Found a bike that fits me...

[Triskeliongirl]

For me, I would rank these qualities in this order: fit, performance, value, color. Its not that I don't think color is important, it is that I am very hard to fit, so if I find a bike that fits me with nice components and a good price, I find that is what makes me fall in love with the bike, and then the paint job grows on me. As Emily said, you can do a lot with accesories, the color of your bar tape, saddle, bags, tires, etc. Even if you don't need to change these things immediatly, you can have a replacement plan. But 'hate' is a strong word, and if you truly hate the color to the point that you think you wouldn't want to ride her, then absolutely don't buy her.

[Fasternow]

Not silly at all!
Having spent two days last week test riding bikes at my local shop, one I tried was a Giant TCR 1w.
The ride was fine and I'd have had to switch out the WSD bars, but the Barbie doll pink killed any hope of that being my bike.
What was Giant thinking?
That was a color I totally hated! There were a two I could have lived with, a mens TCR and OCR.
What I took home last night was a Litespeed Firenze.
And I'm one happy camper!
Fit is everything, but you gotta love your bike, not make do.

SeeJoy

[Kimmyt]

I have a bike that fits wonderfully, but I hate the color of it.

It's teal. Like, the color of cotton candy. Or Barbie clothes. Needless to say, not my color. And the bar tape is silver.

But it rides very nice, and I got it for a steal, so I'm willing to overlook the color. It hasn't kept me off it.

Maybe in the future I'll change the bar tape out to black or something, but for right now I'm too busy riding to pay attention to how my bike looks.

K.

[mimitabby]

what's funny about this thread is that I would love the color of Pascale's bike
or the teal bike that Kimmy just described.
I guess we just need more colors!

[Bikingmomof3]

I just like how my new bike feels under me. I do not pay any attentiion to the color while I am riding her.

[Nokomis]

DH & I had a bike fit done at the beginning of the season. Turns out we were both riding bikes that were too small. He bought a new bike, and I it just so happened that his old bike is the perfect size / fit for me. So, we gave away my bike to a friend... I miss that bike. It was blue, and I was very fond of it.

Now, my 'new' bike is great - it really is a nice bike. But it's Red. And I haven't come to terms with that yet. I don't hate red -but I keep thinking that I miss ol' blue.

Anyone know the cost to get a bike re-painted?

Or maybe we just need to have a swap meet for better color distribution!

[mimitabby]

what are you riding Nokomis? I have a blue bike that I might part with and i like red
(no, not my Bianchi)

[pooks]

It all depends on how difficult you are to fit. If you have reason to believe that you're difficult to fit I would SERIOUSLY consider buying it and having it powder coated in whatever color you love.

If it's just a matter of looking farther, I'd keep looking.

I do think color is important. I don't hate the color of my bike but there are certainly colors I'd prefer. (My bike is blue and white.) I love Rivendell's Coleman Green!

http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/ima...ngreen_400.jpg

[kaybee]

Pascale, I went to the Giant website to look at your bike, and I REALLY like it because it's different. I can just imagine you riding a "girl bike," passing some tough guy going up a hill! If it fits and feels good, who cares what color it is? You might even grow to like it!

KB

[Nanci]

Wow, it's a pretty silvery purple, barely purple at all!

[WrensMom]

No you are not silly for wanting to like the color. I wouldn't even consider the Bianchi Volpe because of that Gang Green color (in contrast to some others here who like it). Fortunately, my Bianchi is the wonderful (to me) celeste color I think that to have something powder coated, you have to strip the old paint off first. Something about powder coating being an electrical charge thing or something. Anyway, if I really didn't like the color of a bike, I would keep looking. Maybe you can find another bike that has very similar geometry in a good color.

[Pascale]

Yeah, on the website it looks barely purple, but it's moreso in person.

Now, custom powdercoating it to the colours I like would be awesome (no idea how much that would cost). I like to ride in my business pro cycling shorts and jerseys (looks really dorky on a comfort bike, but I don't care) and the colours are neon green, white and black - so the purple....eh.....not so good, LOL!

I appreciate all the opinions though, it really helps to know that I'm not alone!!!!

[Bikingmomof3]

Pascale,
My other bike (Giant) is that purple/silver. I liked it. My new bike (Trek) is silver, black, and blue. I have no idea how much it would be to custom paint a bike. I know on the Trek website some bikes can be custom designed-paint job, by you and then ordered. Just a thought.

[RoadRaven]

I'm afraid I have to admit, shame-facedly - that if it was a colour that I truly didn't get along with like lime green, or orange or bright pink... I would have to get it painted or pass it over...

I'm the same with cars and have passed down a couple of good car deals because of colour.

It seems rather precious of me when I write it... but its true...

[DirtDiva]

I am so glad I have the 2005 version of my bike - lovely stealthy black with a bit of sparkle that shows up in the sunshine. The 2006 version is matte-finish, primer paint grey. I do understand that the colour isn't really that important compared to other bying criteria, but it has so much to do with the emotional appeal of a bike!