solveg

Came across this on trying to find info on an old kayak I owned. The link is broken or old:

just read an article on a Maine Kayak company's site that claims different colors have different weights and affect performance. Anybody ever heard such a thing?

The gist of the article is that certain colors "weigh" more or less, and can impart significant handling characteristics. For instance, the article claims white is the lightest color and white kayaks float high and speed over the water. The same kayak with a black hull and white deck would be "balanced" and inherently more stable, as though the black hull acted as ballast. Yellow kayaks are supposedly the heaviest and most sluggish...Then I thought about those big black VCP hatch covers. Heated flotation air makes sense, I remember the big black plastic bag we filled, tied a knot in and tethered outside our 7th grade science class window. By the end of the class, the sun had heated the air and the bag was floating a few inches off the field.

But overall color? Thoughts?

Bill Kapaun

Some pigments probably weigh more (density) than others, but when you consider the thickness of a coat of paint......

solveg

Here's the response... it's interesting:

IIt is tongue-in-cheek, but like I posted the last time this came up, it does make a difference on a larger vessel such as an aircraft. That's part of why FedEx now paints their aircraft mostly white and less purple. It's not the only reason, but it was a factor in the color decision. I was searching for the actual weight difference. It was a lot... hundreds of pounds, or was it thousands? I can't remember the actual ammount. I do know that when you paint an aircraft of that size, you have to recalculate the weight and balance figures.

Add that to your storehouse of useless knowledge!

Digital Gee

See? What have I been trying to tell you???

stapfam

Only one thing for it- White shoes- bibs- jersey and socks.

maddmaxx 

At the end of WWII, American fighter aircraft had their paint removed in an effort to extract the very most performance possible.

That would lead one to believe that the appropriate colors for bicycles are aluminium, carbon and rust.

dorosz

I don't care how light weight white is I get dirty just thinking and I've never ridden more then 20 miles without a coating of grit and dirt NO white gear NO NO NO NO NO

bkaapcke

Hey, quit bogarting that joint, for cryin out loud. bk

cyclinfool

The total painted surface area of a bike is extremely small so the weight effect is minimal and we all know the major factor in a bike is the engine. Chromotherapy used by the ancient Chinese and Egyptians states the following color effects:
Red was used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation.

Yellow was thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.

Orange was used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels.

Blue was believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain.

Indigo shades were thought to alleviate skin problems.

White, brown and black are considered dull, non-stiimulating colors.

This link also provides some supporting evidence of these effects: https://www.artistenomade.com/gb/couleur_therapie2.htm

In general experts agree that if you want to move people along faster in buildings and businesses, red is the color to paint the walls https://psychology.hypnoticworld.com/...tion/color.php

Although DG's bike may be ever so slightly lighter, the effect it is having on his mind is tragic. We should find some young kid to spray paint it red in the middle of the night just for DG's own good. We must protect him from this bike!

CrossChain

By way of proof, look at the fact that most track sprinters (running) are Caucasian....very few blacks seem to run track. Given the research above, it's understandable.

Beverly

Please, no white shorts. The picture of the red shorts is bad enough.

tpelle

When you paint an aircraft - period - you have to re-weigh it to establish datum for weight and balance. Makes no difference what color.

Old School

You're kidding, right? I assume by the lack of a "smiley" that you are just ignorant. Some of the best sprinters in the world are non-Caucasian.

Jet Travis

Orange is the true color of the fast bicycle. Just ask Eddy.

Big Paulie

Not True!!!

Eddy on a white bike...

solveg

Yes, he's being facetious. Now, you know, CrossChain, that I'm not presenting theses things I found as "research", right? They're for entertainment purposes only, and I'd like to see what people have to say about them!