Black????really????

[kermit]

I rode today in my usual, very popular but busy area in our town. I would say that three out of five cyclists were wearing predominantly black gear. I have had so many close calls with cars and even a school bus, I am all about "please see me" clothing. Is this happening any where else?

[Roadtrip]

Yup. Just last night we were out about a few hour after sunset and I passed a bicyclist without lights and wearing dark colored clothing. I didn't see him until I was about 50' from him, and while he was safely on the shoulder of the road, I was stunned someone would be riding with no lights in near pitch darkness.

Shannon

[OakLeaf]

One of my riding buddies has "Ace of Spades" kit.

He knows what I wear, I don't have to preach verbally.



ETA - I guess that design has been discontinued, but a large plurality of the designs that are on Primal's website now are black. Including their "Dia de los Muertos" kit, for the fans of sick jokes.


Edit again: In daylight, black is actually more visible than light blue, light green or most browns, which blend right into sky and vegetation.

[bmccasland]

In a hot climate I wouldn't want to wear black during the day. Nothing quite like absorbing heat.

For low sun ray times, maybe the riders should don a lovely high vis vest? Probalby not cool enough.

[Grits]

A few of the people I ride with sometimes wear non-cycling workout wear to ride in, and it sometimes is black or some other dark color. Although, just because it is cycling specific doesn't necessarily mean it is a very visible color. I've noticed that a lot of the blue jerseys just fade into the highway.

When I"m looking at the riders either ahead or behind me at a distance, you can really see a huge difference in visibility between the riders in high vis colors vs the ones in dark colors. Yellow shows up for miles. I am so paranoid about being seen that I wouldn't even enjoy a ride if I wasn't wearing nice bright colors with my blinkie light flashing! My next purchase is going to be a yellow vest.

[kimikaw]

Glad you asked...been meaning to post somewhere about a women I saw last week. A bike commuter riding at 5:30pm through the most trafficy part of my commute (state street in downtown Wauwatosa for any locals) - totally dark and at a time of day cars do a lot of lane jockeying to get past each other.

She had on a long black coat, black pants, black boots (quite stylish street clothes), black backpack. NO LIGHTS, only reflectors were on her pedals. And she was wearing earphones and a iPod.

If I had been on my bike, I would have stopped her to explain not only was she breaking the law (WI requires lights), but putting her life in jeopardy. Sure she gets points for commuting - when I've been afraid to since the time change and darkness - but loses them all for stupidity. Haven't been able to get her out of my head since.

[tangentgirl]

Maybe grey with yellow dotted lines is the way to go.

I've seen a lot of black cycling tops lately and thought the same thing. I was at a tri store recently, would see something with a really cute bright print on the front, just to turn it around and see an all-black back.

In daylight, black is actually more visible than light blue, light green or most browns, which blend right into sky and vegetation.

I'm trying to picture this, I am. Not feelin' it, but am open to hearing more.

[Cataboo]

Unfortunately,my favorite cycling jerseys and jackets are black. It has to do with them being merino wool & they were the color that was on sale, 'cause ordinarily that's not a color that I buy a lot of. I've got reflective stickers on my backpack, which I always wear when cycling, plenty of lights and I got a super duper light up relfective vest that my little brother bought me.

I'm rarely out at night though, and don't cycle in an area that's very busy.

[OakLeaf]

I'm trying to picture this, I am. Not feelin' it, but am open to hearing more.

No explanation required, just pay attention next time you're a few hundred yards behind someone dressed in "road camouflage." Black doesn't "pop," but at least it contrasts with the background.

I still wear my bright red winter stuff, but I have a whole drawer full of non-hi-viz jerseys that I should just haul out and give away here, except that it would feel like giving away a crashed helmet or something. If I don't feel safe wearing it, I don't feel good about giving it to someone else to wear.

[jessmarimba]

Oak, the non hi-vis stuff works fine for mtb! I only really care about being super-bright on trails if its hunting season. Which out here usually means everything is too snowy to ride anyway.

A lot of my winter running gear is black, so I used to go way overboard with blinkies and reflective tape when I ran roads.

[loopybunny]

Are there any statistics that say wearing hi-vis gear in normal daylight conditions is actually any safer than any other color providing the rider is riding in a safe manner?

My primary jersey is light blue and I've never had any issues wearing it versus wearing another one that is bright yellow and orange. I usually only ever worry about being seen when I'm riding in low light conditions, like riding to an event kind of early in the morning since I don't have any lights or reflectors on my bike.

Most of the people I see are wearing the primarily black kit of the local racing team.

[emily_in_nc]

I see a lot of bike commuters near where I work wearing black or dark blue on the ride home, especially now that it's jacket weather. Often they have a black backpack and tights too. They are VERY hard to see, and I would never dress like that anywhere except on a mtb trail.

For road rides, I wear yellow, pink, red, or orange jerseys. I do have a couple of blue ones I'll wear occasionally, but only if riding with my DH and he's wearing yellow. I also have a bright red Arkel Tailrider on my Bike Friday, which makes me stand out more, I think. You can see some of my typically bright garb in my avatar!

Just don't get the black thing -- I expect a lot of riders just don't give visibility a lot of thought, but to me it's always a big concern.

[7rider]

Are there any statistics that say wearing hi-vis gear in normal daylight conditions is actually any safer than any other color providing the rider is riding in a safe manner?
.

No clothing - no matter what color - will make you "safe" on the road. Only properly designed facilities, education, skill, and perhaps a little luck will do that.

That said, many equate "being seen" with safety. That is a tenuous link, but it's out there. Still, given how the plea "But officer, I didn't see the cyclist/pedestrian" seems to be a common excuse that often shifts the blame to the injured, sometimes, perhaps, it's wise to not give them the opportunity to say they didn't see you. With that in mind, I tend to commute, lit up like High Mass on Sunday, but I don't pretend to think that makes me "safe."

[Owlie]

I see a lot of commuters here who ride in street clothes--especially dark blue, brown, or black jackets--with no lights or one blinky. We've got street lights, but a lot of trees still have their leaves, so it's really hard to see cyclists here unless they're lit up like Christmas trees. If I, as a pedestrian, have trouble picking you out, you've got a problem. (And yes, I've had to look twice--"Wait, was that a cyclist?")

For road riding, I've got my obnoxious Union Jack jersey, orange/yellow, yellow and black, sky blue/white, and this. I care a little less about what I wear on the bike trails back home, so that's where my one mostly-black jersey gets worn. My jacket is black too (with a big reflective design all over), but it's gotten most of its wear on the bike trail, thus far. I don't go out in low light conditions.

[zoom-zoom]

That said, many equate "being seen" with safety. That is a tenuous link, but it's out there. Still, given how the plea "But officer, I didn't see the cyclist/pedestrian" seems to be a common excuse that often shifts the blame to the injured, sometimes, perhaps, it's wise to not give them the opportunity to say they didn't see you. With that in mind, I tend to commute, lit up like High Mass on Sunday, but I don't pretend to think that makes me "safe."

Exactly. I wear a lot of very garish clothes and gravitate towards flashy-colored bikes and contrasting bar tape and cable housings if I have a choice, even though matte black seems to be trendy, right now. Even if it doesn't make a driver "see" me, at least if they try to pull that "I didn't see her" crap it will make it obvious that they weren't driving attentively.