Most ridiculous pieces of bike jewelry?
11-09-15, 09:35 PM
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Most ridiculous pieces of bike jewelry?
Working on a new build for a winter bike now, I was browsing for parts and, for a fleeting moment, considered laying $120 for a KMC X11 DLC chain in black/blue.
Would've looked sweet, but then I thought, "WTF am I thinking?! That's twice what I'd pay for the same chain in plain silver, and it's just gonna get grimy anyway." Whew...my senses kicked in.
Were I a wealthier man, it might have looked a little different, but still...everyone's chain gets grimy, especially on a bike meant for wet and sloppy conditions, right?
Conclusion: colored chains are ridiculous, especially in this case, but probably always ( though I do have a gold X11 on another!).
On what else can you spend silly money for nothing more than cosmetic improvents? What's the silliest piece of adornment you can imagine slapping on your bike?
Would've looked sweet, but then I thought, "WTF am I thinking?! That's twice what I'd pay for the same chain in plain silver, and it's just gonna get grimy anyway." Whew...my senses kicked in.
Were I a wealthier man, it might have looked a little different, but still...everyone's chain gets grimy, especially on a bike meant for wet and sloppy conditions, right?
Conclusion: colored chains are ridiculous, especially in this case, but probably always ( though I do have a gold X11 on another!).
On what else can you spend silly money for nothing more than cosmetic improvents? What's the silliest piece of adornment you can imagine slapping on your bike?
11-09-15, 09:46 PM
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I've always pick black bars. However tape covers most of it.
One thing that looks good on many bikes is colored hubs - mango, off red, blue, etc.
One thing that looks good on many bikes is colored hubs - mango, off red, blue, etc.
Last edited by StanSeven; 11-09-15 at 09:49 PM.
11-09-15, 09:56 PM
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Many years back when I built up my LOOK I spent a considerable amount more for the white Fizik Arione saddle rather than the boring black one. I also plunked down enough cash to buy a decent low end road bike a few years later for a more matchy matchy gloss carbon fiber Stronglight Fission titanium axle crankset to replace the not-exactly-cheap Stronglight Pulsion crankset I had originally spec'd for it.
11-09-15, 11:48 PM
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11-10-15, 04:28 AM
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Carbon fiber water bottle holders.
11-10-15, 05:48 AM
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Hard to beat colored chain for pointless bling, but as a recreational rider and occasional Cat5 pack-filler, carbon wheels top my list of silly extravagances. The right ones can make a bike look awesome, though. Oh, and don't ask me why I had to have red levers on the skewers for my steel bike.
Ironically, I SAVED money by going for a more bling look on the Casati. Wanted BRIGHT silver components, but Chorus, Record, etc. only come in black, so I got Athena. And Campy doesn't even make silver hubs for road bikes. Had to go with Miche. All worked out great!
Ironically, I SAVED money by going for a more bling look on the Casati. Wanted BRIGHT silver components, but Chorus, Record, etc. only come in black, so I got Athena. And Campy doesn't even make silver hubs for road bikes. Had to go with Miche. All worked out great!
Last edited by kbarch; 11-10-15 at 05:53 AM.
11-10-15, 06:34 AM
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11-10-15, 07:54 AM
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That one might be the winner, but at least they always good and don't get grimy like a chain on the regular!
Carbon fiber stems come to mind, too, as being outrageously pricey and no lighter or better than alu versions...
Carbon fiber is easy to target as silly extravagance, whether stems, wheels, or whatever, but at the same time, it's some of the cheapest bling you can add, for example, CF headset spacers!
Carbon fiber stems come to mind, too, as being outrageously pricey and no lighter or better than alu versions...
Carbon fiber is easy to target as silly extravagance, whether stems, wheels, or whatever, but at the same time, it's some of the cheapest bling you can add, for example, CF headset spacers!
11-10-15, 10:11 AM
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That one might be the winner, but at least they always good and don't get grimy like a chain on the regular!
Carbon fiber stems come to mind, too, as being outrageously pricey and no lighter or better than alu versions...
Carbon fiber is easy to target as silly extravagance, whether stems, wheels, or whatever, but at the same time, it's some of the cheapest bling you can add, for example, CF headset spacers!
Carbon fiber stems come to mind, too, as being outrageously pricey and no lighter or better than alu versions...
Carbon fiber is easy to target as silly extravagance, whether stems, wheels, or whatever, but at the same time, it's some of the cheapest bling you can add, for example, CF headset spacers!
And don't give me any nonsense about old-fangled bendy style steel or Al cages. Those things eject bottles and loosen up over time - not exactly endearing qualities.
11-10-15, 10:35 AM
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I had a FG wheelset with anodized titanium spokes.
11-10-15, 11:05 AM
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I'd agree but they're not that expensive and the ones I have do a spectacular job of actually holding the water bottles... since they're so functional, I have trouble calling them "jewelry"
And don't give me any nonsense about old-fangled bendy style steel or Al cages. Those things eject bottles and loosen up over time - not exactly endearing qualities.
And don't give me any nonsense about old-fangled bendy style steel or Al cages. Those things eject bottles and loosen up over time - not exactly endearing qualities.
11-10-15, 11:18 AM
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FTW.
11-10-15, 11:18 AM
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11-10-15, 11:36 AM
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11-10-15, 12:31 PM
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My wife insists on using this OEM Bianchi seat because she love animal prints, especially leopard.
It has steel rails and isn't very comfy, especially compared to the Terry Butterfly I originally put on the bike, but she doesn't care...
It has steel rails and isn't very comfy, especially compared to the Terry Butterfly I originally put on the bike, but she doesn't care...
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Last edited by rmfnla; 11-10-15 at 03:20 PM.
11-10-15, 12:58 PM
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I just bought a new steel road bike...It's grey. The chain is grey. It has black bars, bar tape, stem, spacers, seat post, saddle, bottle cages, pedals, cranks, shifters, brakes, rims, hubs, and tires....
...I like to ride it wearing a bright yellow jersey....
Also, my car is grey...
...I like to ride it wearing a bright yellow jersey....
Also, my car is grey...
11-10-15, 02:16 PM
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Something that most throw away, valve covers. I like them and they have to be blingin', I have red ones on my road bike and my wife has pink ones on her road bike.
I'll go bury my head in shame.
I'll go bury my head in shame.
Last edited by Yendor72; 11-10-15 at 02:30 PM.
11-10-15, 03:22 PM
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I just bought a new steel road bike...It's grey. The chain is grey. It has black bars, bar tape, stem, spacers, seat post, saddle, bottle cages, pedals, cranks, shifters, brakes, rims, hubs, and tires....
...I like to ride it wearing a bright yellow jersey....
Also, my car is grey...
...I like to ride it wearing a bright yellow jersey....
Also, my car is grey...
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