General Cycling Discussion - Bike Colour?

Frivolous perhaps, but does bike colour matter to you? If you could change the colour of your steed would you? and what colour would you change it too?

My Giant is red, grey and black but when the work becomes dodgy, I'll respray in speargun blue.

hmmmm, My bike currently is this white more cream. Its ok.

I would change it to be Matte Black with celeste letters. Oh yah I would call it the Italian Black ninja :D

Yeah, I'd say color matters. I couldn't bring myself to buy a bright 80s pink MTB - just not my style. My hybrid is a charcoal (or should I say carbon) gray-black, and my beloved roadie is a beautiful, lead-ridden "opaque green."

OK, Haggy, somebody's gotta ask, what the hell is speargun blue?

It's got to be BLUE!! Blue is just nicer to look at ... and blue is lighter and faster too. :D

mines mud colored. there some bule and white under there. i do like blue and white

OK, Haggy, somebody's gotta ask, what the hell is speargun blue?

You really are a daft bastard BB. Speargun blue. Don't you remember going into the sports store and seeing the blue spearguns in the cabinet next to the bows and arrows? If you're not sure, go to a Malvern Start catalogue and you'll see what I'm talking about.

My current ride is Celeste. When it comes time to replace it, the new bike will be Celeste. :D

My bike has several large and ugly stickers on it.
I'm thinking of removing the stickers and painting the bike in a dark matte grey or olive drab.
I like the military look.

Or would it be better to just paint over the stickers?

You really are a daft bastard BB. Speargun blue. Don't you remember going into the sports store and seeing the blue spearguns in the cabinet next to the bows and arrows? If you're not sure, go to a Malvern Start catalogue and you'll see what I'm talking about.

No, Haggy. When mama made her monthly trip to the sporting goods store for shotgun shells and chewing tobacco, she wouldn't let me near the spearguns, so I missed out on that rich experience. By the way, Malvern Star may be "Austrailia's brand since 1903," (I just checked their web site) but it still hasn't made it to the North American provinces.

PS An orange bicycle is a happy bicycle.

As long as it isn't pink or purple I am fine.

Once I get a stable, I am going to slowly re-paint four favs (as needed) as an elements set. Fire, earth, air, and water. Earth would def. be a MTB. Faux mud for that just ridden look even after a bath :).

Ok, so Earth = MTB.

Air = road bike (as in riding on air...)?
Fire = ?
Water = the rusty old thing with full fenders? :D

My Lemond is grey with green banding. I couldn't stand it when I got it home but it has since grown on me and now I find it beautiful. I do like the matte grey finish of the Specialized Allez though. My favorite colour is purple but I wouldn't want a bicycle that colour. I also love the blue finish of the Cannondales. All in all mine is quite attractive.

Earth = XC MTB
Water = Old Skool steel road/tour bike (the next time the thrift shop has one in my size I am getting it to fix up)
Fire = Maybe a cyclocross bike? My chronic lateness has helped me master the flying dismount :)
Air = Who knows? Maybe a roadie, maybe another MTB. Maybe I'll go steal my little brother's extra BMX and learn to use it. I can use all the help getting some air that I can get :).

No, Haggy. When mama made her monthly trip to the sporting goods store for shotgun shells and chewing tobacco, she wouldn't let me near the spearguns, so I missed out on that rich experience. By the way, Malvern Star may be "Austrailia's brand since 1903," (I just checked their web site) but it still hasn't made it to the North American provinces.

PS An orange bicycle is a happy bicycle.

Orange is the true colour of bikes.

Speargun Blue is a metallic electric blue colour and Haggy is what's known as a S***Stirrer, internet forum's seem to have increased their playing field exponentially.

Keep up the good work Haggy.

Orange is the true colour of bikes.


True that. And fine bike builders such as Mercian, Orbea and Rivendell agree (wish I owned any of these).

hmmmm, My bike currently is this white more cream. Its ok.

I would change it to be Matte Black with celeste letters. Oh yah I would call it the Italian Black ninja :D
Hi565, like this?: Except with more gears... ;)

http://www.dynagroove.com/users/fabian/misc/bianchi1.JPG

Color doesn't matter to me.

Of the 5 bikes I own, 3 of them are colors I chose.

Centurion Ironman: White & Red - it came that way.
Vitus Futural: Red/White/Blue fade - it came that way.
Colnago SL: White w/ blue pearl clearcoat - repainted from the original royal blue
Eddy Merckx: Team 7-Eleven Red & Green w/ White stripes - repainted to match original paint job
Catamount: Red main triangle/Green stays - to match the Eddy.

For some odd reason, my red bike really is faster than my other bikes.

All mine are silver and/or black.

If I had to pick another color, it would have to be Bianchi celeste. It's elegant... in an icky sort of way.

I like mine to be nude/naked. ;)

Mine is brown...I don't care. I'll have blue pedals, a brown frame, and yellow wheels.

Another vote for naked.

im riding on my 3rd consecutive white frame, so i don't think i'll ever get anything else

naked. with lipstick red pedals

queer sort of a bike that one.

I prefer Matte black.

I purchased it because it is unique but I have not ridden it yet.

Artist - Varnished by Dossena Carlo

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=25969&stc=1

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=25968&stc=1

Hi565, like this?: Except with more gears...

That bike is beautiful. What kind of hubs are those?

I purchased it because it is unique but I have not ridden it yet.

Artist - Varnished by Dossena Carlo

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=25969&stc=1

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=25968&stc=1


Wow - that's the most unique paint job I've ever seen! Was that bike a Tommasini by any chance?

Wow - that's the most unique paint job I've ever seen! Was that bike a Tommasini by any chance?

It's a Titan of Switzerland built in Italy but the actual builder is unknown to me. I have three of them and there are others posted in the Classic & Vintage area. All have rather uniquely painted frames, many were Varnished by Dossena Carlo an Italian Artist.

Red, silver and black - stock colours of a 2005 Trek 7500FX. I like the paint job, I don't think I'd change it. However, replacing the red with a nice midnight blue would look cool.

My old bike was glossy black - very boring.

My main bike for the past 10 years has been a battleship gray Trek 5500.

I want some color on my next bike, but all the new ones I'm interested in are either garish or matte black.

When I was selling bikes, I decided that color is more of a veto issue, at least for men. I can't tell you how many times guys have said to me something like: "I don't care about color. I'll take the next one that comes off of the assembly line." The very next words out of their mouth might be: "Not green."

I might take some sexist heat for saying this, but my experience has been that women are a bit more selective. I've actually had at least one woman come into the store and say: "I want to buy a blue bike."

Personally, I won't ride a bike that I think looks ugly.

When I was selling bikes, I decided that color is more of a veto issue, at least for men. I can't tell you how many times guys have said to me something like: "I don't care about color. I'll take the next one that comes off of the assembly line." The very next words out of their mouth might be: "Not green."

I might take some sexist heat for saying this, but my experience has been that women are a bit more selective. I've actually had at least one woman come into the store and say: "I want to buy a blue bike."

Personally, I won't ride a bike that I think looks ugly.

Interesting. I've always thought that beauty is as beauty does--unless the bike's green. Then forget it. :D

If I stumble across a quality frame & the price is right, I don't care what color it is.

My fav of the stable is emerald green metallic.

Interesting. I've always thought that beauty is as beauty does--unless the bike's green. Then forget it. :D

What's wrong with green? My Raleigh is a dark green, almost British Racing Green. Gorgeous. If I had my druthers, any bike I own would be the same shade.

What's wrong with green? My Raleigh is a dark green, almost British Racing Green. Gorgeous. If I had my druthers, any bike I own would be the same shade.


I agree -- what's wrong with green? :) I have a shamrock green '97 Breezer Storm with over 30,000 miles on it (I use it as a daily commuter for a 100 mile/week commute). Not only do I like the color, but I love the scalloped design of the top tube and down tube. Total retro look. And yes, the green makes me go faster :p

Last week I placed an order for an Apple Green Santa Cruz Blur. I'm getting the wheels laced with green nipples and green Chris King hubs. Everything else will be black.

I have a Ti hardtail and it doesn't do anything for me, colorwise. Love the bike, but the color is bleah. Yeah, I know that's what distinguishes a Ti bike, but I like vibrant colors. When Retro Grouch said that women are more selective, it might be that color selection seems to be aimed more towards men's tastes. At least that's what I've noticed. I'm not into the matte blacks, gunmetal grays and silvers.

all things being equal, the red bike will be faster

I vote on BLACK- it's tough, sleek, cool...yet has a yearning to be loved

http://www.dynagroove.com/users/fabian/misc/bianchi1.JPG
*side note: Hey... BostonFixed So far this is my favorite bike on the forums:rolleyes: Niiice!
http://www.feltracing.com/2005_bikes/bikes_pics/2005_f1c.jpg
http://www.scottusa.com/i/images/products/cr1limited_carbon.jpg
http://www.scottusa.com/i/images/products/back-site.jpg
http://www.scottusa.com/i/images/products/highoctane1_polished.jpg

my next bike has to be a Scott or a Felt (god help us all if they ever made a DH frame) :rolleyes:

I just purchased my first road bike -- an '05 Felt F65 -- It's a great blue color.... Not as killer looking as the F55 in the semi-matte black stealth color, but it's a proud looking ride.


Call me vain, but I wanted a bike not only for how great the ride was (I test rode several in the price range), but also how I felt about how it looks. To wit.... I think Treks are great bikes, but their paint jobs are horrible. Just my opinion!

Looking good has a lot to do with feeling good..... :o ..... but so do the carbon stays.... :D

What's wrong with green? My Raleigh is a dark green, almost British Racing Green. Gorgeous. If I had my druthers, any bike I own would be the same shade.

Not a thing is wrong with green. I was just attempting to make a joke at my own expense in response to what Retrogrouch said. Irony never plays well on message boards. Somebody always thinks you're being serious.

Mine is silver (hardrock), but I'd like one of these frames (azonic steelhead):

http://jonbuder.com/images/Steelhead.jpg

Not a thing is wrong with green. I was just attempting to make a joke at my own expense in response to what Retrogrouch said. Irony never plays well on message boards. Somebody always thinks you're being serious.

I don't always think people are being serious!




(and for the humor impaired- that was a joke....merely a joke)

Mine is silver (hardrock), but I'd like one of these frames (azonic steelhead):

http://jonbuder.com/images/Steelhead.jpg

SEEEEEEEEEEE black. I told you! Black is the new black.

Silver. Looks fast just leaning against a post.

Nude Ti. Paint just weighs the bike down. :)

SEEEEEEEEEEE black. I told you! Black is the new black.Now that was funny! :D

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I tend to like bikes that are all one color. Some of the newer multi-colored paint jobs just doing do it for me. Some of the older Gary Fisher bikes used to be way to busy for my taste but they've been toned down in the past year. And his goatee just has to go. Guys his age shouldn't try to emulate the late-teen/early-20 crowd. It's just wrong.

So, any suggestions on how to paint the frame?
I'm thinking of two ways.
Either get a good paint and use a regular brush to get it on, or get spray cans and apply it that way.
I'm looking for a thick, matte paint. I do NOT want a smooth, glossy surface.
(Desired colours: dark grey or olive drab, for a military look...)

The frame is alu, and I'd prefer to leave the existing paint on.
Any suggestions for paint to use for this?
(And by that I mean types of paint, not specific brands, as I'm not where you are... :) )

If you want something like that you might go for one of those acrylic texture paints and then spray over that.