Is this normal?

anothersteve
anothersteve Posts: 2
edited September 2016 in Road beginners
Hi guys, I've just recently bought myself a road bike after years of slobbing about. I used to ride a mountain bike but was never really interested in the modern kit. I'm not normally worried about the latest fashions in my every day clothes as long as I look fairly presentable. However, moving onto my question I've found myself searching for cycling apparel that matches and co-ordinates the colours of my new bike. I've got red handlebar tape on my new steed and I've been looking at getting myself some new tops that are the correct shade of red, I think this is quite frankly ridiculous behaviour, but the more I cycle and see other guys around with matching and perfectly co-ordinated kits and bikes the more I find myself poring over the clothing sections on wiggle etc. and thinking this is quite normal.

Can anybody advise what I should do please. :wink:

Comments

  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    anothersteve wrote:

    Can anybody advise what I should do please. :wink:

    My suggestion is to get a grip and ride your bike.
  • grenw
    grenw Posts: 804
    When I moved from mtb to road biking my spend on clothing shot up. T-shirts and baggy shorts just don't cut it any more.

    That said I actively try to not have kit that matches my bike. Looks like you're trying too hard IMHO. That was easy on my green and black Defy but I've gone and ruined it by buying a red Canyon which matched a couple of my jerseys and gloves.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,495
    anothersteve wrote:
    ... I think this is quite frankly ridiculous behaviour,...
    You are correct.
    Ride your bike and ignore any snobs.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • guy.spartacus
    guy.spartacus Posts: 321
    PBlakeney wrote:
    anothersteve wrote:
    ... I think this is quite frankly ridiculous behaviour,...
    You are correct.
    Ride your bike and ignore any snobs.

    See above
    Road - '10 Giant Defy 3.5
    MTB - '05 Scott Yecora
    BMX - '04 Haro Nyquist R24 (don't judge me)
  • haydenm
    haydenm Posts: 2,997
    Looking good on your bike isn't for the pleasure of snobs. Respecting the sanctity of the sport is something bigger than all of us.
  • homers_double
    homers_double Posts: 8,332
    I don't look good in lycra but I make the effort to be well presented. Clean shoes and no torn clothing etc.

    It isn't about being a snob, it's about having some self respect.
    Advocate of disc brakes.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    homers double wrote:
    I don't look good in lycra but I make the effort to be well presented. Clean shoes and no torn clothing etc.

    It isn't about being a snob, it's about having some self respect.

    Just checking - we are talking about cycling right? - not job interviews?
  • haydenm
    haydenm Posts: 2,997
    Depends on the job, some people like torn clothing...
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,228
    Just wear black like everyone else.
  • figbat
    figbat Posts: 680
    I'll go for whatever is good, well-reviewed and up-to-the-job... but.... if there's a choice of colours on offer I will try to match my 'theme' (black bike, white decals, bars and saddle, red detailing).

    That said, I also try and go for highly visible clothing, especially jerseys/tops, just to get a fighting chance of being seen.

    And I know Muddy Fox is something of a whipping boy around here, but I have some of their clothing for trashing on my MTB and so far it has done well for low cost.
    Cube Reaction GTC Pro 29 for the lumpy stuff
    Cannondale Synapse alloy with 'guards for the winter roads
    Fuji Altamira 2.7 for the summer roads
    Trek 830 Mountain Track frame turned into a gravel bike - for anywhere & everywhere
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    My son badgered me to sell him my old cycling helmet because it matched his bike. (It matched mine too, but that was mere coincidence, and I welcomed the excuse to then go shopping for a new one...)

    In his defence he is a design graduate and is obsessed about the appearance of things above all else.

    To be fair, when I'm buying kit I do consider what it will look like with my other stuff. Nothing really clashes with the bike though since it's all black / grey / carbon.
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    By all means match your clothing to some degree but don't match the bike as well.
    guy.spartacus wrote:
    PBlakeney wrote:
    anothersteve wrote:
    ... I think this is quite frankly ridiculous behaviour,...
    You are correct.
    Ride your bike and ignore any snobs.

    See above

    What snobs, who even mentioned snobs?!
  • Schoie81
    Schoie81 Posts: 749
    As someone with some OCD tendencies, I admire your attention to detail and effort put in.... but personally, what I wear is more about how well it keeps me warm or cool (depending on the weather) and visible to 'other' road users than whether it matches my bike or not - but if it makes you happy, why not!!
    "I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated"
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    Entirely up to you. You do see some people perfectly coordinated and then people who look like theyve got dressed in the dark. It doesn't really matter.
  • homers_double
    homers_double Posts: 8,332
    Imposter wrote:
    homers double wrote:
    I don't look good in lycra but I make the effort to be well presented. Clean shoes and no torn clothing etc.

    It isn't about being a snob, it's about having some self respect.

    Just checking - we are talking about cycling right? - not job interviews?

    Only the evening work requires lycra.
    Advocate of disc brakes.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,495
    iPete wrote:
    By all means match your clothing to some degree but don't match the bike as well.
    guy.spartacus wrote:
    PBlakeney wrote:
    anothersteve wrote:
    ... I think this is quite frankly ridiculous behaviour,...
    You are correct.
    Ride your bike and ignore any snobs.

    See above

    What snobs, who even mentioned snobs?!
    Me. People who observe other's clothes & equipment and look down on them if they don't comply. Snobs.
    Wear what you like, fine.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    I wear what ever clothing I'm bought.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Dear OP. Ignore the non-matchy-matchy types.

    Their presence only makes your matched get up look all the more cool.

    Without their unmatched, colour clashing get up your efforts would be in vain.
    _
  • nickbotfield
    nickbotfield Posts: 68
    I think clothes that match each other is fine but you needn't bother trying to match it to your bike. Even some pro teams don't bother with that! (Team Lotto Jumbo have yellow and white kit with celeste bikes!)
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    I often wear my red/white/green Charlottleville CC kit when riding my pink Wyndymilla bike, although I do prefer to be wearing the matching pink top, partly pink shorts and socks.
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
    Find me on Strava
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    Matching bike and kit is fine if you are pro/sponsored - because you effectively have no choice anyway. On mamils, it just looks like you are trying too hard.
  • LanterneRouge010
    LanterneRouge010 Posts: 57
    You can wear a baggy T shirt and jeans and no one is going to talk smack to you if you drop them like a bad habit.

    Ignore the pretentious crowd, they likely spend more time and money figuring out how to look good than be good.
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    If you want matching clothing and want to look good on your bike - what on earth is the harm in that ?

    A good whack of my purchasing decisions are based on what it looks like - it makes me ride more ! - when I look at my bike in the garage it screams 'Ride me' - sounds like you will get the same from matching kit - youre not killing anyone - go for it !

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