Black vs White Clothing- Performance?

[simo1733]

Clearly these folks have it all sorted.
http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/

I am sure it would be easy to check the surface temp of a black jersey compared to a white one .I feel that any difference would be so small as to make no difference.Much more important is the fabric construction and its ability to transfer your body heat to the surrounding atmosphere.

 

[bobbins]

No they didn't. They used a different material that was more mesh like. A lot of teams were riding in mesh style jerseys on the hot days of the Tour.

The colour of material doesn't really keep you cool its the efficiency of your body being cooled that does it. Being able to wick away the sweat and letting it evaporate.

Who knows, maybe the black material absorbing more heat allows it to evaporate moisture more quickly.

Yes they did - check the photos of the kit they wore on hot days.

 

[euanli]

You know I checked the photos of every stage from the 2010 Vuelta before I posted that. In every stage, they were in their black kit. check for yourself.

Also Teams are not allowed to suddenly change their jersey mid race. Remember?

http://www.lavuelta.com/10/en/webimagenes/index.html?e=21

 

[galaxy1]

in my experience there is not a noticeable difference.

however it struck me that if there is a difference, white would have the advantage where the sun was the main heating factor, and black would be cooler where the rider's body heat was the main heating factor?

surely for a professional racing cyclist, the hundreds of Watts generated are far more important than the effect of a hot sun? (c.f. racing spring classics in the rain in shorts + t-shirt)

 

[Willy_Voet]

Dim/TSF has a good explanation, but I would add a nuance...the spectral shifts between absorbed and emitted light.

Black can absorb light and radiate this as heat (both away and towards the body). Thus, there is a 2nd process in the equilibrium to consider in the black jersey picture (light ----> black jersey -----> transforms to heat ----> body).

Also, the white jersey may not be as bad with respect to heat transfer. The materials themselves can absorb and emit heat without having color in the visible spectrum.

Interesting question that I may put to some folks I work with. Could get some money from Gatorade, Nike or the NFL to study!

 

[Archibald]

Black color absorbs sunlight whereas white reflects. One feels hotter when wearing black. My question is this- How much would the performance of a cyclist degrade on a hot sunny day in a mountainous stage of the TdF when wearing black clothing (eg. Team Sky) when compared with white?

surely you'd just compare MTF finishes and the colours worn by the riders vs their place?

 

[galaxy1]

i just ran those numbers - yellow seems to be the best colour.

 

[yetanothergreenworld]

Speaking personally, an all-white kit would slow me down in the sense that it would encourage me to intentionally lose races for fear of appearing in L'Equipe wearing what look like tight-fitting baby pajamas.

 

[goggalor]

Yeah thats why Cervelo changed back to black straight after the Tour and wore black in the Vuelta.

Nothing to do with marketing at all.

Except that didn't happen: http://www.grassyknolltv.com/2009/vuelta-a-espana/photos/stage-10/320-PIC57510779.jpg

 

[Finbouy]

There are many days in the UK when a black shirt is most welcome..

 

[euanli]

Except that didn't happen: http://www.grassyknolltv.com/2009/vuelta-a-espana/photos/stage-10/320-PIC57510779.jpg

Have a look at the 2010 photos perhaps?

http://www.grassyknolltv.com/2010/vuelta-a-espana/photos/stage-13/320-PIC138173540.jpg

Cav bunny hopping across the line in green proving this is a 2010 photo

 

[Clearly Unstable]

I try to not let scientific fact get in the way of my reality.

I have same kit in both [mainly] black and white. Same material/fit and I clearly feel hotter on warm days in the black and warmer on cool days in the black.

My wacky opinion jibes with what I felt after years coaching skiing too.

Remember your mileage may vary and aerodynamically, bumble bees can't fly.

 

[goggalor]

Have a look at the 2010 photos perhaps?

http://www.grassyknolltv.com/2010/vuelta-a-espana/photos/stage-13/320-PIC138173540.jpg

Cav bunny hopping across the line in green proving this is a 2010 photo

Titleshot's original post was:

The easiest example to look at is in the 2009 season, when Cervelo Test Team switched their jersey color from black to white for the summer season.
They wore black during the cold spring classics, and switched to a White kit for the hot summer tours.

I wasn't aware they changed it back in 2010 though. I thought you could only change jerseys once a year. *shrug*

 

[Anonymous]

The easiest example to look at is in the 2009 season, when Cervelo Test Team switched their jersey color from black to white for the summer season.
They wore black during the cold spring classics, and switched to a White kit for the hot summer tours.

So maybe you can explain this photo from the vuelta?