Cyclists wearing black clothes

[oyster]

It's winter, it's dark for the evening commute and gloomy at best for the morning commute. Yet it seems more than half of all cyclists wear very dark clothes - usually black.

I'm not talking about those wearing jeans and a casual coat, I'm talking about proper lycra-type cycling gear on proper bikes. I hadn't really thought much of it until a cabbie pulled alongside at some lights and commented how easily he saw me (wearing hi viz top, gloves, ankle band etc.)

Is it 'uncool' to be seen?

[BMWBen]

It's just that's what most cycling clothing comes in I think. Mine is pretty much all black, but then I do wear high vis gloves, my shoes are highly reflective, and I wear a hump on my bag.

[hurstg01]

I wear a hi-vis jacket, have hi-vis bits on my shoes and leggings and MTB shorts, lights all on, and I use a rucksack cover thats also hi-vis

It may not be cool, but my children get to see Daddy every night

[paulmon]

Surely reflective material is more useful on dark nights than hi-viz. Hi viz is OK for people seeing you coming towards them but not as good when drivers are coming up behind you.

[Steve vRS]

My jerseys are either dayglo orange or white with reflective trim. I don't understand the stealth look in the middle of a dark autumnal evening either!

Steve

[blueheron]

paulmon said:

Surely reflective material is more useful on dark nights than hi-viz. Hi viz is OK for people seeing you coming towards them but not as good when drivers are coming up behind you.

Generally, most hi-vis stuff i've seen has reflective taping on it.

Know what you meant though, and i'll agree that just hi-vis with no reflective material, isn't as good.

Saw someone cycling with hi-vis yellow reflective snap-wristbands on their ankles. Very effective as they were right in the beams of cars, unlike say, a hump cover

[Digga]

There's a guy I often pass on my commute and the only thing which distnguishes him from the dark, from behind, is a solitary rear LED light. If that went...
and even with it, he's exceedlingly easy to miss. I keep wondering whether to tell him, or whether I'd just get a tirade of abuse...

[TheFungle]

IMO Hi-Viz isn't especially useful on a bike, reflectivity is however, would much rather be wearing my ninja outfit and have my lights booming out than have poor quality lights and depending on Hi-Viz to be seen.

[okgo]

Yes, high vis is not cool in roadie circles (I don't care what I wear, but its not cool), but I think most people just don't think about it and just wear whatever and assume lights are enough. Which most of the time, they are.

[Rolls]

For me, used to be the case that I'd wear my mid-blue gore-tex jacket, but got fed up of people not giving me as much room as I'd like (for a commute from central london > Sidcup) Got a hi-vis jacket, and whilst in town not too much has changed, nearer home where the ambient light isn;t as good, I do seem to get given a bit more room, which is nice!
(Use 2 rear lights, and a joystick on the front, and always have)

[BMWBen]

okgo said:

Yes, high vis is not cool in roadie circles (I don't care what I wear, but its not cool), but I think most people just don't think about it and just wear whatever and assume lights are enough. Which most of the time, they are.

Key thing about hi-viz is that it needs UV light to light up properly - so at night it's no good. It's actually for visibility during the day.

Reflective strips are what is needed at night.

[sparkyb999]

Most of my winter clothing is black, but i wear reflective ankle straps, and a high vis (with reflective strips) gilet and all my lights light me up like a flashing christmas tree.

White clothing is awful, especially in the summer, lycra shorts, everybody gets to know you a little better!

[LittleSwill]

It's not just cyclists, lately I've seen loads of people driving black cars. Crazy!

[Mermaid]

LittleSwill said:

It's not just cyclists, lately I've seen loads of people driving black cars. Crazy!

If the car's lights are off, does it matter?

[Benmac]

Best to wear a tinfoil jumpsuit when riding your chopper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6BHFM2cwGA&fea...

[oyster]

BMWBen said:

okgo said:

Yes, high vis is not cool in roadie circles (I don't care what I wear, but its not cool), but I think most people just don't think about it and just wear whatever and assume lights are enough. Which most of the time, they are.

Key thing about hi-viz is that it needs UV light to light up properly - so at night it's no good. It's actually for visibility during the day.

Reflective strips are what is needed at night.

Maybe I'm odd to want to stay alive but I'm wearing hi-viz AND reflective strips AND a myriad of bright lights.

Just struck me how many people (mostly men on roadies it has to be said) wear the ninja outfits. With good lights it's not so bad at night, but in the half-light (which is most of thw day in winter) it's not so clever.

[TheFungle]

I hope you're all wearing helmets as well, they have been 100% proven to reduce accidents.

[Captain Ahab]

TheFungle said:

I hope you're all wearing helmets as well, they have been 100% proven to reduce accidents.

helmets do not reduce accidents, they reduce the amount of injury sustained in an accident.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Captain Ahab said:

TheFungle said:

I hope you're all wearing helmets as well, they have been 100% proven to reduce accidents.

helmets do not reduce accidents, they reduce the amount of injury sustained in an accident.

The research is not "100%" conclusive either.

[BliarOut]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Captain Ahab said:

TheFungle said:

I hope you're all wearing helmets as well, they have been 100% proven to reduce accidents.

helmets do not reduce accidents, they reduce the amount of injury sustained in an accident.

The research is not "100%" conclusive either.

Personally I think high viz and good lighting is far more effective than a helmet. Avoid the accident in the first place