The Color White
I saw the Black Crowes in concert some years ago, and as the band swung into their first number, Chris Robinson casually strolled onstage wearing head to toe white sequins. Later in the show, he remarked that nothing quite makes you feel like a virgin like wearing white.
The color white is indeed a bold statement. A white house declares to the neighborhood that the homeowners are committed to give nature the what-for and keep it pristine at all times. Similarly, the Cyclist who wears white declares that they are willing to take their chances against road grime, despite effectively turning themselves into a human mudflap.
White is like hanging a “Kick Me” sign on Nature.
I personally find it irresistible. White bar tape and socks, even on a bike I expect to get dirty, is a must. I do admit to going through phases where I’ll experiment with black or orange socks or bar tape like a temperamental tween experimenting with talking back to their parents. But I always find myself irrevocably drawn back to white.
When I was 13, I bought my first Selle San Marco Regal saddle in perforated white leather. (I promptly crashed on it). It matched my Scott Drop-Ins which were wrapped in white Benotto bar tape, as well as the white spatters on my early Nineties paintjob. It was many years later before I bought myself some White Ladies. And to be fair, as much as I love my Orange Damsels, there is nothing like a clean, white pair of socks matched to a clean, white pair of shoes. Just ask Tom Boonen.
White sunglasses are a must as well, and after a short foray from the path, I’m back on the white helmet program. White jerseys tend to look sharper than their dark counterparts (assuming your physical qualities don’t require the slimming effect of black.) I’m on a quest for a white bike, but people seem loathe to make me one, as they are apparently unlucky. (I’m going for the next best thing: silver sparkles.)
White is bold and requires a concerted effort to ensure one keeps it pristine, but it pays you back by Looking incomparably Fantastic. It seems the only place where white doesn’t look better is on bibshorts. Go figure.
@chuckp
Is your wife wearing a sleeveless jersey? Two demerits.
@universo
The repainted MX Leader looks badass. And I have to say the unorthodox white saddle/black bars looks the business as well.
Here’s the design I’m planning for the Silver Don Walker (see bitchy post above.)
@Blackjohn
I saw him at First Ave in Minneapolis. It was a great show; I’ve seen them a few times and they are really hit or miss because the band is so volatile. But when they are on, they are as swingin’ as any hard rock band can be.
@chuckp
Loves me that Hollands. Please, PLEASE post us a pick of the 90’s-style STI/DT combo?
@wiscot
Blue bar tape would go Full Pantani. That would be a tight program.
@frank
Attention to detail…well, this is why you’re a Keeper.
@frank
I’ll see your STI/DT combo and raise you one pair of Record Titanium 9S Ergopowers.
Yes, that’s Nuovo Celeste tape. Finished with my nod to The Color White:
@MangoDave
pegorettis are simply gorgeous. pure elegance.
Personally, I have always felt that the current stealth/murdered out/black-on-black-on-black bike design trend introduced a degree of banal geneticist and conformity to what should be an individual expression of one’s athletic personality.
Of course, people just buy what is available, but this is why I have always sought out (or commissioned) white bicycle equipment- Always stylish, often leading the pack and reliably elegant
https://goo.gl/photos/gehcWzTZvEqGzzPFA
@Buck Rogers
I’ll raise a glass and a mouse click to that suggestion.
I also just noticed that Eroica Limburg switched the ride to Saturday and have added an excursion on Sunday to Heri-Chapelle to see the TdF go by. Be interesting to see how many do that and whether the TV coverage picks up on a contingent in vintage gear cheering on the TdF.
@frank
Rule #99 – WAGs who ride get to do whatever they please because you should be so fortunate to have a significant other who doesn’t resent that you ride.
That said, here’s a pic of my wife from a coffee ride we did a few weekends ago.
@frank
Here are a few pics from the PEZ Readers’ Rigs where it was featured. I think I may have posted these previously (a while ago) in The Bikes. I’ll see if I have any other pics on my computer at home that specifically highlight the STI/DT combo.
BTW, since these were taken, I changed the stem/bars (Ritchey with a little more rise and modern compact bars) and black bar tape (because that’s what I had lying around). I think I’m going to go back to the stem/bars in the pic (PRO and ITM) and white bar tape.
@chuckp
I guess we should be balanced and non sexist and also have HABs?
@Teocalli
I’m fine with that. I have friends who have those too.
@chuckp
I’ll agree with you that having a SO who rides is a wonderful thing Chuck, but is that a Mellow Johnny’s jersey she’s wearing?
@wiscot
Yes, it is. Bought on a visit to Austin many, many moons ago well before the Lance fell from grace. I was never a big Lance fan, but my wife and daughter were. My wife no longer is (and my daughter was crushed), but for whatever reason she likes to wear the jersey. Presumably because it’s comfortable. Like I said … WAGs who ride are allowed to do whatever they want. Far be it from me to give her shit about it.
Goddamn, how timely, as always! I recently made a commitment to keep the kit simple, as much as I like bright colors. All white shoes, all white socks, black bibs (of course) and simple jerseys, with a black or white helmet and black or white shades.
I was walking my dogs yesterday evening when someone pedaled by on a bike, covered in all sorts of garish gear. It reaffirmed my commitment to classy kit. I have been morbidly noticing all the boutique kit makers pop up on the internet with dopey gear. But, it suddenly seems like bike riders in the real world are now sporting this stuff. I’m seeing more and more people riding on open roads who could pass for a circus clown. This is stirring my inner curmudgeon.
I never understood people wearing Surf Style jackets in the 90s and I don’t understand people on bikes wearing a neon vomit massacre kit.
As for music, first time I saw TOOL live, Maynard performed in black body paint and a black speedo, looking like a character out of their early videos. Bald head, covered in black paint, as was every bit of his skin.
I then saw him a few months later with A Perfect Circle. He performed behind a white sheet and “had” hair to his waist. He’s one talented, oddball dude.
Well I did see this chap in white and his partners live……
@Teocalli
Nope, don’t know. Cool outfit though.
@RobSandy
ELP
@Ron
Amen brother. I go for the simple stuff. I’m not a member of a local club as so many of the jerseys are hideous. My last club (now defunct for many years) was the VC d’Or in Scotland. Our jersey was basically the Dutch national Champions jersey. Looked great and I still have a long-sleeved jersey from 1989 that sees regular use!
@Teocalli
Holy shit, Brother! Are you in for the full weekend??? That sounds amazing.
@Teocalli
I wuz going to guess it was Greg Lake. I likes my prog, I do.
@Buck Rogers
Yup making a long weekend of it Thursday to Monday. Seems like it would be rude not to take up the Sunday opportunity – just need to break it with the VMW. “You know how we are going to have that weekend in NL and I was nipping out on one day for a wee ride, well………..”.
@RobSandy
Saw ELP on the original Tarcus tour and the following year for Trilogy in the old Odeon in Newcastle on Tyne.
@wiscot
In my Cyclist column, someone once asked me if there were different Rules for women, or if they were exempt from some. (It was a woman who asked the questions.)
Like what Rules? Rule #5? No, the answer is no. WAG or otherwise, everyone is held to the same standard, @chuckp, you sexist pig. I judge everyone with the same disdain, irrespective of their gender thankyouverymuch.
@Ron
Your INNER curmudgeon? Jesus, based on the curmudgeon that you let out of the cage, I’m terrified to know what the locked-up one is like, Mr. Hyde.
@Teocalli
I’m not seeing the part about heading down on Sunday to see Le Tour go by. This sounds amazing, if true!
http://www.eroicalimburg.com/the-ride-1
@Teocalli
You don’t happen to have a second 1987 or earlier bike in a 56-58 cm size laying around do you???
@Buck Rogers
Look on the News page http://www.eroicalimburg.com/news/eroica-limburg-on-tour-1
I booked early bird and it was not on then so have emailed them on how to add it. In fact in their write up they say…”Riders from over 16 nationalities will be starting their ride through the cross border region of Limburg. Riders from England and Germany deliver the top 2 of participants.” My registration turned out to be 0002 – so that’s me! Complete fluke that it must have opened just on the day I checked.
I’m a bit of a midget 53/54. Though The Butler might stretch out with a longer stem and seat post ………..
@chuckp
Hmmmmm . . . I’d gently suggest she move it to the winter wardrobe – the kind of thing to wear on the turbo or the rollers indoors. OTOH, I well understand one has to pick one’s battles and this might be best one to let go . . .
@frank
Here you go!
The 90’s style bidon cages are mint, too. The finishing tape on the bar wrap, however, blows balls.
@frank
Yeah, have to agree with the Ciussi cages being rad. @chuckp – you can find the full-width white electrical tape everywhere and the narrower multi-color packs have the deep royal blue that would work well with your downtube accent. I haven’t seen orange tape though… if I see some I’ll message you. BTW… I cut a narrow strip of that same dark blue tape to use as a height marker on my seat tube, and it’s perfect. Subtle, but if/when you do see it, at least it matches your color scheme.
@chuckp
So the Hollands is just dripping class. And the Felt, you just know, has to be a sweet ride. So… which one is getting the most miles ? The modern C or the classic lugged steel ? I have a good buddy with a collection of classic Italian steel but it’s his C Merckx that gets the miles.
@litvi
Wow ! When I get big I’m gonna get me something in Celeste. And if not a bike, then it’ll be a Fender in Sea-foam Green. That’s a sweet bike.
@MangoDave
And did you start this whole thread of awesome bikes ?!?
@DoctorNurse
I love black bikes. And have more than a few. That collection ? Makes me want a white one ! Well…not really. But I sure appreciate that room full of beauties for sure.
Cheers all
@Randy C
Thanks. Back in the day it had a Selle Italia Flite like everyone was running, but I’m glad I eventually replaced it with that gorgeous tribute to Rule #61. It’s definitely a classic — even more so with that Brooks — and it rides like a dream. I get a kick out of all the recent comments about “I almost broke 50 MPH once and I almost died” we’ve been seeing lately. Hell, 80 km/Hr is just about where this thing finds the rails. Getting past that shaky spell at 75 km/Hr and feeling this guy settle right in at 80, then riding that groove through 85-90 km/Hr descents? Talk about some fun shit. Unfortunately I don’t have any nearby descents long enough to hit 100, but I’ll let y’all know if I ever earn my white silk scarf.*
*A friend once told me to wear a white scarf on your motorcycle you have to earn it by breaking 100 MPH. That could be a thing, or it could be bullshit; it sounds too good not to be true, so let’s run with it. Obviously for our purposes, we will need a threshold of 100 km/Hr instead. (Note: this is strictly because Rule #24 is insuperable; some boring math that demonstrates I will eventually stop going faster sounds dangerously like “science” or “fact” and as such it has no place here.)
The only time I’ve dared to put white bar tape on the bike…
@Phillip Mercer
I did use the spare tape wisely to indoctrinate my son on his balance bike…
@Phillip Mercer
I’m with you. I feel so pretentious putting white tape on my bike. Of course, I am the de facto leader of my “Team of One” but still does not feel like I have perhaps earned the right to ride white tape.
@Phillip Mercer
(that being said, my Hampsten has white tape and my new-to-me Eroica Hinault has white tape as well!)
Regarding white not belonging on bib shorts- look no further than the FDJ team kit for evidence. It is only my opinion but the all white FDJ kit is one of the worst in the peloton.
However, changing to blue shorts makes the kit one of my favorites:
@Randy C
Thanks for the kind words. I pretty much just ride the Felt FC these days. But now you’ve reminded me that I should try to get the Hollands out every once in a while. Maybe on my “easy” days when I don’t have to deal with so many hills and wonder how I used to ride/race that bike with a lowest gear of 39×21 in the mountains.
@litvi
When I switch back to the stem/bars in the pic, I’ll also go back to white bar tape and use white electrical tape to finish it. I have blue electrical tape too so might see how that looks. Will probably just do regular black electrical tape for my seat post marker.
@Phillip Mercer
That.
Is.
Awesome.
@frank
He actually hibernates most of the year, so he’s usually pretty lethargic when I let him out. Hey, just like with the Rules, I have my own standards. It was fun when people started wearing colorful, stripey socks and such. Now that people are trying to sell full white kits with unicorns and ice cream cones on them…I’m not feeling it at all. Cut that out.
I love the FDJ kit, no matter what color bibs. AND, I like the AG2R kit as well. F the boring all black or black and white kits. So many ugly ones out there. Red and black are ugly too.
@frank
Only just seen this – bizarre, was having a conversation with my son yesterday and he said he’d like some Lizardskins camo tape on his bike.
He’s 5.
@MangoDave
thnx — much more detail @ velocolour
really good to check back in and see what’s been happening with this group — after a long time lost in the wilderness — after gravel kept me hidden away.
@universo
this bike is completely outstanding. i think the MX Leader ranks as the finest steel frame ever seen in the pro peloton. i like it better than the Colbago Master.