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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Quite an arsenal Marko! Match the shoes to the bike, not the kit? Sounds plausible.
PS are those Mavic Chasm's in front of the cxb? I've got a pair for the mtb, they're the bomb.
@sgt
They're Razors but surely cut from the same last. Yes, they are the bomb, as are the Yellow Princesses.
The problem with matching the shoes to the kit is the kits we wear are so varied. I'd happily buy some black and molteni orange shoes to match the V-kit but that colour option is sparse and not offered up by Fi'zi:k.
Shoes are really the segue from bike to rider - rider to bike. They are at once kit and drivetrain. It seems they could match either but most flexibility is had when they match the bike.
@frank
The same thing I always do wrong.
I haven't read the other posts because I don't need to. No, Rule 8 does not need amending, and no, shoes should not be matched to the bike.
In fact, it goes way beyond the fact that I'm sufficiently OCD about making my bikes identical that I don't also need to inject differences between shoes into the mix, just so I can match my shoes to the bike. No, our shit should not be overmatched; while matching is great and helps you look Pro, there's a fine line between looking good and being a Rainbow Turd.
This photo took some heat in the previous thread, but I think it's the perfect example of cool. Everything matches just fine, except his shoes, which are just what they are because he got the shoes that work for him.
Its a slippery slope between trying to look good and trying too hard to look good. But, just like drinking beer, we all have to learn our limits and discover to call enough enough.
Here are some examples of riders who did not match their shoes to their bikes.
@Cyclops
Your shoes are backwards to be called Pepe Le Pews, although I'm certain they have the bouquet to go along with the moniker.
Ahem, confessions of a shoe whore here. I'm a Diadora junkie. To date: White 3, Black 3, Silver 2, Fluo yellow 1 (Fall & spring evening night riding only.) Bikes are black, white, white, and black/white with a smidge of blue. Hence the black and white shoe options work well with any bike.
Looking to offload two silver pairs of Diadora (sz 45), plus some very good nick black/blue Shimano (sz 44)and white/red/black Time (sz 46). Gotta make some sacrifices.
@jimmy
+1
@CanuckChuck
And I repeat, +1.
@sgt
@Marko
Let me help you both out.
@frank
I hear you. And as I'm not advocating a change, just discussion, you gotta admit, it looks dope. It is also a far cry from a Rainbow Turd. This crossed my mind as I ruminated. I think Turd-dom has more to do with race leader and w.c. jersey wankery than any thing else and is apro-pro to Rules 15, 16, and 17. I think if it's pulled off cash del it's okay, even better perhaps.
@frank
Yeah, that's fine because you HAVE WHITE SHOES. My point was the YP's didn't come close to matching either kit or bike. Again, just fine, but hence the discussion. The new R3's will now match both (when my witte kit arrives).
@frank
Frank, it's fall. Go with black shoes, black socks. You wear a black helmet, right? The all black kit will only enhance the witte jersey and white/red detailing on the shorts. When the leg warmers come off, go white with shoes and socks. Leg warmers? Go black.