How important is bike color to you?

[RolliePollie]

I've been bike shopping for a few months and it looks like I'll be getting a 2009 Felt. I have a great connection for an awesome price. So they just put up the new 2009 website and unfortunately, I really dislike the color on the bike that would work best for my budget (they don't have prices posted yet, but I'm trying to estimate based on last year's pricing). What do you think of this color combo?

http://www.feltracing.com/09-catalog...9-zw3-int.aspx

I don't know about that gold...it's just not me. I hate to let bike color influence my decision too much, but if I'm going to spend a good chunk of change on a bike that I plan to ride for several years, then I want to LOVE the color!!! Am I being petty? Or will I learn to love a new bike no matter what color it is?

[NbyNW]

I like the B&G combination, but it's just a personal bias. (GO STEELERS!)

It looks like an awesome bike. Look at those 650c wheels! Woohoo!

Years ago when I bought my mountain bike I decided to sleep on it for ONE night. The next day when I went back to buy the bike the really cool color I wanted had been sold. The only other bike they had in my size was the same model but was a horrible color. The color was called "citrus green" but it was more like a pissy metallic Gatorade yellow.

I was less than enthused about the color, but I bought the bike anyway.

I fell in love with the bike the first time I took it out for a ride.

That bike is still with me 10 years later, and although it's been more of a utility bike recently, I still love this bike, warts & all. I love how ugly the color is and how out-of-style the geometry is. And good lord it is heavy! This essentially means that the bike is theft-proof, which is very important to me these days.

If I ever decide to get another bike I'm gonna buy the ugliest thing I can find. .

[Miranda]

I like the B&G combination, but it's just a personal bias. (GO STEELERS!)

It looks like an awesome bike. Look at those 650c wheels! Woohoo!

Years ago when I bought my mountain bike I decided to sleep on it for ONE night. The next day when I went back to buy the bike the really cool color I wanted had been sold. The only other bike they had in my size was the same model but was a horrible color. The color was called "citrus green" but it was more like a pissy metallic Gatorade yellow.

I was less than enthused about the color, but I bought the bike anyway.

I fell in love with the bike the first time I took it out for a ride.

That bike is still with me 10 years later, and although it's been more of a utility bike recently, I still love this bike, warts & all. I love how ugly the color is and how out-of-style the geometry is. And good lord it is heavy! This essentially means that the bike is theft-proof, which is very important to me these days.

If I ever decide to get another bike I'm gonna buy the ugliest thing I can find. .

I just had to post seperately about the bomb theft proofness of bikes. That's a funny way to put it, but true. One of my bike buds has a nice new carbon, but rides it only for certain things. He rides his 30somthing old Schwin race/road bike complete w/well broken Brooks in race saddle. To ME it is a gorgeous bike because I know what it really is. To anyone else as he says, "who would want to steal my old bike outta the rack?". Recently I had a theft attempt on one of my new bikes. They only picked mine because of what it was, gheez. I have a very old bike myself I've considered refurbushing that's about like this and heavy as can be... maybe I'll take her on now, vs getting new.

[Miranda]

Just IMHO I don't care for the gold either. It makes the bike "different" which can be good in some ways, but in others maybe not so good. The biggest thing is will you have what I call "eternal buyer's remorse".

I have learned that if I settle for something that is not quite right, then I only continue to lust after what I reaaallllyy wanted until I get it. If you truly are bothered by the color, do you really want to tell your bike story over and over again to people who comment on your bike, "yea, it's a nice bike, BUT, the color is not what I really wanted, etc.". Maybe enough cool comments of people who love the color would change your opinion over time? Now, my own bike color story is this...

When I went to buy my road bike, it came in a misty purple. I loved it, and thought I really wanted it. By the time I ordered it, they had the year end model change, and it was only offered in white/brushed silver/black. At first I was so disappointed. One of my friends said, "omg, who would want a white bike?".

Well, the shop owner's wife pointed out to me that having neutral colors would not limit my choices so much if I wanted to match my riding outfits to my bike. Yes, I know this is a vain roadie school of thought, but it is what it is. NOW, I am so glad I have the white bike. It still looks very feminine, but clean looking. I never have to think about what colors to match it... everything goes. I've been saddle/pedal shopping lately and I'm having a really hard time chosing things that have a tinge of color accent to them because it messes up my whole clean bike theme.

[uforgot]

I like the gold. It looks like an old gold not a screaming gold, but like everyone else says, it's a personal choice. I like my bike to be different. I don't want to see it every time I go on a ride. That's what really bugs me about color choices. Pyannyplayer had her bike painted after she had it for a year. You could think about that too! You definitely wouldn't see your bike again.

Can they get the 2008 for you? I know a lot of suppliers ran out...or maybe save save save and get the next step up? Personally, if I didn't like the color, and didn't want to get it painted, I wouldn't get it because I've done that and I was unhappy. I kept seeing bikes I liked better. It's obviously important to you too. Maybe you could ride other bikes until you find your true love? There is more than one bike that will fit you ya know!

Edit: By the way, bikes went way up in 2009. Are you sure about the pricing? There have been several threads about it.
another edit: Have you ridden that bike? That top tube (545) seems kind of long for a 50cm women's specific bike.

[sundial]

I do let color influence my choice. I start with a budget and shop for the right color.

[ilima]

Color is nice, but I could live with a color I wasn't totally ga-ga over if I got a nice deal.

And there are aftermarket bike painters. If in a year or two you still don't like the gold accents, have the frame repainted.

[lph]

I have one bike I LOVE the colour of, one I like pretty much, and one which is really ugly. I use the ugly one every day and am kinda charmed by the thought that it looks awful but works so well. I see your point but I think you'll like it anyway, and if not you can get it repainted any colour you choose.

[TrekTheKaty]

I understand! The first two bikes I tried, I not only disliked, they were UGLY--black and silver, and black and pink!

When I rode my "Lightning," I didn't dislike the color, but didn't love it either. I bought it anyway and it has grown on me. Now my husband wants to paint his bike to match!

I agree-sleep on it--if you don't love it, don't buy it!

(Do people ever repaint bikes? Is that too expensive? My DH's is black carbon fiber, so he is going to paint white stripes over the top.)

[SouthernBelle]

I hafta admit, I really like the colors of that bike. What I don't like is the gigantic logo. When you actually look at the colors, there is not that much gold on there. & half of the white is the logo.

Admittedly, I have been coveting my neighbor's grandson's vintage Trek in an antique sort of gold.

[ASammy1]

I am going to have to agree on the logo...

[Zen]

How much would it cost to paint the frame?

[Running Mommy]

not that it matters now... But the zw3 retails for 21-2200.00
I'm a felt dealer as well.
Felt is currently out of road bikes. The last I called them they told me no bikes till the end of September. I've pretty much given up calling them for availability.

As for color, must be something in the air this year. Giants Avail 3 is gold and white. They also have a lot of orange throughout their line this year??

[ridebikeme]

I suppose in the real world, you are the only one that can answer that question. As others have mentioned, the 2009 bikes are on their way and of course prices will be significantly higher... maybe that will be another factor in your decision. Color schemes for these bikes are all over the place.. from brights to some more subdued... depends on the line. But like most everything, everything happens in cycles and color choices have always followed suit.

Good luck in your search ... it's a fun time to be buying a new bike!!

[RolliePollie]

not that it matters now... But the zw3 retails for 21-2200.00
I'm a felt dealer as well.
Felt is currently out of road bikes. The last I called them they told me no bikes till the end of September. I've pretty much given up calling them for availability.

As for color, must be something in the air this year. Giants Avail 3 is gold and white. They also have a lot of orange throughout their line this year??

Ooooh, maybe can you please tell me the prices for the ZW2 and the ZW25 too? I was estimating around $2,200 for the ZW3...since the ZW2 has Dura-Ace, I'm imagining it's quite a bit more. I was hoping they would be offering an Ultegra equipped bike...carbon with Ultegra or maybe even the aluminum/carbon with Ultegra like the 2008 FW25. For some reason, I kind of like the green ZW25. And the black/blue on the ZW2 is much nicer than the gold on the ZW3. I wish I wasn't so picky...I guess they can't possibly please everyone!