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We're often approached by companies interested in sharing their latest cycling "innovation" with us. From gloves with built-in indicators, to cycling jackets with special pockets for storing a pizza, we've really seen it all. So we were pleasantly surprised when a company got in touch claiming not only to have made the most reflective cycling jacket, but that it also started life here in London...
The REFLECT360 cycling jacket does exactly what it says on the tin; it reflects light back to other road users from every angle. It's not just got a reflective strip or some shiny striping, the entire jacket is reflective, from top to bottom.
I have my own reservations about 'safe' cycling wear, having started out my urban cycling career wearing a bright yellow builder's vest I grew to loathe. But I've been pleasantly surprised by the REFELCT360 - here is a cycling jacket designed around safety features that you can actually wear in to the office or the pub without looking like an epic banana.
I spoke to the founder of ProViz, Anthony Langly-Smith, to find out what inspired him to create the jacket: "I'd been commuting by bike for about 12 years, and I was seeing lots of people going through Clapham up to London Bridge - on what is now the Cycle Superhighway route - and when I was at the traffic lights I would see three or four other people on bikes. Now there are 30 or 40 people at every turn of the lights. Unless you're actually there you can't quite fathom what a big change that was."
"At the same time there seemed to be a move away from cycling products that didn't just look like builder's jackets. People wanted fitted stuff, waterproof stuff. It started with me and my brother thinking about what our fellow cyclists might need on our commute to work, and has turned in to our business; now we're selling product in Chile, Colombia, China, Korea, Belgium, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand."
Anthony's latest product to come to market, the REFLECT360 range, has been garnering lots of interest with positive reviews on BikeRumor, the Evening Standard, and the Guardian among others. I found it was not just in reviews that this jacket got lots of attention; during our road test other cyclists came up to me at traffic lights to ask where it was from and where they could get one for themselves, astonished by the reflective quality now the nights are growing dark.
"We launched the jacket in February and suddenly we had so many people coming to talk to us, taking photos, wanting to know about the material, wanting to know how this product came about. It was astonishing. The success has bred an entire line; a rucksack cover, a vest, a gillet and a children’s jacket."
So what about the jacket itself? How does it work, and what's it like to ride around town in?
The waterproof material is covered with thousands of tiny microscopic glass beads which reflect light, throwing back light that approaches it from any angle. The jacket itself is a well constructed design for cyclists, with taped seams, waterproof zips and pockets, a longer tapered back for good positioning on the bike as well as lots of adjustable seams and flaps to increase or decrease its breathability. It feels strong and sturdy and should last well.
Riding around town I found the jacket fitted well, performed brilliantly in the rain and stood up to everything London's mucky roads could throw at it. Whilst the material is a touch on the warm side, the addition of under arm vents helped me to keep my cool. I'm usually highly sceptical about the sort of claims made about these kind of products, but my reservations about the effectiveness of cycling "safety" kit evaporated too - I did feel noticeably more visible whilst riding around town in the jacket, and I think it would be invaluable on darker country roads.
London's cycle scene inspiring products which in turn help London's cyclists to feel more safe? We like that very much.
The REFLECT360 cycling jacket is available at Evans Cycles, Halfords and most good bike shops, or online directly from ProVisSports here.
Share
The REFLECT360 cycling jacket does exactly what it says on the tin; it reflects light back to other road users from every angle. It's not just got a reflective strip or some shiny striping, the entire jacket is reflective, from top to bottom.
I have my own reservations about 'safe' cycling wear, having started out my urban cycling career wearing a bright yellow builder's vest I grew to loathe. But I've been pleasantly surprised by the REFELCT360 - here is a cycling jacket designed around safety features that you can actually wear in to the office or the pub without looking like an epic banana.
I spoke to the founder of ProViz, Anthony Langly-Smith, to find out what inspired him to create the jacket: "I'd been commuting by bike for about 12 years, and I was seeing lots of people going through Clapham up to London Bridge - on what is now the Cycle Superhighway route - and when I was at the traffic lights I would see three or four other people on bikes. Now there are 30 or 40 people at every turn of the lights. Unless you're actually there you can't quite fathom what a big change that was."
"At the same time there seemed to be a move away from cycling products that didn't just look like builder's jackets. People wanted fitted stuff, waterproof stuff. It started with me and my brother thinking about what our fellow cyclists might need on our commute to work, and has turned in to our business; now we're selling product in Chile, Colombia, China, Korea, Belgium, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand."
Anthony's latest product to come to market, the REFLECT360 range, has been garnering lots of interest with positive reviews on BikeRumor, the Evening Standard, and the Guardian among others. I found it was not just in reviews that this jacket got lots of attention; during our road test other cyclists came up to me at traffic lights to ask where it was from and where they could get one for themselves, astonished by the reflective quality now the nights are growing dark.
"We launched the jacket in February and suddenly we had so many people coming to talk to us, taking photos, wanting to know about the material, wanting to know how this product came about. It was astonishing. The success has bred an entire line; a rucksack cover, a vest, a gillet and a children’s jacket."
So what about the jacket itself? How does it work, and what's it like to ride around town in?
The waterproof material is covered with thousands of tiny microscopic glass beads which reflect light, throwing back light that approaches it from any angle. The jacket itself is a well constructed design for cyclists, with taped seams, waterproof zips and pockets, a longer tapered back for good positioning on the bike as well as lots of adjustable seams and flaps to increase or decrease its breathability. It feels strong and sturdy and should last well.
Riding around town I found the jacket fitted well, performed brilliantly in the rain and stood up to everything London's mucky roads could throw at it. Whilst the material is a touch on the warm side, the addition of under arm vents helped me to keep my cool. I'm usually highly sceptical about the sort of claims made about these kind of products, but my reservations about the effectiveness of cycling "safety" kit evaporated too - I did feel noticeably more visible whilst riding around town in the jacket, and I think it would be invaluable on darker country roads.
London's cycle scene inspiring products which in turn help London's cyclists to feel more safe? We like that very much.
The REFLECT360 cycling jacket is available at Evans Cycles, Halfords and most good bike shops, or online directly from ProVisSports here.
Share
9 comments:
Because of this post I went out and brought this jacket.
Its well made, I like it, even not considering the recto-reflective feature, its a nice light weight coat.
Thanks for the mention, Iain
AWesome, i like when people use fahrradlampe on their bikes.
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