A Question of Color

[pooks]

You know, if I could change the color of my bike I think I would change it into a dayglo shade. Yellow, maybe? Maybe orange or green. I don't know, but I'm really feeling like the need to be visible is more important than any other safety issue, and a dayglo bike with reflective accents that shine at night is my dream bike.

I wonder if they can powder coat in "dayglo?"

Perhaps dayglo fenders are part of the answer -- easily added to any bike?

I realize many if not most people wouldn't want that option, but it appeals to me. Also, I love this bike, and am sad to know it no longer exists in this state:

http://minuscar.blogspot.com/2006/08/community-and-voluntary-redistribution.html

Even though it's not dayglo, I love the yellow seat, tires and other accents!

So, if you could have your dream-color on a bike, what would it be?

Do you already have it?

(My second choice would be ruby-slipper red, complete with the glitteries!)

[mimitabby]

i'm with you on the dayglow.
My bianchi (which is yellow and navy blue) is goiing into the shop today to get new handlebars. the new tape will be yellow (as in the original equipment)
i also bought yellow fenders for it.

I asked at the bike shop for dayglow handlebar tape but the regular yellow cork was the closest he had to it.

Now as for my favorite colors, my fav color is orange, but a red and black bike, a red and orange bike, even an orange and black bike; that would be really wonderful and someday maybe i'll have a bike that color.
I also favor those dayglow stickers, i had them all over my old bike, i haven't put them on this one yet.

[MomOnBike]

I'm not convinced that painting the bike dayglo would do much to improve its visibility. Really, there isn't much bike there; it's mostly air - unlike, say, a car - which is solid.

You, however, can and should wear something bright. I've been seeing a lot of the Alert Shirts yellow t-shirts on the bike paths here lately, and am impressed with just how visible they are. Ummm, URL: http://alertshirt.com/

If you ride at night (try it, it's great) you need lights. Think Christmas tree, think the guy at Christmas whose Christmas lights dim the lights all over town when he plugs 'em in, think new saloon, think new saloon at Christmas... you get the idea. When I get extra money (??!) I plan on putting these on the bike: http://www.fossilfool.com/down-low-glow.htm

[mimitabby]

If you ride at night (try it, it's great) you need lights. Think Christmas tree, think the guy at Christmas whose Christmas lights dim the lights all over town when he plugs 'em in, think new saloon, think new saloon at Christmas... you get the idea. When I get extra money (??!) I plan on putting these on the bike: http://www.fossilfool.com/down-low-glow.htm

sigh... riding at night..
It's almost dark in the morning when i leave for work already.. so I have to ride in the dark... if i wish to commute for more than 4 months a year.
what a bummer! My husband is trying to help me stay on the road, but at a certain point when it is pitch black out there I will elect to not ride my bike to work until spring..

[pooks]

mimi -- you and I would get along just great -- I love all the color combos you described!

momonbike -- I love those down-low-glows. I mean, they are terrific! They're pricey, though, but boy, are they bright and great! I wonder if I can convince my husband that we absolutely must have them...?

Anybody else got any great light ideas?

Also, what dayglo stickers are you talking about, mimi? I haven't run across those, yet.

[mimitabby]

mimi -- you and I would get along just great -- I love all the color combos you described!


Also, what dayglo stickers are you talking about, mimi? I haven't run across those, yet.
http://www.bikepartsusa.com/view.asp?f_c=accessories&f_c2=Reflectors


these are them. pick your colors!

[Nanci]

Many of the recumbent riders in my area have those Slow Moving Vehicle triangle signs either on the back of their seat or up on a big antenna-thing. They are VERY noticeable!!

[mimitabby]

REI has them too; better pictures!

http://www.rei.com/product/47991571.htm

[pooks]

Many of the recumbent riders in my area have those Slow Moving Vehicle triangle signs either on the back of their seat or up on a big antenna-thing. They are VERY noticeable!!

I think that must have been what we saw on a couple of bikes one night recently. We could see them from quite a distance, but we had no idea what they were until we got close! It's a fairly busy street and I think I would have felt nervous riding on it after dark, anyway, but those things WERE visible.

Thanks for the links, mimi. I think I'll get some!

[Geonz]

I b'lieve the down low glow stuff is *not* waterproof!!!

knog usa has some kewl "bar-end" lights ... tho' I need to get new batteries for them and I need to ductape them in place, I love lights sticking out of my handlebars (which are flat).
Much can be said for reflective tape, too.

[7rider]

I wonder if they can powder coat in "dayglo?"

(snip)

So, if you could have your dream-color on a bike, what would it be?

Do you already have it?



My road bike is unpainted titanium (silver) with grey decals and tires and black handlebar tape. Pretty stealth, nothing girly about it. I want to do something to pretty it up, but I don't know what. I'm thinking about adding something like this:
http://www.terrybicycles.com/detail.html?c=Bike+Parts+%26+Accessories&sc=Biking+Accessories&item_no=75880
- but since I have a 1" Chris King headset, I'd be able to use only the bar ends, I think. Well, at least it would be something...and the magenta flowers, too, as I already have plenty of black!

My commuter is a nice royal blue. Matches my helmet perfectly! :p
No changes wanted there.

The mountain bike is this really cool black that looks purple in some light and some angles, and green in others. Totally funky. Kleins are such eye candy. I just wish it were dirty from use!

Day-glow and screaming bright accessories I leave to my clothes....not to the bike.

[Bad JuJu]

My current bike (tourer) is a deep, metallic, forest green, with tan pinstriping--s/he (neither a manbike nor a WSD girlbike, but more of a pan-sexual bike) is a classic beauty.

But my Bianchi-on-layaway is a different kind of classic beauty--that gorgeous Bianchi celeste, which I've wanted for a long long time.

Can you tell I've got a thing for green? :D

[mimitabby]

green is good. it will contrast nicely with my future orange and black bikes..
:)

[Bad JuJu]

Hey, Mimi, that orange-and-black bike will be great for Halloween! Hang some of that fake spider-web from the handlebars and make yourself up like a witch! :D

[SouthernBelle]

Right now I'm so in love with Black Beauty that I can't imagine her another color.

Although I'm not normally into green, I do like Bianchi celeste.

[Artisan]

So, if you could have your dream-color on a bike, what would it be?

Do you already have it?

(My second choice would be ruby-slipper red, complete with the glitteries!)

Oh, I love the ruby-slipper red and glitters, lol.

I love the mixture of red and orange together, kinda like the tones of the sunset. My bike is a smokey grey color. I love my bike but dream of having my own little sunset someday.

Regina I think those Headset/Bar End Caps are awesome. I can't justify getting those right now to DH, but they will be on my x-mas wish list.

[pooks]

Well, I now know why people end up with several bikes. Only in my case, I don't know enough about them to say, I need a hybrid and a roadie and a fixed gear (whatever that is) and a mixte (whatever that is).

In my case, I know I do love green, think the Bianchi celeste with red tires and such is gorgeous, and I especially love the English racing green that Rivendell has used.

I'd love a bright dayglo something, and the ruby slippers, and ... as I said, I understand why people end up with a bike collection!