Black bike, yellow stem?

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Alexandrumarian
Posts: 795
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2016 6:34 pm
Location: Romania

by Alexandrumarian

Recently put together the attached bike. I always liked very dark bikes in photos but now in real I think it is a bit bleak.
The dark blue tape is leftover from previous frame.
Plan is to get black tape and stitch it with yellow thread (I have a sewing machine) to match the yellow lines on the frame. These lines are a bit more lively in real, photos are taken in bad light. I always loved the looks of middle stitched tape.
Second option would be white tape (would match the bold frame logos) and third option, yellow tape.

All this yellow theme will be further matched by gumwall tires once I wear through the current black ones.

More important, I need a new stem. I had my eyes on the Ritchey superlogic and found an yellow version at a 30e discount, which is not to be ignored. It is a striking thing and I have a hard time deciding if I will hate it or love it. Worst part is my wife will know :)

Attached two bikes off the net.

Thanks for any suggestions!
Attachments
b1.jpg
b2.jpg
b3.jpg
b4.jpg

by Weenie


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User avatar
kkibbler
Posts: 905
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 9:30 am

by kkibbler

Bike in 3rd pic looks alright. It’s all about execution and the final package.

Black tape with yellow stitching should look good, too.

Is there a question here?

Alexandrumarian
Posts: 795
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2016 6:34 pm
Location: Romania

by Alexandrumarian

Thanks. I guess the question is would the yellow stem look gaudy?

JackRussellRacing
Posts: 243
Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2016 4:32 pm
Location: USA

by JackRussellRacing

I think if you have to ask, then you probably already know the answer. 30€ (to me) isn't a compelling reason to make an aesthetic compromise you'll be looking at for a few years.

RTW
in the industry
Posts: 3756
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2005 2:32 pm

by RTW

Buy the stem, and some sandpaper. Rough it up a bit, then spray it mat black. I did this to a Ritchey stem, which was wet gloss and looked out of place. Looked great.

Actually, buy the yellow stem and keep it.

Get yellow shoes and helmet too.

jorryt
Posts: 124
Joined: Tue Jul 11, 2017 10:37 am

by jorryt

Go with the yellow stem. You need some colour in your life!

tomycs
Posts: 90
Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:06 pm

by tomycs

If you like it, keep it. With Mavic in cycling you'll never be short of yellow bits (on you or the bike). You could also move to a town where local team colours are black and yellow :-)

Martin.dk
Posts: 203
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:35 pm
Location: Denmark/Herning

by Martin.dk

Use the yellow stem :thumbup:

I applaud everything that takes us a little bit away from Stealth bikes, and have a serious addiction to Flourescent yellow :oops:

/Martin
Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez wrote:Ohh okay! I just knew "plug" was something to put inside a hole... yikes

bilwit
Posts: 1526
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2016 5:49 am
Location: Seattle, WA

by bilwit

I dig it. Would look good with the yellow decal on the bike already. Looks particularly good on the stealth bike example, really stands out.

AJS914
Posts: 5397
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:52 pm

by AJS914

Yellow stem - no, big mistake!

At least it's easy to undo! :D

2old4this
Posts: 366
Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2014 7:26 am

by 2old4this

jorryt wrote:Go with the yellow stem. You need some colour in your life!


I agree :-)

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AmELerXy0Rtoh9svsGo9Gv5UgifEFQ

RussellS
Posts: 916
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 1:31 am

by RussellS

No on the yellow stem. Even with yellow decals it will look odd standing out against everything else black. Yellow stem is only good if its on a yellow frame with a few black bits tossed in for contrast. Think about tigers, the cat. They are mostly yellow/orange with some black or maybe 50/50 black/yellow. They are not mostly black with a little yellow. Tigers look good to me the way they are colored. Half-half or most yellow with some black. Contrasting colors look good if its all light with a small dark. Don't look good if its mostly dark with some light color contrast. No on the white bar tape. I have some on one bike. Does not look good after awhile. Dirty. If you are a pro and have a mechanic changing tape every other ride, then its good. Pros can use white tape and make it look good. Everyone else, stay away.

AJS914
Posts: 5397
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:52 pm

by AJS914

2old4this wrote:
jorryt wrote:Go with the yellow stem. You need some colour in your life!


I agree :-)

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AmELerXy0Rtoh9svsGo9Gv5UgifEFQ



I like your bar tape! That really works at complementing the small bits of color on the bike.

sp3000
Posts: 180
Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2014 7:12 am
Location: Sydney

by sp3000

For me no, stands out too much not in a good way.. It reminds me of the leaders bikes in the TDF when they dress up in yellow and usually look terrible!

But it's such a subjective thing and the price is functional, so up to your eyes my friend!

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

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2old4this
Posts: 366
Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2014 7:26 am

by 2old4this

I just got bored with all black bikes. Sometimes it works (I think :noidea:)

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