Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Seattle WA
Posts: 2,841
Bikes: 2009 Handsome Devil, 1987 Trek 520 Cirrus, 1978 Motobecane Grand Touring, 1987 Nishiki Cresta GT, 1989 Specialized Allez Former bikes; 1986 Miyata Trail Runner, 1979 Miyata 912, 2011 VO Rando, 1999 Cannondale R800, 1986 Schwinn Passage
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
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I am more of a function over form kind of guy. I am happy to swap out a stem, bars and brake levers for the sake of comfort i,e wider bars, taller stem chunkier brake hoods make a ride more enjoyable for me and in my experience uncomfortable bikes do not get ridden. That being said I am bugged by mismatched wheels, tires, brake levers. I can tolerate it but it bugs me.
I have one C&V bike that is nearly bone stock a 1978 Motobecane Grand touring, the others get taller stems, wider bars and areo brake levers, not so much because I don't like non areo as the Tektro levers just have a nice chunky grip area that I like more than the petite hoods on a C&V lever.