Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Component Color Matching Question - I am really sorry I am asking this

I don't have a great photo of my bike, and I am really sorry that I have to ask this question. But I am going to ask it anyway.

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo161/spaceballs_the_photo/EAI%20Bareknuckle/frame_fork.jpg

The only handlebars that I can get really comfortable on are bars shaped like the FSA Pro Wing bars with a really wide and flat profile to them. My hands go numb on just about anything else.

As you might be able to tell from the awful photo, the bike I have built up now has silver components. Silver crankarms, silver brake, silver headset, silver spacers, silver levers, etc. I just kind of like the more traditional look of the silver components. But the FSA handlebars are only available in black.

So my question has to do with getting a stem. Most of the OS clamp stems are black but some are available in silver; some are available with black stem, silver faceplate.

I don't really want to spend too much to see what looks best, but what stem color combination do you folks think will look best and match the parts that are already on the bike? I am really only asking this because I don't have a stem yet and want to find one that will look the least out of place.

You're using metallic silver bartape, right?

You're using metallic silver bartape, right?
Not exactly, just duct tape.

You can afford a bk, but not bar tape?

He can't find shiny bar tape I assume.

This tape (http://www.amazon.com/BBB-Carbon-Ribbons-Bicycle-Handlebar/dp/B000OYHX2K) has that metallic feel that you want.

You can afford a bk, but not bar tape?
That bit about the duct tape was a joke.

Soma makes some too.

http://www.autostyle.co.za/data/products/d96d2adf6e0f38f0350f_large.jpg

If your hands have been going numb, it kind of sounds like you might be better off tilting your seat up a little. Just a thought.

+1

Also, if the bars and stem are aluminum, you can always strip the anodizing (coloring) of with oven cleaner.

Cheers

My hands go numb on just about anything else.

this seems like a bigger problem than color matching your bike.

1) from the looks of the picture, your bars are currently unwrapped? (they look like they're weirdly wrapped in silver something-or-other, but i think that's just an illusion from old adhesive/grime dulling certain areas)

if you haven't, go get some thick bar-tape, and see if that does the trick. i used to have some profile tape on my bars and it was very thick/comfy.

2) The pro-wing shape will help evenly distribute any weight on your hands, and reduce any numbing you feel. Thus, it might be masking the true problem: too much weight on your hands/wrists.

try bumping your stem up a bit and see if that helps. in the meantime, do some core training. essentially, your should be able to take your hands off the bars and hold your body in the same position....

if you've already done that, then from most to least desirable, I'd go:
1. silver stem.
2. black stem w/ silver faceplate.
3. all black stem.
4. white stem.

silver would be best, obviously. as long as you wrap the bars, it will minimize the bare black bar showing.

black with some silver incorporates a bit of silver from the rest of your build but (hopefully) will effectively blend to a black cockpit.

black will be an abrupt change, but will atleast match the black bars.

white might work really well (if it's a shot-peened finish, perhaps?), but if it's too white/glossy, it will most likely just look out of place.

You are right about the numb hands being a problem, but I know all about my numbness problem. I had a huge thread on this about a year ago before I started riding more seriously. For the most part, I can prevent 90% of the problem by getting the bars about even with the saddle. Even a 1-2" drop is fine, but anything past that, and I get tired after about 15 miles or so. And I think I am just a little more sensitive to this than a lot of folks are.

The Bareknuckle is just a little bit tighter than most bikes, and it makes it a bit harder to keep the weight off my hands. I am looking for a slightly larger Bareknuckle frame though. That would effectively lower my seatpost and bring the bars up about an inch.

I can ride on my tourer all day with next to no discomfort, and I can put plenty of miles on my roadie. I just have a bit more trouble with the track bike, which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

Yes, right now my bars are unwrapped, but these are some Nitto Noodle bars I am trying to get rid of while I wait on my Pro Wings to arrive. I will wrap them up in some Cinelli cork something or other.

If it was my bike I'd get a silver stem and not worry about the black bar.

If you're still worried, buy a pink Chris King headset and nobody will notice the color of your bars or stem.

If you're still worried, buy a pink Chris King headset and nobody will notice the color of your bars or stem.
Excellent. I may pull the one off of my wife's bike and see if she notices.

this seems like a bigger problem than color matching your bike.

1) from the looks of the picture, your bars are currently unwrapped? (they look like they're weirdly wrapped in silver something-or-other, but i think that's just an illusion from old adhesive/grime dulling certain areas)

if you haven't, go get some thick bar-tape, and see if that does the trick. i used to have some profile tape on my bars and it was very thick/comfy.

2) The pro-wing shape will help evenly distribute any weight on your hands, and reduce any numbing you feel. Thus, it might be masking the true problem: too much weight on your hands/wrists.

try bumping your stem up a bit and see if that helps. in the meantime, do some core training. essentially, your should be able to take your hands off the bars and hold your body in the same position....

if you've already done that, then from most to least desirable, I'd go:
1. silver stem.
2. black stem w/ silver faceplate.
3. all black stem.
4. white stem.

silver would be best, obviously. as long as you wrap the bars, it will minimize the bare black bar showing.

black with some silver incorporates a bit of silver from the rest of your build but (hopefully) will effectively blend to a black cockpit.

black will be an abrupt change, but will atleast match the black bars.

white might work really well (if it's a shot-peened finish, perhaps?), but if it's too white/glossy, it will most likely just look out of place.

I'm not sure I buy this, even though I keep hearing it. My Limited is totally comfortable for many miles, but I doubt I could take my hands off the hoods and hold myself up like that.

I'm not sure I buy this, even though I keep hearing it. My Limited is totally comfortable for many miles, but I doubt I could take my hands off the hoods and hold myself up like that.
I don't think he means while riding? Because you'd fall over?

But anywho, OP, seejohn does make some good points.

I don't think he means while riding? Because you'd fall over?

But anywho, OP, seejohn does make some good points.

I don't mean while riding either, though I can see how my post would easily be construed that way. If someone held up my bike while I was in riding position and asked me to let go and try to hold myself up...well, I'd probably faceplant on the stem.