Over the Top Bling (couldn't live without it)
 

I know I'm not the only one.
Over the top bling you just had to get.
Stuff no normal person would spend money on.
I even had to question my own motivations and sanity.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6fbb662971.jpg

Example: custom stem cap
I spent so much money on my first Bianchi I started calling it the Celeste Devil. My second Bianchi and the Celeste Devil II. Supersonic is in my dreams.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...166e17b905.jpg

Deda stem cap.
Don't remember what I spent on it, but I NEEDED it to finish off my Dedacciai build.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cc5b8bad40.jpg

Over The Top!
Swarovski crystal anodized presta valve stem caps.
Oh yeah baby!
For the original Celeste Devil.
I figured this was it; nothing could top this.

Whattchu got?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f85da973de.jpg


Celeste cable donuts.
I don't even wanna think about how much I paid for these.
Gram for gram maybe my most expensive bicycle purchase.
Ever.

I’m getting a custom bike and I also got a custom head badge. And Paul Brakes. :D. Oh and a wood lined basket.

Crystal adorned valve stem caps?! OMG! That’s some serious blingage. Perhaps a pic or two so we may appreciate The Devil?


-Kedosto
*polishing my copper Oi bell*

My stem cap is a clock. Tbh I only really fitted it, with a superglued thread, to make it harder for someone to steal my forks..

Not diamond valve stem caps, but still a splurge. Spur Cycles bell.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4e0b178b24.jpg

I like the anti-bling stuff.

Cane Creek 110 headset. Better and more expensive than a Chris King, but looks like any other headset.

Brooks Cambium Rubber bar tape. More expensive than Cinelli but with a classier aesthetic.

Zipp Service Course SL stem and handlebar. Cost more than their Thomson equivalents, but don’t have big white lettering all over them.

Honjo/Simworks Brass Fenders. They're sort of ridiculously expensive but also they look like they were made for this bike. They're almost certainly the next most expensive thing on the bike outside of the frame (at least if we are considering the wheels individually rather than as a pair- I built them about a year apart so I think that's fair).

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2f0a80f7e7.jpg

I have selected stem caps and bar tape plugs on my bikes, but they are also on my kid's bikes too. They are something like $10-15 depending, and it was cool for them to pick out what they want.
Hardly over the top bling I couldnt live without, but its certainly something that is not too common. Its an easy way to personalize a bike without much cost and without having it be gaudy like some bar tape can be.

All my bar tape plugs are sugar skulls with anodized color hex bolts. Its simply because I like sugar skulls.

The stem caps on threadless headset bikes vary.
My gravel bike and my oldest daughter's mountain bike have stem caps that are black with white lettering that reads- "Its a magical world, Hobbes ol buddy, lets go exploring".
One of my road bikes and my mountain bike have stem caps with a picture of a Sasquatch.
My oldest daughter's road bike has a red stem cap that matches the paint with a Griffin outlined.
My youngest daughter's mountain bike has a cartoon looking puppy on the cap.

https://live.staticflickr.com/925/28...1f2eaea6_o.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/1809/4...72b81d90_o.jpg

Oh, and I have a custom headbadge on a bike I built in a local class.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f55b91a880.jpg

Should be fun backtracking on a ride looking for them on the side of the road.
Reminds me of the Campagnolo Cobalto "gems" on the brake nuts.

Maybe not "bling", but certainly many would balk at the $62 per tire price tag. Actually, the ride is like bling.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...caa35e7e51.jpg
(not my bike)

Another stem cap fan here.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...75e20ca86b.jpg

Are you in Rhode Island? I swear I have seen this bike before.

I am! Providence, to be precise. I get out a lot so it's pretty likely if you are ever around.

Yes. I spoke to you at Borealis coffee a couple of months ago. Admired your fenders.

Hahahahaha what a small world! Once upon a time my bike was the only one of these (other than the concept model the guys at Norther built) but I think there are a few of them bouncing around the world now- They planned it as a sort of "standard" model and I think have made 5-10 of them at this point. Though, to my knowledge, I'm the only one anywhere near New England!

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2903a8cd6.jpeg
/Thread

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f2da9e8d52.jpg

Bad pic of the original Celeste Devil sans OTT valve stem caps.
Cinelli bars and stem.
Selle Italia seat.
10 speed Centaur and every thing else is Campagnolo.
Where it all started...if you look good you can see them celeste donuts

drillium
that's OTT!

I only used to worry about them when topping off the air.
Out of sight out of mind.
Sort of amazing after all the miles they are still here.

BTW didn't them Delta brakes have some sort of red jewel in them?
Delta brakes, that's some OTT right there.

I see some very nice products in this thread but the brass fenders are about the only over the top bling I see. Fellas need to be upping their bling game.

Next time someone gives me **** for a Rapha jersey I'm going to point them to this thread and tell them to go stuff it.


-Tim-

Those are pretty, but they would drive me insane, because I could not have them not be shiny. I am utterly anal about brass. So much so, that I replaced my brass crane bell with the ‘neo black’ version, because I got so tired of polishing the damned thing. I even polish the brass ferrules on my cables, as well as my head badge. Just looking at this makes me want to grab my polishing stuffs. Very beautiful though.

Your ride screams Adventure in Style. Everything perfect. Congrats!