Dear Bike Companies:

[mary9761]

I understand what Meg is talking about. I absolutely fell in love with Pele (the Lava Red 2006 Trek Pilot 1.2 WSD that I wanted to get). When the 2007 WSD's came out they were Mineral Blue NOT my color. The color has somewhat grown on me and if I was to end up getting one this year, she's told me her name is Lady Ice, but it's just not the same as that Fiery Red! When the new catalog came out and I saw the color, I said to Jimmy, that's a ***** colored bike! (not that there's anything wrong with those who LIKE those pastel colors) I just wanted something BOLD and Pele was ready to burn up the road!

[mimitabby]

I understand what Meg is talking about. I absolutely fell in love with Pele (the Lava Red 2006 Trek Pilot 1.2 WSD that I wanted to get). When the 2007 WSD's came out they were Mineral Blue NOT my color. The color has somewhat grown on me and if I was to end up getting one this year, she's told me her name is Lady Ice, but it's just not the same as that Fiery Red! When the new catalog came out and I saw the color, I said to Jimmy, that's a ***** colored bike! (not that there's anything wrong with those who LIKE those pastel colors) I just wanted something BOLD and Pele was ready to burn up the road!

Perhaps as more of us vocal ladies are buying bikes, they will listen..

[northstar]

Last year when I bought my hybrid, the only one they had in my size was black. The salesguy assumed that I would want a different color, so he knocked some $ off the price. When I told him that color really didn't matter to me, he practically high fived me!

I think the only color I just couldn't go with would be pink (not that I haven't seen lots of hot looking pink bikes here...it just doesn't suit my personality).

[Deanna]

What it comes down to is marketing. A line of WSD bikes (or any new product) is a big investment for a company, market research and surveys of the target market probably led to the color choices. They're not going to invest a lot of money without doing at least some of this research. It's just not feasible to make bikes in every color somebody could possibly want, so they'll go with the color their studies show would be the most popular. My suggestion is to find a good frame painter and customize to your hearts content.

[Trek420]

Yep, decorate to your hearts content. Don't pick based on color, although it can be hard to ignore a bike in your favorite or or pick your least favorite color. Find the bike that rides and fits you best. Don't let marketing dictate the way it looks, have fun making it yours. .

Even valve caps come in custom colors so whether it's too pink or not pink enough or.....

Now here's a macho/macha bike, even the logo is tough

http://www.anvilbikes.com/gallery/de...hp?image_id=19

[colby]

My first "gear bike" was this awesome blue metallic color, like a royal blue (very similar to the blue in the base of the flames in that picture). I can still see the color, and remember touching up the paint whenever there was a scratch.

My first (current) road bike is green, which I don't mind, but it's a little pastely for my tastes. It also has the requisite flowers on it, which I could do without. Needless to say, my dad has the mens/unisex version of the same components, and it's not pastel green with flowers -- it's actually ORANGE. This year's model of the same bike is yellow. Still pretty neutral, but still with flowers.

As I said with my snowboard boots (that have pink on them), I'm "man enough" to take it.

[xeney]

I guess I'm not understanding the complaint, really. It's hard to find a bike that fits, that has the components you want, that rides well. My husband's road bike is not the color he'd have chosen had he gone custom, and neither is mine. The women's specific bikes I've test-ridden were dark red, dark purple, medium yellow, and black with pink flames. The WSD bike I lust after is deep red. (There is a pink titanium bike I like a whole lot, but part of the reason I like it is that it's so unusual looking.)

I guess I just haven't seen this sea of pastels, or at least I haven't noticed that men have a whole lot more choice except that they have more bikes to choose from in the first place. And really, that's what I'd rather see, a wider range of fits and sizes, in lots of colors.

But I do agree about the Terry bikes; I think they are really hideous. But that's not about color so much as it is about the busy patterns that look like grandma's curtains to me.

[Veronica]

So send your bike off to Joe Bell and get it painted.

V.

[jobob]

Yep, that's precisely what I would have done, had I not liked the color of my Riv.

She's actually due for a paint job, and I might even keep her the same color...

[Velobambina]

So send your bike off to Joe Bell and get it painted.

V.

Amen (from the proud owner and frequent rider of two fast pink Lunas)

[GLC1968]

Can I just say that everyones PERCEPTION of what colors are girly kills me?

Move to North Carolina and try to tell ANYONE that light blue is a girly color...you'll get your block knocked off in half a heartbeat. Carolina Blue is 'girly'?...ha, ha, ha, I don't think so.

Funny thing is, I bought my goregous, rides like a dream, fits like a glove Terry Isis in spite of the color. I liked the swirl pattern and the silver colors of the new bikes, but I didn't particularly like the light blue on the previous years model. But, I knew better than to pass up the deal on a titanium bike that would actually fit me. I get MORE compliments on that bike...both for its components/features as for it's colors. And so far, every single person who has lusted after my bike...has been a guy. Seriously, I've had more guys ask "Does Terry make that bike in a size big enough for me?".


So the moral of my story? Go ahead and complain about not seeing the colors YOU want on the bikes you like. But please, stop perpetuating stupid stereo-types. Honestly...not buying a bike becasue the color doesn't suit you is a pretty 'girly' thing to do...is it not?

[crazycanuck]

Ok..I have to agree with Meg.

The next bike I purchase will NOT be PINK or any other wierd colour. I just want a bike that fits and isn't a blech clour. Black will do me just fine thanks.
If i had a lot of $$$ it's possible i'd have Jonsey at Riders Choice here in Perth build me a road bike in simple colours.

I will not ride a green or purple bike. I will not eat green eggs and ham. Sam I am..Oh wait..this isn't a Dr Seuss book..

I don't like flashy colours when it comes to clothes, bikes, cars & hair. Just let me have my black or blue or red items thanks.

C

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

But please, stop perpetuating stupid stereo-types. Honestly...not buying a bike becasue the color doesn't suit you is a pretty 'girly' thing to do...is it not?

No, guys do it all the time. And NOT buying something you don't like if the marketers decide to give you color choices you detest is not 'girly', it's assertive!

[teigyr]

Lots of orange

I have a glaringly orange bike. I am not so much a fan of orange nor am I a fan of festive, which my bike is. It's an Orbea Marmolada. I got this bike not because it looks like the remnants of a smashed pinata but because it is an awesome bike. The bike has personality and I guess I see it like I'd see a person; it is what it is and I love what it is. The bike gets more attention than what I'd like because I'm not the flashy sort but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

That being said...I like simplicity! And I love Celeste! My Bianchi...now THAT is a bike I got due to the color

Dunno. I can see why people don't want to be stereotyped by gender (my bike isn't WSD though) but ride what suits you structurally. And I think the bike color thing goes WAY beyond bike colors because women are expected to like certain things from when we were little on up. I can see being riled - I have my own issues like when people say "lady" instead of woman. Makes me want to go all violent and stuff!

Have got to say though I LOVED that glittery red!!!! Pretty. Very pretty.

[mimitabby]

Lots of orange

I have a glaringly orange bike. I am not so much a fan of orange nor am I a fan of festive, which my bike is. It's an Orbea Marmolada. I got this bike not because it looks like the remnants of a smashed pinata but because it is an awesome bike.
.

Your bike doesn't look like a smashed pinata, it looks more like a Hawaii Postcard

no really, I like it. it's orange.