Chris L

Well now, that was interesting! I decided to purchase a new cycle jersey last week, and decided (primarily because I don't have one in that colour) on a red one. So I've had the pleasure of wearing red a couple of times this week. There seems to have been an escalation of male rednecks in utes carrying surfboards (read: 45 year old teenagers) wanting to yell out words like "***", or the even more articulate "poofter". The thing is, from the fairer gender (particularly in Surfers Paradise for some reason), my red appearance has received one or two very admiring glances.

So, in conclusion I will continue to wear red when the mood takes me. However, the rednecks can continue to yell out their little manipulations of the English language if it so turns them on.

DnvrFox

Quote:

"poofter".

A new one for me!!

Must be an Aussie term.

Chris L

It is. It means the same as the less articulate version I mentioned.

demoncyclist

Funny, I wore a red jersey on my commute home the other night. Other than a few single digit salutes when I made one illegal maneuver at a particularly dangerous intersection, I got absolutely no reaction from anybody.

Just an observation.

DEMON

Chi

At least it's not rainbow.

RonH

Around here it seems that wearing a red jersey in traffic is much like waving a red cape at a bull.

I only have two red jerseys and have decided to wear them only on bike paths (where there are no cars) or on group rides.

I do have some bibs that are this color but haven't heard any comments from passing motorists yet.

Rylos1

I have a couple of red jerseys and have never heard anything from the passing motorists. Must be the area.

Grampy™

Chi, under your username it says, "Rides with Cows". Now I may be an old Geezer but....... DAT ain't no cow!!!!
That my friend is a beautiful lady....(just in case you didn't know )

Chi

Uh ... I got that pic off a website. That's not me.

My girlfriend was born on the year of the water buffalo (1973). I like to call them cows. That's the reason behind my avatar comment.

EDIT: if you're referring to my sig, then yes, that's my cow.

cyclezealot

I used to not like red.. Since I have become a scuba diver, it is now a favorite color..My car is red.
Red jersey. Not good for being seen by cars.Who cares what the red necks think.. But then road crews wear yellow or green for safety. Not sure which color is the most visible.
If it turns the heads of the opposite sex, guess whose side would have the greater effect on the average straight male.. Rednecks would hassle you if you wore white or black. Forget them...

Chris L

I actually think red is very good for being seen by cars, and if the rednecks can yell at me, it obviously means they can see me. Green would be too difficult to see in any vegetation (such as last Sunday's ride in the rainforest).

cyclezealot

C.L. There mean't to be a question mark after not good to be seen..? I think red works well for that purpose... I do get hassled once in awhile about here..
One of my jerseys that has lots of red has a French flag theme.. In the US, about a military base; that is questionable, as red flag and bull effect.' It was a very friendly gesture when I rode a couple tours in France.
However, my question was. Red seems a good color to be seen yes? Why do highway department workers usually wear yellow or green vests..? They are very concerned about being seen. CL Here our vegetation is brown..

caadman

Chris, now you've got it. Here in Michigan where I live, I wear red also, I really like it to, and as you say here, I wear it because I like it and so people hopefully will see me and not run into me...There will always be people who like to make fun of you/us for wearing it or whatever, but you just have to ignore them and carry on...I would bet for the most part if they themselves were riding right next to you on a bike also, they wouldn't say a word about it, but since they are in something else that can move away from you quickly, somehow they have this comfort factor, that allows them to say what they want to say, and also get away without any repercusions...Does that make sense??

Keep on wearing the red I'd say, and forget about the other people who want to make fun of it.


Benjamin

Bluechip

Both red and green tend to blend in with the vegetation, whether green or brown, but I am colorblind with red/green. Statistics say that 10% of men and <1% of women are colorblind. Red/green is the most common type.

cycletourist

Well, now that we are coming up on the Christmas season I think red and green would make good camoflage :=)

MichaelW

Green is a good colour for high viz jackets because most people can differentiate many shades of green, and our eyes are most sensitive to that colour, so it appears brighter.
The hi-viz shades of green are pretty dorkish to wear. Pink seems to be another hi-viz colour, but I guess that would only increase refrences to the exact nature of your sexuality.
BTW, why are these guys so interested Are they testing their ability to sense gayness ? A lot of gay men pride themselves on their "gaydar" abilities.

Paul L.

Of course if you wear yellow then all the Roadies get on you about wearing a yellow jersey etc. so there really is no winning here. Just wear what you like! I switch between yellow and red (not at the same time though as I do not relish the Ronald McDonald look).

Louis

I've never had a redneck hassle me about jersey colors and I've worn them all, at one time or another.

It seems the basic Ohio redneck homophobe is angered most by men wearing lycra tights. I've been hassled many times by insecure macho-men who feel threatened by a physically fit man with muscular legs.
My wife doesn't seem to mind though.

On another note - I saw a tee shirt once that read: "Friends don't let friends wear neon".

Chris L

The rednecks out here are the same, they just seem to get more upset if those tights happen to be red to match the jersey .

I've often wondered that myself. I think they're being a bit presumptious though. Even if I was that way inclined, I doubt I'd be interested in a fat, redneck, dole-bludging surfie trying to look like a 45 year old teenager.

wza97

I have a red jersey that I wear occasionally. I've never seen any reaction one way or another. Usually it is the lycra shorts that get the looks when I go into 7-11.

Could it be that red is an aggressive color and that makes these "macho" men feel threatened? Who knows?

Zin

I too have a red jersey. ( red & black). I purchased it to match my MTB which is black with red decals. Also have a red helmet with white & black stripes.

I guess around this town seeing a cyclist decked out in lycra and a jersy is such a shock to their system they are left speechless! Especially when they see my fat behind on the skinny road bike.....

Make sure you carry some pepper spray, just in case they decide to stop.
Ride on, ride proud, ride loud..

Chris L

I think it's just a "red cycling jersey" thing. For some reason, my Manchester United shirt doesn't seem to draw the same reaction from them when I wear it on shorter rides.

cyclezealot

N7CZ.. Is not Missoula that far From Great Falls..Missoula is home to 'Great Adventure Cycling' Advocates. They sponsor several rides about Montana.
I would hope Montana being home to one of the countries fairly well know cycling advocates that cyclists would be more accepted in Montana.
Montana's reported beauty, it would be a state I would like to tour. On one of their tours, I would hope to be well received by the locals. Toured across the deserts of Nevada.The locals knew we were coming and we were treated as welcome guests. The community really opened to us... The sponsors gave us red jerseys too.

iamlucky13

Is a redneck different in Australia than in the US. You seem to be referring more to...I guess what I'd call a yuppie. We call a redneck the rural, simple type folk that have a "red neck" from working on the tractor all day...usually named Bubba or Billy.

cyclezealot

Lucky..Always good to try and understand how words change from culture to culture.
I think the difference between rednecks and yuppies- Yuppies are equally intolerant, but just more economically, upwardly mobile. Whereas, rednecks use Saturday night specials, yuppies weaponry is more upscale S&G Magnum series. Rednecks consume too much Budweiser, whereas Yuppies can be pickeled on Chardonnay.
I know yuppies can come in a more tolerant breed, but soccer moms, cell phones, and SUV's cause me concern from the perspective of a commuting cyclist in the commuter lane.