Ideas to jazz up my bike - what have you done to yours?

[ciao_bella]

Hi Ladies,

In January, I bought a new Specialized Vita Comp. It's a great bike but a little plain in appearance. But my choice was based on the comfort and components of the bike instead of the looks. I wanted a faster bike, but without the drop handlebars.

http://tinyurl.com/y93gysn

Anyway, I'm thinking of enhancing the appearance to make it less plain looking. What kinds of things have you done to snazz up your bikes (I don't mean performance wise, I mean appearance wise).

I'm very excited about this new bike, since it's the first time in my adult life that I've ever bought myself an expensive "toy". I'm 57, and buying this bike makes me feel all giddy like a kid again. My DH and my two sons think I'm going a bit nutty on them, LOL! :D

I'm going to use red as an accent color, and have purchased a red bottle cage, and that's as far as I've gotten.

Ciao

[Cataboo]

Red tires, red grips on your handlebar....

red seatbag, red seat if you can find one that works for you...

Red spacers, red top tube cap...

Red tires'll make a huge difference.

[MartianDestiny]

Since it has blue accents already, I'd enhance it with blue. Blue grips (or white grips with blue anno clamps like ODI Ruffians), blue anno seatpost clamp, blue anno spacers.

You can get custom engraved parts from www.purelycustom.com

[Aquila]

Dirt and mud, that's how mine looks its snazziest.

[pinsonp2]

You might try something simple like valve caps too:

http://www.purelycustom.com/c-201-presta-valve-stem-caps-collars.aspx

I also like to accessorize my bikes, much to my hubby's chagrin.

P2

[Trek420]

red seatbag, red seat if you can find one that works for you...

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodKR_LGBENNY_17.html

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSE_WCST.html

[zoom-zoom]

Have you named your bike? I ordered snazzy vinyl lettering for my bike using this site:
speedysigns.com (http://new.speedysigns.com/letteringtool/index/index/product_id/31990/)

They arrived fast and have a TON of font options--more than any other site I found. I have my bike's name (well, the nickname, anyhow..."Oby", short for Oberon...as in Bell's Oberon beer :D) in orange with white outline on 2 places on my bike. Red with blue outline would look really cool on your ride. :)

[shootingstar]

Dirt and mud, that's how mine looks its snazziest.

:D Admittedly I don't jazz up my bikes much at all --honest, I'm afraid of bike theft. I use my bike all over the place since we don't have a car.

The closest concession to frivolity is a red heart bell he got from Belgium. and it doesn't work too well, but I like it. Makes sense? :p
But show us your jazzed up bike when you get there.

[Trek420]

small whimsical touches of color can really pop. Knott's all-black Surly crosscheck has these on the wheels, looks great!

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFR_009.html

[MommyBird]

http://www.blackburndesign.com/flea_USB.html
http://www.blackburndesign.com/flea_usb_rear.html

Red Fleas!

[TrekTheKaty]

I added red handlebar tape and red tires last summer :D

[uk elephant]

I've added red handlebar tape and red bottle cages to my otherwise plain black bike. Also added a rack for my panniers which I painted red to match. If I had the money, I'd add red rims and tyres too...

[ciao_bella]

Wow, you gals gave me some great ideas! Thanks! When I get it all together (might take me all summer due to cash flow) I'll post a picture.

Ciao,
Carla

[keeper]

At the bike shop today I saw some little reflective stickers. I think they had red and blue in various shapes. A bag of them was $6. Could be a easy, cute, cheap option.