'Stealth' colour schemes - wtf is going on?????
Discussion
Can someone please explain to me the sudden fascination with 'Stealth' bikes? Matt black on black with black wheels, black bars, stems, seats, seatposts etc etc etc - is it just me or do they make you want to 
?
Emperors new clothes?
I was in my LBS yesterday and they had just taken delivery of 4 x 'dale Nano's - when I said 'yuk - boring' they looked at me as if I had bumped my head! Seriously, £3k on a frame that is 'black'.....?
I am trying to figure out if I am in the minority with enjoying a colourful paint scheme on a bike, as a kid in the 70's/80's I can vividly remember some amazing paint schemes on offer...
Colnago launched the colour scheme for the 2014 C59's last night, 2 of which are 'art deco' and to put it simply are stunning (IMHO), 'specially the blue one.....
http://www.colnago.com/c59-italia/
I also think that the 'stealth' look will age very quickly, 18 months time they will probably look quite dated....
Am I in the minority?, what do the powerfully built director types in the PH massive think??
? Emperors new clothes?
I was in my LBS yesterday and they had just taken delivery of 4 x 'dale Nano's - when I said 'yuk - boring' they looked at me as if I had bumped my head! Seriously, £3k on a frame that is 'black'.....?
I am trying to figure out if I am in the minority with enjoying a colourful paint scheme on a bike, as a kid in the 70's/80's I can vividly remember some amazing paint schemes on offer...
Colnago launched the colour scheme for the 2014 C59's last night, 2 of which are 'art deco' and to put it simply are stunning (IMHO), 'specially the blue one.....
http://www.colnago.com/c59-italia/
I also think that the 'stealth' look will age very quickly, 18 months time they will probably look quite dated....
Am I in the minority?, what do the powerfully built director types in the PH massive think??
It's been steadily falling from grace for a little while now, although I have to say my black on black build did look stunning in the sunshine and got a lot of attention - even from non-cyclists. The other thing is that paint is heavy (a solid white paintjob can add up to 150 grams) and having a frame in the low 600g range makes headline news in the bike world.
My next build will have a bit more colour in it for sure.
My next build will have a bit more colour in it for sure.
There's a fine line when it comes to fashion of bike frame colours.
I remember cruising around on an Emelle something-or-another in the late 80's with day-glow green frame and contrasting day-glow orange forks. I thought it was awesome and even polished it with my Dad's car polish to really bring out the shine!
I then started thinking that the Klein MTB frame colour was awesome, when they did one half one colour and the other half a different colour, so from the side they looked like different colour bikes...and to be fair, I still think that they are 'retro-cool' and would love to own one.
Matt finish and dark colours also seem to be fashionable on cars at the moment. Lost count how many Bentley Continentals, Merc AMG C-class etc I've seen with a matt black / grey finish.
How do you clean a matt finish MTB frame? It'll look decididly second-hand after a handful of muddy rides won't it?
I remember cruising around on an Emelle something-or-another in the late 80's with day-glow green frame and contrasting day-glow orange forks. I thought it was awesome and even polished it with my Dad's car polish to really bring out the shine!
I then started thinking that the Klein MTB frame colour was awesome, when they did one half one colour and the other half a different colour, so from the side they looked like different colour bikes...and to be fair, I still think that they are 'retro-cool' and would love to own one.
Matt finish and dark colours also seem to be fashionable on cars at the moment. Lost count how many Bentley Continentals, Merc AMG C-class etc I've seen with a matt black / grey finish.
How do you clean a matt finish MTB frame? It'll look decididly second-hand after a handful of muddy rides won't it?
Not exactly a new thing is it? I bought my Cannondale in exactly that colour-scheme over 3 years ago.
Looks good when it's clean but very plain once it's dirty. The big advantage is that it doesn't draw unwanted attention when it's locked up places in the way that a more bold colour scheme would.
Looks good when it's clean but very plain once it's dirty. The big advantage is that it doesn't draw unwanted attention when it's locked up places in the way that a more bold colour scheme would.
TwistingMyMelon said:
lol meant visibility , it wouldn't really bother me but can see it being a factor to being seen in low light/at night.
Yes understood visibility. That's why they make reflective strips on clothes and we have lights too. Are black cars more inherently dangerous to drive at night?I think any matt colours look awfull on bikes and cars. It just look like they haven't finished being painted imo. Gloss black frames look nice, as long as it either has no lettering, or if it is white. For a modern frame I think this looks v nice: http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/images/Bianchi-semppr...
and for older: http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/brabande/...
and for older: http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/brabande/...
Edited by thiscocks on Friday 28th June 13:59
Black seemed to be the new Black in Mountain Bikes at the moment, ideally matched to Gold / Kashima suspension parts from Fox. I blame Fox's own marketing stuff, they built a load of bikes with unbranded black frames to highlight their stuff and they looked awesome.
I'm not that fussed about looks, but I for one am very glad that White frames and parts are no long in fashion - WHITE? are you serious, whoever first dragged that bandwagon out has obviously not tried a couple of seasons of riding Wales.
I'm not that fussed about looks, but I for one am very glad that White frames and parts are no long in fashion - WHITE? are you serious, whoever first dragged that bandwagon out has obviously not tried a couple of seasons of riding Wales.
itsnotarace said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
lol meant visibility , it wouldn't really bother me but can see it being a factor to being seen in low light/at night.
Yes understood visibility. That's why they make reflective strips on clothes and we have lights too. Are black cars more inherently dangerous to drive at night?And according to this very reputable and unbiased news source black cars are VERY dangerous at night: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1288457/Bl...
Is this what you mean?
Black frame (with grey lettering), black forks, black bars/stem, black finishing kit/cables, black brake callipers, wheels, saddle. Even down to black Crud Raceguards, although at the moment the bell is 'silver' because that's what the bike shop had in the bin. As soon as I can get a freebie in black, I'll replace it.
If so, I don't think it's all that sudden an obsession. That there is a 2008 GT Avalanche 3.0, and there've been plenty more similar colour schemes in the intervening 5 years. What I find slightly bizarre is the different frame colours for different specifications within a model range, meaning you might like the colour of the base model, but can't have that colour with top end components hung from it. Sad as it sounds, lack of colour choice can make or break a sale for me.
Tastes change too - I loved that 'semi-gloss' finish when I bought the bike, and it gave the impression that it was a 'better' bike than it actually is. Currently, I would not buy that bike new, although I don't dislike it enough that I'm in a hurry to replace it just yet.
Black frame (with grey lettering), black forks, black bars/stem, black finishing kit/cables, black brake callipers, wheels, saddle. Even down to black Crud Raceguards, although at the moment the bell is 'silver' because that's what the bike shop had in the bin. As soon as I can get a freebie in black, I'll replace it.
If so, I don't think it's all that sudden an obsession. That there is a 2008 GT Avalanche 3.0, and there've been plenty more similar colour schemes in the intervening 5 years. What I find slightly bizarre is the different frame colours for different specifications within a model range, meaning you might like the colour of the base model, but can't have that colour with top end components hung from it. Sad as it sounds, lack of colour choice can make or break a sale for me.
Tastes change too - I loved that 'semi-gloss' finish when I bought the bike, and it gave the impression that it was a 'better' bike than it actually is. Currently, I would not buy that bike new, although I don't dislike it enough that I'm in a hurry to replace it just yet.
yellowjack said:
Is this what you mean?
Nope, the bikes I have spied about recently, and bikes in the LBS yesterday were pained in matt black with gloss black logos - no colour at all, whatsoever on the frame or components anywhere (apart from a yellow sticker on the Mavic rims).I didn't mean to be disrespectful to anyone who owns such a bike, so sorry if I was rude in my original post - I guess it is personal preference! Black/gold I have always kinda liked but I think that is harking back to the days of the JPS racing team......even 'naked' carbon looks OK with a gloss finish but no colour at all just looks a bit bland....
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