- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
Add new comment
2 comments
IMHO Matt Black by far the best
Hi there,
All colours will fade in direct sunlight, the gloss will also reduce which depending on the colour will show as colour fade / chalking. Whilst this is true, you also need to consider where the painted item is stored / used. The colour on a south facing building in the Arabian Gulf will fade much sooner than a north facing building in the UK. The same with cars and any thing else that's painted. Sunlight causes damage, consider how you get a sun tan.
Bright colours: Reds, yellows, greens, some blue tend to fade faster due to the UV instability of the pigments. Although pigment quality has much improved since moving away from lead / cadmium pigments and is becoming less and less an issue.
Colours to avoid: Flourescents, gloss black. Scratches on Gloss coatings will always be more visible (although they can be polished out). Matt finishes tend to show fewer defects but cannot be polished.
The reality though, I guess you'll be using your bike a few times a week in the sunshine (if you're lucky), washing it then putting it away, I wouldn't worry about the colour fading my only concern would be whether scratches are visible / less visible when they occur. Matt finishes maybe in vogue in many industries, there's a practical reason too.