Do you care about the paint scheme?

[TrekTheKaty]

I know we've done this before, but it's come up again. I love my current bike's paint scheme (black, white, red). It was important to me two years ago when I bought my first road bike (I refused to ride a black and hot pink Ruby, but DH forced me--didn't buy it because it was a compact double and I wanted a triple). But now I'm shopping again, and I'm more interested in other things (compact double, carbon frame, ultegra).

However, we just realized we have "TEAM" colors! DH's new frame is black with white and red accents. He sold is old bike to a friend and it is black and red. Another friend just bought a black and white Madone. BIL's bike is red and white. DANG! How cool will we look rolling down the road at the Big Dam Bridge ride in Little Rock in September! We need matching jerseys!

So now the pressure is on. Obviously, these are popular colors right now. Give me strength to not sway based on paint scheme!

I stepped out of the car the other day and I realized I was wearing a black and red jersey (TE!), red gloves, black and red helmet (coincidence--I already had the helmet) and two black camelbak bottles. That's a big investment! Not that matching is that important--lots of my jerseys don't match my bike, but I guess I've acquired all this over time :D

[Lesley_x]

Yes, I do care about the paint job. It's a psychological thing. I need to feel like I want to get out there and work hard. Flowery/girly paintjobs don't do that for me. The bike needs to look aggressive.

I want something that's going to make me get out there and ride my bike.

My current Giant hybrid has a matt black paint job with red flashes. It looks aggressive, and that pushes me further.

[Blue_Fedora]

I do care about paint scheme! When I bought my current bike I had my heart set on "last year's model" and primarily because it was a gorgeous red color. The LBS was going to give me a great deal on it as it was last year's model and they wanted it gone. Sadly, it was the wrong size. They were willing to give me the same deal on the current year's model. Sounded great and DH quickly said "take it!" but the problem I had is it was primarily glossy black with a bit of red and some white accents. I decided to buy it and luckily it has really grown on me. Love the black and white and red now. I find over time I've gotten jerseys, socks and a helmet in the same "theme" so I really do like it :)

[Catrin]

I don't seem to care for the flowery designs I have seen, but I do like vibrant colors. Apparently, right now, my favorite color for transportation appears to be cobalt blue (LHT and my car actually match - that was totally unconscious). While I wouldn't care for a pale or pastel pink, I can see me totally loving a black and really vibrant pink bike. I love vibrant colors :)

So yeah, I do care about the paint scheme - but it wouldn't be my first consideration. One can always get the frame powder-coated if needed :cool:

[Trek-chick]

Color is very important to me. I think it has something to do with the artsy part of my personality....I have millions of sketch books and paintings---I love art:D I like traditional colors but, there is a part of me that likes my bikes to be uniquely mine with a bit of flair. I'm in the process of transforming my trek 520 into one that is "all me" I get bored with the off the shelf look that everyone else may have.

[TsPoet]

Yes and no... The bike is more important, but a nice paint job, that's precious.
Can you also consider saddle and HB tape and things like that which can be added to emphasize your colors?

[Crankin]

I have never, ever thought about color or design when buying a bike. The only thing I've ever thought about is the fit and the components. I wouldn't look at a girly thing with flowers, but so far, no one has shown me a bike with that!
And I would never pay for special paint, decals, etc. I know this is important for some people, but to me it's just not important.
My bike is red, black, and a little white. When I needed new shoes, I got red ones, but I was wanting them anyway. I also eventually bought a red helmet, but I have a black and yellow one, too, which I wear regularly. I hardly had any red jerseys, though. Now I have 2, bought more because they were TE designs. My hybrid is blue, and I like that color, too. No matching helmet, but my shoes with spd cleats are blue, although I had them a long time before I bought the bike.
I care more about the color/style of my jerseys. The bike is all about the fit.

[Cataboo]

Yes - I care. But I usually end up buying what's on sale (or I can get used) for the best price with the best fit. And then I learn to love what I get. Now, luckily WSD bikes don't fit me, so I've never ended up having to learn to love pink or baby blue or something. then I just accessorize the bike to the point that it seems reflective of me. This is a lot easier in commuter bikes (both of the ones I've made of those, while not quite the color I'd've picked if I had full choice of anything - have been quite fun bikes to build up), 'cause adding pretty colored things is better.

My helmets and jerseys really aren't bought with color in mind - again, whatever's on sale. Ocassionally I will look down and realize that I'm completely accessorized with my bike - and on other days I'll look down and realize that I completelyclash. Whatever. I would like a red helmet, but only blue ones go on sale.

I console myself with the idea that bikes can be powdercoated or custom painted - and maybe I'll be at the point one day where i've got the disposable income to make that a reality. Which is kind of a silly statement from someone with 5 bikes, a couple of which are by my standards, really nice - I could have 1 less bike and paint all the bikes the colors I want.

It's been the same with kayaks - for the longest time I wanted a red kayak. I ordered a red kayak with my first oen - they called and said it was out of stock. I ordered a different red kayak, they called and said there was a 4 month backorder on red, but I could have green within 2 weeks. I'm on my 10th kayak now (okay, I only own 2 now) and I finally have a red one. The other is purple with green trim which I find hysterical, but really not anything that I'd have closed my eyes and invisioned when I thought I want a kayak.

Cars - I've had a chance to get 2 new - the first one, I wanted silver, but it was sold before I got there and I got the gold. It was fine. The second one, I went to buy the silver one, but while there kinda looked at a green one and thought... I want the green one.

[ny biker]

Bike color is not the most important thing to me. I would probably not be thrilled if the bike I wanted to buy was an ugly color but I would learn to live with it.

I try to match my socks to my jersey, just for fun, but otherwise don't worry about color coordination with my bike.

[Cataboo]

I am lucky if I can find a pair of socks that match each other.

[Loraura]

Yes, it matters.

No girly, swirly, flowery, pink or teal or peach for me.

Not sure why, but it just doesn't do it for me.

I was reluctant to even test ride a pink and white pinnarello. I did test it, but thankfully it was a bit too big so I never had to worry about if I could stand the pink or not. It would have been a major hurdle to get over for me.

[moonfroggy]

one of the funnest parts of getting my luna was getting to choose the colors! and i paid extra to have her be more than 1 color.

now i have a bmx that i plan to paint because i am not happy with the color.

color is really important to me

[limewave]

Yes, but I'm an Art Director.

[loopybunny]

It's kind of silly, but it does matter to me. Luckily, my favorite color scheme is black, white, and red and it seems to be the default for many bikes.

[Biciclista]

One of the reasons I went custom is that the few bikes made at the time that fit me were hideous colors like swamp green....

[GLC1968]

Fit is most important but yes, the paint is also important to me...but not in the way it is for most people. I'm not adverse to pink or light blue or flowers but I also like orange, red, navy and black. My issue is that I don't want a bike that looks like everyone else's. I always want something different.

If that means a bike that is super popular but in a weird color, great. If it means a bike that no one else has in a relatively common colorway, That's fine, too. I just like to be different.

(My commuter is a Terry in boring silver but due to it's small front wheel it's odd looking and I like that about it. My road bike is also a Terry in a stunning blue and white swirl paint, so it really stands out and I love it!)

[sarahspins]

My issue is that I don't want a bike that looks like everyone else's. I always want something different.

I agree, but I also want to add that I wouldn't want to ride something completely heinous either... there is a limit to what I'd consider riding, based solely on looks.. I'm not a huge fan of yellow for example, so anything with a lot of yellow is a huge turn off, but not a complete deal breaker.. but yellow with something like purple.. most likely is, even though I do like purple.. just absolutely not with yellow (or orange.. and I love orange.. my bikes are both orange!) :)

[Norse]

Yes, it is important to me. My current road bike is black with red and silver/gray accents. I love it. I call it my "Black Stallion." I was looking at the end of the year sales last year, and found an upgrade with the right components at a great price, however, it was white and red. And so, another year for me and my trusty black steed. :rolleyes:

[Aggie_Ama]

Very important to me, I refused to get a Trek Fuel last year because it was a sandy beige and rootbeer. The bike looked like my Pawpaw's 1984 Oldsmobile to me. I was so lucky that the Gary Fisher with sparkly black paint and a slight bit of pink was the best fitting bike of my life and it is a show stopper. Seriously, I haven't seen another one in Texas and even the wrenches at the shop flip over the bike. They didn't stock the bike, so there aren't any that come into the shop. I love that it is mass produced but really unique because it is a higher end bike most shops chose not to stock. And I don't even like pink that much!

Of course after discovering that a bike that fits like a glove is way more fun to ride, I will concede my next bike will be bought 100% on fit so hopefully I will be able to go custom. I love to mountain bike 10x more than road riding, but I didn't until I got a bike that fit. My road bike is not a great fit and thus my love of the road has fallen immensely.

[TxDoc]

Of course I care about the paint scheme... I'm one of those people that have to match everything on every ride - bike, shoes, kit, socks, helmet, gloves... :rolleyes:

[pumpkinpony]

Very important to me, I refused to get a Trek Fuel last year because it was a sandy beige and rootbeer. The bike looked like my Pawpaw's 1984 Oldsmobile to me.

:eek: I would like to pick color... I loved the Gary Fisher paint scheme, but when I rode the two I ended up with the Root Beer colored Trek Fuel because it felt better to me.

I still hate the color, but I don't see the color when I'm riding it. And it actually gets enough complements that I'm beginning to feel better about it. :D

[Aggie_Ama]

:eek: I would like to pick color... I loved the Gary Fisher paint scheme, but when I rode the two I ended up with the Root Beer colored Trek Fuel because it felt better to me.

I still hate the color, but I don't see the color when I'm riding it. And it actually gets enough complements that I'm beginning to feel better about it. :D

You know Fisher geometry is either awesome or awful. If it hadn't worked for me I would have ended up with the Trek despite not being crazy for the frame paint scheme. It was spec'd great and Trek was having a crazy sale last July so the bikes were way cheap for the quality. So yeah I would be in the same place you are, ultimately fit would have won.

I did see one at the trail a few weeks back and liked it. At first I didn't realize it was the bike I wasn't crazy about in the shop! I thought that was kind of funny. :)

[Gowest]

Nah....color is irrelevant b/c I ride so fast I am a blur and no one can see me!:D

Seriously - once I found a bike that fit and handled the way I wanted then I worked within the colors available - I went for basic black and white - that way I can add any color accessory that I like, and being a girl - I am fickle. First it was pink for a few years - now it is kelly green.

[bcipam]

I really do think about components, design and manufacturer first (really I do) but that said... the paint color or scheme always sold the bike for me. All 3 of my current rideable bikes I was very selective about color (My Zurich is silver/sparkly indigo blue, the Santa Cruz dark indigo blue and the Spec. Stump. silver - yes there is a theme here).

I am having a Landshark built (actually frame and folk done - just waiting for the shop to complete the build up). I choose Landshark over another custom builder (all goods bikes) because of the custom paint. My scheme? Green grass, vines and wild roses floating up to a blue skies with clouds.

I should pick the bike up next month and will post a photo.

[islandgirl2]

Color is so important to me too. I wanted a bike that I loved to see everyday and felt great riding! I am all about matching too. I am surprised so many people don't like/want pink! I really wanted pink on my bike- my bike frame is grey but I have accessorized it (saddle, saddle bag, water bottles and cages) with lots of pink and totally love it!

[bcipam]

Color is so important to me too. I wanted a bike that I loved to see everyday and felt great riding! I am all about matching too. I am surprised so many people don't like/want pink! I really wanted pink on my bike- my bike frame is grey but I have accessorized it (saddle, saddle bag, water bottles and cages) with lots of pink and totally love it!

I am not a pink girl myself but I decided to add a touch of pink to my paint design in the form of small roses along the seat tube and fork. Now the shop talked me into a pink CK headset - that I would not have done on my own!

[malkin]

Yes, it matters.

But horrible colors can be influenced by neighbor colors...I once survived horrible kitchen carpeting by accenting with red things and shiny things.

True confession: I have moved clothes around on a clothes line to make the color arrangement more satisfactory.

[Atlas]

It really matters. I really dislike girly colors and head towards the super saturated ones. I love really vivid greens, reds, and blues. I went with a black bike since orange wasn't available and have accessorized it with orange. Next color will be grass green. I don't mind the black, red, and white combinations but they are really popular and I want something different.

[Bike Chick]

Fit is most important to me but color is important too. I love bright, vivid colors on a bike. My last road bike was a gray carbon trek. Great bike but very, very blah. I brightened it up as best I could with bar tape and bag but there is only so much you can do short of a powdercoat. When I got my Luna, picking the color was important to me. I wanted it to be purple and white but it had to be the right color of purple. It cost more but it was worth it to me.

I test rode a Surly LHT last week and while it rode great, I couldn't get past the olive drab green color. I ruled it out immediately because of the color. I won't consider the flowery, girlie bikes either.

[shootingstar]

Colour: hmmmm if I had money to have it custom painted to shade I wanted.

In the end, the fit is most important and deciding factor for buying my bike.

[Kiwi Stoker]

Bike colours and graphics are one of the biggest headaches for bike manufacturers. I remember watching the graphics team slave for 4-5 months over designs. Often they would have to submit 3 different designs for the more "out there" bikes like the urban BMXs, the team bikes etc.

They would sit there pouring over the photos they took at Eurobike and Interbike, going through the "colours of the year" magazines from Pantone etc as well as have the whole company walk by and give their two cents.

Then the dealers were asked to go over the product managers picks and more changes were done.

Graphics were often put on the bikes up in China and pics sent back and then more changes done.

The graphics guys would be printing out and wrapping blank frames just to get the graphics just right. The new tubes shapes do make their lives hard.

In all it took 4-5 months for 3 designers fulltime to do graphics for over 150 models of bikes. The there was a 4 month rest before they started the whole process all over again!

[zoom-zoom]

It really matters. I really dislike girly colors and head towards the super saturated ones. I love really vivid greens, reds, and blues. I went with a black bike since orange was available and have accessorized it with orange. Next color will be grass green. I don't mind the black, red, and white combinations but they are really popular and I want something different.

This is my feeling, too. Girly is OK as long as it's not pink or pastel. My bike has a semi-girly color, but it's an intense, bright jewel tone. Since my next bike may be unisex (my proportions lean towards the long-torso/short inseam) I'm inclined to go with black/white/gray. There are too many black/white/red bikes right now and I like something that stands out a little.

[maillotpois]

Do I care about the paint scheme?

Yes.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/maillotpois/DSC01752.jpg

[Bike Chick]

That's such a cool bike, maillotpois!

[Chile Pepper]

I didn't think I cared, until I bought my current bike. I always thought it looked kind of dull (it's almost all black), so when I had to change the handlebar tape recently, I went with yellow and also added a yellow seat bag. It's amazing how much those two little changes played up the subtle yellow stripe on the frame. Even more surprising is how much more I like my bike now that it looks just a little snazzy. I wouldn't want anything too bright or girly or attention grabbing, but apparently I do prefer a little bit of style.

[MomOnBike]

It's not really too surprising that people care about the paint/accessory color on their bikes. After all, the bike is a public statement of who you are. Your public face, if you will. It really is best to get the public statement lined up with reality. You are uncomfortable otherwise.

[Lesley_x]

It's not really too surprising that people care about the paint/accessory color on their bikes. After all, the bike is a public statement of who you are. Your pubic face, if you will. It really is best to get the public statement lined up with reality. You are uncomfortable otherwise.

I hate to be immature but I did giggle at the typo in your post... :p

[roadie gal]

I really don't care about the color, except that I would find it hard to even consider a pink bike. I would assume by the girly colors that it just wasn't made very well and that the color was a gimmick to get women to buy the bike.

[Owlie]

Yeah, I know the fit and component specs are important, but if I didn't have a color choice, I'd find it really hard to get past, say, a Pepto-Bismol pink frame. I hate pink. I'm not a girly girl. I want to like to look at my bike. I look at it like picking clothing. If, however, I could only find what I wanted on a bike with a pink frame, I'd get the sucker powdercoated as soon as I could!

[sfa]

Yes, I care about the paint scheme, but it isn't critical. And fortunately I like pretty much every color out there, so I could probably reconcile myself to any bike.

I'd tend to avoid black because there's just nothing interesting about a black bike to me. And while I like blue bikes, I have two of them and wouldn't want a third. Boring. I have nothing against white or beige either, but probably would choose another color over them if I had the choice.

Pink? Eh. Doesn't do much for me, but I don't hate it. Could be fun for a cruiser with a cute basket.

I dream of a fast bike in red or orange or lime green.

[ny biker]

I hate to be immature but I did giggle at the typo in your post... :p

This is why you can never rely on spellcheck...as my friend learned back in grad school while writing a paper for a course on "pubic relations"...

[zoom-zoom]

I dream of a fast bike in red or orange or lime green.

Me too...*sigh* That damned n+1 bike thing is a real curse. How is it that my bike is only ~8 months old and I am already lusting after something a bit more performance-oriented and flashy? :p

[TrekTheKaty]

I also lean towards a bike that is visible. Never heard anyone mention it may be easier for traffic to see you if you are on bright yellow, but I think it is. Certain colors blend into the background more than others.

Of course, if someone is texting, doesn't matter much.

I'd buy a neon yellow bike :D

[malkin]

I hate to be immature but I did giggle at the typo in your post... :p

Years ago, a roller skating acquaintance was selling tickets to a fundraiser at the local rink--you know, fancy skating demo, followed by by open skating for everyone. The poor guy was completely humiliated when I howled in laughter at the tickets for the "Pubic Skate."

They must have special skates for that, right?

[kfergos]

I care, but I don't let it influence whether I buy the bike or not. It can be tough to find a bike that fits well and has the components the way you want; adding color pickiness into the mix could make it impossible. I wouldn't not purchase a bike just because I thought it was ugly. In fact, I rode a red bike for a long time that I just wasn't wild about.

Of course, when I bought my latest bike, I specifically asked for it totally unpainted, so I guess looks *do* matter... :p So I guess if you thought it was totally hideous and the ugliest thing you'd ever seen, that's one thing. Mild dislike for the color wouldn't stop me from buying a bike that rode like a dream.

[sundial]

I'm picky if I have a choice of color. If not, well....:rolleyes:
One of my bikes comes in the color Fun Guy Green. ;)