Why is so much clothing dark colored.
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Why is so much clothing dark colored.
This may be a dumb question but it seems like a lot of exercise clothing including bicycle gear is dark or black in color. I find this more true for pants. Has anyone heard a reason for this? I would think bright, and/or safety colors would be cooler and, well, safer. Just wondering.
#2
Senior Member
Not just exercise clothing, most clothing, casual and formal including jackets and coats. It's fashion. I'm guessing if all these clothing had reflector stripes around the sleeves, pant cuffs and outlining the back and part of the front, they wouldn't sell.
Likes For Daniel4:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,989
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2693 Post(s)
Liked 485 Times
in
350 Posts
I asked my LBS why they only have black bib shorts and they pretty much said its so your junk/bulge is not on display. I know a dude who rides with pink everything though and think its pretty sweet
#4
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,953
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6178 Post(s)
Liked 4,795 Times
in
3,307 Posts
People today don't seem to want to stand out. Makes them uneasy to have on color that might let them be seen.
I still can't get over the guy in dark exercise clothing that matched the MUP colors perfectly and doing pushups in a heavily shadowed depression that I almost ran over when cycling a year or so ago.
Though I will say white bibs or short is not a good look for the grime and yellowish colored drinks you might spill on them while cycling that gets mistaken by others as urine stain or worse.
I still can't get over the guy in dark exercise clothing that matched the MUP colors perfectly and doing pushups in a heavily shadowed depression that I almost ran over when cycling a year or so ago.
Though I will say white bibs or short is not a good look for the grime and yellowish colored drinks you might spill on them while cycling that gets mistaken by others as urine stain or worse.
#5
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times
in
1,439 Posts
Black shorts have been de rigueur for cycling since they started making them. Moisture doesn't show on them.
There are plenty of brightly colored jerseys, socks, and gloves available for those who want to do the peacock thing.
There are plenty of brightly colored jerseys, socks, and gloves available for those who want to do the peacock thing.
Likes For Rolla:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,515
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3241 Post(s)
Liked 2,512 Times
in
1,510 Posts
Dark colors make things look sleeker, slimmer, etc. Black is a neutral color, so it goes with anything. Which makes picking an outfit for working out easy. It doesn't take much to make light colors look dirty, either. In the heat/high humidity of the southeast, white doesn't stay white very long.
Last edited by seypat; 04-22-22 at 09:15 AM.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 5,921
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1815 Post(s)
Liked 1,693 Times
in
974 Posts
In the long ago past shorts were black so that you could wipe your hands on them after changing a tire or replacing a chain after it fell off the chainring without the black dirt and grease showing. At one time top professionals were required to wear black shorts by race organizers
Likes For alcjphil:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,515
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3241 Post(s)
Liked 2,512 Times
in
1,510 Posts
You should google "Polish cycling team"
In the long ago past shorts were black so that you could wipe your hands on them after changing a tire or replacing a chain after it fell off the chainring without the black dirt and grease showing. At one time top professionals were required to wear black shorts by race organizers
In the long ago past shorts were black so that you could wipe your hands on them after changing a tire or replacing a chain after it fell off the chainring without the black dirt and grease showing. At one time top professionals were required to wear black shorts by race organizers
Likes For seypat:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,217
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18398 Post(s)
Liked 15,494 Times
in
7,317 Posts
IKR. Other than shorts, I don't see a lot of black cycling clothing out on the road compared to the amount of colored stuff other than maybe gloves.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,516
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20808 Post(s)
Liked 9,450 Times
in
4,668 Posts
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,516
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20808 Post(s)
Liked 9,450 Times
in
4,668 Posts
Non-black bibs are starting to become more popular, I now have (and love) navy and maroon bibs, but I do think that keeping things relatively dark is a good idea on the lower half. Anything goes on the upper half, though lighter colored technical fabrics can get pretty sheer. I'm not particularly prudish or shy, but do have one jersey that I only wear with a base layer underneath.
#12
I am potato.
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 3,107
Bikes: Only precision built, custom high performance elitist machines of the highest caliber. 🍆
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1784 Post(s)
Liked 1,622 Times
in
928 Posts
Leather saddles must be occasionally maintenanced. Conditioner, oil, beeswax, etc...often discolors bike shorts.
You've identified a legacy holdover from cyclings early days.
You've identified a legacy holdover from cyclings early days.
__________________
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
Likes For base2:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,892
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4791 Post(s)
Liked 3,918 Times
in
2,548 Posts
Black shorts give you a place to wipe your hands after a dropped chain or tire repair. Black shorts also worked better in the days of real leather saddles that got polish and oils to keep them alive.
But dark jerseys are mostly about style and sales. Sometimes bright comes into fashion. I try to buy up when that happens. Dark jerseys strike me as a death wish.
But dark jerseys are mostly about style and sales. Sometimes bright comes into fashion. I try to buy up when that happens. Dark jerseys strike me as a death wish.
Likes For 79pmooney:
Likes For blacknbluebikes:
#16
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
Likes For livedarklions:
#17
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,694
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1532 Post(s)
Liked 1,527 Times
in
915 Posts
Not just cycling clothes; looking at rain jackets, my option was dark grey or dark blue. Because who wouldn't want to be invisible in the rain?
Likes For Korina:
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,938
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3943 Post(s)
Liked 7,286 Times
in
2,942 Posts
Likes For tomato coupe:
#20
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
This may be a dumb question but it seems like a lot of exercise clothing including bicycle gear is dark or black in color. I find this more true for pants. Has anyone heard a reason for this? I would think bright, and/or safety colors would be cooler and, well, safer. Just wondering.
Likes For wolfchild:
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,516
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20808 Post(s)
Liked 9,450 Times
in
4,668 Posts
I have a few. One is solid black, one verrrrry light gray (almost white), one that's mottled with some reddish colors in there and one jersey from the same manufacturer (Rapha) that I *think* is intended to be a match for the bibs - light gray torso, darker blue/gray sleeves and maroon trim.
Likes For WhyFi:
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,467
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 956 Post(s)
Liked 1,619 Times
in
1,039 Posts
Why is so much clothing dark colored? Because we are all getting FAT!!!
Lets get back some color...
https://www.logolynx.com/topic/woodstock
Peace, Love, Music... And lets not forget... Superior Fire Power... Ha
Lets get back some color...
https://www.logolynx.com/topic/woodstock
Peace, Love, Music... And lets not forget... Superior Fire Power... Ha
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
Last edited by zandoval; 04-22-22 at 11:58 AM.
Likes For zandoval:
#23
Senior Member
Black goes with everything. So it's black shorts/bibs/tights unless you're wearing an entire kit of jersey, pants, and probably socks. The you're probably worrying abut maching your helmet, too. At some point, you just have to say "no" and for most of us, that point is the pants. Besides, no color shows up in the dark and black shows up fine in the light; it's much better to have a flasher.
#24
Happy With My Bikes
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,182
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 880 Post(s)
Liked 2,304 Times
in
1,114 Posts
In another thread it was argued colors and patterns incite dogs to chase you. I don't know if black was considered safe or not.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
#25
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,605
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10947 Post(s)
Liked 7,474 Times
in
4,181 Posts
This may be a dumb question but it seems like a lot of exercise clothing including bicycle gear is dark or black in color. I find this more true for pants. Has anyone heard a reason for this? I would think bright, and/or safety colors would be cooler and, well, safer. Just wondering.
Where do you live that you dont have a ton of people in bright yellow clothing? I just figured its the most common color everywhere.
I dont ride with dark tops...the darkest I have is a sage green jersey. I have only white helmets because my brain thinks that will help with being seen since it moves around and is at the highest point on the bike.
You dont need bright pants to be seen. Just use a light to be seen and wear dark pants since they dont show sweat, dont show grease, and dont show junk. Nobody wants hiviz yellow cycling shorts.