I’m not a bit fan of hi viz yellow biking gear. It’s an awful color, for starters, unflattering to all, and it pretty much screams at everyone around them, a bit like emailing IN ALL CAPS.
But then I won this scarf in a raffle at a WABA Women & Bicycles event last weekend – the Bird Industries Hi Viz Infinity Scarf.
Winner! The Hi Viz Scarf
Although I went to the bike washing for women event to wash my bike (apartment renting and washing bikes are a difficult combination), I had seen this raffle prize on the event page, and really rather wanted it. Imagine my surprise when they actually called my raffle ticket number! I never win anything.
Yay, clean bike! You can’t really tell, but I swear, he’s clean!
The scarf quickly won me over. Lightweight and made of strips of hi viz cotton jersey fabric, I think it will be a great spring/summer accessory. Under a coat collar it’s a bit hard to find, despite the glow. Although it has left fluorescent fuzz on my clothes, I can see me wearing this often. It’s so lightweight and airy that it hardly seems like wearing a scarf, and it’s uniqueness overcame my aversion to hi viz.
Made of of several strands of fabric, it’s nice and light, not heavy and bulky
I swear it glows! But looks good even with Missoni for Target stripes!
I also love Bird Industries’ skirt garter. I can totally see this made with reflective detail, maybe a nice flapper tassel? I mean, if you are going to wear something like this, might as well make it hard to miss! I hope she makes one; I don’t want to copy her idea.
If you too are reluctant to wear hi viz (I know, it’s not terribly cycle chic), I suggest this great little scarf. It’s exactly what I love – fashion mixed with extra safety features! Check out owner/creator Amanda Stolle’s website (www.birdind.com), her Facebook page (facebook.com/birdindustries), and follow her on Twitter (@chkybird) to keep up with her other creations!
Don’t worry, I won’t let you wear spandex – unless you really, really want to… if you are training for a century, perhaps….
Oooh that would be exciting!
Thanks for the review, Elizabeth! I happen to have samples of elastic with reflective trim coming to me as I write this. I hope it works out for the garters. If so, I’ll send you one!