that_guy_zach

Im not really sure what Im asking here.I really love the way this bike rides, but the looks are down right boring. I am planning on adding fenders but Im not even sure they will clear. Any ideas to make this thing more of a looker?

Looking for ideas on hood color, Fenders and maybe a rear rack and bar bag.

cb400bill

Orange bar tape and cables.

Streamers on the handlebars?

T-Mar

OEM decals and a Campagnolo Record crankest would be the obvious start.

stien

+1, and decals.

that_guy_zach

The problem is that no one knows what this bike is. The crank is already Dura Ace.

shrinkboy

complete clean up and polish of the frame, paint touch up and de-rusting and polishing all the alloy parts, aero brake levers, uuuuhhh.....

jebensch

Yellow cable housing, white tape. If you feel like going crazy, throw some white Velocity or Weinmann rims on there. If you're dying for flash, you could snag one of them new-fangled tars with the lettering all big like the racers do it. Not terribly C&V, but certainly flashy!

due ruote 

chrome headset, brake hoods

that_guy_zach

I dont think this is going the way I hoped. I am more than happy with the parts on the bike.

What I was looking for is recommendations on hood colors, Fenders and maybe a rear rack.

Andrew F

Outline the lugs in black, I'm not sure the frame was built for fenders and racks.

20grit

I disagree with all of the above haha.

Dark blue cable housing, lug lining, and bar tape. Black hoods. Tires with a narrow, dark blue stripe. The blue needs to be one that plays well with the current color though.


Could be that I'm in a weird mood this morning though...

Bianchigirll 

first I would clean it until you could operate with the parts.

new brake blocks, and some SS acorn nuts to hold them on. pic a color I would do red or yellow. use that color to get someone to make you some decals for it "That Zach Guy" "Zach" a fancy head badge. personalize it

then use the same color on the bartape, cables and toe straps. you could also consider coloring the fluting on the seatpost and cranks. anodized chainring bolts and if you can find the dust caps.

Veloria

Ah! A thread calling out my name : )

Okay... First thing, is that the frame is a beautiful colour, but it is being "deadened" by the black saddle and bar tape. If you change them to something in the brown family (including caramel/orange), you will see that the soft blue will come alive and will become a lot more vibrant. This alone will transform the personality of the bike dramatically.

Then, the headset. It is black and very visible, as it is a stark contrast to the frame colour. It has the effect of dissecting the otherwise graceful line of the headtube and fork. If you switch it to a silver headset, it will make a huge difference - the lines of the bike will be more elegant.

As for fenders, you can go with almost anything here, because your frame colour is so simple and there aren't any distracting decals or multi-coloured panels. Though I do not usually like hammered Honjos (or the VO version thereof), I think they would look good here. Or, if you prefer a racier and less "randonneur"-like look, I also think the SKS fenders would go well with this bike.

Good luck - I think your bicycle is a real beauty!

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I think following Andrew's idea to add Black is good....Key off the Black Headset. Maybe fill the Crank spider and seatpost flutes like Bianchi Girl suggested..but in black.

Failing the idea of using black I'd ditch the black headset like due ruote said..


Ditch the parts bin water bottle holder for something a little nicer.

Fenders would look cool but as Andrew Suggested its not gonna be the easiest bike to fit racks and fenders to. There's just no braze-ons. Yes you can use P-Clamps but IMHO using P-Clamps for all the mounting points doesn't produce the most stable result

kingsting

Seriously flashy fenders here:

https://www.woodysfenders.com/store/

rhm

I would get a fairly large piece of reflective tape, in white, like this.

I would put a rectangular panel of that, with perhaps a narrow stripe above and below, on the seat tube.

And I would cut a piece to fit the head tube, leaving the lugs exposed.

Then I would get two decals of the crest of my choice. My family doesn't have a crest, but my grad school had a nice one, which I would apply as a head badge and on the seat tube:


Other than that... blue handlebar tape. I have brand new blue tires, and even blue rims, if you want them... not sure why I have them!

southpawboston

since this bike has no braze-ons for fenders, i would suggest using P-clamps, as i did on my trek 560. they're extremelt stable (haven't had to adjust them, ever, and there's no rattling/rubbing). i don't think they detract at all from the overall appearance, but i do agree with saphod beeblebrox that they might not be strong enough to support a rack.

trek:


i second velouria's suggestion on the SKS fenders; that's what i chose for my trek, although i think my trek is newer and i wanted something contemporary looking. for your bike i might also consider the VO 37mm fenders, if there is clearance. they are very classy looking on a road bike, in my opinion. i have them on my raleigh comp GS:


i would also follow some of the other suggestions, such as swapping out the bar tape for something orange-y or brown, like on my trek. you could also consider painting the lug shorelines in white or silver.

Force 

It reminds me of the blue mink Raleigh Professional. I have seen nice examples with white bar tape, black saddle, and gum hoods. The VO 37 mm fenders on southpawboston's Raleigh might look nice on your bike, as well as a chrome rear rack, such as the VO Constructeur rack, but I don't know if it will mount on your frame.

CharlesP

Looks like you've done a bit of cleanup work already. If you rescued the bike, kudo's! That there rust on the chrome brake parts ain't coming off, you'd have to beadblast and rechrome- big $$$. Outline the lugs (gold?), gum hoods, chrome headset, black in seatpost and crankarm flutes, brighten up with dark blue and brown, and yes, SKS fenders. Stay away from neons or bright colors to keep it vintagey-ish.

wrk101

Red bar tape and housing, aerolevers, polish up the components, and you are good to go.

CharlesP

And since you have schraeder valves, blue dice or skull valve caps.

cehowardGS

Sir, Your Raleigh GS is gorgeous or even better!

I am a newbie so bear with my question. What does the fenders do to/for the bike?

bradtx

tgz, Move the brake cables to behind the bar and trim the rear brake cable housing for starters. Other than that, it looks nice and clean to me... Maybe silver or gray cable housing... Maybe an Elite water bottle cage(s).

Brad

ScottRyder 

Scott

Andrew F

I retract my suggestions in favor of Veloria's -except I'm holding fim on staying fenerless and rackless.