Classic & Vintage - Input desired: Colored cable housing?

I'm most likely going to be switching out brake levers in the near future and am entertaining the idea of some different cable housing. So, what do you think? Any colors come to mind other than black?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/JWhitneyInc/blue1.jpg

Gold maybe?

hot pink? neon green, red?

my bro used neon green on his blue bike way back and it looked awesome

White, silver metallic is a way to lighten the bike a little but still be neutral.

That bike is a stunning color. I wouldn't recommend anything other than black, gray, or a similar dark blue.

Gold maybe?

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6315/goldmember.jpg
+1

That's just the thing, old '76, I love the color so much, I almost wish it didn't have any cables. But then I'd be on a brakeless fixie. :lol:

I have some grayish cables now and they feel pretty blah. Black just seems so standard. Maybe the silver or dark metallic gray would work as robatsu mentioned.

My favorite is the super-springy stainless cables (not the flat-ish ones, but the ones the wire is round all the way around). A close second is white (and celeste on the right bike).

White looks great with blue. Then one of those white Cardiff Saddles. Oh, almost forgot the white bar tape and brake hoods. Good luck

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6315/goldmember.jpg
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I love gooooooooooold! (sorry had to chime in as the resident crazy dutch bastard).

But back on topic: I love the look of that classy deep blue (great bike btw!) with white cables. The old silver dura ace cables look cool too, and are of great quality.

WO2W, The bike looks pretty good as it is. Match the steering stem and seatpost color along with maybe white bar tape and white cables.

Brad

will you be reusing that black bartape?

I vote for white, but I think you would then need a white seat and tape also. are decals in the frames future?

Metallic titanium gray. It would provide enough contrast but would still blend with the bike well.

Black

Another vote for white or silver, they would compliment the bottle carrier nicely. A close second for me would be a dark blue or charcoal. A very classy look you have going on there.

Silver braidec cables would be nice.

Marc

Pink or Grey.

White, silver metallic is a way to lighten the bike a little but still be neutral.+1

Gray cables... oh wait, it has gray cables already (har har) I prefer understated
I think a gaudy colored cable would detract from an already beautiful frame color. Nothing like a purple bike.
Gray cable and dark blue or purple bar tape (which it looks like it already is) is perfect.

It actually has a black cork/foam bartape on it now and that's what I would be using. As much as I like white bartape, this is my daily commuter, so I don't want to go that route. I did kind of consider putting some white Specialized decals on the frame. That would make the white cables work, but would that be enough with a black seat and black bar tape? It seems more and more like a dark metallic gray or a silver would be the way to go.

Oh, and Sigurrd, the bike is actually blue. Though I can see how the picture might look purple, especially on a different monitor. It actually looks quite brilliant in the sunlight. I took that picture at dusk to avoid shadows, but when I finish the next phase, I'll take some pics in some bright sunlight.

If you're sticking with black tape, I'd forego the decals and run a nice metallic silver cable and throw in a stainless water bottle (if you're into that kind of thing). Very sharp and (for better or worse) you would have a little bit of a Dallas Cowboy thing going.

Or, if you're a die-hard UT fan, burnt orange cables would attract some attention.

I'd go white.

White, and use white bar tape as well.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5335989632_2bb3d4b1d0_b.jpg

white.

No to white, no to any bright colors - imo, housing cables are the last thing you want to "pop" on your bicycle. The attention should be on the frame/bars/saddle.

I find myself flirting with the Celeste green idea. Please inform me as to why this is a horrible decision.

I like the neon green suggestion, or any light green (but not celeste). I have a frame that's approximately that color, and the "model name" is done in green -- I think it looks pretty good. If the color is actually very indigo-ish (shading to purple), then a light orange color would work too; they're complementary.

silver/grey is the only color besides black i would consider on that frame with black tape. there are no other colors i can see on the bike besides blue silver and black.

cabling needs to compliment the bike imo.. if it doesn't match anything it just looks odd

that braided cable looks nice but too modern for a c&V bike imo

Kind of considering the Jagwire SID blue kit. Two contrasting blues might work well together. I might even consider painting some accents on the bike. Maybe outlining the lugs in a similar blue.

And no one has talked me out of the Celeste, yet. I depend on you folks to protect me from myself, here. :lol:

The Jagwire kits:
http://www.treefortbikes.com/#navbar=pro___333222344948___739

Right now, though, the only problem with the Jagwire kit is that there is conflicting information on what length of brake cable is included in the kit. I think I need to call the manufacturer to get any straight info.

If you are leaving everything else the same, silver is my vote.

Ok, just one more bid to let you guys talk me out of it, here is a quick photoshop job of the bike with celeste cables:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/JWhitneyInc/blue1celeste.jpg

The celeste cabling looks okay. I usually choose a cable color that draws from a contrasting color in the lettering or lugs. Except for a tiny patch of white on the fork, you don't have a contrasting color.

By the way, I think Fi'zik Dual tape would look good on your bike:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/3910835464_b54ea488cd_b.jpg

White, silver metallic is a way to lighten the bike a little but still be neutral.

What he said! :)

OK, since no one else is, please not celeste. It actually doesn't look as bad as I expected it to, but it's not good, and there are many better options. I personally would love white on that bike, and think it would look really great too with white decals, as you said you might do. Thin decals, though, nothing bulky or think. Something with a nice script would be good rather than block-ish letters. If you really wanted to make it stand out and a bit more C&V style flashy, a white outline on the lugs would be very suitable, though I personally don't think I'd go that far, and not on a commuter either way. I think the white decals, cables, and then adding the lug outlines would give it more of a nice/race bike look since the paint already stands out so much on it's own.

But maybe I'm looking too far into this. :P

WOTW, It's your bike and yours to fix as you please. My first impression of it was "Wow, that's a cool 'Sunday morning go to church' or 'Ride to the office' bike." It has such a clean-cut, professional look. To me, the bike with green cables says "I'm trying to stand out, but I can't go all the way with the look."

I would make the most of the look the bike has going now (it's great) and leave things be or go with silver or metallic cables. Then, when the right opportunity comes along, I'd get another bike that does justice to the other side of my personality. I'd make it flashy and fun! But hey, if the green cables speak to you, go for it. It's a relatively simple, cheap, and easily reversible change.