Classic & Vintage - Red-tread tires on an orange bike?

Hi all - an order I had placed for col de la vies on Jenson never showed up, even though UPS showed it as delivered. I'm getting a refund from them, and was thinking of ordering Soma B-lines instead.

I cannot make up my mind as to whether or not the red tread ("terracotta") B-lines would look okay with my orange frame. Should I go for it or stick with black?

Here's the bike I'm converting.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/7473609012_8e148cb879_z.jpg

No, please, Whatwolf. Those two colors will clash. I ask you...what goes better with orange than black? My vote. Cool bike.

You should be proud that you have the chutzpah to be the first person to put 650B wheels on an Italian racing bike and admit it here.

293816

Why not orange and black on an orange bike? Plus the flat protection built in seems to work quite well. Been using these tires for a few years now and have been happy with them especially for the price.
293815

Nevermind didn't realize the 650 tire's. If you go back to 700c orange and black looks nice..

Black is soooo booooring. The red may look sharp and there's no harm in experimenting.

Between my wife and me we have 7 bikes, none with all black tires. I pay extra for color.

You should be proud that you have the chutzpah to be the first person to put 650B wheels on an Italian racing bike and admit it here.

I can't possibly be the first.

...can I?

But yeah, I admit it. And I'll post pics-a-plenty when it's done.

N.Lerner has (or had, not sure if it's the current setup) his orange Ebisu set up with red Hetres.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/602032-New-Ebisu-w-old-parts?

There is a certain Orange Ebisu with red Hetres on the forums that Imho looks fantastic! So yes, you have my vote ;)

Cheers,
Chris

Edit: Southpawbostin beat me to it!

I definitely vote for red! Totally kosher to convert this frame. My only question is whether you'll regret not having braze-ons for fenders?

Orange and black, it will look really bad with red.....
photoshop them on and post the pic, then you will know

Orange and black, it will look really bad with red.....
photoshop them on and post the pic, then you will know

If you've read the posts above you should see that a link with pics has already been posted.

I think either will look good, but the fenders on Neal's bike go a long way in making those two colors work well. Personally, I think I would choose the skinwall/black.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Gaq9uKt4gLQ/TarcFjP1d6I/AAAAAAAAKEA/dR7azhDxp3U/s800/1000000243.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w6CIY2_mBFg/UJaBYuxaAoI/AAAAAAAAOHg/c6eHTIxz8nY/s800/IMAGE_7C8F29DB-1638-454D-A0B2-AB92FA84BFD5.JPG

Black is beuatiful,bueatiful,bootiful, er nice ! Conti's with orange labels.....

God, you have some nice bikes there !

I think Neal's bike works because there are so many different reddish tones that the mind gives up on trying to "match" them.

I'm prejudiced.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee430/slipangle99/Vintage%20bike%20love/Motointhewild.jpg
I also like black wall tires, which not many folks do apparently.

Hey! Get outta here with those NDS pics! Whatsamattafatchu?

That bike could be improved by a water bottle in a subdued color, skinwall tires and a permanent position in my fleet.

Black tires are practical, but I still prefer skinwalls. I kinda wish I didn't.

Hey! Get outta here with those NDS pics! Whatsamattafatchu?

That bike could be improved by a water bottle in a subdued color, skinwall tires and a permanent position in my fleet.

Guilty. Though I can blame that shot on Capecodder. What ever happened to him anyway? And, On that ride, Justin, Scott Ryder pointed out the slightly different color of the bottle too. I do have a plain stainless one. I'm going to have to talk to the folks at Kleen Kanteen about this. A black one might be cool.

I don't know why but, I currently am fond of black walls. I realize skinwalls look more classic but, black just seems sort of...hmmm....industrial?....racy?...mean ??? ....dunno.

i am a fan of the mismatch tires look so....how bout just a single red up front?:) (i know i know kinda hipsterish)

I have a red one and an orange one on my 87 Prelude, in ice pink. but I don't have a photo of it. It took a little getting used to, just like the idea of a pink bike did in the first place. First time I laid eyes on that bike, I gasped and involuntarily took a step backward.
I voted for the red.

14:8 black. Not as conservative as I thought the voting would be, but I do think I'm going to go with black. Neal's bike works particularly well, as pointed out above, because of the brown saddle and bars. Mine is going to have black in those areas (at least, for sure, the saddle), which would make the tires the only reddish brown element.

Haven't decided if I'll go for fenders, I want to check out the clearances first, first-hand... If I do I was thinking of using those weird little VO fender stay brackets that attach to the axle.

To those of you who think I shouldn't put smaller diameter wheels on an Italian frame, I say: :ride:

Don't worry, it'll still look pretty.

Neal's bike works particularly well, as pointed out above, because of the brown saddle and bars. Mine is going to have black in those areas (at least, for sure, the saddle), which would make the tires the only reddish brown element.

Well, to give you the full range, I did have it set up briefly with black saddle and black bar tape:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6JgCuHAe19E/UCgfMBxFGOI/AAAAAAAAN30/dABCoxbSKQ0/s800/IMAGE_777C68A6-1AF3-4A47-A368-87AD7BE44711.JPG

Unfortunately, the red brick tires get kind of lost in that red brick background!

Allow me to go a little far afield with some history to bolster my opinion, but the Southern Pacific Daylight is considered by many to be the most beautiful train that ran in the USA. The primary colors were red and orange, with a little black thrown in for effect.

Go for it!

Well, to give you the full range, I did have it set up briefly with black saddle and black bar tape:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6JgCuHAe19E/UCgfMBxFGOI/AAAAAAAAN30/dABCoxbSKQ0/s800/IMAGE_777C68A6-1AF3-4A47-A368-87AD7BE44711.JPG

Unfortunately, the red brick tires get kind of lost in that red brick background!

Oh, darn it, Neal -- I think that looks just as great! But maybe I'd have to get a black chainring...


Allow me to go a little far afield with some history to bolster my opinion, but the Southern Pacific Daylight is considered by many to be the most beautiful train that ran in the USA. The primary colors were red and orange, with a little black thrown in for effect.

Go for it!

I'm having second thoughts already -- not that I've ordered anything... yet.

Allow me to go a little far afield with some history to bolster my opinion, but the Southern Pacific Daylight is considered by many to be the most beautiful train that ran in the USA. The primary colors were red and orange, with a little black thrown in for effect.

Yeah, man.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee430/slipangle99/SPDaylightII071809018.jpg

I'm having second thoughts already -- not that I've ordered anything... yet.


In fact I have not ordered tires because I am second-guessing my previous assertion that I could not fit Hertres on this bike. I am not sure. Are they a full 42mm?

I have:
Fork - 46mm
Seatstays/bridge- 65+mm
Chainstays - 45mm :eek:

What would you do, Hertres with no fenders, or B-lines with SKS Longboards?

I would be surprised if you actually had room for Hetres. I would be equally surprised if there was adequate room for 38mm tires and fenders.

Personally, I'd go for the skinwall/black B-Lines and no fenders. You have enough bikes that you can take a different one when it's wet out, right? I also think that plastic fenders would look especially out of place on that bike.

I would be surprised if you actually had room for Hetres. I would equally surprised if there was adequate room for 38mm tires and fenders.

Personally, I'd go for the skinwall/black B-Lines and no fenders. You have enough bikes that you can take a different one when it's wet out, right? I also think that plastic fenders would look especially out of place on that bike.

Yeah, I should stop pretending to be civilized and just put fenders on my MTB. Thanks for talking sense :)

BTW, I typically hate those 80s and early 90s paint jobs, but I think you're MTB is going to look sharp with the skinwall slicks.

i dont really like the orange/red/skinwall combo myself

train looks nice