My theory is that that's what causes baggy short wearers to cross over into the Dark Land of Lycra--certainly did it for me. When I noticed that the parts of my legs that used to be, um, jiggly were now muscle, suddenly Lycra seemed like a really good idea. The old "if you've got it, flaunt it" principle in action, I guess.(Please note this only applies during saddle time!) Of course, the fact that Lycra is very comfortable on the bike doesn't hurt either. Similarly, when I noticed that my stomach was going in rather than out when I bent over I developed a sudden need to replace my baggy T shirts with Euro cut jerseys. When your physique starts looking better than it has in a decade or four, you get these strange urges.

You mean your face is red and deeply wrinkled?

No, that's the Thing... the Hulk was green (well, orignally gray but that's another story)

You mean your face is red and deeply wrinkled? No wait, that was another one. You mean your face is green and you it seems apparent that you and Barry Bonds have the same doctor?

Terrierman, serious question: are you colorblind? Because a red hulk and a green hulk would* look exactly the same...

I really don't know much about fashion, but wouldn't red go better with a blue bike than a different shade of blue?

No, I'm just posting impaired.

Try wearing them and observe whether your bike complains.

Go to Home Depot and buy a quart of red paint and a brush .. problem solved!

You could look at it as BLACK shorts (which of course go with everything!) with a smidgeon of red trim
But since I ride a red bike with black shorts and a light blue JOLT COLA jersey most days mayhap you won't want to take my fashion advice

It boils down to this. Freds wouldn't even buy those shorts, and OCP'ers wouldn't be caught dead in the wrong color scheme. If you keep them, you'll be living in some God-forsaken Twilight Zone where nothing can be taken for granted. I'd send 'em back.

Geez, dude - the solution is pretty simple.

Buy another bike.

EDIT: fixed.

I'm all for wool clothing (merino wool that is) but I totally do not get the "seersucker" shirt for summer riding that Rivendell advocates...... I'm glad I'm not the only one.....practicality is good, but I don't see how a long sleeve button down shirt in a non-stretch fabric could be comfortable for bike riding.....but that's just me.

But another bike?

To but or not to but, that is the question.

+1

People CARE about stuff like this? People over 30? I had no idea.
My advice is that if the shorts are comfortable, wear them. A person who sees you going by and says, "Oh, look, that old fart's shorts don't match his bike" is not a person you want anything to do with anyway.

+1? No, I don't think so. For any number of reasons.
I wanted the blue because, well, I like blue. Red... well, let's just say I am ambivalent about red.
I've never been one to worry about "fashion" but my wife is a pretty snappy dresser and *has* corrupted me a bit. Still, I was OK with it until SHE said: "You're going to wear THOSE with a blue bike?"
The seeds of insecurity have been planted.

[QUOTE=SaiKaiTai;5034158Still, I was OK with it until SHE said: "You're going to wear THOSE with a blue bike?"
The seeds of insecurity have been planted.[/QUOTE]

Just say "yes" and be done with it.

But I've already got too many bikes!

Paint the bike white.

I have blue bikes and trying to get the correct Hue of Blue to go with them is impossible. The best matching colour to go with Blue is RED. And the red does not have to be the same shade either. Now you imagine this bike in Offroad trim with red tyres and red hubs on the wheels and you have a colour co-ordinated bike. Only problem is that after 5 minutes offroad and I have a brown- mud stained bike and there is only one colour that goes with Brown- More Brown.

As I wrote earlier, I don't care about matching colors. But I don't like wearing red. So I would have been upset upon opening the package. Silver trim, fine. Green, fine. White, fine. Yellow, okay. Red ... yech.

I think the red shorts will make you look fat. Check the original pics you posted. Red shorts have fat thighs. Just sayin.

So you try the shorts for a while...if you like 'em, order another pair in your
preferred color. Meantime use 'em and enjoy them.

There's usually only two types of observers out there anyway....People watchers who
most likely won't even notice the bike...and equipment ooglers who probably
won't remember anything at all about the bikes owner/rider.

The only one who'll be aware of rider/bike color coordination will most
likely be you.

But then I'm kinda Fredish.....

Happy Trails