Please help me make my men's bike look more girly ;)

[Theresse9]

I feel so neurotic. My hybrid was stolen so I started researching new hybrids which lead me to the Trek FX line. Then I came to realize that cause of my tall torso, their men's bikes fit me better. But I didn't feel like having the typical boring men's colors, so I bought a white and red FX 7.5.

What is this...buyer's remorse? It's ridiculous (of me) but I look at it now and all I see is a large boy-child's bike (all that white and red and black) or else a police bike even. Waaaa! It's a long story (which may or may not have to do with my living with my 3 boys, their dad and a male cat!) but I just really want to neuter this puppy (er, okay that sounded terrible).

So I'll include a picture of the bike - and please forgive my superficial tendencies (I know a lot of women could care less how masculine or feminine their bikes look) - and please tell me how you would make this bike look more like a WSD!!! :D

Here are some ideas I have - please let me know if you have better ones or if any of these are particularly bad:

- white fenders instead of black? I've found a pair of modern ones online. Sorta like how this Bianchi has white ones: http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/strada/metropoli/metropoli-acera-dama/

- I found one white mountain rack only I don't know if it'll fit the bike (are most of them universal?):
http://www.axiomgear.com/archive/gear/racks/rear-racks/phoenix-rear/

- Changing the handlebars to something a bit narrower as well as more upright and closer (I did that to my last hybrid and liked it a lot better than the flat mountain bars - comfy as the Treks' are compared to some).

- Here's a good one - haha - how about a metal front basket powder-coated red?: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0063R2B7O/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=A2TE9IQP68MWQU

- A red and pink bell? :o

Ok - that's all I got. Please humor me! Thanks!

[Antaresia]

pink water bottle cages & break cables. That would be a good start. Nice girly bell with a heart on it.

I was passing by a fishing store the other day, and was looking at some of their overly sparkly fabulous lures in the window. IDK how much they cost, but if they're cheap enough I might go back and buy them for bar-end streamers for my mixte.

OH I forgot, Soma makes pink fenders. Yeeeeesssssss
http://www.somafab.com/accessories/fenders

[OakLeaf]

Reflective stickers (http://www.teamestrogen.com/search.ep?keyWords=reflective+stickers&search-form-submit=go)?

[Biciclista]

I have sparkly rhinestone jewels hanging off the back of my saddle. I don't think your bike looks particularly masculine,but stickers, colored waterbottles (and waterbottle cages) and even a saddle cover might help.
White fenders aren't really girly. Streamers??? :D

[smilingcat]

replace the saddle with red and white colored one?

I think your bike is very nice, with fenders and all. Maybe change the color of the fenders. If you have so many men in your house, maybe one of them could remove the fenders, sand off the black, and have it spray painted to a lighter red or even white. Do a multiple thin layer so it would look professional. I'm sure one of them would know someone about spray painting of metal parts.

Then reinstall the fenders.

[lph]

yup, you need glitter. Silver!

[Blueberry]

Pink Fenders?? (http://www.somafab.com/archives/product/eurotrip-fenders-hybrid)

[pinsonp2]

You could also get presta valve caps and stem caps in assorted color from http://purelycustom.com

P2

[WindingRoad]

Paint the rims!!!

[shootingstar]

A purple bike bell or similar reflective tape.

Clearly one of my bikes is masculine, my folding bike which is a grey-brown shade. I know. But really no other colour choices in a set frame.

But it feels good and if your bike feels good when you ride far on it, that beats any look!

[sarahkonamojo]

New saddle in preferred color. And new grips to match saddle.
Red lip/kiss stickers.

[jyyanks]

I would play up the red and white.

Red wheels or spokes, red bell and red saddle bag (which I see you have).

Change your saddle to a white one or for unexpected pop, Terry has a Butterfly in pink and red.

Accessorize with bottle cages. If you introduce another color, then I would do what Muirenn said and make all the accessories that color though it should be a color that works well with red and white :)

[Bethany1]

What would be cool (and I haven't done it yet to my bike) would be to design some vinyl designs for the fender and down the fork. Either some swirls, or floral (but not kiddie) or any other design and adhere them to it. Something that had a center and flowed out from there to the edges of the fenders. For the fork, you'd need something that flowed from the top down.

I have an industrial cutter but I haven't gotten brave enough to try it out on a bike. I'd like butterflies on mine with flourishes but sizing and finding the right butterfly has been hard as everything is kiddie or overdone. It might just be better to keep it simple in turquoise blue racing stripes.

I have plans to do my Sirrus frame in the color of my tires (turquoise blue) and silver/gray in either a matte or a pearlized vinyl if it exists. I just need to find the right colors and matching up vinyl online is hard. I just don't know if it would look tacky and homemade if I did.

[rubysoho]

red, black and white... what about a Ladybug theme?

http://www.kikkerland.com/images/winsol/BB12_520x400.jpg

[Owlie]

That bell is adorable.

How different we all are! I would love a red-black-white bike, since red is my favorite color. Alas, they don't exist in entry-to-mid-level WSD frames most of the time.

Accessorizing your bike in coordinating colors, as others have said, is probably the best way to "girlify" your bike--most guys would probably just go for black everything. Personally, I'd go with red and white, unless you hate red--those are easy colors to match and lots of things exist in those colors. A red saddle bag (the one Muirenn linked to looks fun!), perhaps, and those heart cog reflective stickers are cute. White or red bottle cages?

Remember, red ones go faster!

[withm]

Remember, red ones go faster!

Oh, you took the words right out of my mouth. :)

[jyyanks]

Ok- this post is making me want to spend money!! I really need a painted bike bell - they are too cute to pass up!

[marni]

I would go with red bar tape, a red seat, red bottle cage and handlebar plugs , red bell , rack, and then fashion coordinate my jerseys, sock and shorts accordingly.

I ride a blue trek pilot 5.2 which is a mans bike and the closest I have ever come to doing anything even vaguely stylish, coordinated or girly matching is to insist on blue bar tape and add a silly blue bell. But that is just me, I also wear my hair in a very short buzz and only wear black shorts so I can spit on my hands and wipe my hands off on my legs. I do however love jerseys with orange or orange and other color combinations and a majority of my socks are orange and red so who's to say.

Whichever way you go you willl have fund shopping and accessorizing.

Marni

[Owlie]

What would be cool (and I haven't done it yet to my bike) would be to design some vinyl designs for the fender and down the fork. Either some swirls, or floral (but not kiddie) or any other design and adhere them to it. Something that had a center and flowed out from there to the edges of the fenders. For the fork, you'd need something that flowed from the top down.

I have an industrial cutter but I haven't gotten brave enough to try it out on a bike. I'd like butterflies on mine with flourishes but sizing and finding the right butterfly has been hard as everything is kiddie or overdone. It might just be better to keep it simple in turquoise blue racing stripes.

I have plans to do my Sirrus frame in the color of my tires (turquoise blue) and silver/gray in either a matte or a pearlized vinyl if it exists. I just need to find the right colors and matching up vinyl online is hard. I just don't know if it would look tacky and homemade if I did.

Not to threadjack, but one LBS in this area actually does custom vinyl graphics and powdercoating. Seriously. Is there somewhere in Nebraska that does that?

[channlluv]

I like that red and white Hawaiian print tool bag. I love your new bike!

I also like the ladybug bell.

Roxy

[Annie9]

OMG!!!

You guys (gals) are SO GREAT! Thanks so much for not making me feel like a complete ninny-fool. :rolleyes:

I can't believe this but I just got home and my kids are still up - so I can't type much yet but for now let me just say how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE these ideas! I am sooooo getting that bike seat that's both red and pink. That is actually what I wanted to do to incorporate pink: to have it mixed with red - kinda like traditional valentines colors you know?

Oh and if I didn't say it already - I can return everything/anything cause I have 30 days. I'm trying to talk myself into holding on to the bike (not taking it back due to not getting the color I really wanted which was any version of light blue/sea foam/turquoise I could get - booooo - I've wanted one of those colors for YEARS) but I could certainly take black the black fenders and order the white ones I found online - Planet brand I think it was. I love the idea of powder coating (will have to google locally). Maybe buy an aluminum rear rack and just spray paint it white. I think I really do want to get the red basket I showed you in the first post (link to it). I thought that with a white rear rack would be a great combination...I'm so happy to have all this feedback!

Seeing the black bike w/ orange flowers a.k.a. the "Flower Power" bike (love it) made me realize what this bike's name could be if I added even just a few of those heart stickers. Ready? Drumroll.... "Queen of Hearts." You like? :D

The hand-painted bike bells are just killing me, they're so cute. I have no idea which one to pick! I love them all. the cherries. the strawberries. The flowers that have some red in the centers. The ladybug's cute but yeah a bit too kiddish for my tastes but still adorable (as if the berries aren't kiddish - haha). And more of the bells I"m forgetting right now (I read those posts a few hours ago on my way out!).

I had actually already found and bookmarked that red and pink saddle bag - it's cheap enough that I might get it even if I don't end up liking it. I was concerned it might be too small. I'll go look at the animal print one again too.

You're right - this is getting kind of fun! :) But only cause you're helping me!!

More later and thanks so much...

[Annie9]

p.s. and thanks so much for liking the bike. I think if done right - not overdoing it but just a few little things here and there - it could send out the message that it's a WSD bike and some may not even consider that it ever wasn't. ;)

[Theresse]

Thank you - and also for that link to the fenders! I worry pink parts on their own (cables and cages) might not be subtle enough...that it'll look like a boy's bike that I'm trying to make look like a girl's bike - hahaha (oh YEAH - that IS what I'm doing)! ;) I was thinking - though admittedly haven't finished thinking it through - if I concentrate more on minimizing the black and maybe adding little touches of pink when coupled with red (e.g. pink and red decor on one item and then maybe on another item with pink and red in it), that the pink won't stand out so awkwardly. Am I over-thinking this just a little? :rolleyes:


pink water bottle cages & break cables. That would be a good start. Nice girly bell with a heart on it.

I was passing by a fishing store the other day, and was looking at some of their overly sparkly fabulous lures in the window. IDK how much they cost, but if they're cheap enough I might go back and buy them for bar-end streamers for my mixte.

OH I forgot, Soma makes pink fenders. Yeeeeesssssss
http://www.somafab.com/accessories/fenders

[lph]

Am I over-thinking this just a little? :rolleyes:

If so - you've come to the right place. Have fun :D

[Theresse]

Thanks Iph! I didn't expect it to be so fun here...but it is. :)

Oh no. Spoke too soon? I just read "this forum requires that you wait 30 seconds between posts." How will I ever write back to everyone at that rate? As it is, there are long waits after I hit the 'submit reply' button. MAN I wish this site were a little more user-friendly. :o

[Theresse]

Love these so much! You can't really see it from the pic but the top of the bike (the bar or whatever it's called) has too much red on it (from the side it doesn't look so bad) and I was thinking one of those white vines might look great on top of it. I wish they had other colors! I don't think I want more black - though a touch of feminine black might also do the trick actually. I also love the heart cog reflectors. :)


Reflective stickers (http://www.teamestrogen.com/search.ep?keyWords=reflective+stickers&search-form-submit=go)?

[ClockworkOrange]

This is beginning to be fun!

Vine reflectors. (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFR_007.html) (Love these!).

Heart Reflectors. (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFR_008.html)

Blue fish. (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFR_003.html)

Paisley. (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFR_004.html)

Peace Cogs. (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFR_012.html)

Heart Cogs. (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFR_009.html)

Argyle Bag. (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodKR_LGBENNY_16.html)

Houndstooth Bag (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodKR_LGBENNY_10.html)

Zebra (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodKR_BENNY_6.html)

KILLER pink cheetah! (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodKR_LGBENNY_22.html)

Red Hawaii (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodKR_LGBENNY_17.html)

Okay. Maybe a little carried away. :)

These are a great idea.

My bike is a man's bike, I inherited it from my son 12 years ago but I would not want it looking girly, I prefer the unisex look.

Look forward to seeing pics of what you do buy for your bike, BTW, I like your ideas in your first post. :)

[rubysoho]

I've needed one for awhile now! The only reason I don't have a cool bell is that at least 5 of them 'speak' to me.

What's a girl to do?


I'm sorry... what's the problem? 5 bells? Seems like one for each day of the week. Actually, I think the REAL problem is you need to find two more bells to cover Saturday and Sunday. :D

[Susan]

My mountainbie is a white and black mens model. I added a white womens-saddle, purple flatbars, limegreen grips, a purple seatclamp and pink valvecaps. I'm thinking about adding colored pedals.
It looks really girly now ;)

[Jo-n-NY]

Great ideas here. I would also accessorize bringing out more red and white. That said your bike of red white & black is very sharp looking. As you can see in my profile those are the colors of my bike and mine is a women't geometry. I have white with some red and black bottle cages on mine, my under seat bag although it is black the ties are red. My husband thought of putting red tape but to be honest I like the bike just as it is. My most recent compliment was that I had a "hot" bike :)

[carolync]

I feel so neurotic. My hybrid was stolen so I started researching new hybrids which lead me to the Trek FX line. Then I came to realize that cause of my tall torso, their men's bikes fit me better. But I didn't feel like having the typical boring men's colors, so I bought a white and red FX 7.5.

What is this...buyer's remorse? It's ridiculous (of me) but I look at it now and all I see is a large boy-child's bike (all that white and red and black) or else a police bike even. Waaaa! It's a long story (which may or may not have to do with my living with my 3 boys, their dad and a male cat!) but I just really want to neuter this puppy (er, okay that sounded terrible).

So I'll include a picture of the bike - and please forgive my superficial tendencies (I know a lot of women could care less how masculine or feminine their bikes look) - and please tell me how you would make this bike look more like a WSD!!! :D

Here are some ideas I have - please let me know if you have better ones or if any of these are particularly bad:

- white fenders instead of black? I've found a pair of modern ones online. Sorta like how this Bianchi has white ones: http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/strada/metropoli/metropoli-acera-dama/

- I found one white mountain rack only I don't know if it'll fit the bike (are most of them universal?):
http://www.axiomgear.com/archive/gear/racks/rear-racks/phoenix-rear/

- Changing the handlebars to something a bit narrower as well as more upright and closer (I did that to my last hybrid and liked it a lot better than the flat mountain bars - comfy as the Treks' are compared to some).

- Here's a good one - haha - how about a metal front basket powder-coated red?: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0063R2B7O/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=A2TE9IQP68MWQU

- A red and pink bell? :o

Ok - that's all I got. Please humor me! Thanks!

I have a black men's 7.3 FX and my best friend told me it looks like a police bike. I hadn't thought about girlying it up until I saw this post. I love the idea of a pink bottle cage.

[GLC1968]

Everyone already gave you great ideas, but I'm here to tell you how awesome that basket you linked in your original post is.

I'm injured right now and I have a knee scooter that I push around my house. I have that same basket (in black) on the front of it and it's really well done. The little rack attaches to your handlebars and your head tube with velcro so it's easy to remove and doesn't damage the paint job. Then the basket itself will lock into the rack by just lowering the handles. When you lift them, it lifts right off. It's really nicely designed.

I wish I'd seen the red one before I got my black one! Super cute!

[chincitop]

Some of the suggestions that you girls have put up have been amazing! I totally agree with the fashion thing. Matching gloves, coordinated helmet, bottles, etc with girly designs, even if you keep to the white and red, would definitely femme her up a bit :) A friend of mine has a bike where they powder coated her rims to match, and it looks pretty good.

Other things: Hints of pinks in gear, handlebar grips/tape, bags, etc

I love the custom bell idea! The ladybug one is so cute!

[murielalex]

I love the custom bell idea! The ladybug one is so cute!


X2

I started looking around at bells after seeing the ladybug and found this page. Lots of cute ones!

http://www.chubbyscruisers.com/shop/category/bicycle-bells-and-horns

[sah]

rhinestone accents! Bell, stem cover, cup holder.

http://cruisercandy.com/bling-bling/

[Theresse]

Hellooooo!

See attached pics... (edit: I forgot to add one of how the bike first looked, so that will be in the next post)

It's been a long time and I just want to thank everyone again for the wonderful suggestions (!!!) and to share pics of my bike now that I've girlified her. Or is it girlified him? I don't know. She's now the "Queen of Hearts." Totally cheeseball name and I really overdid it with the hearts...so I'll probably pull off a sticker or two! What's funny is that when you add the yellow pannier bag/s, the bike shows every color in the actual Queen of Hearts card (white, red, black and yellow).

The first pic is a reminder of what my bike looked like (Trek FX 7.5) when I took HIM home from the shop. To be fair though, the shop did add some things: woman's seat; black fenders, silver mini bike pump; kick stand; cup holder; red saddle bag and mirror. Didn't help - just looked more like a police bike than anything, lol.

Then I added an argyle saddle bag that had red, pink and white colors but it didn't quite work either. Was trying too hard...

Then finally I did the following, the majority of which was thanks to all your advice! Looks so much better, me thinks: changed out the handlebars to ones that fit me better (a bit more upright and not so black - though kept the shifters); got an even cushier seat; went back to a red saddle bag; replaced the break cables with white; added a metal red front basket; white fenders; put on a silver rear rack; added a rhine stone red heart bike bell; added reflective stickers and red heart decorative tire valve caps (and good lights, a silver bottle cage and an iphone clear vinyl handlebar case, though those have nothing to do with girlifying the bike). Last but not least I changed out the 28c Bontrager tires for 32c Panaracer T-serv protex tires which feel AMAZING compared to those skinny hard sons o' beeches that came with the bike. I'm now bouncing along, as happy as can be.

...which is not to say I've gotten over the kidnapping of my '91 Bianchi Advantage hybrid women's bike. Every time I see a bright blue-purple bike go by I have to take a double-take to make sure it's not my beloved stolen bike.

[Theresse]

First pic here - if they don't reverse the order - is of the bike when I first brought it home from the store (after they added a few things to it). Just didn't look right to me! The rest after that are more of the latest photos...

1621116212162131621416215

[goldfinch]

Thanks for the follow up. I love to see how people deck out their bikes. I especially like that red basket.

[Theresse]

Thanks! If memory serves, those baskets come in an array of colors. Yep here they are - Sunlite brand: http://www.chubbyscruisers.com/shop/parts/pack-it/bicycle-baskets

The only problem is that the rear part of the basket scraped paint off my bike where it rubs against it. I had to wrap black tape around that area of the basket to stop the rubbing, only now I hear a squeaking sound from the tape. Ugh! I could put a little bike oil on there but it'll probably loosen the adhesive. I hate to get rid of the basket though - I really like how it's red too.

[IBrakeforPastry]

Your bike looks beautiful! And going back to your first post, I feel somewhat neurotic right now, trying to choose a color for my new bike. The color I thought I wanted suddenly looked kind of masculine, so I've spent a good part of today imagining how to "girlify" it ;) So I laughed, and sighed with relief when I just came across this thread. Thank you! I like that your bike looks "girly" but not too girly (I hope that's what you were going for). Enjoy the ride!

[Theresse]

Your bike looks beautiful! And going back to your first post, I feel somewhat neurotic right now, trying to choose a color for my new bike. The color I thought I wanted suddenly looked kind of masculine, so I've spent a good part of today imagining how to "girlify" it ;) So I laughed, and sighed with relief when I just came across this thread. Thank you! I like that your bike looks "girly" but not too girly (I hope that's what you were going for). Enjoy the ride!

Thank you!! :) Yes I didn't want it to be over the top girly, so I appreciate what you wrote. The color I wanted more than anything (have actually wanted it my whole life, ever since a friend in 7th grade got this color) is a light blue or sort of coastal blue type of color. Basically very close to the 2011 Trek FX 7.3 for women in Coastal Blue. But my torso's too tall for the Trek women's hybrids (which I wanted, after reading enough reviews). So I got the white/red/black Trek in men's only cause it was the least masculine looking of all the men's hybrids! Pretty silly huh?

[IBrakeforPastry]

Nope, not silly at all, at least to me ;) I've been shopping for a bike and I'm afraid I'm going to make a decision based on appearance, and I know better.
My Trek FX was stolen when it was just a few months old, and it took me a couple of years to stop scrutinizing every bike I saw, hoping to find it again.

[missjean]

A frilly skirt and high heels!

J/K :-)

I like the heart sticker on the back.