Safe Speed Forums

I find it very disappointing when we have lost another cycling champion, you choose to show a rider dressed completely in black.

It may well be the latest gear, high tech material, high fashion and cool to look at - but our final defence is being seen - preferably from a distance

Or is it jus me who thinks so?

With reference to M G's letter of 24 Jan - I entirely agree with his sentments regarding the dangers of cycling aggravated by the wearing of dark clothing.

On As MG stated in his letter - you showed a rider dressed entirely in black on the front cover. This week there is a great articl on Roger Hammond, but unfortunately his new team are dressed entirely in black and appear to make them difficult to see. The photo taken from his rear on page 56 seems to highlight this matter. Perhaps they should incorporate some fluorescent logos on the bakc of their jerseys

Cyclists are apt to be very vocal about the "carelessness of drivers" and the way they "endager cyclists". Although I do symapthise with cyclists on this issue, this winter has once again made me aware that the causes of these problems are not all one sided.

I am not a perfect driver - but I do try ot be observant and to give cyclists a fair go by not squeezing past them on narrow roads etc. Despite this - I have come perilously close to three collisions in the last couple of months. simply because I just did not see them unitl nearly too late

The available range of safety equipment these days is astounding, including reflective vests and brilliant LED lamps and strobes which run for hours on a single recharegeable battery.

So.. I am AMAZED by the number of cyclists on the roads in hte depths of winter clad head to toe in dark clothingand displaying nothing more than a feeble refelctor on the rear and no headlamp.

How tragic that so many cyclists are prepared to spend hundreds and thousands of pounds even on the latest high-tech bicycle but not are not prepared to spend a few tens of pounds on the basic equipment which just might help keep them alive when they ride them.

Yes.. cycling do need to continue campaigning for better training and education of drivers with regard to cyclists, but remember - you can only avoid a collision if you can see them in the first place

Looking at the photo it's acutually quite hard to see much more than some white letters and pale faces.

should be encouraging bright clothing. I know motorists should be on the look-out all the time..

does not want his son to be killed because he was tyring to look cool

Black makes you look fat anyway

They barely stand out in good weather. One can imagine how incoinspicuous they would be in poor visibility. Recently black and dark colours seem to have become the "new cool" in cycling with teams lilke Rapha adopting a colour scheme for their clothing range whcih seems, if anything, designed to camouflage the rider when out on the road. Hardly conducive to being seen and being safe /

Staying safe on the roads is about stacking the odds in your favour by making yourself visible to other road users and making drivers more aware of the dangers to cyclists

So next time you are tempted by that trendy winter jacket - go for the bright colour instead .. it might save your life