I came upon two women riding Portland's popular but narrow Skyline Blvd driving. I'd been on full alert for cyclists. This stretch of road was straight, uphill, wooded and in partial shade. It happened that the woman wearing a bright jersey was in front and completely hidden from me by the following rider in a dark jersey and a medium intensity blinking tail light. I never saw that following rider until I brushed her arm with my mirror.

She was unhurt, scared and very angry. Absolutely could not understand why she wasn't seen. I didn't say much. They continued on and after I started up, I looked carefully at the two riders. The woman with the bright jersey, again well up the road was easy to see. That blinking tail light? I had to look for it knowing exactly what I was looking for. The rest of her, her clothing and her black bike were near invisible in that partial light on a full sun day.

I wanted that woman to know how hard she as to see but I knew there was nothing I could say or do would accomplish anything except maybe put me in front of a judge. Reminder to me - in daylight, bright, solid color jerseys (that come far enough down in back) work. Lights far less so. (I don't even remember if the lead rider had a light. Didn't matter. She didn't need one.)

I started up that hill consciously looking for riders. That dark rider with her taillight was in full view.