Dan Burkhart 

If I want to be noticed, a ride on the recumbent or the Big Dummy will do it. All my bikes are unusual enough to catch the eye of anyone who is bike saavy, and most are equipped with nothing higher than mid level components.
No CK headsets here.

JanMM

I made positive comments about them to the owner of the fixie with Phil Wood hubs when he pulled up to the bike rack at our hospital garage a while back. To the untrained eye, the green rims looked more blingy. Impressed to learn he built the wheels himself.

FastJake

I'm still a poor college kid, and even when I try to make my bikes look nice they always end up dead ugly just because of the randomness of all the components. I agree that a good functioning bike looks way cooler in my eyes than a pretty one that doesn't work.

I rarely hear comments on bikes, and I'm usually the guy that says them. Mostly old stuff that I think is cool. 600 tri-color bits here, an old Matrix rim there... The stuff they're not making anymore is what gets my attention.

cyclist2000

I think most people will see the brand of bike and that's about all. I have campy equipment some of my bikes and no one has ever noticed, except the guy that runs the bike co-op, he looked at bike that I had just airbrushed 4 ugly colors and asked if I was trying to go for the too crappy to steal look and said it might work except for the nice looking campy headset.

The one bike that got a few comments was my 80's italian road bike but the only things that anyone notice was the pedals with toe clips and my old sidi shoes.

fishymamba

headset: no
groupo: yes

just admire it no comment.

LesterOfPuppets

I saw a dude roll up at the library today on a thrashed red bike with loop stays and a backwards layback seatpost. I was like "woah, is that an olde Yeti?" Then I saw the Paul brakes and then I was just like dayum!

CK headsets are kinda a dime a dozen 'round here though.

JiveTurkey

I've received many more compliments on my beater/commuter/utility bike that was pieced together with used, cheap, or laying around parts.

hybridbkrdr

When I thought about building a bike for touring, I thought about something aesthetically pleasing because I'm the one who'd have to endure to look at it.

However, I have urges to build a bicycle that would be like a complete freak bike with purple grips, yellow headset, red seatpost clamp, green pedals, so on and so forth. I don't know why, I think it would be just rad to make one like that. I mean imagine if it had XT parts on it and people just looked at it like: "WTF?!?!" Who knows? Maybe people wouldn't want to steal it.

LesterOfPuppets

Sounds like a Skittles bike, not freak bike.

Juha

Define Bling. I've had a couple of people ask me whether the Brooks saddle is "worth it" and how long did it take to get used to it. I even had one guy comment on the cut-out pre production trial B17 that he hasn't seen a Brooks like that before, and had I cut it myself. He obviously knew quite a bit about Brooks saddles.

Myself, I have commented on a very carefully uglified utility bike that had a Rohloff speedhub and a SON dynohub. Pretty much my dream commuting setup. The guy looked pleased and horrified at the same time, someone had recognised the hidden gems.

I think in those cases it was a question of having good quality gear, but displaying it very modestly. Does that count as "bling"?

chandltp

My bike has so much stuff strapped to it in the name of functionality, I get people looking at it all the time trying to figure out what everything is. Other than my headlight, nothing on there cost more than $20.

Granted, I'm the only guy I've seen riding his fully loaded commuter on a 100k charity ride so I think that alone peaks curiosity.

bikex10

I have several bikes that have all the latest and greatest components and cost accordingly. However the bike that has got more attention and comments is a $5.00 garage sale Giant Kronos that I converted to a single speed. I repainted it and rebuilt it with a set of $100.00 wheels with flip/flop rear, track drops and trimmed Brooks Pro. I have ridden it the past 2 years on the Bike Across Kansas and it never failed to get several comments a day. I probably have $150.00 in it. Have even had people take photos of it.
Nuff said for bling.

qmsdc15

What color is your headset?

Trakhak

I was surprised to find a note on my commuter bike complimenting my handlebar tape (Benotto translucent white tape over white cork). It does look good; it's the only tape combo that stays white and shiny.

Kimmo

This gets more comments than anything.

Ex Pres 

I ride mostly older bikes, so they do get some comments based on that. But the item that probably drew the most attention, much of it unspoken (as they pondered my tendancies), was this original equipment on my '83 Trek 760:

PINK BAR TAPE AND CABLE HOUSINGS

bradtx

I know I'd like to get a ride on that.. contraption! I'd have to bring the autoharp, gram'g down and all that.

Brad

Airburst

For what it's worth, people seem more interested in my '56 Raleigh Trent Sports than in anything else I have. It has a 700c rear wheel, 26" front wheel, drum brakes, a two-speed derailleur AND a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub, and the front mudguard (fender to americans) is made from duct tape, two lengths of old brake cable housing and the fitting hardware from the SKS mudguard I used to have before I snapped it. The frame has rather an unsightly repair courtesy of a MIG welder, the chrome is totally knackered and the rear rack is made out of aluminium flat bar stock. I've spent maybe 100 quid on it in total, and in comparison, nobody seems to notice much about my other bikes, some of which are worth ten times that. The mudguards made from an old BMX tyre that I have on my folding bike do attract a few comments, though.

Edit: Wow, this post really does sound like I'm bragging. Wasn't intended to be that way, but it's gotta shows something about the workings of my mind if I brag about having a mudguard made of duct tape....

HillRider

If I can conclude anything from the above postings it's that it's the outrageous, garish, unusual and weird that gets most of the attention and draws the most comments. The small stuff, even if it's really expensive and top-drawer, is barely noticed.

gcottay

I notice and admire fine bikes of any style but rarely examine them closely enough to determine parts details. I also notice and admire strong riders on nondescript rides.

tanguy frame

Sadly, I notice bikes before I notice riders, and as a result, I let some hot riders get away while staring at their blinged out bikes. I'm working on eye contact.

Dan Burkhart 

Hey now, my bikes might be a bit unusual, but outrageous, garish and weird? Well ok, maybe a bit weird too.

Jed19

I think you are mixing notice and comment.

I definitely will notice a CK headset on your bike, and that automatically leads me to do a quick lookover of the rest of your components.

I won't necessarily comment on any of the items.

Bianchigirll 

My whole bike is BLING!!!

bradtx

A really good photo, B'Girl.

Brad

PS Lovely bike also.