logos

[mikemets]

I'm relatively new to cycling and have noticed that most all bikes are just covered with the builders logos.

On my "new to me" CIII:
The word "Serotta" appears 13 times, The "S" appears 6, and the "Colorado III" twice.

I guess my question simply is:
How come?
Do they think it looks good?

I really don't get it. I would think that as you went up the scale as far as quality in a bike the look would become "classier" :confused:

[Roy E. Munson]

Depends on one's perspective. Personally, I love the logo plastered bikes. You may think no logo's is classier, bit other's don't.

[Ozz]

Your "new to me CIII" has the team decal kit. The purpose of sponsoring a team is the advertise for the company...therefore, lots of decals and logos are part of the deal.

Being custom, you can order a Serotta with as many or as few decals as you want. Buying used, you kind of get stuck with what someone else thought looked good.

Also, price has nothing to do with looking "classy". Again, the buyer gets to decide on the look of the bike. If the buyer is colorblind, it doesn't matter what the price is....

Luckily, looks have nothing to do with ride! Enjoy your ride, it's one of the best. If you can't stand being a rolling advertisement, you can get it repainted for < $500.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . that looking like a "team" bike is cool, but that's the great thing--one of many!--about Serotta's. You can get it with as many OR as few decals as you wish.

BBDave

[Dude]

When you count up the decals, it may seem like a lot, but once the frame gets built up, they seem to blend into the spokes and cables and housing and cranks and everything else on the bike and doesn't seem like a big deal. The DT, ST, TT and chainstay are standard on any new bike. The other three, Tubing, Made in USA and Serotta ones no one ever sees. The tubing one I think is great because in 15 years, if someone sees that at a bike shop, they will know what the tubing it is and not say "Its unpainted, it must be aluminum!"

And you can't forget the HT badge, that is the builder's signature. Thats where they show off their goods. Some may do it better than others, but when its done well (Indy Fab) its really cool.

So, back to the point I am trying to make, decals aren't so bad, If you don't dig them then thats okay too and yes, if you don't want them you can ask for them to leave the decals off (too late for that though). But I say ride them and be proud.

[CarbonTi]

Not a fan of logos plastered all over my bike. Reminds me of the look of a NASCAR race car - crass commercialism at worst and ticky-tacky at best.

At least you have a choice, if you ever order one from the factory, you can tell Serotta to decal it the way you like. I have a Colnago C-40 and its got the surname splashed over it with, with a little racer-man on the top tube to boot! Like the bike, despise the paint.

[froze]

I'm one of those types who don't like logos for no other reason then it looks tacky...to me. I also have a distain for logo jersey's, I feel if I have to ride something with a big gaudy logo on my jersey then they should pay me to wear the jersey not me pay them! After all I'm advertising their stuff.

[bostondrunk]

where can i find one of those <burp> silver bullet framesets from the 90's?!?!?! Go Davis!

[BumbleBeeDave]

I looked at Colnagos when I was shopping a few years ago and the paint is one of the reasons I did NOT buy the bike. All they had was that scheme with the little rider on the top tube. The whole thing was just over the top even for me. I asked myself if I really wanted to have to look at that bike for the next 10 years with THAT paint job and the answer was quick: “Oh, Noooooooo!!!!”

If I’m gonna have an outrageous paint job I at least want it to be one that I designed!

BBDave

[Kevan]

Mikemets,

I think all the S's were Sandy's doing.

Our Calfee's ain't much better in this department.

[BumbleBeeDave]

That was my 400th post!

Wow! Am I really that hopeless? :rolleyes:

BBDave

[Kevan]

Who's gonna tell'm boys?

[JohnS]

I will. Yep! :)

[Spinner]

i bought my 59 standard geometry c3 from the demos and deals section of the serotta website 2 years ago. it is full serotta, red-yellow fade with all the decals. it is unmistakenly a serotta.

shortly after my frame purchase, i bought a serotta red-yellow jersey also on sale at the website.

then, i bought a cofidis team helmet (giro pneumo). you guessed it, red-yellow with a hint of white.

never in my 30+ years of road cycling have i have been this color coordinated.

funny thing, when i'm decked out full serotta, i seem to get more courtesy from all types of drivers. while passing cars give me space. heckling all but disappears. i must morph into something tougher then i am. works for me.

[Ahneida Ride]

Thoses tubes are perfect. Why plaster decals all over.
Just the Tubes shout Serotta.

BBD ... Go tell Ben. Careful else he may plaster you with
decals.

I also avoid clothing with Logos. THey should pay me !!!!!

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . Ahneida--are you also the guy who drives right at 65mph in the passing lane while cars stack up a mile behind you because "that's the speed limit"? :p

BBDave

[davids]

My Seven says "Seven" twice and "Axiom" twice, once on each side of the downtube and toptube respectively. There's stickers for the material ("Origin" ...whatever...) and for Rob Vandermark's signature scrawl on the seattube. And a laser-cut stainless headbadge. All over solid metallic silver.

My Klein Adept is pretty much the same, except that it also spells out K-L-E-I-N down each ...well, what would be a seatstay if it connected to the seattube. And there's a "K" painted on the headtube instead of a badge. And it's a screaming orange/red fade job.

My old rigid Fisher Tassajara is probably my favorite color, a flat metallic copper. It's simultaneously dusty and shiny - a neat trick. Very simple, tasteful decals compared to what followed in later years...

I don't get all the stickers, and I hate the fussy multi-colored paintjobs (like all those "customs" offered by Trek, LeMond, Klein, Fisher, et al). Give me two colors at most. I don't care if they're subtle or bright, top-to-bottom, back-to-front, or faded - keep it simple, and I'm a happy guy.

[hypnos]

While ordering my Serotta frame, I asked the dealer about having no decals what so ever. He indicated that Serotta would probably not agree to that. Has anyone ordered a Serotta frame without decals?