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?
#27
Thread Starter
Gruppetto Bob




Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 11,628
Likes: 11,829
From: Seattle-ish
Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo
#29
Thread Starter
Gruppetto Bob




Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 11,628
Likes: 11,829
From: Seattle-ish
Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo
#30
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 525
From: Dublin, Ireland
Bikes: Bianchi Ti Megatube; Colnago Competition; Planet-X EC-130E; Klein Pulse; Amp Research B4; Litespeed Catalyst; Trek Y11
I try to look as ridiculous as possible. Gotta keep up the MAMIL traditions, you know. Polka-dots, shaved arms and legs, fluro-pink helmet... hell, I'm middle-aged!
When I was younger, I'd have been self-conscious. But now... screw it. I don't care what other people think.
When I was younger, I'd have been self-conscious. But now... screw it. I don't care what other people think.
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 141
Likes: 45
From: Fresno CA
Bikes: 1979 Centurion Omega, 95(?) Rocky Mountain Sherpa
I wear a light greenish breathable shirt and dark trunks, but I just ordered a bright yellow cycling jersey. Coming from 20 years of motorcycling I have worn high vis for years and while I have read studies that say it really doesn't do a lot of good to get drivers to see you, I figure if it's that one diver that was going to hit me, it's done it's job. I also never assume that the car sees me, on a bike or motorcycle. Ride as if you're invisible because to most drivers you are.
#33
Sunshine
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 18,750
Likes: 10,313
From: Des Moines, IA
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
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.
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.
#34
Thread Starter
Gruppetto Bob




Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 11,628
Likes: 11,829
From: Seattle-ish
Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo
Many years ago bought a Performance tank top with 3 back pockets. It’s great on really hot days and really shows off my farmers/bikers tan arms next to my pure white upper arms and shoulders.
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“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻♂️
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“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻♂️
#35
Senior Member


Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,290
Likes: 3,691
From: Mich
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
#36
Senior Member


Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,290
Likes: 3,691
From: Mich
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Being really annoying in general just doesn't seem loud enough to be noticed... Hafta be very odd & rude to really set it off... So just don't waive & you'll be noticed a lot more.
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#37
Thread Starter
Gruppetto Bob




Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 11,628
Likes: 11,829
From: Seattle-ish
Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo
Biking nude in Seattle’s Summer Solstice parade is actually encouraged. Body paint optional. Dozens of males and females peddling their stuff.
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“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻♂️
Not a CAT
“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻♂️
#39
Senior Member




Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 10,378
Likes: 14,914
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.
#40
Senior Member


Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,290
Likes: 3,691
From: Mich
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
if that were to take place here now, it'd be all females. Weather is not that great here & if the cold didn't shrivel the grapes to raisins, the wind would blow the milkduds away.
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#41
Senior Member
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 763
Likes: 139
I thought this poll is about the bike frame color LOL
I like red frame colors, if I was buying Ferrari, it would be the traditional red.
On myself, I dress in non bike specialized clothing. Often white or light color shorts with plain (no logos) blue or sometimes red t-shirt, light grey over-jacket, white shoes.
I like red frame colors, if I was buying Ferrari, it would be the traditional red.
On myself, I dress in non bike specialized clothing. Often white or light color shorts with plain (no logos) blue or sometimes red t-shirt, light grey over-jacket, white shoes.
#44
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,920
Likes: 999
From: Louisville KY
Bikes: 06 Lemond Reno, 98 GT Timberline
Light/bright colors most of the time. I do have some black that I might wear on the MUP, but not on the road. I do have "running lights" front and back, which will be on if I'm wearing a dark color, regardless of where I'm riding.
#45
Senior Member


Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 1,951
Bikes: Trek 1100, Raleigh R-500, Cannondale R800, Roadmaster gravel/beater mountain bike
#46
Senior Member


Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 1,951
Bikes: Trek 1100, Raleigh R-500, Cannondale R800, Roadmaster gravel/beater mountain bike
I've always been given plenty of respect on the road when I wear my American flag jersey.
#47
aka Phil Jungels
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,234
Likes: 91
From: North Aurora, IL
Bikes: 08 Specialized Crosstrail Sport, 05 Sirrus Comp
I wear jerseys that I enjoy, chosen mostly in tribute the great cyclists of my childhood. So, Peugeot/BP, Mercier/Hutchinson, La Vie Claire, Molteni, and of course, Cinzano. The colors are what they were. I have reflective striping on my outer windbreak layers, if and when I wear them. Not yet, though. I haven't worn a vest yet this Fall. PG
#49
I'm the anecdote.
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 1,177
From: S.E. Texas
Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco
By the way, consider that what your eyes can see isn't necessarily the same as what other's eyes can see. Age, vision, sun's position on the horizon, reflections off vehicles and buildings, drivers in vehicles with dark tinted windows, etc. etc.
One time while out riding, I didn't see a fast moving roadie wearing dark clothing while they were approaching under the shade of a tree line, even though they had a white blinky up front. The problem was the blinky just looked like a reflection off of anything else that was down the road. So, the invisibility of the rider/bike made it look like that "reflection" didn't belong to anything moving my way.
One time while out riding, I didn't see a fast moving roadie wearing dark clothing while they were approaching under the shade of a tree line, even though they had a white blinky up front. The problem was the blinky just looked like a reflection off of anything else that was down the road. So, the invisibility of the rider/bike made it look like that "reflection" didn't belong to anything moving my way.
#50
Tragically Ignorant

Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 15,593
Likes: 9,109
From: New England
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
By the way, consider that what your eyes can see isn't necessarily the same as what other's eyes can see. Age, vision, sun's position on the horizon, reflections off vehicles and buildings, drivers in vehicles with dark tinted windows, etc. etc.
One time while out riding, I didn't see a fast moving roadie wearing dark clothing while they were approaching under the shade of a tree line, even though they had a white blinky up front. The problem was the blinky just looked like a reflection off of anything else that was down the road. So, the invisibility of the rider/bike made it look like that "reflection" didn't belong to anything moving my way.
One time while out riding, I didn't see a fast moving roadie wearing dark clothing while they were approaching under the shade of a tree line, even though they had a white blinky up front. The problem was the blinky just looked like a reflection off of anything else that was down the road. So, the invisibility of the rider/bike made it look like that "reflection" didn't belong to anything moving my way.
Right, no matter how bright or flashy your light may be, there's no getting around the fact that the largest visible surface on the vehicle is your torso. And blinky lights can make it very difficult to gauge speed and direction of travel, so obscuring the vehicle to which they are attached is just not a good idea.
Lights are, of course, only visible from certain angles. Aspects of your torso are visible from all angles.



