Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Do Your Clothes Match Your Bike?

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Do Your Clothes Match Your Bike?

Old 09-14-11, 09:29 PM
  #1  
TrekmanDan
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TrekmanDan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Houston
Posts: 154

Bikes: 2013 Specialized Tarmac/ 2011 Trek 1.2 / 2008 Trek 3700

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Do Your Clothes Match Your Bike?

Last weekend, while I was sitting at a stoplight (in my car), there was a cyclist dressed from head to toe in a full cycling kit. Everything matched almost perfectly, including his helmet, bike and shoes. While I thought it was pretty cool at first, seeing him casually pedal off in front of me, something told me he only looked fast and his gear wasn't a reflection of his strength as a rider.

So, i was just wondering how many of you buy clothes that match your bike, or full kits, etc. Personally, I buy whatever fits well and is relatively inexpensive - it's not like i'm training for the Tour de France...
TrekmanDan is offline  
Likes For TrekmanDan:
Old 09-14-11, 09:43 PM
  #2  
Big_e
Strong with the Fred
 
Big_e's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 970
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
I don't care about my clothes but the bike and helmet color has to match.
Big_e is offline  
Likes For Big_e:
Old 09-14-11, 10:10 PM
  #3  
Mr. Beanz
Banned.
 
Mr. Beanz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Upland Ca
Posts: 19,895

Bikes: Lemond Chambery/Cannondale R-900/Trek 8000 MTB/Burley Duet tandem

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
It's more important to match the socks to the jersey. Orange jersey with orange smiley face socks.

Color coordination, I suck. Orange jersey, blue bike with yellow lettering, white helmet, white long sleeve cotton t-shirt and orange socks.

Mr. Beanz is offline  
Old 09-14-11, 10:10 PM
  #4  
gecho
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,526

Bikes: 2009 Trek 520

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 155 Post(s)
Liked 167 Times in 130 Posts
I wonder if roadies go around admiring fancy cars, then later doubt that the driver can take advantage of its capabilities?
gecho is offline  
Likes For gecho:
Old 09-14-11, 10:14 PM
  #5  
BHOFM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 785

Bikes: Too many to count

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
If you mean, old, out dated and well worn, yes, they match!
BHOFM is offline  
Likes For BHOFM:
Old 09-14-11, 10:16 PM
  #6  
CbadRider
Senior Member
 
CbadRider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: On the bridge with Picard
Posts: 5,935

Bikes: Specialized Allez, Specialized Sirrus

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I don't match my clothes, helmet or anything else to my bike frame color.

I live in an area with quite a few high-caliber triathlete cyclists. Generally if I see a rider with a coordinated helmet, bike, and kit with a lot of logos on it, I figure they're getting paid to have matching stuff.
__________________
Originally Posted by Xerum 525
Now get on your cheap bike and give me a double century. You walking can of Crisco!!

Forum Guidelines *click here*
CbadRider is offline  
Old 09-14-11, 11:05 PM
  #7  
caloso
Senior Member
 
caloso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times in 1,417 Posts
I wear matchy clothes when I race or I'm on a group ride. (The nice people who give us discounts and swag in return for wearing their logos really appreciate it.) But, I ride pretty much every day and laundry just can't keep up, so on solo rides or commutes, I'm whatever's clean, usually a mishmash of prior seasons' kits.

But you bring up a good point: you can usually tell a rider's ability from a few pedal strokes. Is he balanced? Are his elbows and shoulders loose? Can he look back or take a drink without swerving? Nice easy spin? Stuff like that.
caloso is offline  
Old 09-14-11, 11:22 PM
  #8  
Cyclaholic
CRIKEY!!!!!!!
 
Cyclaholic's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: all the way down under
Posts: 4,276

Bikes: several

Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1589 Post(s)
Liked 687 Times in 365 Posts
Looking a little worn, very unfashionable but definitely functional, could use a bit of maintenance and maybe a wash.... yep, they sure do.
__________________
"Surely one can love his own country without becoming hopelessly lost in an all-consuming flame of narrow-minded nationalism" - Fred Birchmore
Cyclaholic is offline  
Old 09-14-11, 11:29 PM
  #9  
SlimRider
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Northern California
Posts: 5,804

Bikes: Raleigh Grand Prix, Giant Innova, Nishiki Sebring, Trek 7.5FX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I own several suits, they're all either black or dark blue. I own over fifty dress shirts, they're all either white, black, or light blue. I own over twenty T-shirts. All of my T-shirts are either white or black. I own over thirty pair of trousers (a few are jeans). They're all either black or dark blue.
All of my socks are either dark blue or black. I own over ten pair of shoes. All of my shoes are black.

My problem is that I usually can't really tell the difference between dark blue and black!

Sometimes, upon occasion, someone will say, "You almost match!"

-Slim

PS.

So to answer the question:

Yes! All my clothes are a very close match to my black bikes.

Oh yeah...All of my bikes are black, too!

Ah...Can you guess my helmet's color?

PS.

BTW- All of my dark blue stuff was purchased by mistake...I thought it was another color!

Last edited by SlimRider; 09-16-11 at 11:03 AM.
SlimRider is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 01:04 AM
  #10  
fietsbob
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,354 Times in 861 Posts
Hell, no. i have no Metal flake clothes.
fietsbob is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 02:54 AM
  #11  
Machka 
In Real Life
 
Machka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152

Bikes: Lots

Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 329 Posts
Originally Posted by TrekmanDan
Last weekend, while I was sitting at a stoplight (in my car), there was a cyclist dressed from head to toe in a full cycling kit. Everything matched almost perfectly, including his helmet, bike and shoes. While I thought it was pretty cool at first, seeing him casually pedal off in front of me, something told me he only looked fast and his gear wasn't a reflection of his strength as a rider.
I don't get it .... Why does someone who is dressed in matching attire have to be fast or strong? And if that person happens to be fast or strong, why does that person have to display it every minute of the ride?


Originally Posted by TrekmanDan
So, i was just wondering how many of you buy clothes that match your bike, or full kits, etc. Personally, I buy whatever fits well and is relatively inexpensive - it's not like i'm training for the Tour de France...
Do you think that the step for qualifying for the TDF are ... 1) Get matching cycling clothing. 2) Get bicycle to match clothing. 3) Ride bicycle???

You don't have to race in order to be able to buy whatever clothing you like.

Personally ... sometimes my clothing matches my bicycle. Sometimes it doesn't. Depends on what bicycle I'm riding and what clothing is appropriate for the weather. I don't quite have a full set of colours in my cool weather clothing. However, I do wear my titanium helmet with my titanium bicycle (and I want a green helmet to match the green trim on that bicycle). And I wear my blue helmet when we ride the blue tandem.
Machka is offline  
Likes For Machka:
Old 09-15-11, 05:19 AM
  #12  
Marauder9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Durham, UK.
Posts: 239
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My 2 bikes are both red and black (my newest with a splash of white too) and I was lucky to win a full set of kit from https://www.cervorosso.com/ costing around £240 which just happend to be in black, red and white to go with my red helmet. I was like a kid at Xmas when I opened the package.
Marauder9 is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 05:23 AM
  #13  
Monster Pete
Senior Member
 
Monster Pete's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Warwick, UK
Posts: 1,049

Bikes: 2000-something 3 speed commuter, 1990-something Raleigh Scorpion

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I match my clothes to my bike to the same degree I match my clothes to my car. But then I both ride and drive in regular clothes. I guess if you wear cycling 'kit', the mentality is similar to matching your helmet/leathers to your motorcycle.
Monster Pete is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 05:31 AM
  #14  
JonathanGennick 
Senior Member
 
JonathanGennick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131

Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times in 37 Posts
Originally Posted by TrekmanDan
So, i was just wondering how many of you buy clothes that match your bike, or full kits, etc.
Which bike would I match? I have more than one. Instead, I pride myself on presenting clashing array of garish antistyle that no kit-rider would want to be caught dead riding next to.

Really, I lack the funds and the inclination, mostly I lack the inclination, to worry about making anything match.
JonathanGennick is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 05:42 AM
  #15  
rekmeyata
Senior Member
 
rekmeyata's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NE Indiana
Posts: 9,183

Bikes: 2020 Masi Giramondo 700c; 2013 Lynskey Peloton; 1992 Giant Rincon; 1989 Dawes needs parts; 1985 Trek 660; 1985 Fuji Club; 1984 Schwinn Voyager; 1984 Miyata 612; 1977 Raleigh Competition GS

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1111 Post(s)
Liked 242 Times in 195 Posts
I try not to blend in with my surroundings.
rekmeyata is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 06:17 AM
  #16  
cyclops
Dismember
 
cyclops's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dweeb
Posts: 215

Bikes: Jamis 2008 Komodo, 40's Malvern Star 16" my 1st! , 58 Malvern Star 28", (gave it to the LBS for display), Voodoo Wanga SS, Voodoo Bokor commuter, Wilier Triestina Lavaredo, Kojima Condor 80's resto roadie.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
No way, my bikes are way nicer than my clothes. Except my old Repco roadie, that looks pretty rough too.
__________________
Mmmmmm, shiney.

cyclops is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 07:42 AM
  #17  
bigbadwullf
Senior Member
 
bigbadwullf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: West, Tn.
Posts: 1,761
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
My bike is grey. I don't have much choice other than to "match".
bigbadwullf is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 08:01 AM
  #18  
DataJunkie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,277
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
I have this thing for the red, black, and white color combination. Thus, at times I match my bike but at others I do not.
Deliberately matching 100% of the time is silly.
DataJunkie is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 08:22 AM
  #19  
bikecrate
Senior Member
 
bikecrate's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: LF, APMAT
Posts: 2,752
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 623 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 395 Times in 225 Posts
I like "cool" colors on my rides. My bikes have been blue, black, grey, silver combinations. I tend to buy cycling clothes than coordinate with that. It would seem strange to me to wear a red jersey.
bikecrate is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 08:31 AM
  #20  
hyhuu
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NoVA
Posts: 1,421

Bikes: Specialized Allez Sport

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
On some days. Recently I change my bartape and it matches my helmet color because either that or it's black again.
hyhuu is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 10:23 AM
  #21  
tagaproject6
Senior Member
 
tagaproject6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550

Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 276 Times in 144 Posts
I tried make an effort to not match anything and then tried the opposite. It is a lot harder than not caring.
tagaproject6 is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 11:04 AM
  #22  
no motor?
Unlisted member
 
no motor?'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 6,193

Bikes: Specialized Hardrock

Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1376 Post(s)
Liked 432 Times in 297 Posts
I don't match much of anything when I ride, and I like being more visible that way.
no motor? is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 11:13 AM
  #23  
Robert Foster
Banned.
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Southern california
Posts: 3,498

Bikes: Lapierre CF Sensium 400. Jamis Ventura Sport. Trek 800. Giant Cypress.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I don't believe we can judge a rider by what they wear be it matching kit or just normal wear. But some of it may also be attributed to how long a person has been riding and what they like to wear. Not that I believe everyone needs bike specific clothes but because I prefer bike shorts/Bibs to flat felt seamed Levis or other shorts I bought black Bibs. Black goes with most things so once I started to buy jerseys they went well. After a while I would get a deal on both bibs and jersey so naturally they matched. So on days when I wear that combination it may look matching.

When I built my first bike I might use Shimano, SRAM, and Microshift components and as I acquire them switch to one group. Doesn’t make me a poser does it?

But is that any different that playing non professional basket ball with matching shorts and jersey? Do we complain because our local weekend soft ball teams wear matching uniforms? Maybe not complain but question the ability of the players because they don’t get paid to play.

When I attend weddings, parties, or going out to dinner with friends I tend to wear clothes that match I would wonder more if while attending such functions if I saw someone that wore clothes that didn’t.
Robert Foster is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 11:17 AM
  #24  
Sixty Fiver
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 95 Posts
Black goes with everything.
Sixty Fiver is offline  
Old 09-15-11, 11:22 AM
  #25  
Ultraslide
Senior Member
 
Ultraslide's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 782

Bikes: 73 Raleigh Supercourse, 99 Specialized Stumpjumer, 08 LeMond Tourmalet

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
Black goes with everything.
Exactly. All my kit, bikes and accessories match by virtue of being black.
Ultraslide is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.