How important is the look of your bike?

When I'm choosing a new bike, there are so many to chose from that I have to narrow down the field. I will do all the usual research on geometry, reviews, spec etc.

But it will not make the cut unless it has what I call the "look back factor". In other words, as I walk away from it do I look back at it (in loving admiration). I use this policy on cars, bikes and women (er, I used to use it women, now not at all, oh no, absolutely not, never in a million years, no!!)

That factor can be anything from a stealthed out beauty in satin black (bike), to a blingy thing in metallic Aegean blue (bike), to a sporty metallic tango red (car), to a grey-haired tanned model in size 12 (wife).

Some bikes I don't overly care about, town bike, child towing bike etc. But everything else has to look right, not for anyone else, just for me.

I'm currently spraying up a new rack for my commuter.
I could have left it black, but I'm changing it to bright yellow

Cable protectors, valve caps, bottle cages, bottles, saddle bags, handlebar tape, cable outers are all ripe for getting them just so.

omarm said:

Seems there are a few other nutcases like me. LOL.

I think you may be on your own you would never buy a road bike because of looks, now I only ride MTB but see awesome looking road bikes almost everyday. It is important how my bike looks but that is usually down to colour and I cant seem to get away from stealth black which I would love to.

freddievonrost said:

Big poseur/fitness loseur fits me well. Always pretty bikes with a Colnago Master/Cinelli/Campagnolo being the ultimate goal. Said it before, most frames just look ar8e achingly dull. And no black components either.

Something like this? 🤣😉😎🚴

And just to make my earlier point seem trivial, I’ve just spent another bunch of money on a Di2 bar end junction box to make the front look more streamlined. I am truly a bike tart with all of the gear and absolutely no idea. I’m that person everyone overtakes, shaking their heads sadly when the think of the waste that my bike being attached to me represents.

Unfortunately i need to ruin most aesthetics just to ride a bike, as i usually run maximum seat post, even on XXL frames.
My Fuji Tourer looks the most 'normal' as it is a 65cm frame, and had a relatively small amount of seat post showing.

All being said, my bikes live in a grotty garage most of the time, and when they are in use, I ain't looking at them.

brundonbianchi said:

......... I’ve now discovered that if the bike is a looker, it’s far easier to find the motivation to ride it lots.

That goes for so many things other than just bikes; cars, women....I'm sure there's lots more (horses I suppose).