Mixing brands with your riding gear?
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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.
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.
#4
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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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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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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.
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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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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 SkyDog75; 09-02-15 at 11:31 PM.
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Hmmm... Levis or Lees will go with just about anything
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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
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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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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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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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....
So I'll wear my old Trek shorts and gloves with Specialized shoes and Shimano pedals while riding my SRAM equipped Salsa....
#19
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I don't even own a "cycling kit"...I can only imagine what fashion conscious cyclists think about me.
#20
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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.
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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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 ?
"...would you buy a helmet from Specialized when riding your Ridley,..."
So you should wear a Ridley helmet instead ?
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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!
#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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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.
#25
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