Proper bicycle accessorizing

**uforgot** · 08-21-2008, 06:17 PM

When I had my Surly built my lbs mentioned that maybe I would like to have the stem and seatpost by the same manufacturer. He couldn't find a silver Ritchey so I went with a silver Thomson stem. When we had our TE garage sale, I traded for a shorter black Thomson stem. Silver seatpost, black stem, definitely not a match. Is there some unwritten bicycle "bling" law that states my seatpost can't be silver if my stem is black? Very easy to switch my seatpost to a black one. They are all over the place. It was several years before I found out that it wasn't cool to keep the reflectors on your wheels.

You know, if this is my biggest problem in life...

**bike4ever** · 08-21-2008, 06:29 PM

Claudia - There is no specific rule regarding matching components on your bike. It is definitely up to the individual. If this is a road bike, I know our road customers are terribly more picky than mountain customers. Everything for roadies has to match. I've always been intentionally mismatched on my bikes. Every bike I've put together for myself, has the face plate on the stem upside down - this drives my mechanics crazy. It also bothers true roadies at which point I just laugh.

**KnottedYet** · 08-21-2008, 06:40 PM

I still have the reflectors on my wheels!

One of my bikes is a vision of matching loveliness. The other harmonizes. The third doesn't even have RIMS or TIRES that match. The fourth and fifth are the way they came from the factory, so they are all matchy. (one still has the dork-disc)

Even my degree of matching doesn't match...

**uforgot** · 08-21-2008, 06:53 PM

I like the idea of driving others nuts. And the upside down face plate? Very funny. I've actually done that a time or two myself. I'm just going to say it was intentional from now on. Oh, and I always leave the dork disk on. I think they look sort of cool on those older bikes. Guess that makes me super dork!

I guess I'm just more curious than anything. I'm always reading on here how this or that isn't cool and I'm always thinking "Hey! I didn't know that!". Then when Dan made a point about the matching stem and seatpost, and then I read somewhere that someone tried to match the brand of handlebars and stem, I realized I was probably committing Surly fashion faux pas all over the place.

**TxDoc** · 08-21-2008, 07:03 PM

I guess it's really personal

You do not have to match anything, but some people like to have everything matching - and I have always been one of them. Usually I pick components to match with each other and with the color of the frame.
But really, it is for pure aesthetic reasons - for sure it's not necessary, and you can happily ride with silver stem and black seatpost and vice-versa

**KnottedYet** · 08-21-2008, 07:10 PM

With the personality of Surly, I've got the feeling there is no such thing as a Surly fashion faux-pas!

We're good to go!

**uforgot** · 08-21-2008, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by KnottedYet

With the personality of Surly, I've got the feeling there is no such thing as a Surly fashion faux-pas!

We're good to go!

Good point! Surly certainly has attitude.

**KnottedYet** · 08-21-2008, 07:36 PM

I ordered a Surly Girly t-shirt (through my beloved LBS) so I can proudly proclaim my Surly attitude!

(it's a really nice shirt, and the Surly logo is understated and tasteful. I get lots of compliments on it from folks who have no idea it's a brand of bike.)

**badgercat** · 08-21-2008, 08:03 PM

I have spoke reflectors AND a dork disk! I win!

Normally, I'm a very matchy-matchy person (I spent several minutes in the bike shop deciding what color bottle cage I wanted--oy vey), but I dunno, black stem and silver seat post sounds cool looking, to me!

I vote that you post a picture. I'll take any excuse to see pictures of TE members' bikes.

**KnottedYet** · 08-21-2008, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by badgercat

I vote that you post a picture. I'll take any excuse to see pictures of TE members' bikes.

Oh, yeah!

**dex** · 08-21-2008, 08:20 PM

I have a tendency to be a little matchy-matchy with my bikes. You should see the quickly growing pile of black, red and white bike stuff in my closet just waiting to be assembled into a bike.

On the other hand, while my commuter bike is pretty color coordinated, it's also still rolling around with dork disc, wheel reflectors, and front and rear reflectors.

**uforgot** · 08-22-2008, 04:59 AM

Okay, here's a pic. I'm always happy to show her off.

**grey** · 08-22-2008, 05:18 AM

Dork disk???

Is that the plastic frisbee looking thing that's behind the gears on the rear derailler?

**kfergos** · 08-22-2008, 05:20 AM

Originally Posted by uforgot

It was several years before I found out that it wasn't cool to keep the reflectors on your wheels.

It's NOT?!!

And I only just removed my pie plate (or "dork disk" -- nice alliteration there) after it somehow broke and was rattling when I rode. Makes me a dork too, I guess...

**7rider** · 08-22-2008, 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by uforgot

Okay, here's a pic.

Ooooooo!!! My eyes....my EYES!!!!

Just kidding!

Looks fine. You've got the silver spacer on the stem.....tell folks that's your transition point for blending the whole "look" together.

(That said...I'd probably look to match the handlebar tape to that saddle....but that's just me!)

p.s. That is an itty-bitty rear rack. What can you put on that thing?

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