Bike Forums - Hot r Not

My new bike, I have been wanting one for a very long time.

Bianchi Sempre Pro
Sram Force 22
Sram Red 22 Quarq power meter
HED Black Carbon wheels
Vittori Open Corsa G+ tires
Thomson Masterpiece Seatpost
Brooks C13 Carbon railed saddle

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/...pswvqrr2wl.jpg

The potential of hotness is there, but this isn't it.

1. Decals on the wheels - they are not black nor are they white, but they are distracting to the eye.
2. Tires - I don't get this whole gumwall thing, never will. Distracting from the theme of the bike.
3. Bar tape - looks good until you realize that black would look better and can't stop wishing it were black.

The rest is hot, including the crank.

velociraptor

09-30-16 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TenSpeedV2 (Post 19092077)

1. Decals on the wheels - they are not black nor are they white, but they are distracting to the eye.

Agreed, I'd pull the decals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TenSpeedV2 (Post 19092077)

2. Tires - I don't get this whole gumwall thing, never will. Distracting from the theme of the bike.

Disagree strongly. Gumwalls look fantastic. Especially on deep profile wheels. They have a classic look and provide a nice contrast to all the blackness.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TenSpeedV2 (Post 19092077)

3. Bar tape - looks good until you realize that black would look better and can't stop wishing it were black.

Black will look better for longer, but the white tape here works well because of the white graphics. My only little niggle is full commitment needs to be shown by swapping to a white saddle.

Bike is HOT :thumb:

TenSpeedV2

09-30-16 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by velociraptor (Post 19092226)

Disagree strongly. Gumwalls look fantastic. Especially on deep profile wheels. They have a classic look and provide a nice contrast to all the blackness.

If this was a classic looking bike, I would agree. However, it is the exact opposite.

SpeshulEd

09-30-16 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by velociraptor (Post 19092226)

Disagree strongly. Gumwalls look fantastic. Especially on deep profile wheels. They have a classic look and provide a nice contrast to all the blackness.

While I like gumwalls quite a bit, I find the silver machined brake track ruins the look of them, even on aero wheels.

Now if they were on wheels without the brake track, totally different story.

To be fair, aero wheels with machined brake tracks aren't my thing either.

MakiNn

09-30-16 08:38 PM

absolutely love this thread, I knew the decals and tires would be a debate. I absolutely love the open corsa G+ whether they were in black or gum wall, they just so happen to be gum walls for this point in the riding. They stick like glue and have lasted much longer then my GP4000. the decals on the wheels are a so so, I like them to show off a little Home goodness seeing how HED is a couple miles up the road from me. for seat I will agree I am really likely the brooks but I do have a white fizik that could be what I will be putting on in the near future.

Dont worry guys I change up bike things so I am sure it will have some of what everyone likes haha

Thunderheader

09-30-16 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiNn (Post 19091172)

How is that Brooks C13? I've never tried a Brooks, for whatever reason I am hesitant...love the gumwalls.

GeneO

09-30-16 09:13 PM

The gumwalls might be OK without the wheel stickers. Loose the stickers. Too noisy.

kbarch

10-01-16 05:50 AM

Generally speaking, not "hot" in my book, but it does seem very well sorted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiNn (Post 19093722)

... The decals on the wheels are a so so, I like them to show off a little Home goodness seeing how HED is a couple miles up the road from me.

As HED decals go, they could be much worse, and you couldn't have a better reason for keeping them on.
:thumb:

MakiNn

10-01-16 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderheader (Post 19093742)

How is that Brooks C13? I've never tried a Brooks, for whatever reason I am hesitant...love the gumwalls.

I really like it, thought it would be stiff and too ridged but it is great. Also really light. mine might be for sale at a good discounted price as I may be putting my white fizik on the bike.

Thunderheader

10-01-16 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiNn (Post 19094239)

I really like it, thought it would be stiff and too ridged but it is great. Also really light. mine might be for sale at a good discounted price as I may be putting my white fizik on the bike.

Thank you.

anon`

10-02-16 01:38 PM

I suppose I should finally join this thread, instead of just lusting on some of the other bikes in it. My bike, however pedestrian: a 2011 CAAD10-4, updated with SRAM Red 52/38 rings, and a shortened and narrowed FSA cockpit (the bike is a 58; in retrospect, I probably should've gotten a 56). Up next is a white/black Fizik Arione CX saddle and--someday--a set of aero wheels. And maybe new cages.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qC...=w1203-h902-no

thin_concrete

10-03-16 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anon` (Post 19096581)

Just FYI - Imagur doesn't work on this forum even if it looks like it's got a picture on your screen. You have to add the picture as an attachment or use Flickr/Photobucket/etc.

anon`

10-03-16 12:22 PM

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by thin_concrete (Post 19098785)

Just FYI - Imagur doesn't work on this forum even if it looks like it's got a picture on your screen. You have to add the picture as an attachment or use Flickr/Photobucket/etc.

Huh, didn't know that. Thanks for letting me know. Also, not hosted on Imagur, but Google Photo. As a PSA, I guess...

Anyway, how's this, in all of its newfound, low-res glory?

thin_concrete

10-03-16 03:32 PM

Looking good! Maybe not hot, but a good start.

noodle soup

10-03-16 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anon` (Post 19098808)

Huh, didn't know that. Thanks for letting me know. Also, not hosted on Imagur, but Google Photo. As a PSA, I guess...

Anyway, how's this, in all of its newfound, low-res glory?

its a good looking bike, but you might want to move the levers a little higher, and rotate the bars a tiny bit.

anon`

10-03-16 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thin_concrete (Post 19099394)

Looking good! Maybe not hot, but a good start.

Thank you! Funny too, because that's kind of my thought, as well! The stock wheels don't help anything, and the seat/wrap combo is a little off balance now, in my eyes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by noodle soup (Post 19099481)

its a good looking bike, but you might want to move the levers a little higher, and rotate the bars a tiny bit.

And thank you, too. I totally agree with both comments, actually. I recently flipped the stem, and looking at those photos realized that I put the bars back with just a bit of upward tilt. And while I shouldn't admit this too loudly, the LBS that swapped these bars in put the right lever back on maybe a half-cm lower than the left, and I forgot to raise it when I re-wrapped the bars recently. :(

Next time! (Which will hopefully, also, include nicer wheels and a saddle to match the bars.)

noodle soup

10-03-16 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anon` (Post 19099612)

Thank you! Funny too, because that's kind of my thought, as well! The stock wheels don't help anything, and the seat/wrap combo is a little off balance now, in my eyes.

And thank you, too. I totally agree with both comments, actually. I recently flipped the stem, and looking at those photos realized that I put the bars back with just a bit of upward tilt. And while I shouldn't admit this too loudly, the LBS that swapped these bars in put the right lever back on maybe a half-cm lower than the left, and I forgot to raise it when I re-wrapped the bars recently. :(

Next time! (Which will hopefully, also, include nicer wheels and a saddle to match the bars.)

Some people might criticize the amount of spacers, but they don't need to ride the bike.

As you gain core strength, you'll probably remove a few of them. Let your body tell you how many spacers you need.

anon`

10-03-16 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noodle soup (Post 19099646)

Yeah, I'm actually not too keen on the spacer stack, but you've hit it right on the head: I'm neither terribly flexible, nor of great core strength (at least, given the, err, mass of my upper body). I've been working on that, though, and removed one spacer (5mm) when I flipped the stem. I'll probably take another 10mm out by the end of the year, but didn't want to go too far, too fast.

SpeshulEd

10-04-16 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thin_concrete (Post 19098785)

Just FYI - Imagur doesn't work on this forum even if it looks like it's got a picture on your screen. You have to add the picture as an attachment or use Flickr/Photobucket/etc.

The link to the photo you quoted is from a private google photo album.

Imgur does work on this site, you just have to use the proper link.

http://i.imgur.com/G2uJ5WN.png

Bikeracer123

10-05-16 02:54 PM

1 Attachment(s)

Let's give his yet another try. Sorry about the water bottle, was just cruising around.

WhyFi

10-05-16 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bikeracer123 (Post 19104016)

Let's give his yet another try. Sorry about the water bottle, was just cruising around.

Shadowy shrubs don't make for a good background to show off a black bike.

Bikeracer123

10-05-16 03:26 PM