Cyclists are always whingeing that drivers don't give them enough room on the road so why do so many of them make themselves as hard to see as possible by wearing all black and displaying no lights.
In winter they loom out of the low clouds on the moors above Sheffield like spectral scarecrows and in summer they lurk under the dark trees like shadows on steroids.
Why black? Does it make you go faster or do you think it makes you look slimmer?
Why aren't lights compulsory like on motorcycles? Surely it must be illegal to cycle without lights in the fog?
Why do so many cyclists wear black?
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Re: Why do so many cyclists wear black?
It looks good. Although fluoro is now 'in' and easier to spot.
I only get out on the bike if the sun's cracking the flags so don't feel so bad only wearing black.
I only get out on the bike if the sun's cracking the flags so don't feel so bad only wearing black.
M21-Lairy
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Re: Why do so many cyclists wear black?
Bright Blue - and I have my lights on all the time. What colour is yours?
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Mrs H - god
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Re: Why do so many cyclists wear black?
They are required to have lights on at night. (No talk of fog. Car must use lights when visibility is less than 100m.)
Highway Code - Rule 60
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.
If your talking about the lycra crowd I think Team Sky have a lot to do with it - although things should improved as they are now decked out in white.
If your talking about the nutters who ride around without any care for their safety its all part of the plan.
Highway Code - Rule 60
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.
If your talking about the lycra crowd I think Team Sky have a lot to do with it - although things should improved as they are now decked out in white.
If your talking about the nutters who ride around without any care for their safety its all part of the plan.
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Re: Why do so many cyclists wear black?
Mrs H, I like the image of scarecrows and shadows on steroids.
Bikes are not required to have lights fitted during daylight hours, never mind using them in fog.
Bikes are not required to have lights fitted during daylight hours, never mind using them in fog.
Last edited by maprun on Tue Jul 04, 2017 3:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Why do so many cyclists wear black?
Why do cyclists cycle around carrying, but not wearing a helmet?
If you don't want to wear a helmet, leave it at home. I find this baffling.
If you don't want to wear a helmet, leave it at home. I find this baffling.
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Re: Why do so many cyclists wear black?
Mrs H wrote:Bright Blue - and I have my lights on all the time. What colour is yours?
Not yellow then? Must be difficult to see in some lighting conditions.
Mine is gray, but no one has complained about it. No doubt if it was a bike they would.
The tractor driver who almost hit me and caused me to come off my bike two weeks ago didn't complain about not seeing me. He said he saw me but he thought he had right of way crossing a major cycle path into a side road so didn't bother stopping for me.
Many drivers need to remember that cyclists are also road users and treat them accordingly.
What are pictorial descriptions?
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Re: Why do so many cyclists wear black?
housewife wrote:Why do cyclists cycle around carrying, but not wearing a helmet?
If you don't want to wear a helmet, leave it at home. I find this baffling.
That baffles me too - though some of it is probably kids whose parents insist on them wearing it when they leave home, but take it off as soon as they're out of sight because "it isn't cool".
A bit like a taxi driver in Italy(?) I had once, who put his seat belt on when we joined the motorway and took it off again as soon as we turned off.
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Re: Why do so many cyclists wear black?
Electrocuted wrote:
Mine is gray, but no one has complained about it. No doubt if it was a bike they would.
Sorry to hear about your incident but you are barking up the wrong tree wrt car colours. I'm frequently surprised by people with grey or dull coloured cars driving in twilight without even their side lights on. Very difficult to pick out. Car colour does affect safety esp in poor vis.
But cyclists have more incentive to make themselves seen as the risk is greater. Especially if, yet again, they undertake me and shoot the red light at Linwood for no better reason than they can't be arsed to slow down. Twice in two weeks!
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Re: Why do so many cyclists wear black?
Well Maybe if I drove it into the MedElectrocuted wrote:
Not yellow then? Must be difficult to see in some lighting conditions.
Are you American?Mine is gray
Many drivers need to remember that cyclists are also road users and treat them accordingly.
Are you wilfully misinterpreting my complaint or just being defensive? How can drivers treat cyclists with respect if they can't see them?
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Mrs H - god
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Re: Why do so many cyclists wear black?
Cyclists are always complaining about close drivers, so why do so many of them wear dark clothing?
A certain section of society are always complaining about an illegal activity performed against them, so why do so many of them chose to wear an entirely free choice of clothing
Women are always complaining about sexual harassment, so why do so many of them wear revealing clothing
I'm pretty sure the last statement is not OK.
And for keyboard warriors out there, I am not comparing sexual harassment to people driving too close to cyclists. Merely that there are alternative views regarding other forms of victim blaming,
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mharky - team nopesport
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Re: Why do so many cyclists wear black?
Mrs H wrote:Electrocuted wrote:Many drivers need to remember that cyclists are also road users and treat them accordingly.
Are you wilfully misinterpreting my complaint or just being defensive? How can drivers treat cyclists with respect if they can't see them?
Actually can't see them or are just driving at a speed inappropriate for the road conditions and/or not paying attention to other road users?
I'm not defending cyclists who don't use lights in the dark or who jump red lights but committing to work on a bike has opened my eyes to the complete indifference out there of some drivers to other road users. They use bus lanes, stop in the bike box at traffic lights, overtake and then turn left right on cyclists, pass too closely and open doors from parked cars. Normally this all happens in one 12km commute.
The reality is that cycling is better for the environment, reduces traffic chaos and is healthier for those cycling than driving a car to work. However until some drivers start to give road users such as cyclists respect it's unlikely that more people will cycle.
What are pictorial descriptions?
- Electrocuted
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Re: Why do so many cyclists wear black?
Abu Ibn Mohaemed el Haajjtree wrote:Women are always whingeing that men treat them with insufficient respect so why do so many of them make themselves as sexually provocative as possible by exposing their hair
Why is it that some people feel it is remotely acceptable to lecture other people about their choice of clothing when those other people are cyclists?
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Re: Why do so many cyclists wear black?
Electrocuted wrote:Many drivers need to remember that cyclists are also road users and treat them accordingly.
Many cyclists need to remember that drivers are also road users and treat them accordingly.
Leaving Longmoor on Sunday, I came out behind a pair of cyclists at the first minor road junction. These cyclists then proceeded to remain two-abreast all the way to the A road, preventing me from overtaking. The only time they went single file was when a car came the other way. A brief spell single-file when it was clear would have allowed me to pass.
(I am both a cyclist and driver. When in one mode I endeavour to treat the other with respect and consideration.)
curro ergo sum
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