Is this the more environmentally-friendly cycling waterproof we've been waiting for? A first ride in the new Santini Magic rain jacket

I've never fully understood the almost uniquely British phenomenon whereby many men feel that black is the most acceptable 'colour', with anything more intersting than navy treated as a bit jaunty. I assume it's a weird collective insecurity that someone might question their sexuality that doesn't exist in other cultures.

As much as I understand not everyone wants to wear hi-viz, and that many who 'didn't see them' wouldn't have seen them if they were dressed up as a Blackpool Illumination, the determination to stick to black for clothing intended to be worn whilst cycling doesn't just strike me as boring/insecure/repressed, but oddly beligerant. 

And yes I am also scathing of black & grey cars that blend into the road and an overcast sky. Black being particularly bad at absorbing heat. And white cars get dirty too quickly. As someone who can only afford 2nd hand cars, I hate the trend.

Or how about people just wear what they want/are comfortable wearing without being judged...?

FionaJJ wrote:

I've never fully understood the almost uniquely British phenomenon whereby many men feel that black is the most acceptable 'colour', with anything more intersting than navy treated as a bit jaunty. I assume it's a weird collective insecurity that someone might question their sexuality that doesn't exist in other cultures.

As much as I understand not everyone wants to wear hi-viz, and that many who 'didn't see them' wouldn't have seen them if they were dressed up as a Blackpool Illumination, the determination to stick to black for clothing intended to be worn whilst cycling doesn't just strike me as boring/insecure/repressed, but oddly beligerant. 

So why do so many women like black clothes as well then, presumably you don't think it's because they are worried their sexuality will be questioned if they wear bright clothes? Why do some of my gay friends frequently wear black? Cyclists wear black because they are insecure, repressed and belligerent? An analytical overreach that could span an ocean here I think. 

My comment was a bit tongue in cheek, and apologies if it didn't come across that way, but even if I were 100% serious there's no need to get worked up at a different opinion unless you actually are insecure about how people see you. And when I said 'collective insecurity' that doesn't mean every individual - just enough to shift the dial on what is fashionable, and what is available. And you don't have to go far to find men who will poke fun  at (and sometimes actual abuse) men who wear something slightly interesting. 

Women wear black because it's supposed to be slimming, as in it makes your body and/or wobbly bits less visible. 

Back to practical matters, it will depend on where you are cycling, but if you are cycling in bright sunlight there's a fair chance you'll be cycling in shadows at some point on your ride, and black isn't a great colour for that. I know other colours can disappear too, but a colour that drivers don't associate with tarmac or being a shadow is going to result in a higher (but I know not absolute) chance of being seen a bit sooner. I take the point that it doesn't show grease, but the 'black is just as visible as red' just isn't true.

It's fine saying 'don't judge people for what they wear', but there are a lot of cyclists who get very judgy to the point of vocalised anger at other cyclists for wearing hi-viz and/or cycle helmets, and then insist on wearing the colour that's least likely to be seen in most circumstances. 

More to the point, a company making cycling clothing should really be giving people the choice of a non-black colour, and it's entirely reasonable for cyclists to complain that they haven't been given that option. At least those who love black get to wear the colour of their choice. Those who don't want to wear black are excluded from buying the product.

FionaJJ wrote:

I assume it's a weird collective insecurity that someone might question their sexuality that doesn't exist in other cultures.

FionaJJ also wrote:

Women wear black because it's supposed to be slimming, as in it makes your body and/or wobbly bits less visible. 

Men have wobbly bits too! I would love to wear more of Rapha's hot pink, but it's not that flattering in a tight jersey. I do wear a pink gilet though.

Also, I did genuinely get a sneering "like your pink t-shirt" this week from another bloke. No, I don't care about someone questioning my sexuality, but it does happen. 

quiff wrote:

Men have wobbly bits too! I would love to wear more of Rapha's hot pink, but it's not that flattering in a tight jersey. I do wear a pink gilet though.

Also, I did genuinely get a sneering "like your pink t-shirt" this week from another bloke. No, I don't care about someone questioning my sexuality, but it does happen. 

I don't really get how colours become gendered, but it's almost certainly just a cultural invention: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20141117-the-pink-vs-blue-gender-myth

However, I prefer taking the stance that pink doesn't exist: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/consciousness-and-beyond/202305/perception-reality-and-why-pink-doesnt-exist

Just came across this meme which seemed appropriate:

FionaJJ wrote:

there's no need to get worked up at a different opinion unless you actually are insecure about how people see you.

Oh come now, that's rather a weak defence of your comments. I'm neither "worked up" at your opinion nor am I insecure about how people see me. I just thought your suggestion that men wear black because they have "a weird collective insecurity that someone might question their sexuality" and because they are "boring/insecure/repressed, but oddly beligerant[sic]" was extremely silly and so said so.

FionaJJ wrote:

you don't have to go far to find men who will poke fun  at (and sometimes actual abuse) men who wear something slightly interesting

Thanks to the generosity of visiting Indian in-laws I have a number of shirts that one might, I think, describe as "slightly interesting" - lots of vibrant orange and saffron colours. I do have a black one from them but it has red and green embroidered flowers on it and bits of mirror stitched in so...I must move in the wrong circles as I've never had any man abuse me for wearing them.

FionaJJ wrote:

Women wear black because it's supposed to be slimming, as in it makes your body and/or wobbly bits less visible.

That's extremely patronising and generalising towards your sisters, don't you think? Just asked my wife, who is 5'7" and 54kgs so certainly doesn't need to choose clothes that make her look slim, why she likes black clothes: "Because black is chic and has been since Coco Chanel, because it's hard wearing and doesn't show the dirt when you're commuting on trains and stuff and because it goes with absolutely anything." Further questioned as to why she likes black cycling gear, "Because it looks cool, fast and mean."

FionaJJ wrote:

a company making cycling clothing should really be giving people the choice of a non-black colour, and it's entirely reasonable for cyclists to complain that they haven't been given that option. At least those who love black get to wear the colour of their choice. Those who don't want to wear black are excluded from buying the product.

Being offered an anorak in the colour of your choice isn't really a fundamental human right, you know. If you don't like the colour or colours being offered by one company, there are hundreds of others from which you can choose. You're not being "excluded", for heaven's sake.

FionaJJ wrote:

a company making cycling clothing should really be giving people the choice of a non-black colour, and it's entirely reasonable for cyclists to complain that they haven't been given that option.

Except that they are being given that option - they'll just have to wait a little longer for it.

I like wearing black AND bright colours depending on my mood, on or off the bike. But honestly i don't care what anyone else thinks of my choice.

That being said, some colours of clothing do work better depending on the colour of bike, which is a whole other conversation!