Why the f**k wear black?
GHarv
Posts: 456
in General Chat
Okay fully appreciate black carbon etc. when it comes to bikes and black bling but why are there so many numpties cycling around in black jackets, at night and in gloomy autum and winter days thinking that the can be seen?
I even got sent a £200 bike jacket to test and they sent me... black...for an autum/winter jacket?
I even got people shouting at me.
Now black does look cool but is it worth it from a safety point of view?
Agree you can add luminous strips etc. but doesn't that defeat the object.
Is it me?
I even got sent a £200 bike jacket to test and they sent me... black...for an autum/winter jacket?
I even got people shouting at me.
Now black does look cool but is it worth it from a safety point of view?
Agree you can add luminous strips etc. but doesn't that defeat the object.
Is it me?
0
Comments
Regarding the wearing of black,it doesn't matter,what the wearer needs is to utilize sharp lines and colours to make them distinctive from the background.
If you want to stand out,go and buy some strobe lights that are used on life jackets.
I have a very bright yellow cycling jacket and one of those luminous yellow hump bag things to cover my bag. Wearing black while cycling in the dark/rain/fog/British weather is plain daft. What astonished me this weekend while on an evans ride was that while a few of us were helping flavadave fix a puncture (all of us with our yellow jackets on), a group came past all in black and asked why on earth we were wearing them on a sportive??!? Seems obvious to me, but then triathletes are brighter than cyclists
I seem to vaguely remember that the reason for this is that it's hard to gauge the distance of a flashing LED.
Nothing looks as bad as pain feels
I'll take pain free over looking trendy/cool every time.
I saw a cyclist on my early morning dark commute just the other day - black bike, all black clothing including black helmet and shoes, I guess 6 foot 5 fom the size of his bike, no reflective kit whatsoever and a poxy LED light fixed to the rear of his helmet which was barely visible because he was head down pumping the pedals - suicidal!!
At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen. Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp.
It also advises that you should wear
* a cycle helmet which conforms to current regulations, is the correct size and securely fastened
* appropriate clothes for cycling. Avoid clothes which may get tangled in the chain, or in a wheel or may obscure your lights
* light-coloured or fluorescent clothing which helps other road users to see you in daylight and poor light
* reflective clothing and/or accessories (belt, arm or ankle bands) in the dark
I remain vigilant at all times, and cover my brakes aproaching junctions etc.... music has no bearing whatsoever on my riding/running so its not a problem......
If it has no bearing on your trainig, then why train with it, I assume you don't race with it.
And my epitaph will be something far more imaginative than that shite you came up with??
Mainly my point was that combined with being dressed in all dark clothes with no lights, they were much more likely to be killed than say, someone with lights, a fluro jacket and who can hear the trafic arround them.
re the epitaph, fwiw - the 'shite' was a statement you made.
Once again, sounds like you see a problem and do nothing about it.
wow - do you work for the sun or another tabloid? if not your talent for partial quotes to back up your point is probably well in demand.
I've got to say there is a general problem with cyclists who as CH puts wear sniper style clothes and have bikes that are so blacked out that pimp my ride would love it.
However, some onus does need to go to the driver to on the watch at all times, (and before I get shot down here I'm not excusing them). Bear also in mind that they are trying to change the law so that even if the cyclist is dressed all in black with shoe polish on the face and a pair of black tights over the head, and a driver hits them then the driver is at fault. Is it fair. no but neither is joe public bailing out the banks but its happened.
There should be more Draconian sentances to the miscreats who fail to obey the traffic regulations.
Drink driving........instant lifetime ban.
Injury through fault.......10+year ban minimum.
Death through inconsiderate road use....minimum 15 year jail sentance due manslaughter.
cyclists ,and other none motorised road users again tougher sentances that are ENFORCED,and not just token slap on wrists.
Maybe that might encourage road users to be more considerate.
With you on the black/no lights issue. Don't see the problem with an iPod. I did a long bike once listening to Tritalk and it was great. In fact the only problem i had was that the wind was so bloody loud in my ears i couldnt hear what Warden was saying the whole time.