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Why are bike shorts / bibs black?

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Old 06-22-10, 06:36 AM
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Why are bike shorts / bibs black?

Seems like khaki color would be smarter for summer. And I've never seen a pair. Even that much black made a difference yesterday when it was 97.
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Old 06-22-10, 06:40 AM
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After repairing a flat, putting the chain back on the small ring when it falls off, or many other "dirty" repairs, your hands are black and grimy. If you wipe the dirt/grime on your shorts it doesn't show.


If you shop around you can get white or light gray shorts/bibs. Do you really want white??
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Old 06-22-10, 06:41 AM
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Originally Posted by RonH
After repairing a flat, putting the chain back on the small ring when it falls off, or many other "dirty" repairs, your hands are black and grimy. If you wipe the dirt/grime on your shorts it doesn't show.
That's what handi wipes are for. And desert camo would solve that issue as well. Try harder.
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Old 06-22-10, 06:43 AM
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I believe shorts are black so when you fix chain or change a tire you can wipe your hands on the shorts. Using the terry patch on the glove would be a good place to wipe the grease, but then when you wipe you wipe snot from your nose you get a "grease mustach" which is not cool.
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Old 06-22-10, 06:43 AM
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Who carries handi wipes on the bike?
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Old 06-22-10, 06:55 AM
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Originally Posted by RonH
Who carries handi wipes on the bike?
Me. I do. They're great. Weigh next to nothing.
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Old 06-22-10, 06:58 AM
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Originally Posted by RonH
Who carries handi wipes on the bike?
I do..
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Old 06-22-10, 06:59 AM
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Originally Posted by RonH
Who carries handi wipes on the bike?
I keep a pack of moist wipes in the roomy under-seat bag on my Salsa and in the Camelback I use on the MTB. No room for such niceties in the small wedge on my fast ride bike.
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Old 06-22-10, 07:09 AM
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Primal makes a camo bib, but it has enough black that I'm not sure how cool they would be.
https://www.primalwear.com/p-1832-us-...bib-short.aspx

Not bibs, but Aerotech has camo shorts.
https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/wildp...andex.htm#camo
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Old 06-22-10, 07:18 AM
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IMHO, you are missing the biggest reason- black tends to hide parts of the male anatomy that would otherwise be more pronounced with a lighter color.
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Old 06-22-10, 07:20 AM
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Originally Posted by RonH

If you shop around you can get white or light gray shorts/bibs. Do you really want white??
Have you ever followed a guy wearing white shorts? Especially threadbare shorts? Yuck.
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Old 06-22-10, 07:24 AM
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Originally Posted by RonH
Who carries handi wipes on the bike?
I do. Broke my derailler in 3 pieces on a ride 2 weeks ago. Just gathering up the pieces and the chain I was a greasy mess. Used the wipes to clean up, and even had a bag to keep the parts in.
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Old 06-22-10, 07:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Terrierman
That's what handi wipes are for. And desert camo would solve that issue as well. Try harder.
RonH/Allegheny Jet's responses are correct.

It appears that you don't really want an answer to your question. Your initial post should have been a position statement on the reasons for wearing colors other than black. If you don't want black shorts, you can purchase shorts in a huge variety colors and patterns.
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Old 06-22-10, 07:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Terex
RonH/Allegheny Jet's responses are correct.

It appears that you don't really want an answer to your question. Your initial post should have been a position statement on the reasons for wearing colors other than black. If you don't want black shorts, you can purchase shorts in a huge variety colors and patterns.
Really? Where? I would totally buy a set of light colored bibs.
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Old 06-22-10, 07:35 AM
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Black is most slimming and it matches any color jersey.
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Old 06-22-10, 07:45 AM
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In addition to the above, back i the day the stain used on leather saddles tended to come off onto your shorts, runined a lot of jeans and shorts that way. No lomger a problem though, even my bBrooks doesn't blead. Ideale saddles from France were nortorius butt stainers
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Old 06-22-10, 07:57 AM
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someone shared a link to a company that makes shorts in various other colors and patterns but I can't say I could find anything I would be caught dead in ... for ladies on the other hand ...

https://www.runningfunky.com/store52/...nk=shorts.html
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Old 06-22-10, 08:14 AM
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Google is your friend: https://www.velowear.com/category.aspx?cat=CAT-BOTTOMS
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Old 06-22-10, 08:27 AM
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Just be glad they aren't still made of wool.
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Old 06-22-10, 08:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Terrierman
Really? Where? I would totally buy a set of light colored bibs.
Colorado cyclist catalog. It would show many brands, good quality brands.

https://www.coloradocyclist.com/
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Old 06-22-10, 08:36 AM
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This images exposes a possible answer...

https://imgur.com/S6WFq.jpg
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Old 06-22-10, 08:38 AM
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we used to hike in corduroy knickers and knee socks ... hahaha they were actually quite comfortable. here I am with my Dad and Sister on top of Mt. Katahdin some years ago ...
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Old 06-22-10, 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by slyjackson
You sir, are the man. I googled already but without success, until you came along, just in time, to the rescue. I now have a pair of light gray Avanti Pro bib shorts ordered and on the way. Many thanks, I really was striking out.
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Old 06-22-10, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by big john
Have you ever followed a guy wearing white shorts? Especially threadbare shorts? Yuck.
No but I did ride behind a guy in silver shorts once. It was like following the Hindenbutt.

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Old 06-22-10, 09:43 AM
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Jeez, man, do we have to spell it out for you?

https://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=18136
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