Dear DC Randonneur,
Some of the information below has been posted to the DCR Listserve, but this blog entry consolidates it.
We are planning to place a group order for PBP-style safety vests with the DCR logo and club name. These will be made by the same company that is supplying the PBP safety vests and they are identical with those vests, except for the DCR logo and name instead of PBP logos, etc. We have ordered samples that will include all four colors (yellow, orange, pink, and green) and all of the sizes except XS. The samples will include the DCR logo and name. Photo-mockups of the vests are available here (colors may not be accurate–that’s part of why we’re getting samples):
All Vests
Yellow-Front. Yellow-Back.
Orange-Front. Orange-Back.
Pink-Front. Pink-Back.
Green-Front. Green-Back.
See below for more logistical details on sizing, the ordering process, etc.
Why get one of these vests now instead of just waiting until PBP? The main reason I’m interested is that I’ve been burned too many times by making equipment changes at the last minute before a big ride. Don’t want to do that again! I want to get my “PBP safety vest” early enough that I can find out if there are any “issues” with it. For instance, it has side-vents that you can use to get to your shirt pocket, but it might be really convenient to have a pocket on the vest, itself. I’ll probably sew one onto my vest–but probably on the inside so that I don’t violate the EN1150 standard that the vest must comply with.
A second reason is that I think these safety vests look like they will be more visible than our current sashes or vests, so I’d like to buy one and improve my safety.
A third reason is to get a cool DCR-logo vest. If I’m feeling rich, I might get a PBP-logo vest as well.
Some have asked how well the vests will work in our summer heat. I have no way of answering until we see them. They appear to have a vent at shoulderblade level as well as the side-vents. So they may be cool enough for all but the hottest nights. In any case, I expect they’ll be cool enough for at least 9 months of the year. Maybe I’ll buy a somewhat-larger DCR vest for wearing over bulky clothing and a somewhat-trimmer PBP vest for warmer weather.
Nick Bull
President, DC Randonneurs
president<at>dcrand.org
Logistical details on sizing, the ordering process, etc.
We expect that samples will be here in a few weeks, and hope to be able to bring them to the Dart on March 19 and the Urbana 200Km on March 26th. Assuming we’ve seen samples by then, the ordering deadline would ideally be soon after.
Costs for the vests will depend on how many are ordered, but we expect that they will range between $32 and $37.
The final deadline for ordering vests will depend on when samples arrive. We’ll post updates to the DCR listserve (and those who have indicated interest to presidentdcrand.org) as they become available. This is a group purchase, so if you want to get a vest, you’ll need to place your order and pay in advance. DC Randonneurs itself is not involved in the purchase and will not have vests “for sale” at any later date. So it’s a “Now or never” purchase (unless someone else arranges another group purchase in the future).
Not every size is available in every color. Here are the colors and sizes available in each color:
- Yellow : XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL;
- Green : S, M, L, XL, 2XL.
- Orange : S,M,L, XL, 2XL.
- Pink : XS, S,M,L,XL,2XL.
Here is a sizing chart: http://www.l2s-shop.com/guide_des_tailles.php See below for conversion into inches.
Dimension A is height and B is circumference of chest just under your arms. Figure out which size is indicated by your height and which by chest circumference and then take the larger.
Sizing in inches:
HEIGHT: to top of head
XS= 52.8 to 59.8,
S= 57.5 to 62.2,
M= 59.8 to 69.3,
L= 67.7 to 72.4,
XL= 69.3 to 74.0,
2XL= 71.7 to 76.4,
3XL= 74.0 to 78.7
CHEST: circumference of chest just under your arms
XS= 25.2 to 29.9,
S= 28.3 to 34.6,
M= 31.5 to 37.8,
L= 36.2 to 42.5,
XL= 37.8 to 45.7,
2XL= 39.4 to 47.2,
3XL= 40.9 to 48.8
Keep in mind, you pick the larger of the size indicated by either the height or chest. Also, if you want to be able to wear bulky winter clothes under the vest, you’ll want to get a larger size.
Some more details on the vests: These are made by the same company that is supplying the official vests you can order when you sign up for PBP, see
http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/pbp2011/index2.php?lang=en&cat=preparation&page=habillement
The manufacturer product brochure PDF is at http://www.l2s-shop.com/pdf/47.pdf
or see their website at
http://www.l2s-shop.com/product_info.php?products_id=47
