A Question of Style....Sort Of
 

A firend of mine, who has been cycling for quite some time made an observation about my bikes the other day.

Without giving it any thought, I have left the reflectors in the spokes of both my and my wife's hybrid as well as my road bike.

My friend tells me that this is tacky and reflects on my amateur status as a cyclist. As a side, he also disdains my cycling jerseys and prefers T-shirts. He says it is a matter of correct style.

I'd appreciate some comments on the reflectors please. It is highly unlikely that I will remove them based on any consensus I might see here. Yet I'd like to hear comments on the issue.

Carl

Style or Safety?
Style or Comfort?

Your choice, I personaly dont have reflectors on any of my bikes, but for any ride over 5 miles, a jersey is a must.

i vote for jerseys no reflectors here on the road bikes. the touring rig has reflective tape on the fenders though

Umm..I think your friend is a bit backwards on this one

Correct roadie style is with a jersey, not with a tshirt ;)

Of course...we can let Style Man settle the issue heh.

I tend to agree. But I don't judge. I like offroading and refuse to wear a jersey. And I don't ride on the road so I don't care about reflectors.

Roadcycling is usually seen as roadies and tourers (freds) but there is really a lot of tastes in-between.Go with what you like.It seems to me that 'roadies' would think your a 'amateur' with reflectors or t-shirts?

Well...since you asked about style...the style is definitely NO relectors, and NO t-shirts. But, unless you're a racer, it really doesn't matter. ;)

absolutely yes to the jerseys.
As to the reflectors, one simple question:

Do you ride at Night?

Marty

I'm not exactly enamoured of the "style police", so basically dress as you like. Many people consider cycling shorts and jersey as essential (and they are more trendy), but I much prefer loose-fitting regular clothing.

As for reflectors, wheel reflectors help a bit other drivers to see you when they come out of a side street. They aren't a panacea, because, as John Forester points out, they are only seen when you are in the collision course of a car, but still, they help a driver see you before he starts from a side street (after a stop, and providing you have lights to be seen).

There are a few drawbacks of the 1980-style bulky wheel reflectors, but modern ones are slender and lightweight, so if a reflector is installed opposite the valve, the resulting wheel imbalance is not greater than the imbalance from a Shreader valve.

Other solutions for side visibility are reflective tires (available in Europe -- could someone enlighten me about long term visibility), and the use of side or all-around red or amber blinkers.

Yet an additional factor to consider is the province or state highway code. In U.S., all bikes sold since approx. 1985 (+- 3 years) have to be equipped with a series of reflectors as per CPSC rules. However, CPSC doesn't say what to do once the bike is your own. Your state may require all these reflectors (probably no enforcement anyway)... or it may just require front headlight and rear taillight and/or reflector.

Regards,

Reflectors are still on my bike ... any safety helps. Cycling jersey ... I'm agnostic.

I regularly blow my "stylish" friends away on hills and the like. The best style one can have is excellent bike riding.

Wheel reflectors are totally worthless by day and mostly worthless by night. For safety, one needs bright-coloured and/or reflective clothing. At night, a powerful headlamp and bright flashy rear LED display are crucial. Unfortunately, sometimes "the law is a ass," as Mr. Dickens would write. However, although California law officially requires side reflectors at night, I have never been hassled about my lack thereof, probably because I take such great pains to make myself visible in other ways.

I do differ with Forester on the issue of tail lights -- whereas he seems to favour reflectors only, I strongly advocate bright flashing red lights in combination with reflectors.

Pedal reflectors are frustrating -- yes, they can be a visibility-enhancer at night, but rear-facing reflectors interfere with toe clip operation.

He's full of himself.

:thumbup:

Reflectors aren't useful unless you ride at night. They are not cool! As for jerseys, until someone cycles in a good jersey and understands how the perspiration is wicked away from their body and dried by the breeze created through motion (unlike a cotton T-shirt that gets wet and stays that way) they just won't get it. As for jerseys that the pros wear? They are paid for that. If you aren't a pro and wear a pro shirt, you better be darn good. Try Assos - they are expensive but you can ride in 90-degree weather and stay dry and comfortable. BUY A CYCLING JERSEY! You won't regret it.

Except I would end up looking like a 6'4 pylon. They don't make jerseys that fit my back / chest and shoulders (at least that I have found) and they are ALWAYS tooo colourful.

IANAL, but as I read it Texas law states only that reflectors are required for cycling after dark. It says nothing about reflectors being required on a bicycle during daylight hours. Your state laws may vary.

Your friend is out of step!
What is in this year for the road, is tee shirt with the sleeves rip off and reflectors duct taped to the teeshirt.:thumbup: :thumbup: :fun:

What do they call those people who have all the latest gizmos and stylin' gear???? Oh I remember now! POSERS :D

Who gives a rat's a** what you look like when you ride. It's all good when you're on the bike! :thumbup:

If state law says reflectors are required, the issue is technically moot. Even though I don't have them on my road bikes... My touring bike, -yes. they came with the bike. Did not intentionally leave them on, since I am well lite at night anyway.. Police have not bothered me on bikes without..
As to jerseys.. I believe a cyclist can wear whatever he wants.. However, just doing a road poll- it is few sweaty cyclists, that I see; that do not wear jerseys..
Wearing cotton when you sweat is nuts.. The wicking properties of most jerseys is better than wearing no shirt at all. And t shirts that might be made of coolmax, don't have zippers that you can lower when you are hot..
Plus, to the motoring primates - we need all the color we can muster.. I suspect your cycling friend does not read 'style man' if you have a need to be in style..

No reflectors (increased weight) but my bikes date from the pre safety days when men were men and sheep were nervous.

I do add scotchlite tape to the rims though, minimal weight and it does reflect. (When I remember to wash the brake dust off)

i use a mix of t shirts and jerseys, but for a long trip a cycling jersey is a must.

The style you choose definitely depends on where you are riding and why. Bike shorts and slick jerseys look great on the road and sometimes around town, but they can't hold a candle to courier style.

Similarly, I saw a guy the other day that is definitely at the top of the style pack. He had a dura ace commuter (triple, midrange cog) with a mirror finish frame with no logos on it and a thin, black bmx foam pad around the top tube. He had on dark grey slacks, a black shirt, and black Sidis.

Of course this can only be pulled off properly if the weather is nice (which is a big reason that I live in Seattle), or when you are not riding very far or very fast. But still, I find it difficult to argue that any shorts/jersey combination can out-style that guy. ;->

Style???? Pshaw!!! Who cares? The last thing I care about is what I look like whilst I am sweating my a$$ off. We are not going for the supermodel looks on the bike. I don't want to egg on the truck drivers any more than I do just being me. (I think its the long hair they like.)

Once I got past the early teen years, I found that style was the least important thing, in biking or just hanging around. True beauty is simple and classic and doesn't need excess makeup, the latest fashion or too much of anything. I usually take about 20-30 mins total for a shower, dry my hair (lots), and to put on very light makeup and get dressed. My husband still calls me high maintenance. :eek:

Reflectors?

I never thought about it.
I've had my Bianchi for over a year and I think it still has the reflectors on. It would take maybe 10 minutes to remove them - that's 10 minutes that I could be riding.

Guess the reflectors are gona stay!

What is it with redheads having loads of hair? I'm the same way, and come to think of it, I haven't seen many with stringy hair. Nice that it soaks up any sweat while riding; don't have to bother with headbands. I've never had the pleasure of getting sweat drops in the eyes! Maybe we should throw thick wigs in on the list of necessities.
Get a jersey for the functianality if you want it. It does it's job! Me, I can't handle the crazy patterns. Solid bright colors are good though. But I tend to get bright halter/camisole tops made from wicking fabric. Hard to find, but I am determined not to get biker tan! Uh...I don't suppose men generally wear halters/camisoles though...

Re t-shirts: They suck unless you like bathing in your own sweat. There are lots of good looking plain or low-key jerseys. I got a nice looking Hind jersey from rei-outlet.com. I also have a US Postal jersey that I wear in honor of Lance and the Blue Train. I know that a lot of folks'll think I'm a poser. But when I wear my Niners jersey I don't expect people to think I'm Jeff Garcia....

Re reflectors: I took mine off. They're just one more thing that can rattle around. Instead, I have bar tape with a reflective strip and I put scotchlite tape on my seatstay and helmet. Combine that with a good light and blinkies on my pack, and I'm pretty well-lit at night.

The one thing I'd like to find, though, is a a pair of gloves with reflective tape. I keep thinking that hand signals don't do much good if drivers can't see your hands.

Thanx so much for all the replies. I do occasionally ride at night and have a bright front light and flashing rear lights. "Weight" is really not an issue for me. I ride for fun and fitness only. No competition or group rides yet. At my skill and experience level an ounce or so here and there is inconsequential.

I have received an enormous amount of support from friends and family for my medically induced efforts at fitness. I now have more than a half dozen jerseys and shorts and wear them on all rides. Those who commented about wicking are right on the money. I couldn't believe the added comfort offered by jerseys over other types of clothing and I just love the pockets.

I did not ask this question out of my own sense of personal vanity, but rather curiosity. i pretty much ignored my friend's comments as I do most comments of that type. i just wanted to hear from my friends in this forum. After all, where better to get answers about all matters cycling than here?

Carl

Oh yeah. I'm leaving the reflectors on and will continue to wear jerseys.