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Mixing brands with your riding gear?

Old 09-02-15, 09:02 PM
  #1  
ShaneHanchey
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Mixing brands with your riding gear?

I feel like this question is a bit elementary, but what is everyone's opinion on mixing brand when it comes to your kit? Not so much in terms of matching things like jersey and bib short brands...but more along the lines of gear that is made by bike manufacturers and the like. For instance, would you buy a helmet from Specialized when riding your Ridley, etc? I bought a Bontrager helmet about a month ago because I needed one quick and liked it the most out of what my LBS had to offer, but I ride a Giant and it seems Bontrager is generally associated with Trek.

I support and agree with whole idea that its really up to what you like...but lets face it, someone in the crowd is undoubtedly judging you and who wants to be the poor fellow everyone is pointing at and snickering about. I'm a noob in every sense of the word, just trying to hide it from everyone I run across as best I can.

Last edited by ShaneHanchey; 09-02-15 at 09:08 PM.
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Old 09-02-15, 09:12 PM
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Someone may judge you but do you care?
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Old 09-02-15, 09:14 PM
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Someone doesnt like what Im wearing.... too bad.
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Old 09-02-15, 09:23 PM
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de-badge, or buy logo-free items if possible. I don't have a problem with SPD on road for most of it. Visor mtn. bike helmets on a road bike do look really outta place to me though. Hard not to notice all of our goofy stryro-cooler hats and stare at them a bit more than usual.
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Old 09-02-15, 09:24 PM
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I suppose I'm just a bit self concious. I don't worry so much when I'm riding about on my own, but feel during big events like I probably stand out like sore thumb. Just trying to figure out the little faux pas'. Ultimately i reckon everyone started out in the same boat.
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Old 09-02-15, 09:29 PM
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Vive la differance mix it up and embrace the clash.
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Old 09-02-15, 09:50 PM
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I wear a Specialized helmet and don't ride one and I'd expect there are a whole lot of folks who would say the same. Don't think anyone much cares.

OTOH, if you were wearing a jersey boldly emblazoned with a different brand name than you were riding, that might look a little odd.
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Old 09-02-15, 09:52 PM
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If my socks match, its a good day
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Old 09-02-15, 10:02 PM
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I bought my jersey from a bicycle co op for $5. No, it doesn't match.
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Old 09-02-15, 10:04 PM
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Wut?
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Old 09-02-15, 10:22 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by ShaneHanchey
I feel like this question is a bit elementary, but what is everyone's opinion on mixing brand when it comes to your kit? Not so much in terms of matching things like jersey and bib short brands...but more along the lines of gear that is made by bike manufacturers and the like. For instance, would you buy a helmet from Specialized when riding your Ridley, etc? I bought a Bontrager helmet about a month ago because I needed one quick and liked it the most out of what my LBS had to offer, but I ride a Giant and it seems Bontrager is generally associated with Trek.

I support and agree with whole idea that its really up to what you like...but lets face it, someone in the crowd is undoubtedly judging you and who wants to be the poor fellow everyone is pointing at and snickering about. I'm a noob in every sense of the word, just trying to hide it from everyone I run across as best I can.
A Specialized helmet while riding a Ridley? Good god, that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of.

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Old 09-02-15, 10:42 PM
  #12  
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This thread has potential.
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Old 09-02-15, 11:26 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by ShaneHanchey
I feel like this question is a bit elementary, but what is everyone's opinion on mixing brand when it comes to your kit?
So long as I'm not sponsored by a bike company who pays me to use their gear, I don't care about the name painted on my parts & accessories. Use what works for you and don't worry about other peoples' opinions.

Originally Posted by ShaneHanchey
For instance, would you buy a helmet from Specialized when riding your Ridley, etc? I bought a Bontrager helmet about a month ago because I needed one quick and liked it the most out of what my LBS had to offer, but I ride a Giant and it seems Bontrager is generally associated with Trek.
If it's comfy and keeps your head safe, keep using your helmet and don't worry about whose brand name is stamped on it.

As for Trek and Bontrager... Trek bought Keith Bontrager's company in 1995 and continues to use the brand name for their own line of accessories.

Originally Posted by ShaneHanchey
I support and agree with whole idea that its really up to what you like...but lets face it, someone in the crowd is undoubtedly judging you and who wants to be the poor fellow everyone is pointing at and snickering about. I'm a noob in every sense of the word, just trying to hide it from everyone I run across as best I can.
I think you'd probably stand out more if everything DID match. Quite a few of us have multiple bikes from different makers and we generally don't have completely different sets of accessories for each bike.

Last edited by SkyDog75; 09-02-15 at 11:31 PM.
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Old 09-02-15, 11:42 PM
  #14  
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Hmmm... Levis or Lees will go with just about anything
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Old 09-03-15, 12:53 AM
  #15  
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I match my socks and gloves. Usually tires. The rest. I use the best for the job. Cheap shorts to ride into town, good ones that are clean and ready to go for real rides. Makes depend on fit which tends to change as manufactures/distributors change suppliers/styles/cuts etc. I have never purchased a "gruppo' except as furnished on a new complete bike. And the last new complete bike I purchased was in 1977.

My best bike uses DT shifters so compatibility is not an issue. It has a Shimano crankset, Forte LOOK compatible pedals, Dura Ace front derailleur, Campy Mirage rear and Campy hub/cassette. SRAM chain. (The crankset and bottom bracket will probably be replaced by Sugino to get the Q-factor down for my knees.)

My fix gears all use Velocity Aero rear rims (so they can be used on my best fix gear with its long dropout. The Aero rims have a vertically deep surface that is suitable for braking meaning I can slide the wheel a long ways forward and back and keep the brake pad on the rim. Front rims are the Open Pros I use for most of my good wheels. Front hubs are Ultegra or Chorus. Rear Miche track. The good geared bike shares front wheels with the good fix gear but uses Campy rears in case I ever decide to go brifter.

It is coincidence when my bars match my stems. I look at bar shape and stem length as fit issues and somewhat independent. I hoard both so I can make up bikes that fit. And I may well run a Nitto bar and a Cinelli stem. Or whatever.

Seats, pumps and cages are all the same. Most of my levers are Tektro but I use 4 different caliper systems (canti, dual pivor, side pull and center pull). My 1979 custom has a 1967 Peugeot UO-8 seat pin because for the hanger for the canti brake cable, it was the right pin. Still is.

So you can see, I am all over the place and do it with no shame at all.

Ben
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Old 09-03-15, 12:57 AM
  #16  
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If I see you out and about, don't be surprised if I push you off your bike. How dare you even contemplate not going the full suite of branded products to match your bike...
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Old 09-03-15, 01:04 AM
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While it always feels warm and fuzzy when all your stuff seems to go together in just that right way, I don't think anyone (of importance) will judge you for picking and choosing, especially if you pick and choose based on what specifically works for you or is best in class.
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Old 09-03-15, 02:07 AM
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Maybe I'm odd, but I tend to think that when a person has kit or pieces that don't match the ride they're on a the time they're probably experienced, and have a history in the sport. Matchy-matchy tends to be a sponsored rider or someone pretty new to the sport who went to their local Specialized or Trek dealer and dropped a large check for a full-meal-deal on everything.

So I'll wear my old Trek shorts and gloves with Specialized shoes and Shimano pedals while riding my SRAM equipped Salsa....
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Old 09-03-15, 03:59 AM
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I don't even own a "cycling kit"...I can only imagine what fashion conscious cyclists think about me.
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Old 09-03-15, 04:29 AM
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Originally Posted by ShaneHanchey
I suppose I'm just a bit self concious. I don't worry so much when I'm riding about on my own, but feel during big events like I probably stand out like sore thumb. Just trying to figure out the little faux pas'. Ultimately i reckon everyone started out in the same boat.
How much notice do you take of other riders wear around you on these rides?

I think most people are concentrating on what they are doing rather than judging whether someone has committed a fashion faux pas. There are exceptions, but they are going to stand out in any audience anyway.

And if you really get into cycling and you still have these doubts, wait until you get to decide if Ultegra shifters match Dura-Ace derailleurs, or 105 pedals, or even, heaven forbid, you want to use Campy brakes on a Shimano-equipped bike!
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Old 09-03-15, 04:47 AM
  #21  
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I didn't realize I was supposed to care about mixing brands ...... I've been doing it wrong all these years ??

"...would you buy a helmet from Specialized when riding your Ridley,..."
So you should wear a Ridley helmet instead ?
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Old 09-03-15, 05:08 AM
  #22  
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Last big ride I had a Specialized helmet, Bontrager jersey, Pearl Izumi shorts, no-name socks and Shimano shoes on a Trek bike. Everyone else around me was wearing bits and pieces too. Who cares!
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Old 09-03-15, 05:27 AM
  #23  
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Wear what you want; mix-and-match as you see fit. I don't own any bike shorts from the same manufacturer of any of my bike jerseys, and my helmet is by a different manufacturer of any of the shorts or jerseys.
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Old 09-03-15, 05:28 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by ShaneHanchey
I feel like this question is a bit elementary, but what is everyone's opinion on mixing brand when it comes to your kit?
Nothing I have matches. On my last ride I was wearing Specialized-brand cycling shorts and Priority Bicycles t-shirt. The bike I ride most often is a mashup up of Specialized parts (wheels, grips, seat) and a Gary Fisher frame.
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Old 09-03-15, 07:43 AM
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Originally Posted by GravelMN
If my socks match, its a good day
Match? I usually go for clean.
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