Hey Gus, if you like the way it looks who gives a **** what other people think? You're the one riding it every day.

I actually like the red tape; even better if it was the Fizik gloss red tape. IMO, it'll give it the perfect contrast. I'd also match the cages as well, either both black or white.

The seat bag on the Giant looks like one of those horse insemination devices used for collection on male horses. You said it was a little loud, so change the bar tape to black, cages to black, and it will probably settle-down the colors a lot.

Do most of you carry your repair gear in your jerseys rather than a small bag?

Thanks, I've seen that glossy tape before, not a fan though. It's its just too shiny.

Well, you know, I'm riding with some hard core cyclists and we pass a horse ranch, you never know when one of them might get the urge to jack a horse, least I could do is let you borrow my seat bag. ;)

It's comforting to know that I'm not the only rider in tune with equine sensitivities.

Its all good, and if it were a thoroughbred you could sell it and help me finance all these changes you all suggest on my bike.

It's against "the rules" to make that comment in the same post you do the thing you're commenting on.

My repair gear goes in a seat bag.

Listen to Bianchi10...if your bike rides fine and you enjoy it, don't feel the need to change things just to please some random people's opinions on the internet. You've been given a ton of advice to make your bike look better in a thread on a random bike message board, but in all reality, none of that matters. Just enjoy your bike. Of course, if you like to waste money on a hobby and are going for internet cred, then by all means, hang out here and you and your hard earned cash will soon part.

I don't (it's too hot in the summer to carry that crap on my back), but I do take it off for photo purposes.

If you haven't read "The Rules" yet, that's a good place to start to gain some bike snobiness...
Velominati ? The Rules

So other than the saddle, you all are suggesting something more like this....

not mine but just did a quick search to see if I could find this bike with different parts.

Well clearly you wouldn't want to take the picture in front of a brown garage door.

All true, but it's interesting to field opinions. I've been on the fence about the contrasting cages since I bought the bike last year anyway, plus now that shimano has updated brake shifters with internal cable routing, it's a change I wanted to make eventually. Beyond that, I'll keep it as it is.

It's the Argon 18 3D Headtube. Basically it's a threaded insert that allows you to extend your headtube without having to use spacers, significantly increasing front end stiffness.


http://www.racycles.com/assets/produ...ium_2012_2.jpg


I'd love to remove the insert, but my fit is what it is. If it weren't for shallow drop bars, I'd be forced to flip the stem for positive rise.

Generally, I take a pic of my bike brand new, or just built up, without bags, or Garmin installed, etc. It's only new once, and I like to catch the new before I ride the new off of it. Anyone that commented on your bike has already run the gauntlet here, and their bike has been run through the wringer. It's only my opinion, which you invited up by posting.

Better... but don't forget staging:

White door, cranks horizontal, valve stems at 6. Just kidding... but seriously...

I don't think new STI's (just for the look) would be a 'decent investment'. Wear out those 5600 105 parts with saddle time instead. Cages and tape are your 'look' items; just ditch the red (like the other pic you posted).

I actually have an LBS here who will give me a price of $180 on a set of shifters that are fresh off a new bike that someone put ultegra on, so that seems too good to pass up.

Nice job, looks great.

Ask them if that's 180 otd w/install if your going that route. But I second not upgrading until you need to.

I upgraded on my old bike, after about 200 miles you realize you just wasted about 200 or so dollars because the new shifters do nothing more than what the old shifters did.

Shimano STI Levers 105 Black 5700/5703 with cables, GEARSHIFT STI / ERGO

Shimano 105 ST-5700 Cycling STI Levers Black Sports & Leisure | ProBikeKit.com

That's just how much they cost (at least if you order them from the UK).

Price will probably come down on 5700 too when 5800 gets released.

For 5700 105's? Yeah, that's a decent price installed. They're under $150 this week from Ribble. That's still hardly worth it to me for simply a cable-free look (but it's your money). Personally I'd put that $180 aside for a 5800 group next spring (your wheels are 11s compatible), and ride what you've got for now. Either way, you've been a good sport in this thread. Cheers!

If i upgrade the whole set, I'd likely pop for the ultegra, but at that point, I think I'd just want a whole new bike and look at something with di2. This model is actually quite heavy due to the aluminum steerer. Without the accessories it's 18.25 lbs including pedals.

Figure, I'll run this bike into the ground for a few more years. The cable mess really does bug me so for a few bucks, cleaning it up is about as much as I'm going to do to it. That and replacing the red cage with a white one and going with black lizard skins. Got to learn to stick to the less is more mantra, it really is true. Looking at the other bikes on here it validates that.

All the advice has been extremely helpful from everyone , it basically confirmed some of the things I think i didn't really love about the bike but couldn't admit it. Plus who doesn't enjoy a good ribbing now and again.

[MENTION=368868]Gus90[/MENTION] I would sell the bike and buy a new one. It seem to me cheaper to buy a new bike than to build up your current one. Cost of components and frame separate are ridiculous. I'd upgrade to Giant TCR Composite.