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Dark or Bright Colors?

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View Poll Results: What’s your color preference and why?
Fluorescent yellow/green only
15
14.85%
Black and grays
17
16.83%
Orange, Red, Greens, bright colors
63
62.38%
None of your bees wax
6
5.94%
Voters: 101. You may not vote on this poll

Dark or Bright Colors?

Old 10-16-20, 12:30 PM
  #51  
smashndash
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What an odd poll. I wanted to answer “dark or muted colors like navy, maroon etc” and that’s not an option. I’m not a huge fan of all black and even less of a fan of gray.
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Old 10-16-20, 03:50 PM
  #52  
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I've been seeing a lot of x-mas trees running around.... Turns out that those are just joggers with multi colored led's plastered on there "vest" area.
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Old 10-17-20, 04:16 AM
  #53  
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I wear darker color street clothes when I ride, and I never worry about the color of my clothes for visibility. I don't own any jerseys.

My bicycles are very brightly colored because they're covered in reflective and/or photoluminescent tape. My helmet has SOLAS striping and front & rear lights. My bicycles have redundant headlights and taillights.

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Old 10-17-20, 05:37 AM
  #54  
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When I was in my 20s I would wear running singlets and I didn't think nothing of visibility. But now in my 50s I make sure to wear mostly red, one yellow, one orange active wear shirts with black cycling shorts and a blinking light on my post. Unfortunately I haven't gotten any wiser or smarter and here's the story to prove it. (I'm glad this isn't a A&S thread).
I live in Texas and it wasn't that hot one summer day and decided I'd wear a black active wear shirt and Not be cool but look it. After I made the turn around it got really hot and started to question the black shirt decision. Anyways, there was a tree on the opposite side of the country road (against traffic) and I headed to the shade it was throwing on the road to make a bike adjustment. I should've got in the grass but I didn't want to risk a flat plus there's not a lot of traffic where I ride. But here came a pickup truck heading right towards me. I figured it was someone trying to scare me BUT it kept coming towards me like he didn't see me, but instead of getting in the grass I decided I'd stand my ground and started waving my hands to alert him. Finally right before I was gonna jump into the grass he veered away from me. (Hold on guys I get dumber) as he went by I Spit On His Pickup Truck. Now, his brake lights come on he shoves his pick-up in reverse and starts heading right towards me. (Hold on guys I get even dumber). I decide in my rage from almost purposely getting run over that I wasn't moving and he was gonna have to really run me over. But like before, he veered at the last second...then stops right beside me. Then he starts yelling at me about spitting on his pick up and I yell back because he tried to run me over and he yells " I didn't see you and why would I intentionally run you over". I YELL back cause some people don't like cyclist. He was kinda taken back and told me I shouldn't wear black cause he couldn't see me in the shade. Then he burned rubber.
There are a few takeaway lessons here. Number One, Don't spit on pickup trucks in Texas. 2. Wait a few years before you tell this story and tell it here first. 3. What a dumb sss I was and hopefully won't put myself in that situation again...but if I know me.
Ok feel Free to add your What An Idiot comments directed towards me, I deserve it and This Is cycling discussion thread.
Finally now I can tell this story to others.
BTW, I haven't worn a black shirt on the Road since that incident s few years ago. And FWIW, i read a little article in cycling magazine years ago that the color that alert drivers the most Was Not orange, yellow or red but was....Pink. Who knew? Well I did, but I still wore black that day.
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Old 10-17-20, 06:37 AM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by Koyote
I live in a heavily Republican area, and I have noticed that drivers give me wider berth when I am wearing my tri-color red/white/blue jersey. Apparently, they don't realize that it is a French National Team replica jersey.
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Old 10-17-20, 08:55 AM
  #56  
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I have all different colors, including black. Which color is more visible depends on exigent conditions so it doesn't really matter as much as we tend to believe.
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Old 10-17-20, 09:02 AM
  #57  
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Bright colors, the reason lawyers!!!!!!!!!!! If a car hits you, the drivers lawyer will try to find any way he can to make you partly at fault. Bright colors are part of the big three to keep lawyers at bay. Wear bright colors, wear a helmet, and have a flag on your bike, especially if on a trike like I ride. You could even at a forth thing have lights. If you dont do at least some of those things, the drivers lawyer will claim you are partly at fault. Wear bright colors to protect yourself.
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Old 10-17-20, 09:17 AM
  #58  
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No preference, given I purchase the cheapest jerseys I can find.
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Old 10-18-20, 12:56 AM
  #59  
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In general, I like the color yellow. French’s mustard yellow. My favorite t shirts and jackets are yellow. There’s this racing thing, though, where there’s a meaning behind wearing a yellow jersey and maybe that is why I can’t find yellow jerseys?

Surly made an amazing funky slightly-orange yellow wool jacket that was amazingly amazing. Like an idiot I only bought one. I should’ve bought fifteen or twenty. I currently have a dark blue one and like it a lot. I’m going to have to buy at least five of the white ones.

I tend to favor red bikes, but have a yellow one, too. I recently picked up a new frameset that’s black, purple, and white which will likely be covered in salt & sand for a third of the year.

That said, as a driver with acute adhd, especially after work when my pill has worn off, I can relate probably too well with drunk/stoned drivers. These are my findings, regardless of light from the sky or lack thereof:

-Cyclists without lights dressed in dark colors (whether DUI or S-Works Venge riders) effervesce into the road approximately 0.25 seconds before I pass them
-Cyclists without lights wearing non-dark, non-dayglo clothes (bmxers in 80s-o-riffic striped t’s & polos or aspiring writers in khakis and sweaters) appear about 0.5 seconds before I pass them
-Cyclists without lights dressed in dayglo appear about a second before I pass them
-Cyclists with blinky lights and non-dayglo clothing appear about a half football field away momentarily (not a pun, but enjoy it as such if you like) but then get written off as a reflection/glare and disappear until reappearing 0.25 seconds before I pass them.
-blinky + dayglo appears, disappears, then still only reappear about a second before I pass them.
-cyclists with blind-yo-mama bright steady lights command constant attention from at least a football field away, regardless of clothing.

Judging lights’ brightness in a store or your driveway makes as much sense as doing the same with tires and their rolling resistance and/or durability.
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Old 10-18-20, 09:40 AM
  #60  
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Originally Posted by Wanderer
Get ready, Phil, as the cold is coming your way! It's here, now!
I will try to remember that today when it hits 91 this afternoon here in the central valley of California.
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Old 10-18-20, 09:43 AM
  #61  
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Please Go Bright.
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Old 10-18-20, 09:47 AM
  #62  
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Originally Posted by hsuBM
In general, I like the color yellow. French’s mustard yellow. My favorite t shirts and jackets are yellow. There’s this racing thing, though, where there’s a meaning behind wearing a yellow jersey and maybe that is why I can’t find yellow jerseys?

Surly made an amazing funky slightly-orange yellow wool jacket that was amazingly amazing. Like an idiot I only bought one. I should’ve bought fifteen or twenty. I currently have a dark blue one and like it a lot. I’m going to have to buy at least five of the white ones.

I tend to favor red bikes, but have a yellow one, too. I recently picked up a new frameset that’s black, purple, and white which will likely be covered in salt & sand for a third of the year.

That said, as a driver with acute adhd, especially after work when my pill has worn off, I can relate probably too well with drunk/stoned drivers. These are my findings, regardless of light from the sky or lack thereof:

-Cyclists without lights dressed in dark colors (whether DUI or S-Works Venge riders) effervesce into the road approximately 0.25 seconds before I pass them
-Cyclists without lights wearing non-dark, non-dayglo clothes (bmxers in 80s-o-riffic striped t’s & polos or aspiring writers in khakis and sweaters) appear about 0.5 seconds before I pass them
-Cyclists without lights dressed in dayglo appear about a second before I pass them
-Cyclists with blinky lights and non-dayglo clothing appear about a half football field away momentarily (not a pun, but enjoy it as such if you like) but then get written off as a reflection/glare and disappear until reappearing 0.25 seconds before I pass them.
-blinky + dayglo appears, disappears, then still only reappear about a second before I pass them.
-cyclists with blind-yo-mama bright steady lights command constant attention from at least a football field away, regardless of clothing.

Judging lights’ brightness in a store or your driveway makes as much sense as doing the same with tires and their rolling resistance and/or durability.
Thanks for this unique perspective on visibility. I suspect that it does not differ much from the distracted driver, which these days are most of them.
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Old 10-18-20, 09:48 AM
  #63  
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For the basic clothing, I tend to prefer darker colors (black, gray, "earth" tones).

For the outer safety stuff, it's a high-vis vest and/or jacket ... in the typical DayGlo/Safety Yellow or Green. Plus appropriate reflection and lighting, all around.

Indeed: better to be seen, than not. Last thing I want to do is to blend in visually.
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Old 10-19-20, 11:48 AM
  #64  
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I try and wear bright colors, but as it’s gotten cooler, I have more dark colors. Most important is being visible. The trail I usually ride is very sharped and in the early morning or late afternoon riders backlit by the sun become invisible if darkly clothed and barely visible even with bright clothing. This is where lights, front and rear, make the biggest difference.
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Old 10-19-20, 12:00 PM
  #65  
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Anything bright and billboardy for me. Something that will hopefully catch the eyes of the full-time texters that are behind the wheel.
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Old 10-19-20, 12:07 PM
  #66  
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Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
Please Go Bright.
White is my favorite color for being seen in situations like this, which is almost every ride. It's common easy to find color of clothing, doesn't clash too much with any other color, highly visible, cool, simple, does its job well. What's not to like? It gets dirty easily, but other than that, perfect.

It doesn't hurt either to have a nice brisk cadence either, for absolute maximum visibility. Every little thing you can do will help.
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Old 10-19-20, 12:07 PM
  #67  
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Bright colors for visibility for the last 30 years. And it has benefited me and others quite a few times.
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Old 10-19-20, 12:17 PM
  #68  
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I know when I'm leaving the house to ride and my wife and kids say, "Oh please...you're actually leaving the house in that jersey...that's embarrassing!!!", I've made the right choice.
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Old 10-19-20, 12:29 PM
  #69  
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I like primary colors - yellow, red, and blue. They tend to stand out more against the road and the greenery along the road. Dark green/black, not so much. I've started riding with a rear blinkie, too; to keep me more visible when I ride into deep shade and any color is hard to see.
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Old 10-19-20, 12:38 PM
  #70  
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Originally Posted by rsbob
I see lots of dark colored jerseys and the those that wear fluorescent yellow. Is it important to be seen or blend in?
All you need to do is go drive your car places where you and other cyclists ride. And you will see how, even in daylight, let alone at night, that bright colors like yellow show up vastly better. To have a black cyciing jacket or jersey to me seems flat out foolish. You will not be as visible. Period.
And there SO many distracted, thoughtless idiots driving cars.
Same is true of helmets....you need one that's bright, yellow, white, orange, etc...
Maybe it's just me: but I want to be seen.
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Old 10-19-20, 12:40 PM
  #71  
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Originally Posted by Branko D
Prefer white and black combination because it looks great and white jersey / helmet / etc might help with heat dissipation. It feels like it does and like I cook less in the sun than with darker colours.

I run lights for visibility, frankly never felt visibility was an issue except for the people cycling without lights at night, and there are reflective bits on shoes and jerseys and the like as well.
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You show up way better in the day wearing bright colors, never mind about night. Just drive around country roads where there are cyclists, and you will see.
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Old 10-19-20, 12:43 PM
  #72  
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Originally Posted by rsbob
I see lots of dark colored jerseys and the those that wear fluorescent yellow. Is it important to be seen or blend in?
https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear...-safer-riding/

It all seems obvious to me. It's foolish to wear black (or dark green, etc) when cycling. I
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Old 10-19-20, 12:47 PM
  #73  
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Originally Posted by Koyote
Stick a couple bright lights on your bike and it doesn't matter what color clothes you are wearing.
Not true.
Lights don't show up well in daylight, but bright yellow clothing does.
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Old 10-19-20, 12:50 PM
  #74  
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Originally Posted by mstateglfr
I don't own hi-viz yellow clothing. Its tacky as hell and I dont find it helpful on cyclists when I am driving.

All the jerseys I buy are simple looking and mostly solid colors. Rapha and Voler being recent ones. The Rapha is olive green and the Voler is a houndstooth pattern blue.
I simply dont think a driver will see me or not see me based on a jersey color during day rides as I am not a small object.

I do have an orange Garneau vest that is thin and I really like for the shoulder seasons. Its not tacky in color but is noticable, so maybe having that will keep the hi-viz crazies from attacking.

Recently changed from a gray helmet to a white one. I guess thats possibly more visible?


A simple blinky light will make me more noticable from a few blocks away than any awful HiC yellow colored jersey.
My observerations tell me the opposite. Yellow is way more visible. I've made it a point to drive roads i cycle on (for other reasons, actually) and in doing so, discovered how much more visible yellow is.
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Old 10-19-20, 01:00 PM
  #75  
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Name blood type nka

I have ridden unconscious in a an ambulance, I hit a goat, at 04:30.
the goat didn’t care about my lights, I was wearing a yellow vest with my name, phone #, blood type, and NKA.
NKA is Mil speak for no known allergies. I bought stickers for my helmet, and a runners bracelet, in case I meet the goat again.
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