One of the great side benefits of growing older is that you become increasingly able to be weird and nobody can do anything about it. You just don't care.
We do something that we have never seen in the cycling world, a strategy we use to maintain safety.
We light ourselves up in a ridiculous fashion. We also have several video recorders going all of the time, in case a vehicle comes too close. We will report you!
Between the two of us we have 12 lights, front and back. My rationale is that if one works, 12 will work better. And if one doesn't work, then maybe 12 will. And four cameras. That's not a typo. Told you it's weird, and also told you we don't care. As long as our grandchildren like us that's about all we need, and they are too young to know we are weird, and when they get older that will be a badge of honor. Really, who wants a normal grandparent?
Our fear is from drivers who are texting. So we want to visible from a greater distance to be able to catch their attention before they write that all-important text.....illegally I might add.
We have a number of strategies to communicate when there are vehicles or other hazards. We practice and practice our hand signals and our verbal ones. Two people watching the road doubles the chances of avoiding a potential danger. Other policies: We don't ride when it is dark or raining. We are careful at intersections, and we ride on roads that curve whenever possible (it is harder for people to text on curving roads). We have rear view mirrors, and I watch every vehicle as it passes to make sure it sees us. We also don't make 180 degree turns on roads--instead we stop, check both directions, and then turn around.
And, did I mention, that we have ahead of us and behind of us on video recorders? This is the age where everything is recorded, so that 1/10 of 1% of drivers who are dangerous are going to have the privilege of having the Sheriff watch their driving.
Here are a few videos of how we look all decked out:
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