Cycling UK Forum

I wear a bright gillet but otherwise I favour black for everything else, especially in the winter, the reason, it allows the weak winter sun to warm my chilling bones by absorbing all the available infra-red

Not on the top half, prefer bright colours, far too many jackets/jerseys are only available in black or really dark colours.

I compared some colours during a thread a while back. Images attached... viewtopic.php?p=1708940#p1708940

Thanks to cycle tramp for being the body double

Another one with few cycle specific clothes here. So winter stuff is generally on the darker side.

That said, I have good lights; front, back and pedal reflectors and additional retro reflective bits on panniers and gloves. If people aren't seeing me they're already in the not looking category. I don't see the value in wearing a coat/jacket that's worse in actually being a coat/jacket just for a bright colour.

Carlton green wrote: ↑27 Nov 2024, 7:53pm Perhaps I’ll be putting some white tape on my rear mudflap - insulation tape is cheap and will last a while - the mudguard itself is silver with a red refector and a light. I use silver mudguards because I like them and I already have them but had never realised that going for white - or otherwise reflective - was such an easy and obvious (when you think about it) safety choice. Maybe some white tape on the seat stays would be worth the few minutes effort too. My pedals have reflectors built in. Observing the visibility of other cyclists - ideally when driving a car - helps one usefully question and amend one’s own visibility.

If I was still cycling I might be tempted to get some of these.

Disappointing that no one has yet said they're happy wearing black on the outside because black is how they feel on the inside. But I suppose that would mean they weren't actually happy, so they couldn't.

axel_knutt wrote: ↑28 Nov 2024, 12:01pm
If I was still cycling I might be tempted to get some of these.

I did for my commuting bike, fitting them to the fork fronts, chainstay and mudguard rears and the crank arms.

peetee wrote: ↑27 Nov 2024, 11:46am I'm curious to know whether the bike clothing market is producing clothing we want to wear or if cyclist are being lead to clothing that the manufacturers want us to be seen in.
On the subject of colour, it seems to me that there are a rather large proportion of black cycling tops. Sone are made by manufacturers who seem to like to project this as the default option, a sort of 'corporate image'. Others not so - and maybe they are following a supply-derived trend in order to get a share of the market they deem is popular.
How many of us would be happy to wear such tops as opposed to something more visible? Have we worn both and felt safer or otherwise? Do you think it makes a difference?

I prefer relatively bright colours (i.e., primary colours but not fluorescent) on the bike because I prefer bright colours off it, but I have my share of coats in stealth or murk because I mainly choose according to how a garment will perform in some sort of weather conditions and my choice may be limited by what's available (particularly if I'm bargain hunting).

I tend not to wear cycle-specific kit as I have plenty of general outdoorsy stuff that works fine on a bike, and I'm not a roadie looking for aero and something cut for a deep crouch, and at least in the "general outdoors market" there are very definitely "this year's colours", which quite often seem to be stealth or murk for men (shame for me as I prefer brighter). Black is often a default in clothing ranges because it never goes out of fashion (or so I understand... fashion and me aren't typically bedfellows!). Manufacturers like Buffalo where there's a lot of buy-in from military folk, or Paramo with a big twitching following, will usually make sure a discreet green is available, but beyond black and green (and maybe a grey) it seems to get decided by colour consultants to the rag trade a year or two in advance.

I'm good riding in dark clothes because my bikes have decent lights and reflectors. I used to always ride in hi-viz and felt concerned riding in dark clothes but for many years now I've not been bothered by it.

Pete.

mattsccm wrote: ↑27 Nov 2024, 1:29pm Lower half , always black unless there is a club logo.

Agree 100%, and here's why.

A about 20 years ago I was doing a lot of touring in Australia, just wearing a normal gents type shirt. I started getting shouts from motorists and other people telling me to wear hi-vis.

At that time, hi-vis was virtually unknown in Britain apart from road workers and police but in Australia everybody seemed to wear it, from truck drivers to people pushing trolleys in supermarkets.

Buying a hi-vis shirt was very cheap so it was a bit of a no-brainer and they turned out to be an excellent buy and very cheap. They are like polo shirts, long sleeve with a tight cuff so they cover you down to glove. They're also sunproof. A bit like aertex and fairly cool in heat.

On return to the UK. I started wearing it as my main summer cycling shirt. Initially to some amusement from friends.

https://everythingaustralian.com.au/har ... -navy.html

In the UK I often wear bright or even a hi-vis cycling jacket for one main reason. If I did get knocked off it would be part of my defence (or attack) from SMIDSY.

What do you mean you didn't see me? I have visions of standing up in court holding a battered hi-vis jacket saying "You didn't see THIS!" Guilty M'lud.

I have only bright tops and never considered a black one. I find it frustrating that bibs, both long and short are often all black or dark blue and would like brighter coloured panels.

Yes. Deliriously so. I used to wear everyday clothes on an upright bike, even more so now on recumbents. My bikes have the usual quota of reflectors and lights, even pedal reflectors. I try not to look like "a cyclist" when I'm off the bike.

axel_knutt wrote: ↑28 Nov 2024, 12:01pm

Carlton green wrote: ↑27 Nov 2024, 7:53pm Perhaps I’ll be putting some white tape on my rear mudflap - insulation tape is cheap and will last a while - the mudguard itself is silver with a red refector and a light. I use silver mudguards because I like them and I already have them but had never realised that going for white - or otherwise reflective - was such an easy and obvious (when you think about it) safety choice. Maybe some white tape on the seat stays would be worth the few minutes effort too. My pedals have reflectors built in. Observing the visibility of other cyclists - ideally when driving a car - helps one usefully question and amend one’s own visibility.

If I was still cycling I might be tempted to get some of these.

I bought something similar in red and white and stuck them on as many suitable places on my bikes as possible. Mine are a bit more subtle and don't change the aesthetics of the bikes too much.

I'm now looking for a way to make the front of my black Brompton bag reflective without damaging the fabric. The old one had a triangular reflective are in the middle. I thought about one or two of those dangly reflectors in white that I see sometimes on kids' school rucksacks here.

Black shorts/leggings. High visibility bright tops. White helmet and white shoes. Multiple lights even during daytime - just like a Xmas tree!

The idiot that designed our current club jersey made it panelled black and bright green, divided vertically. Those who wear it blend most beautifully into the background any time they ride through forest, whereof we have lots. I stuck with the old green & yellow.