Bicycle Safety Clothes

You might not like the idea of bicycling around looking light a fluorescent traffic cone, but resembling a traffic cone is preferable to getting mowed down by a bus. Visibility is a top priority when it comes to bicycle clothing. However, with the clothing selection available today you really don't have to look like a traffic cone. Many clothes on the market are fashionable, functional and safe for biking.

Visibility

Fluorescent or bright clothing gives you the best visibility, according to Kids Health, with bright colors even more visible than white. Dark colors render you the least visible, especially at dusk or in the dark. The top half of your body accounts for 75 percent of your visibility, the U.S. Department of Transportation notes, with your legs only at 25 percent. That means go for the Day-Glo on your jackets and shirts.

Higher Visibility

Reflective clothing increases your visibility even more, especially at night in a vehicle's headlights. One option is clothing with reflective material or strips built in across the back or arms of a jacket or shirt. Another option is reflective tape, which you can cut into strips and place anywhere you like.

Style

Bell bottoms are out, as are sandals and flip flops, or straps, strings and belts that hang loose all over your body. Go for styles that are streamlined, like a close-fitting pair of bicycle shorts or pants, so your pant legs don't get caught in the chains or spokes. Tuck in any straps, strings and belts -- or forgo them altogether -- so they, too, don't get sucked up in the bicycle's mechanisms. Never ride barefoot, Kids Health stresses, and skip cleats, heels and open-toed shoes. Go for footwear that grip the bicycle pedals rather than smooth-bottom shoes that tend to slip and slide.

Protection and Comfort

The safest bicycle clothing also provides protection against wind, rain, cold and heat. If a day starts out cool and turns hot, options include jackets with removable sleeves that transform into vests or similar styles. Many bike clothes come in a variety of moisture-wicking, breathable fabrics that keep sweat away from your body as well as retain heat or keep out cold. Wear layers, so you can remove them instead of overheating. Also look for clothing in a stretchable fabric that moves along with you without binding.