Who are we? We are our stories. We are our pictures

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Hypothetical Color Schemes?

 Let's assume a hypothetical bicycle that might be built someday.  For the sake of discussion, let's say the head tube and the panel on the seat tube will be painted red, and the graphics will be red. (And in spite of what your eyes tell you, the two reds above are exactly the same.) And let's say that the red is really a dark, pure red, not a computer generated red that looks almost brown. Now we need to talk about the ground, the main body of the frame and fork. It has already been determined that black and red are the devil's colors. We are making no judgement on whether this is a good or bad thing, but we would like to explore other options. Another option to be examined is a bronze-gold metallic. Keep in mind it's a metallic gold, not brown like it photographs. The red being a given, are there any other choices that have been overlooked?  Whadda think ? And pass another beer please.

Visual aids:  http://tinyurl.com/Imron-color-chart


Fork crown






lug set


25 comments:

Mimbres Man said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIawk-9PApw

Steve Grimmer said...

green

Gunnar Berg said...

Green and red? Give me more of a hint. Green is one of the most variable colors there is. What color of green is in your vision?

Masini said...

Black frame, red panels, gold lettering and trim. Almost Hetchins-like!

Gunnar Berg said...

Actually, that would be exactly Motobecane Grand Jubilee-like.

Anonymous said...

there's the other Jubilee scheme, and if you saw it it was incredibly striking, which was red and silver. Doesn't sound like much, but in the flesh that bike was delicious. Red panels and details on metallic sterling.

My Motobecane Le Champion had a deep metallic aquamarine paint with cream-colored lugs and crown, with gold detailing. I didn't appreciate it fully at the time. It was stunning.

mw

Gunnar Berg said...

Michael, I certainly have considered the silver and red. It is stunning. I already have two silver bikes, recently had three at the same time. That is why I am considering a bronze-gold and red rather than the silver.

Mimbres Man said...

My immediate reaction to the bronze-gold/red...being 3/4 through the NFL season, it sounds too 49er-y to me.

Also I see too many cars that champagne color. I associate it with a Toyota Corolla for some reason.

I like the black with red. Classic Motobecane, but I also like the color scheme on my Bridgestone which is midnight blue metallic with cream.

Anonymous said...

well then fly the devil colors. Maybe listen to Charlie Daniels, too.

with my next bike, if that ever comes, I think I would like that Bridgestone RB1 yellow, if anyone remembers that. I considered Molteni, but that seems like a cliche anymore. The reason I'm thinking about bright colors is because I have lots of blue, gray, ti, colors like that . . .

mw

Steve Grimmer said...

I was thinking something like forest green. A deep color, able to stand up to the red. Maybe something like HTML color #003333.

Anonymous said...

sliverish blue (a bit darker than steel blue) with deep burgundy red like the fuji opus 3...
http://velospace.org/node/31169

Plenty of tape and cable housing options that would coordinate well.

If I were in your position, I would probably choose that colour combo. Beautiful and understated.

...that said, the black and red motobecane colour scheme is a classic, so you can't really go wrong with that....Personally, I think that it lacks a bit of creativity, but I do like the way it looks.

Allan Pollock

Gunnar Berg said...

Creativity?
How about almost black dark burgundy body with the red panels, and spots of medium blue infill and graphics?

Erik F. said...

I'm a big fan of a very light blue to green...kind of robin's egg, but with a very subtle grey green tone(there is a VW Bug color from a few years back that is on the money)combined with a deep red. I may be reading into your preferences, but it seems like you might prefer a slightly richer metallic in this range. Two options would be the #45024 Sea Sprite Green Metallic or the slightly lighter #44418 Light Frost Green Metallic (http://www.campyonly.com/images/joebell/imron.pdf).

I've never been a fan of the black and red scheme--probably from working on far too many abused versions during my stint as a mechanic--but, then again, it's not my bike.

Margadant said...

Red and Black -- it makes a statement.

Silk Hope said...

My turn....

First question is this Kvale going to have lug linning? That will have some effect on later decision makeing.

Here are my two schemes for you.

1. Black forest green with red head tube only. Black Forest green is almost Black. This color scheme reminds me of the dark log cabins in the Adirondacks with creme window pains and red window frames. Very woodsy.

2. Dark Royal blue with red Head tube. Some what Nautical but very chic.

Both could have gold lug lining if you so choose.

As for the red panel on the seat tube I vote no. Ultimately it takes away from the contrast of Kvales decals. Also can you ask Chris to do a custom red down tube decal with gold outlining. This would be somewhat reminiscent of the Singer decal (since it is a Randeneur frame)and would pick up the color of the head tube.

These are my selections the invoice is in the mail.

Silk

Silk Hope said...

Almost forgot....

This is big in the Scheme of things also.

Gunnar what style lug are you going with on this infamous piece of street iron? Nervex like ie: curly que's or Prugnat ie: very simple yet sophitocated? This could have great effect on all the responses you have had to date.

The Devil is in the details.

Gunnar Berg said...

No lug lining. The seat tube graphics will be the CKC laurel with his normal 3/4" wide top and bottom bands reduced to 1/8" wide.

Gunnar Berg said...

Oh, and the "CKC" on both the head tube and seat tube with be either yellow or blue, not red. The "Chris Kvale" on the down tube will be red with black outline it.

Mimbres Man said...

44423 with 99
Kind of Raleigh-ish


http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/blog/wp-content/bikes/forsale/chicago-raleigh-super-grand-prix-01.jpg

Anonymous said...

My vote: Black Frame, Red Panels, Gold Lettering.
Are you going "frenchy" on this one? If so, those funky CLB center-pull brakes would be different.
-Tony

Anonymous said...

http://www.velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=142EA1F7-EE8B-465C-8682-3FBF69C1D450&Enum=117&AbsPos=13
These are the ones. -Tony

Gunnar Berg said...

Not as French as it might seem on the surface.

Silk Hope said...

Oh oui, oui Decidedly Americain.

Jacque.

Anonymous said...

dude,
you were right the first time. Ignore all these fools. . .

best,
mw

Gunnar Berg said...

..so speaks The Voice of Reason.