What Gianni humbly omitted from his last article is that once he finishes ranting about sock color (actually, the lack of need for any color other than than white), he recovers quickly and we wrap up the Keepers executive board meeting with him tearing our legs off on the ride home from the bar with his magnificent stroke. Because after all, he is Rule #72.
But I digress. All the chit-chat Gianni’s article generated, and the timing of it with a new shoe purchase on my end, has me ruminating on Rule #8. Matching saddle, handlebar tape, and tires is, for the Velominatus at least, quite the no-brainer as it were. The only really poignant question I recall ever being raised is whether Vittoria Open Pave’s have an exemption because they are awesome and scream hardman tire (I think they are acceptable).
But what of shoes? They are the one piece of kit that most often throws a rider’s coordination out of sync. Of course this has traditionally been fine as shoes are such a personal matter that expecting one to match one’s shoes with the rest of one’s kit is hopeful at best. That being said, I wonder if shoes are less kit and more equipment. They transfer power directly from rider to bike and thus they are mechanical, they are engineered by smart people using fancy computers, and they render the machine virtually unrideable without them. In fact, I’ve often wondered why retailers list them under “clothing” and why online review forums don’t put them under “drivetrain” instead of “clothing and accessories”.
So if you don’t accept my premise, at least humor me here. If shoes are equipment and not kit, why would anyone buy a pair that didn’t match the rest of their bike? Surely, with the abundance of shoe choices on the market these days I would think one could make every effort to find a pair that fits, has the features and performance characteristics sought, falls within price range, and matches the rest of the bike.
I happened upon this concept casually deliberately this week. You see, I’ve been sporting considerable carbone over Fi’zi:k’s new shoe line ever since they were introduced (you might say I have a thing for shoes). So when a new pair of R3’s fell into my lap for number 1 I was forced to shift the Yellow Princesses over to number 3. The yellow decals and accents on the Serotta look awesome with the YP’s and the new R3’s are oh so sublime with the BMC. Splendid, indeed.
So I’ll put it to you, the Velominati. Does Rule #8 need amending? Are shoes equipment and not clothing? Do we, perhaps, need a new rule pertaining to shoe/bike matching (I think not but a suggestion might be in order). These are the things that keep the Keepers up at night.
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View Comments
@DeltaMngo
I'm in the shoes=equipment camp. I've asked my VMH for the new speedplay white ladies for a holiday present. I've put this upgrade off for some time in the hopes Sidi would offer the SP option, and now they have. This seems to imply to me that I primarily matched the foot coverings to match the bike equipment (and the silver/white/black color scheme.) Next up (as @brett points out) is to match the helmet color to the bike as well.
@DrC A-Merckx!
@brett
Sharp.
@scaler911
That is an Escher of Abomination. My eyes can't stop moving in horror over the Image That Can Not Be. Kickstand, skatebortion, The Thing alien shifter life form captured in the middle of morphing into something useable, whoopie cushion seat. The reflectors and platform pedals are at least an anchor to reality as I know it, sad as they are.
Fuck, you just made me look back again for more pain. Negative nipple lube to you, and very well played.
@Dr C
Just seen your Strava page, I am doubly jealous of a route that finishes in Rhonda. We spent a couple of weeks just outside Jerez and drove over to Rhonda one day. The moutains to the west are stunning as well and I was itching to ride to Rhonda. Unfortunately, everyone was more interested in spending the day on the beach rather than wait round the villa for me to return from my epic and I ran out of time (next time, Mrs Chris will be insured to drive the hire car regardless of whether she wants to or not!). On the last day I did manage a pre dawn escape to El Bosque to climb 15km to Puerto del Boyar at 1100m. The sun was behind the mountains as I climbed but as I hit the pass I was able to watch it light up the hills and valleys that I'd just ridden through. Awesome ride but it wasn't the full ride that I'd hoped for.
Chapeaux!
@Dr C
You might want to exercise a little care using that word in Spain! Unless you meant to say:
@Dr C
@itburns
+1 great rant. "Whoopie cushion seat" is probably my highlight.
Sorry for the lack of activity lately all, compy blew up so now the new bike is on further hold. I may be on aluminum forever....
I'm of the belief that the saddle bar tape shoe trifecta must be kept in balance. Black or white can be used for any of those, but the second you choose anything else and don't match the rest its ugly.
White bar tape/white saddle/white shoes = yes
White bar tape/black saddle/black shoes = yes
Lime green tape/lime green saddle/lime green shoes = yes in the absence of any conflicting colors
White bar tape/black saddle/lime green shoes = frame pump beating
If it were up to me nothing but black would be allowed.
@itburns
Trust the process, dear Velominatus, and rest assured that Merckx willing, the bastard wot devised and built that bastard machine will be depositing chunks of facial tissue in his local tarmac before sundown...
If shoes where kit they would be worn on the podium, they're not, so they must be equipment.