High-vis vests

stewartpratt · Post by **stewartpratt** » 10 Feb 2009, 10:42am

I need to get a high-vis vest or two for driving in France, and I have two options: either buy cheapo ones from B&Q, or find something which will also work tolerably well on the bike (to meet the somewhat irritating new French legislation).

In order to be useful on the bike, it has to meet these criteria:

- certified to whatever the relevant EC standard is
- extremely packable
- minimum of restriction on brethability and waterproofing of cycling gear
- not designed for the torso of a great big workman

And in any case it has to meet this one:

- cheap... well 'ish' anyway

I wonder if there's anything small and mesh-based, or similar? Anyone found anything worth having?

hubgearfreak · Post by **hubgearfreak** » 10 Feb 2009, 10:45am

have a look in poundland. they've got them

emergency_pants · Post by **emergency_pants** » 10 Feb 2009, 10:59am

I got mine at Aldi. It's a very open weave, lightweight, has two big reflective strips.

I think it was about a fiver.

I have no idea about EC standards... it's a high viz jacket... if you look at it and it's highly visible and reflective, it's a hi viz jacket! :lol:

heheh. All I know is when I wear it, everything around me has a yellow reflective glow to it!

You may find a well priced one in motorcycle shops... they'll be designed for use on the road, etc. but then if you're gonna do that then you're possibly just as well off at the LBS or Halfords?

Also, you may find a really good one for warm weather riding at a sports shop - one designed for joggers. You might get a good value one there.

EdinburghFixed · Post by **EdinburghFixed** » 10 Feb 2009, 11:02am

Just make sure you keep it in the car, *not* in the boot.

meic · Post by **meic** » 10 Feb 2009, 11:09am

My old Sustrans high vis was a small mesh based one. It could fold up to a fist size or less. I carry it when I MAY be caught out after dark but would not wear it if I knew I WOULD be out after dark. It really isnt that good.

Sustrans now issue similar ones to workers jackets so I guess I wasnt the only one to think that way.

The Childrens high vis pack that we got from Lidls was superb. I guess that may be too small though.

I heard on the very unreliable grapevine that you were not supposed to wear the high vis on a motorcycle and possibly cycle in France and the jackets were only for people forced to walk on the roads.

If you just want to be seen, there is the difference between bright fluorescent clothes in the day and good reflective material at night. I dont think the law is that clever.
I have a very visible Polaris High Vis long sleeve top for being seen during the day which is no hassle to wear and cycle in. Then put on a reflective jacket at night.
I have a council one that is made of mesh so you can sweat through it but it is just as heavy as the non mesh ones.

MLJ · Post by **MLJ** » 10 Feb 2009, 11:11am

For France the hi-vis jacket requires either two reflective bands around it, or else one band around and two over the shoulders:

These are available from market stallholders and carry an EU label, at about £5

thirdcrank · Post by **thirdcrank** » 10 Feb 2009, 11:21am

The big problem with your criteria must be: 'cycle-specific' = an arm and a leg; cheap industrial hi-viz (from a specialist shop, rather than B&Q) = sized for a navvy, although they do sell some smaller sizes, perhaps for lady navvies, or at least ladies who have to stand in the road. You do see so-called executive hi-vis for top navvies but not cheap.

I think the problem with a lot of really cheapo stuff is that it does not comply with EN 471 (the European standard) or at least it is not labelled as such. I suppose a lot depends how stringently this is enforced.

Edited to say: Shows how slowly I type - that last post was not there when I started :oops:

Anyway, that design is EN 471 - designed to protect somebody standing up. For anybody in a dropped handlebar position, a lot of it the reflective is invisible, except from the side.

pigman · Post by **pigman** » 10 Feb 2009, 11:33am

we can get them from libraries and council offices FOC to encourage cycling. Maybe your local authority runs something similar??

meic · Post by **meic** » 10 Feb 2009, 12:02pm

Has anyone seen the actual French requirements?

My son's excellent Hi-Vis from Lidl is EN 1150 for non-proffesional use.
Workers gear is to EN 471 for proffesional use.

I dont know if the differences are about visiblity or standard of manufacture to cope with a work environment.
Unlikely the Gendarme will look at any labels anyway. Unless you have just had an argument with him about how you are allowed to drive like that in England so you will do it in France too. :lol:

stewartpratt · Post by **stewartpratt** » 10 Feb 2009, 12:17pm

French requirements here (PDF).

meic · Post by **meic** » 10 Feb 2009, 12:36pm

My French isnt that good.

but it appears to say that it is not compulsory for motorcyclists, which through Chinese whispers has caused the rumour about cycles.

So it appears to say needed on cycles during night or poor visibility with no refference to any EN regs.

peter236uk · Post by **peter236uk** » 10 Feb 2009, 12:38pm

pm me with your size and I will send you a couple

thirdcrank · Post by **thirdcrank** » 10 Feb 2009, 12:38pm

I take that to mean that in a motor vehicle you have to carry hi-viz waistcoats as illustrated and marked with the European standard which just means a couple of standard waistcoats.

I was a bit bemused by the bit for cyclists, which seems to treat them as a race apart.

ET NOS AMIS CYCLISTES ?
Obligation pour tout cycliste circulant hors agglomération, de nuit ou de jour si visibilité mauvaise , de porter un gilet
rétro-réfléchissant à partir du 1er Septembre 2008. L’obligation s’applique aussi au passager éventuel

For anybody needing a translation:-

AND OUR CYCLIST FRIENDS?

From 1 September, 2008, any cyclist riding outside a built-up area at night or in poor daytime visiblity must wear a reflective waistcoat. This also applies to visitors.

Perhaps I'm seeing sarcasm where none is intended.

Edited to add a note to meic. Neither waistcoat nor warning triangle are required for a motorised two-wheeler but motorcyclists are advised to have carry a waistcoat in case they should breakdown. (If I'm reading it right, there is some sort of requirement for motorised two-wheelers with UTAC certified bodywork to carry the waitcoat. If there is anybody on here who thinks it may apply to them, they need specialist advice. :wink:

)

meic · Post by **meic** » 10 Feb 2009, 1:14pm

It is highly likely that the UTAC bodywork is all about trikes, sidecars and other non-standard motorcycles. There was a big fuss in the past about who needs helmets and who needs seat belts.

I guess those that dont need helmets will need hi-viz if they get out/off their machines.

thirdcrank · Post by **thirdcrank** » 10 Feb 2009, 5:14pm

meic

You are probably right, but if I'm translating something with a technical term that I don't know, I put my hand up rather than guess. Here for example, it doesn't talk about motorbikes (moto in French) but motorised two-wheelers. I thought that might not include trikes etc (I had a mental image of the scooter + trailer delivering the beer or whatever it was in the recent advert.)