Matching gear/bike/clothing...

[GLC1968]

In my non-bike life, I have always despised the 'matchy-matchy' look. I like things to coordinate (or not clash) but I've always been careful to avoid super matching things. For example, when I bought ski gear, I usually picked out black accessories so that I wouldn't look like I was trying to make it all match and yet it would all still look decent together. I even refuse to wear jewelry sets. I like my jewelry to coordinate...but I hate when my earings exactly match my necklace (or any other pieces of jewelry).

Why is it that I find myself enjoying those days where my jersey happens to match my bike? Why did I just pick out a new jacket this weekend in light blue to go with my new bike? Why did I feel the need to replace perfectly good gloves with ones that matched my bike?

Does anyone else find this happening to themselves? Am I becoming a matching freak? I still don't like matching jewelry, so my guess is this is unique to the bike. Tell me I'm not the only one!

[suzieqtwa]

I also buy things that match my bike...right now I'm have a red hybrid ,so I have a red helmet , red and black socks...etc. My new bike is black ,so I will have to buy a black Hemet although my red one is in perfect shape. Lucky for me this new bike will be black ,so I can wear any color.

[Bluetree]

I might have gone over to the Dark Side and become One with my bike, except for one thing... My bike is slate blue and if I wore a matching kit, I would be practically invisible in the early morning fog. The marine layer can be pretty thick near the beach.

Although... I am guilty of completely outfitting myself in Castelli/Specialized Red when I ride, helmet, socks and all. I am after all, an Aries.

[Kimmyt]

I'm like you with the matching. All of my ski gear (skis included) is black or gray. I just got a jacket that is a dusty blue, and all my base layers are odd colors, but basically I don't focus on matching.

With cycling, I've been saved because I don't have much money to spend on clothing. I tend to buy what's on sale, and if I matched my bike, I'd look lik ea barbie doll (my bike is teal and silver! ugh!). Right now most of my stuff is red, which doesn't really go with the bike, but I enjoy the disparity of the colors. I also have an orange shirt with pretty much clashes (in a good way) with the frame color.

The closest I've gotten to considering matching gear is that I do find myself tempted to buy a pink jersey, just because pink and teal is soooo Jem!

[SouthernBelle]

Since I got Black Beauty, which has orange and white trim, I'm all about orange. This is convenient becuase I can wear my vols stuff. I bought an orange rain jacket yesterday. My orange tires should be in next week. I practically had to tear myself away from an orange and black Shebeest jersey yesterday. I'm so ashamed

[Bad JuJu]

I dislike the matchy-matchy look, too, but I do like things that coordinate somehow. For example, since my Bianchi is the celeste color, I tend to get cycling tops in shades of green or teal. On the other hand, my jacket is super-visible yellow and my helmet is in Giro's White Camo pattern. So maybe I don't coordinate that well after all. But hey, you've gotta be visible!

[GLC1968]

Ok, so now I need opinions...

I have this bike:

(except that the bottle cages are now white and the bottles are blue!)

I'm in the market for a new helmet. The one I have fits me, but it looks HUGE on my head. I've found a style that still fits well, but is a bit more streamlined on the outside. Question is..what color?

I like the silver combo or the basic white...


But I also like this blue. Is the blue too much? (I'm kind of thinking it is, but yet I still like the helmet...)



(The blue of the bike is not quite as turquoise-y as it looks in the photo, it's pretty close to the color of the blue helmet)

[Aint Doody]

Get the blue one. Your bike is gorgeous!

[sbctwin]

Go for the blue...by the way, what helmet is that. I have a baby blue bike that would go nice with...Oh my gosh, I am trying to match ....

[run it, ride it]

My favourite colours are blue, black and silver.

Ended up with two blue bikes and a silver horse, purely out of coincidence. I don't try to match--it just happens. Neither the bikes nor the horse seem to care.

Pick whatever colours make you feel good! No shame in matching.

GLC1968: get the blue helmet!

[emily_in_nc]

I too am a matching fool when it comes to bike gear (but no other sports gear or daily life either!) I have my black raspberry Aegis, so for awhile, everything I bought had to have a touch of that in it or at least not clash with it. Then I got my white Bike Friday with blue handlebar tape, so everything had to have blue in it. That worked out well when I got my mountain bike this summer, as it is silver (polished aluminum) with a bright blue fork (same color as my Bike Friday handlebar tape), so all the blue gear I'd accumulated works. Still, I've managed to buy a couple more blue or part-blue jerseys since then!

I like either the light blue or the white helmet with your pretty Terry!

Emily

[Bikingmomof3]

My vote is the blue helmet. It will go nicely with your beautiful bike.

[Triskeliongirl]

As you know I have the same bike, and my helmet is a blue to silver fade so I didn't have to choose! Yes, most of my clothes are blue and silver too, as is my *other* bike, thank goodness. If I were you I'd go with the silver. When your white handlebar tape gets too dirty, you can replace it with silver. Deda makes a pretty one. I used it for a while, but then swithced to black cuz I like the cush of the black deda gel tape more than the silver. I was actually stupid enough to buy a blue jacket instead of yellow to match my bike, but wish now I had yellow for visiblity.

[GLC1968]

Go for the blue...by the way, what helmet is that. I have a baby blue bike that would go nice with...Oh my gosh, I am trying to match ....

The blue one is a Giant Athena...the white and silver ones are Giant Ares.


Thanks for all the opinions, all! Keep 'em coming!!

(and in case anyone is wondering, my commuter is a light silver...so anything goes with it!)

[tattiefritter]

My bikes and their components coordinate quite well but not me, oh no. Total scruffbag I am! Most of my shorts/tights are black so no problems there and there is quite a preponderance of blue (my bikes are grey, black or green/black) around but I tend to grab the first thing to hand to wear - in the autumn I could be wearing a particularly fetching bright orange top with bright blue gilet (vest). I buy a lot of stuff in sales etc.

I do the same with my running kit - my favourite top is shocking pink (unusual for me) and I remember wearing it with another bright blue gilet and black knicker tights with lime green areas on them and blue socks. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror with my crimson face clashing with my top thinking - what a mess girl!

I've never been good at the matching look.