Hi All, I've decided to go with plan B's color for my '86/'88 Cannondale build. My original choice was Chrysler Moss Green Pearlcoat, but that color looks best if there is an expanse (like a car's hood) and there's nothing like that in spite of having large diameter tubes. On small areas like corners the paint is really not much different than British Racing Green.

Plan B is something to go with the red decals and brake cable housing I've already purchased and I am leaning towards manila, khaki, off white or beige. Would anyone please post up photos their bikes in this general spectrum so that I can pinpoint a color?

TIA,
Brad

You'll likely get as many answers to that question as people you ask, Brad. Opinions are like belly buttons. Everybody has one, along with their own favorite colors. With that said, my vote is for '86 Pontiac # 23 bright blue poly... my apologies as it's not khaki, cream or beige.

searching post titles here and pics on flickr.com should also help.

I have a weakness for blue bikes and that color is nice. The green and beige-ish colors are just a change of pace.

Brad

Searching has helped a little, search title has a great effect on what's found and so far not really what I'm looking for.

Brad

Chuckk, Those colors do seem proper, more so when grouped together. Good photo.

I'm breaking my own tendency for blue and looking for a color that Cannondale hasn't used that'll match with my red bits. The closest I've come to white is '60s Ford off white.

Brad

With red trim, almost any blue, almost any grey or metallic silver, metallic gold, olive drab green metallic.
I'm partial to silver metallic with red. Deeper blue metallic, as well.

Believe it or not, these are all the same color of powder coat, just goes to show what a difference the background and lighting makes:

A shorty, but Guinness Foam with black and some red bits:


Same color, brown leather:


Same color, more chrome, black bits:

rccardr, The hue, or a bit more beige, of the first photo is what I'm aiming for. When I have a chance I'm going to an auto paint supply and see if they have anything that can help. I know I'm acting a bit OCD, but this is my first repaint and decal event.

Brad

Red decals, how about a deep red like burgundy?

Actually not yet a Plan C, but a brandy wine color is a possibility. I'm learning many new paint names for different hues, I had no idea of all of the variations.

Brad

I can't find a pic of it, but if I remember correctly, Cannondale had a really deep blue color, almost black.

I agree, on the cream colored first bike. Think of strawberries and cream. I was going to use this seat and bottle cage for my build, but I need to donate them to your cause:

Thanks, jj1091. I have a saddle and cages already, but everything in this stage is subject to change. Hopefully by the end of the week I can dry fit most of the parts, gut it and start sanding.

Brad

Good luck with it. Since this is your post, maybe you can tease us along with pictures of your stages along the way.

Or black!

If anything interesting or troublesome pops up I will. Otherwise it's a paint off, paint on activity.

Brad

Cream/off-white...



Or I was thinking metallic grey/gun metal, with silver/alu components, but can't find any good examples at the moment!

...this sort of thing. I've definitely seen it matched with red accents before and it looks great.

Some years ago I did a very nice rattle can job on one of my bikes that was a lighter green metallic with red panels on the seat and down tubes, and white lettering in the panels. I got a lot of complements on the combination, so you might rethink A.

What a lovely track bike!

A color I've found that is close to your photo is mid '60s Ford white and that's about as light of a shade as I care to go. All of the kit that's going onto the bike is bright except the chain.

A color I've found in the silver/grey range is called pewter.

Brad

Nice, isn't it! I nicked it off the internet.

By a strange coincidence I've just come across the Bob Jackson I was thinking of with the red/grey colour scheme. The Hetchins is nice as well!

oh my!!!

The lug work on those two is just off the chart!

Brad