[Closed] Road riders wearing black - why?

why not?

It's slimming.

I recently had a 370 post conversation about this on Facebook with TJ.

I could copy and paste that if you want - just to save the same thing being duplicated on here. 😉

yep...... confirmed fatty here.

to be fair I do wear an orange top in order to be seen but much prefer black as I look a complete numpty in cycling clothes and feel better when wearing black.

I recently had a 370 post conversation about this on Facebook with TJ.

😯

You know there are pictures of pretty girls (or men, if thats your preference) on the internet, right?

"murdered out" is a good look.

Pretty much all the riding gear I own is black. Why? Well... it might be my subconscious desire to look like Oswald Mosely. Or because I like it, and if I was head to toe in fluorescent stuff I'd look like a bouncy castle.

I do however light myself, and the bike up like Blackpool illuminations when its anywhere near dark.

In my experience if someones daft/careless enough to drive into you in broad daylight, then they're going to do it whatever you're wearing.

Ton - "why not" ok I'm doing the big assumption thing here, but you must be shortening the odds of you not being hit quite considerably..

because it's up to the cars to see you not for you to be seen OK, when they hit you it's their fault and when you lie there in intensive care/grave at least that will comfort you.

I wish my road riding mate was a little more sober in his riding gear! Every time we go out he turns up in some 20 year old garish obscure team kit which look like the proverbial explosion in a paint factory. Still, you can definitely see him.

Think it's more to do with the uninspired range of cycle clothing available, isn't it? Look in any mainstream cycle chop and you'll see swathes of black with the occasional bit of fluro thrown in. Very hard to buy light/coloured kit somewhere you can try it on before buying, IME.

i just dont see why we have to dress like batman or robin, to cycle to work, or to cycle for transport.
have you ever been to holland or denmark?
people ride far more than we do, and get along fine wearing normal day to day clothes.

What mike said.

Same as the motorbike thread. Be seen.

At least while you lie in intensive care you can laugh at the smidsy joke

this bright enough?
[img] [/img] - first link fail follow the link for the mad colours
only problem is it's just for the ladies and mail order - I have some of the last of the mens stuff and the missus has loads of the womens (she is sponsored/ambassador) but it's great kit 🙂
http://www.ymxbyyellowman.com/

"murdered out" is a good look.

Murdered out is my favourite colorway.

does this apply to black cars as well?

Looks good

Matches my bike

Slimming ( 😉 )

Have you ever worn lycra shorts that are not black 😉

But having being caught out recently by bad weather and poor light (wearing black and no lights at 18:00) I take the OPs point!!!

does this apply to black cars as well?

No ... Not if as the OP said 80/90% had thier lights on

And I'm not sure how much a driver will get hurt if thier car is ridden into by a cyclist

Be seen you wallys

Eeeh, that photo is a fail...

Baggy cuffs, hood, cut too long at the front and too short at the back, no pockets and she's wearing knickers.

Not really cycling clothing at all.

Have you ever worn lycra shorts that are not black

I believe the Polish Cycling team have. They have definitley been seen. Every last bit of them.

Think it's more to do with the uninspired range of cycle clothing available, isn't it?

Pretty much this for me. Choices seem to be stealth black, 80's look, TDF-wannabe or classic railway worker flouro.

Fortunately I'm Scottish so my legs glow a splendid blueish-white allowing me to be seen in the thickest of fogs 😀

motorcyclists in black leathers?

If we're talking safety then lights and reflective strips/panels have a much greater impact than fabric colour in low light conditions and in normal light conditions black is perfectly visible.

Can never understand why manufacturers still produce black cycling gear, though there must be a demand as they still make it! Some pro teams don't help either... I'd wear pink and white polka dots before I'd put on black clothing on the roads... and I love the girls top above 😀

what Buck said, possibly thanks to Sky/Rapha half the stuff in shops is black. I have 3 black road jerseys, all different brands, not because I was after that third reich chic but because they were all that was available that fitted at the time.

I have a couple of brighter jerseys and tend to wear those when riding solo, and keep the black stuff for group riding when I'm surrounded in fluoro. Commuting I use a fluoro yellow rucksack and have an orange Howies Dfyi jacket when the weather justifies it.

At least while you lie in intensive care you can laugh at the smidsy joke

I was brought up with "no point being in the right when youre also in hospital".

In fact, look at the majority of jackets produced for men... black, brown, drab... whilst the women's alternatives are bright and colourful... are they trying to do something here???

Have you ever worn lycra shorts that are not black

and I love the girls top above

Riding gear that isn't "murdered out" or 80's fluro 🙂 (shameless plug)

Vond - if you hadn't noticed now cars a sold with lights that you cant turn off so that you can be seen.

There was an interesting thing on Radio 4 a few weeks back about cycling accidents in London. Apparently the Boris bikes have fewer accidents than expected purely because they have lights on them.

To be honest I wear blue or red tops commuting, no it probably looks crap to the roadie pro fashion Police, but if it helps reduce my chances of getting hit by a car then I really don't care.

"murdered out" is a good look.

Murdered out is my favourite colorway.

I brought some cycling clothes in a murdered out colorway recently.

Can never understand why manufacturers still produce black cycling gear, though there must be a demand as they still make it!

See above.

Been cycling 20 miles daily through winter and summer for as long as I can remember. In winter car drivers go insane, but I've worn mostly black all my life. In my opinion, in daylight the colour you're wearing makes no difference to visibility, and in winter (or dark) lights are the only reliable solution to visibility.

Nobody has mentioned the most important elements of being seen, which are skill and experience on a bike along with making yourself prominent so people have no choice but to see you (and your bright flashing lights of course).

The most popular colours of cars these days include Fog Grey, Tarmac Grey and overcast Sky Grey, but that's alright because cars are safer for the occupants these days despite most of them being more difficult to see out of.

personally always wear dark colours on the bike why simply do not like the colours and Fluor/display board of roadie kit nor the clowns suits of the downhillers.

Reflective strips make more of a difference and lights massively.......just like black cars then..........

I find there are that many yellow jackets about now they just don't stand out as much as they used to. Orange seems to stand out more.

Looking at the bigger picture, I'm sure that wearing black clothes on a road bike is very helpful to the insurance companies.

It would help them no end to reduce their liabilities as they could easily apportion blame to the clothing the victim was wearing.

Has anyone actually experienced this kind of thing?

On a more gruesome note, black and blood red have always set each other off very well as a colour combination.

ton - Member
i just dont see why we have to dress like batman or robin, to cycle to work, or to cycle for transport.
have you ever been to holland or denmark?
people ride far more than we do, and get along fine wearing normal day to day clothes.

Cycling in the Uk is not like cycling in Holland or Denmark though is it?

Anyway whats the point in taking an idealogical view point, deal with the here & now, its safer, simple as that...

Seem to remember an article a while back that suggested that at this time of year, black may [i][b]sometimes[/b][/i] be safer than fluoro because you have more contrast against a low sun and shiny wet roads.

Usually dark colours here too.

Vanity really.

Which is the same reason I don't have any reflectors on my bikes either.
Should do really, not as if they weigh much.

I blame Rupert Murdoch.

I'd never wear flouro, it's hideous. I don't always wear black, I have lots of other colours, red, blue, etc. It makes naff all difference to the amount of room I'm given.

Whats the point of lights in bright sunshine?

I was riding home last week along a cycle path which runs along side the road but is totally segregated from the road, cars can't access the path or stray onto it. There was a guy coming towards me with a very bright light in strobe mode, this was broad daylight, all he was doing was blinding oncoming riders. Idiot.

Nearly always dark colours here too, easier to keep clean and less embarassing when wet!

There's also the arms-race argument, a bit like the lumen-wars. The brighter you are the less likley you'll be hit*, but the more likley the focus is taken away from other things! There's a reason that flouro yellow is called "urban camoflage" these days, leave it for the people who work on the roads and in dangerous places, don't use it for commuting it lessens the impact for those who need it...

*Although I'd argue that positioning yourself is far more important than what you wear. It's easier to move into a drivers field of vision than to move their field of vision to you.

I was riding home last week along a cycle path which runs along side the road but is totally segregated from the road, cars can't access the path or stray onto it. There was a guy coming towards me with a very bright light in strobe mode, this was broad daylight, all he was doing was blinding oncoming riders. Idiot

A77 by chance ? If so I've seen this a few times too....

Stewart Maconi made the comment that if you want to pass completely unnoticed through any environment in the UK, put a fluorescent jacket on

In the day make it gay, at night make it bright.
In the dark make it light and get yourself seen.
Whether working for a living or riding for your pleasure
Let the world see that life is something that you treasure
and get yourself seen.

glupton1976 - Member

I recently had a 370 post conversation about this on Facebook with TJ.

I could copy and paste that if you want - just to save the same thing being duplicated on here.

Cycling in the Uk is not like cycling in Holland or Denmark though is it?

timc......please explain how it differs?

I ride in Black, I do so cos' it's sexy.

I don't however ride at night on busy main roads, all my riding is done in the quiet Hampshire Lanes.

If on the foldie/fixie in That Lunnnjon I ride in jeans and jacket, however I have just bought a very dashing burnt Orange variety so I'd class that as "bright".

Lights go without saying, roadie has one on front, two on seatpost, foldie one on front, two on rear seatstays, fixie has one on front one on rear.

It was Ian, just near Fenwick.

I ride in dark colors as they look better and I dont want to look like a lollypop man. Does anyone have any hard stats that say dressing like a wolly decreases your chances of being hit??.... cos logic definitely says otherwise.

The only reason a driver should not be able so see a cyclist (given that all cars come equipped with powerful head lights) is if they are not looking at them. Rear lights are are a good idea so that a driver can have prior warning of a cyclist before his/her dipped beam reaches the rider. Before this time no amount of reflective gaudy color schemes will illuminate you as there is no light to reflect.

I'd guess it's cause they dressed for a ride not for a health and safety convention. If it was night time and they had no lights and dark clothes feel free to have a rant, if it was daytime and they just got caught out in low light I don't see why they deserve scorn. 80-90% cars had lights on so presumably there were a few dark coloured cars with no lights on - why are you not having a pop at them?

Stewart Maconi made the comment that if you want to pass completely unnoticed through any environment in the UK, put a fluorescent jacket on

If we're talking safety then lights and reflective strips/panels have a much greater impact than fabric colour in low light conditions and in normal light conditions black is perfectly visible.

Eh?

So you're saying that a material that requires light to bounce off it is better than hi-viz in low light conditions (when not all cars have headlights on) and black is as visible as a hi-viz in 'normal light conditions' (whatever they are)?

'k...

😕

Not once in my life can I remember being out in the car and not seeing a cyclist because he was wearing a dark coloured top (I'm not starting on shorts). I've been caught out by someone in dark clothes at night without lights, but the solution for him wasn't to put a different coloured hoodie on it was to get some lights.

Not once in my life can I remember being out in the car and not seeing a cyclist because he was wearing a dark coloured top (I'm not starting on shorts). I've been caught out by someone in dark clothes at night without lights, but the solution for him wasn't to put a different coloured hoodie on it was to get some lights.

That's because you didn't see them...

crikey - Member

Eeeh, that photo is a fail...

Baggy cuffs, hood, cut too long at the front and too short at the back, no pockets and she's wearing knickers.

Not really cycling clothing at all.

I had to stop and peer very closely at the lady's bottom to confirm the knicker-wearing thing. You must have great eyesight.

So you're saying that a material that requires light to bounce off it is better than hi-viz

Seems we have lost the knowledge already!

Bring back the nanny state! 😉

I have some red/blue/etc jerseys but for the most part my riding gear is black or drab colours. There just isn't that much choice out there unfortunately. When commuting I tend to wear a fluoro gilet and some of those fluoro/reflective reversible ankle strap things, and lots of lights on the bike/me when it starts getting dark (ie now).

Basically it comes down to the trade off between some perception of personal safety, and not wanting to look like a bell end

imo colour of the clothes is nonsense, lights make a difference and some reflective bits in twilight but in the dark or daylight it'll make sod all difference imho

Fairly thick fog here this morning I couldn't believe the number of cars driving about with no light on at all! madness in my mind

That's because you didn't see them...

I know were supposed to be arguing the toss, gradually taking a more opposed viewpoint and generally getting angrier as the thread goes on but that was funny. Nice work. 😆

High viz also requires light to bounce of it

If you're referring to the fact you need light to see it (such as daylight, or other ambient light) then yes - it does.

Reflective strips do exactly that - reflect. They require a direct light source, such as a headlight, to work. Therefore in most situations (such as daylight) they will not be as visible as hi-viz.

I know were supposed to be arguing the toss, gradually taking a more opposed viewpoint and generally getting angrier as the thread goes on but that was funny. Nice work.

Thank you. 😉

[img] [/img]

grum - Member

"murdered out" is a good look.

Murdered out is my favourite colorway.

I brought some cycling clothes in a murdered out colorway recently.

😀

I brought my way out colors to a club ride recently and got asked to swap them out.

[img] [/img]

Seems we have lost the knowledge already!

Quality - love the full tinfoil suit the kid is wearing. Very practical.

Not a helmet in sight though... 😛

Having a decent set of lights is most likely get you seen in low light conditions IMO, supplementing that with some brightly coloured and/or retro reflective clothing is perfectly harmless so do it if you want (I do) but if black / dark colours are your preferred aesthetic then fair enough, os long as you have some lights on then I suppose the drivers excuses for mowing you down are pretty much null and void.

TBF no matter what you wear you'll be viewed as a weirdo these days, your on a bike.

Whats the point of lights in bright sunshine?

I came close to hitting a guy on a bike, in a 50 zone the other day. Very, very contrasty light, lots of areas of shadow and blinding light, twisty road - the kind of conditions which have more than once made me pack in a ride and go home.

I was driving according to the conditions but at the end of the day, you've got to make progress.

Saw the guy in a deep pool of shadow, at the very last moment and stamped on the brakes. Waited a moment until it was safe to overtake. If I'd been doing the recommended 50mph, I would have been lucky not to hit him. If he'd had a flashing rear light, I'd have seen him earlier.

I understand this ^^^ is dangerous talk round these parts and it's the responsibility of the driver to be very aware of vulnerable road users, but if there's anything I can do to make myself safer on a bike, I'll do it. And that does include assessing light conditions and going home where necessary.

EDIT - no clue what he was wearing...

The key to visibility is not colour or brightness but contrast, on a gloomy day in a city that may well be bright colours, but in other conditions it may not be.

You will actually get better visibility by having areas of different colour/brightness next to each other, ie: bright bike, dark rider or dark top, bright helmet and shorts that way you have more chance of people being able to pick you out against a variety of backgrounds.

All said and done though being in dark clothing does not make you invisible as long as you are sufficiently illuminated

EDIT - no clue what he was wearing...

😀

I would rather not cycle(and I have most days since I was three) than join the wonking helmet, high viz gang.

Insisting people dress up in silly clothes is one of the key reasons people dont start cycling in the first place.

Doesnt matter a jot what colour your wearing when the driver of a car is updating their facebook status.

ton - Member
timc......please explain how it differs?

Come on, no point going round the houses, we all know these countries cater for cyclists better than the Uk.

Op - see my ninja roadies thread a few months ago, the row went on for days......

and why so many silver cars that disapear into fog banks....

Cycling in the Uk is not like cycling in Holland or Denmark though is it?

You're right: we're intent on making cycling in the UK be seen as a dangerous activity.

I recently bought a set of exposure flash/flare lights for this very reason. Whilst i have kit that is colourful, i also have kit that is dark. The lights i use as daylight running lights because they are rechargeable and run for 8hrs which is easily enough for a day ride.
Lights, plus a bright fluoro helmet should have me seen regardless of whatever else I'm wearing.
As above, doesn't matter what colour you are if the driver doesn't care enough to actually look where they are going.

Very rarely wear black on the road. At junctions I think people are looking further up the road for fast moving vehicles, and aren't necessarily concentrating on the foreground. I generally wear red in the hope that the brighter colour will catch the driver's eye, specifically at junctions.

I'm not a fan of black, with modern fabrics getting bright colours clean again is not a problem. This is me, easily spottable.

[IMG] [/IMG]

I'm with muddydwarf - use Flash/Flares as daylight lights and have a hi viz helmet, doesn't matter what colour my kit is then