Saddle color norms?

[Rafa]

I know the norm that states that a bike with white decals should have white bar tape, but is there a similar norm about saddles? In other words, does a bike with white decals and bar tape get a white saddle, or a black one?

[tuscanyswe]

It can be either. So says my norm.

[Jaybee]

I'd say either as well.

But if you are going white saddle, white bar tape is the only possible tape color.

[Black Dog]

As long it is black it is the right colour. Seriously, there are no norms. Do as you wish.

[Mark McM]

Always consult the Velominiti for the The Rules:

Rule #8 // Saddles, bars, and tires must be carefully matched.

Valid options are:
•Match the saddle to the bars and the tires to black; or
•Match the bars to the color of the frame at the top of the head tube and the saddle to the color of the frame at the top of the seat tube and the tires to the color where they come closest to the frame; or
•Match the saddle and the bars to the frame decals; or
•Black, black, black

[rheosibal]

Post your bike and we'll help you out

[Rafa]

Originally Posted by rheosibal

Post your bike and we'll help you out

Great idea. She’s had white bar tape, and I like the look of white tape, but I’m thinking about a fresh saddle. Thanks, Y’all!

[rheosibal]

Oo that’s nice.

Definitely white tape/saddle or black tape/saddle

[velofinds]

Originally Posted by Black Dog

As long it is black it is the right colour. Seriously, there are no norms. Do as you wish.

This. And to the extent there are norms, they are meant to be broken.

[Gummee]

Originally Posted by velofinds

This. And to the extent there are norms, they are meant to be broken.

Only if you wish to be mocked

Just sayin

M

[Dino Suegiù]

Originally Posted by Rafa

Great idea. She’s had white bar tape, and I like the look of white tape, but I’m thinking about a fresh saddle. Thanks, Y’all!

No norms imo, but elegant combinations also depend on the groupset + seatpost + stem colors, which we do not see here.

On that frameset, with the ti-matched fork, you might also consider:
silver spacers + silver stem + silver (or even white) bar tape and a black seatpost + black saddle.




Rabobank, etc. used black saddles and white tape all the time and it looked really great. The match/match/match thing is somebody else's conservative "rule" and surely need not be yours.

That is a nice frameset no matter how you finish it, and the simple base ti/black/white palette is open to many combinations.

It is not always "either/or". Sometimes "both/and" looks very good too. So, no norms, just good taste.

[tctyres]

Both??

Splash.

[Blue Jays]

In this example I would opt for: black headset, black stem, black bars, black seatpost, black saddle, black tape.

[Dave]

My new colnago is red with white lettering. No way was I putting a white saddle and bar tape on it. Both would be dirty in no time. I did that once with a red and white Tommasini Sintesi, back in the 90's. Never again.

[Rafa]

Thanks for all the thoughts and input this far. I’m glad it wasn’t an easy decision for the collective. A few additions:
1. That pic looks like the frame is black, but it’s midnight blue.
2. Campy SR11, so black.
3. Stem, headset, bars are black.
4. Seat post is a Campy ti, so not black. (Now I’m realizing cuffs and collar don’t match.)
5. Bar tape is white (I’ve been running white for a while, like it. .
6. She’s had a black seat up to now, but white popped in my head for some reason, hence the question.