I'm becoming bored of the stock color scheme on the bike I bought just a few weeks ago. I'd like to change the color of the accents up to something less boring, and I'd really appreciate any suggestions you guys could share - I want my girl to look good

Here's the stock bike that I have:

What I'd like to do is change the terrible stock saddle to the red one pictured here:

Then change the bar tape to either a solid red or maybe the black and red stuff pictured here:

And then swap the tires out to something that's a matching solid red. Any suggestions regarding a particular type of tire that would match the color scheme and are quality tires would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, and I've already got the predominantly black with red cages pictured here:

What do you think? Too much red?

I looked to the old hot rodders for direction last time I did a make over on a bike. It was based on the "rat rod" cars. Primer black, red flames. I did red rims, chrome spokes, red hubs. It was one pimping mountain bike. I did a metric century ride, with it wearing some Dyno cruiser tires (the one with a continous flame tread). I got ohs, and "o my god I can't beleive you made the whole ride on those balloons." Since you are fromt he great white north, mabye do the red and white with the maple leaf on the down tube

I think the best way to make that bike look prettier is to invite Lance to ride it. Good luck.

[drifting off-topic again...]

Does anyone else think that bike makers seem to be following the same design principles as sneaker makers these days with overly busy color schemes and writing on every square inch? Trek is especially guily of this. I like my colour schemes to be simple, reflecting the elegant simplicity of the machine itself. Garish colour schemes seem to me to be trying to make the bike look like something it isn't.

[back to your normally scheduled interruption]

I agree, I have a 96' Giant which is very simple in design as far as the decals go. I have looked at getting a new Giant but the colour schemes are way to busy for me. I think I'll buy a Cannondale instead as their colours schemes are a lot more subtle (when I can afford it). There is definitely a tendency for manufacturers to put a sticker on every part of the bike, I have even seen drink bottle cages with Colnaga written on them.

CHEERS.

Mark

Yeah the fashion police need to come patrol the paint booths.

I got lucky with my 2000 Schwinn Homegrown. It was "tomato red" and that was it. I thinking on a Bianchi now that Schwinn is gone(the original Schwinn). One color, few stickers. Not say simple is also nice. There was a while here in Texas that they had some low end Raleighs Mtn bikes paint like the Shiner Bock label. Shiner is a local beer to Texas. Non Shiner drinkers have told me the label looks like baby sh$# yellow and brown.

Maybe the bike companies should get with the paint lords at House of Kolor.

The only multi color scheme that was nice was a limit run Gary Fisher in the early 90's. Limited to 1000 I think, but they were Greatful Dead tribute Tie-Die bikes.

cannot win, cannot lose. I think they should set it up where we pick the color(s).

Black tape; black saddle. Keep it simple.

How do you get bored after having it for only a few weeks ???, but bar tape is probably a good first move as this is what you see a lot whilst riding ! , the Pinnarello synthetic stuff is excellent..long wearing, grippy as snot , wide range of colors, self-adhesive and it has "pinnerello" embossed into it !!

I would suggest wood grain contact paper to be one with nature. Heck, if Cannondale can do it and charge a zillion for it...

How can you get bored with such a nice bike after only a few weeks?

Too much RED? YES!!

I agree with the others. Keep everything simple. Just swap saddles and handlebar tape and then see how you like the bike.

Elegantly Wasted,

That is a really pretty bike! Say, do whatever you want to it, whatever tickles your gizzard! If it were me, (which it isn't) I would conquer boredom with a little brash (yet controlled) riding.
I figure it's ME that makes the bike look good (and like I said, your bike already looks really nice!)

Did you buy this bike because you were familiar with the Trek name? Or because of the components? Or did it look "hot" on the showroom floor? Or did a salesperson "talk you into buying it"?

Most people buy a bike because it "speaks" to them. They like the ride, components, color(s), brand, etc.

Take it for a long ride (or a couple of long rides) and see it you don't fall in love with it.
Of course if it doesn't FIT properly you'll never like it, no matter what you do to it's appearance.

Just my 2¢.

I bought the bike after a lot of research and numerous test rides. I purchased this Trek 2300 because I was happy with the ride and the price spoke to me - $2000 CAD ~ $1260 USD. The Ultegra components and Trek warranty were enough to make me happy, but of course I would never have purchased the bike if it didn't fit properly. I'm just bored with all the black. I was talking to a guy at my LBS and we went down into the basement to look for something and we were looking at all the bikes down there; we noticed that almost every company uses the same standard colors, and I decided that I wanted something less typical.

So, I've purchased the red Selle saddle and am in the process of putting some red bar tape on. That's all I really wanted to change up - well, and maybe the tires, but I'll see how the bike looks with the other 2 changes.

Also, last night I did some more searching and I found this bike: It's similar to what I had intended to do just with different colors. So I doctored it up in Photo Shop and replaced the yellow with the red and it looked pretty good - same idea just a different color.

I think you are teasing me, now...