I plan to start a more detailed thread once I have a chance to take some better pictures and do a more worthy write-up. In the meantime, I'm hung up on one final build detail and could use some input. Stripes or No Stripes on the seat tube?

It's YOUR bike, but my eye is pulled to the WC stripes on the headtube, then to the Italian flag stripes on the stem, then to the red accents on the crank and the RD...too many things vying for attention.
I'd stick to just one theme, and the red accents seem to be the logical one.

So, if anything just RED stripes...my 2 cents...

Red stripes...hadn't considered that..hmmm...

Funny thing is, these stripes have played out a long drama in my mind. First, perhaps a year ago, I ordered stripes from Hillary Stone. I then went on to embellish the cranks to play up the theme. When I finally got around to try them out (it's been a slow build/repair), I realized the sequence of colored stripes did not match the sequence on the head tube. My OCD started setting in and I found Velocals offered exactly what I was looking for and I ordered a new set of decals. (I'm hoping the fine folks at VeloCals aren't reading this. They'll think I'm nuts!) A few days goes by and...they sent the wrong decals, twice. No big deal. I'm happy to say Velocals had great customer service. Instantly shipped 2 replacement decals, no questions asked, before I returned the other sets. It's nice to know they'll be accommodating if an honest mistake is made (they do have a lot of stripe decals to get mixed up). I also don't want to disrespect "the rules" by flying unearned WC stripes, even if I flip them upside down to match the headbadge. SO...now that I finally got what I thought I wanted, I'm also wondering if they draw the eye a bit too much from the rest of the bike.



At least they won't ruin the titanium if I change my mind. Btw, these are not yet applied, just temporarily taped on for the photo, so don't feel like you need to hold your tongue rather tell me I made a mistake.

70 views & only 3 votes? There's no wrong answer. Put your name on it!

The bike has the colors on the head tube and the crankset, so having them on the seat tube ties it together. However, the sequence has to be the same on the two tubes, not "upside down" as shown. Also, the flutes in the spider should be the sequence of "green yellow black red blue" and the center dot in the quatrefoils on the chainring should be black.

Stripes....

stripes

Stripes, since there are stripes on the head tube. Bare metal, or chrome is pleasing on its own, but some accenting done right compliments it.

Thanks for the input so far. Stripes made resurgence while I was sleeping. As usual, no consensus with this group!

Agreed about flipping the decal so the sequence mimics the head tube. I inadvertently flipped them when taking this mock up photo. At one point I did try out multiple colors on the spiders, but that really was too much. Started to look like a clown bike.

The stripes on the seat tube look nice, but the crank is a bit OTT. I prefer the clean look:

Stripes.

Who made that bike?

^

I voted stripes - a splash of color works here.

make a decision on your own. its not that important that you need to ask the advice of strangers who dont really care. I vote for stripes by the way.

+1

There's ideas that I'm not sure would go over well. Just getting as much of an unbiased opinion can be a really good thing.

I resisted every urge to start threads about what part I should use for my last two builds. I would like other people's opinions, whether it's based on taste or experience.



I like the stripes as well.

The bike sure looks sweet either way.

big, very big, humongous, large, ultra large... STRIPES

Never mind putting stripes or a name on it.

I agree as well. Crank is too busy with the red infill in the spider for my taste.

Sometimes a second opinion is helpful when you have been staring at something too long. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to explain that strangers don't care either way. And thank you for your vote, too.

Yeah, I get that. Truth be told, the cranks were pretty scratched up when I got them, so I stripped the anodizing to polish them. But I left the oven cleaner on too long (and, btw, learned the aerosol Easy-Off works much faster than non-aerosol Easy-Off). As a result, the finish got a little bit pocked, especially in the spider flutes where more oven cleaner had settled. I polished out the arms and flat portions of the spiders. However, as you know, there is a slight texture to the flutes. Rather than try to polish out the textured flutes, I went with fill paint instead.

Your Speedwell looks great!

I'm with Pars and non-fixie. Striped look good, but the crank draws too much attention form the rest of the bike. I'm loving the drive train btw, some black high flange Pro-am hubs would tie everything together so perfectly.

try a quick mock-up with red bands on the seat tube, maybe even go to "panels" of red there and on the DT, TT while you're at it...it can't hurt, if only to find out you hate it...

stripes..... I think they discreetly add a bit of flair and interest

Box pin-striping is classic..

Thanks. What I really like about these Speedwells, more than other ti bikes, is the 'golden' glow of the titanium. The black DA stuff sets that off nicely, but where bright colors would work well on other frames, they distract too much on these IMO.

I understand the problem with the oven cleaner. Been there too. I think if you would replace the red on the spider with black, it would look more balanced. And maybe black toe straps. (Or you could try yellow, that would help accentuate the yellowish glow of the frame.)

Anyway, your problems are minor compared to mine. I'm about twice as big as Ocaņa, while our bikes are the same size.