version whereby i can either wear the lumin8er garment as a high viz sash or stick on the light panels where i want. This increases your body presence to car drivers. Cant wait.

Regards

ksturch

[willic]

I have aquired one of the Lumin8er Gilets (sleevless jacket with the velcro fastening) they work a treat, making you highly visible. Overtaking vehciles make a point of giving you a wide berth.

The downside though like Cyclezealots post the fabric is NOT breathable and is a type of plasticy material that pools moisture on the underside, making it most uncomfortable round the collar on chill days and nights.

[cyclezealot]

By the way..I recall, that diagram of moisture going out and air entering through the fabric...I approve of my local Performance store. Great staff, great mechanic....But, their buyers had this one wrong...That ad is just false..I recall purchasing it after receiving their catalogue. I am too tolerant a person..I did not reurn it.. Due to its' illuminate properties, I wanted to give it another try. It is uncomfortable even on chilly nights.

[Veganese]

Has anyone tried the armwarmers or leg warmers by illuminite?

[Tom_The_Bikeman]

Hi,

I use the tights (bought from Performance) almost everyday. The only time I don't wear them is when I ride w/o (using leg warmers) which is only possible in Switzerland during the summer months (commute, and it's colder then...)

The arm warmers are fine, but not to the comfort lever of Gonzo et al. I used them yesterday, and they were great (amazingly, they don't reflect under my Burley jacket...) but the fit is rather, well...long. They do do the job, but somehow they aren't as perfect for my upper arms as the Gonzo ones I normally use.

I have NOT found that the tights cause water build-up when wearing them. Actually, they are great unless you're getting pounded by major rain. I have used them in weather from between -10 to 15 C without problems. As they are lighter than my normal winter wear, it helps with heat dissipation, which is usually more of a problem.

I like them, use them, and would recommend them highly.

Tom

P.S. oh...one thing...the fabric isn't bomb-proof...it's rather delicate. Still, I've used mine (tights) for two fall-winter-spring years now, and they are still holding up.

[marcg]

I haven't tried these jackets but I do notice on their web site that although in their general list of claims they say "breathability" in the detailed list of features, breathability is not included. Instead they refer to the wicking properties of the fabric - entirely different from breathability.

[cyclezealot]

Weating the illuminated jacket, no doubt you are being seen.Man, wearing it is like being stuck inside a Chinese laundry in August. Even though I recall the night was very chilly, I had to open the jacket, inside the heat was so intense. I found a safety vest with illuminated panels and one panel has even an blinking/flashingl strip..That works every bit as good as that hot illuminite jacket..

[LittleBigMan]

I hate to be the one to attack the credibility of any good product, though I don't know anything about Illuminite. But what I have noticed is that products with flaws are often advertised as not having that particular flaw.

The proof of the pudding is in the tasting.

Maybe Illuminite is best for activities less intense than cycling. Or maybe the Illuminite products made for cycling should be modified so that only part of the jacket has Illuminite, while the rest is breathable.

[MI_rider]

I have an illuminite jacket. It doesn't breath well at all but I haven't found
anything that really does when you are sweating as much as we do when we
are riding really hard. I could never wear it in the summer but in the spring,
fall and as an outer layer in the winter it does a good job. Sometimes I have
to open the front to get enough air flowing in.

However being seen for me is more important than anything else so I am willing
to put up with the lack of breathability. It isn't that the illuminite is
brighter than anything else it is that it lets everyone see your outline so they
know it is a person.

It is definitely not the miracle it is advertised to be but I think cars see me
much better and that is my main concern.

Steve

[cyclezealot]

I hate to be the one to attack the credibility of any good product, though I don't know anything about Illuminite.

The proof of the pudding is in the tasting.

Maybe Illuminite is best for activities less intense than cycling. Or maybe the Illuminite products made for cycling should be modified so that only part of the jacket has Illuminite, while the rest is breathable.
LBM...Maybe a part of the reason I did not return it, was my desire to make it work; since the product's purpose is a great idea. Also, hoping my jacket is not representative of others.. Seems from the responses more agree is does not breathe over those who think it does. Maybe I keep it(too late to return it now) because under certain conditions I might use it no matter what.?
But my safety vest, I think sort of conforms to the human form...Wish the illuminite jacket would work.. Might eventurally buy another one, the idea is so good.
Hold out your arms to signal a turn, you can do so after dark. Great..

[marcg]

The illuminite jacket seems to be such a highly rated product in terms of visibility and yet so poor in terms of breathability/wearability that the best thing might be to buy the cheapest version available and to cut out the panels to make a night-time over-vest.

[late]

It would be cheaper and easier to get an illuminite safety vest from Glowdog.