Show me some bikes with black components

[Eric Marth]

I'm pretty sure that I dislike black components on bikes. Oh, I can handle a black derailer or some brakes, I guess. But all black stem, bars, seatpost, crank, etc is, I'm thinking, not my cup of tea. I'm more of a decaf espresso type. 

Any who — can anyone share with me pictures of nice builds with black components? 

With gratitude,

Eric 

[lucky...@gmail.com]

I wish I had a better pic of this, I bet someone does. But this Platypus built by Crust “lives rent free in my mind”, as the kids say. 

On Dec 10, 2021, at 08:39, Eric Marth <eric...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm pretty sure that I dislike black components on bikes. Oh, I can handle a black derailer or some brakes, I guess. But all black stem, bars, seatpost, crank, etc is, I'm thinking, not my cup of tea. I'm more of a decaf espresso type. 

Any who — can anyone share with me pictures of nice builds with black components? 

With gratitude,

Eric 

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[Matthew P]

I love black on green. I happily admit this break from "classic Riv". But even Riv is changing: see Will's Platypus.
I have some black on green on my Toyo Atlantis: hub, rims, rear derailer. Seatpost is Simworks "stealth" - dark but not black. Pedals are darkish.
I'd put more black on it. I think I like the dark & dull metal finishes best, like the SW Stealth series, and all the other shades.
Also, check this out: I bought the Cliffhanger rims at two different times. They were both just labelled as black. The first one (front) is black anodized, and the second/rear is painted black.
Anyone who has black parts they hate and want to dump (I'm still thinking about those black Loscos), I will do you a favor and humbly accept them :-p

Matthew, San Diego / Kumeyaay Land

[Robert Tilley]



On classic bikes I prefer silver components but modern bikes as well as offroad bikes look fine with black components to me. Here's my Tumbleweed in all black. I need to cut the steerer now that I have it dialed in.

Robert Tilley

San Diego, CA

[Jon Dukeman]

My Surly. I'll look for better pics

--

[Jon Dukeman]

Zoom in with thumb & fore finger

[David Person]

One of each.  Hillborne with mostly silver components (though I really like the black Dyad Rims with silver braking surface) and Surly Disc Trucker with a mix of black/silver components.

[David Person]

Reverse order.

[Patch T]

Maybe Bill Lindsay will show his Amethyst Smoke Legolas with black components. I love that bike and the build he chose for it. (I love most of Bill's bikes and the builds he chooses for them.)

Patch, in NYC, who somehow feels inappropriate linking to someone else's Flickr, so won't

[Bones]

I generally dislike black components as well, but my Roadini has been slowly moving to the dark side (rims, saddle, chainring). I think I like it, especially if you blend it with shiny stuff. And of course, anything goes well with Grilver...

Bones

[lconley]

I am not a fan of black components either, but I do own this bike (I cannot remember if it is Lake Washington or Lake Sammamish, WA in the back ground):

Laing

Delray Beach FL

[lucky...@gmail.com]

Not a Rivendell but here’s my Kelly Roshambo (now with black pedals). The bike itself is kind of a coffee bean color. 

On Dec 10, 2021, at 09:49, Patch T <ptro...@gmail.com> wrote:

Maybe Bill Lindsay will show his Amethyst Smoke Legolas with black components. I love that bike and the build he chose for it. (I love most of Bill's bikes and the builds he chooses for them.)

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[David Person]

Nice Roadini, Bones.  I'm becoming very partial to black rims with machined (silver) sidewalls.

[David Person]

For me, whether or not black components work on a bike depends a lot on the frame color.

[Patrick Moore]

This example may turn the original poster resolutely away from black; it's an example a contrario. But I do like how the silver cranks show up against the dim blackness of the rest of it. (Oh, also, need one day to get some black bar plugs; the natural cork jars the aesthetic. Oh, and the yellow finishing tape is deliberate.

Joking, just joking. Some of the other black builds posted actually look rather nice. And, the Monocog does ride nicely.

[Eric Marth]

All right! Thanks everyone for sharing all these great pics and ideas. I agree with Dave that frame color plays a big part. It would seem I'm partial to a mix of silver and black. 

I looked up Bill's Legolas, that's a nice look. 

I dig the Sim Works stealth, for a softer carbon black. That's nice! 

The Rivs posted here all look great, with the Crust example from Lucky being the only true pure blackout build. There are a few more pictures of the bike on the Crust website, shared below.

(attached below). 

[Patch T]

I second both these sentiments. Very nice indeed.

[Jeremy Till]

My Clem H with black bars/stem/seatpost/rims/chainrings:

https://flic.kr/p/2mELwX1

-Jeremy Till

Sacramento, CA

[Berkeleyan]

The less black the better, on my bicycles. But I'll tolerate painted/anodized black more than dull "silver" painted parts, which just look awful next to polished aluminum and steel bits. Two examples, on my new ride, are the Surly Singleator and front brake stay. And yes, the Rohloff twister is just an ugly thing, nothing I can do about that right now. Might replace with a knurled lightweight aluminum knob when I get time to make one.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-9wjdXq6/0/L/i-9wjdXq6-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-fZV99Hj/0/L/i-fZV99Hj-L.jpg

- Andrew, Berkeley

[Joe Bernard]

Ok Andrew, we're gonna need a full pic of your Rohloff bike. 

Joe Bernard

[Garth]

I also think that the frame color has much to do with black components complimenting of detracting from the view, and everyone's view is unique. It's also generally easier to find all silver parts than when getting into mtb part territory. About the only parts I never want black is the frame(been there), stem(been there), brakes,  spokes/nipples and fenders. With black tires black fenders is too much also. The only worse thing than having black parts though is no parts at all. Overlooking the black rubber of tires, black and hard anodized dark grey parts have been around since the 80's, for both road and mtb. I had Mavic and Matrix rims that were such and never really thought twice about it as frankly I don't spend much time looking at bikes, what matters most is what works and how they ride. I like a decent frame color, that's important and something that can be chosen.

My Bombadil has a black Andel crank and Salsa seatpost. I like black crank and didn't think I would.Silver rings. The only pic I have for now up-close is the non-driveside.

[Berkeleyan]

Soon... :-)

[greenteadrinkers]

Have a good bit of black bits on most of my bikes, although the 620's mostly silver.

[Chris L]

[Austin B.]

I prefer black components on my Riv's (I sold the Hillborne which I thought looked especially cool with black wheels + Albastache).

[aeroperf]

I have a black/charcoal/silver thing going with my touring bike, if that’s what you had in mind.

[brendonoid]

My Silver Appa rebuild is looking neat with its black wheels and fork.

[Patrick Moore]

I prefer silver for my road bikes, but I have to admit that many of the bikes shown look quite nice. I agree wholeheartedly that black anodizing is better than silver paint (or off-white paint, like the Sante' group on my 1989 Falcon).

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[Paul Brodek]

Being that this is RBW I won't delve too deeply into mostly-black since I have no mostly-black Riv builds. But here are two non-Rivs in orange, which are stupidly Fort Lee High School Bridgemen tribute color schemes, in Orange-and-Black: W'ford RS-22 and Kelly Knobby-X. And I guess a recent-ish Ritchey Swiss-Cross Canti, no orange to speak of.

I find that mostly-black parts on a lighter-color frameset work fine for me. I've got a couple of black-on-black Gunnars which also look fine to me, but they generally need the right lighting to not look too dark.

I'm not a fan of "murdered-out" all-black schemes with no frame/etc decals, or with murdered-out decals that are all but impossible to see/read. But I'm fine that other folks might find it cool.

I also find I'm more partial to all-black tires these days, especially on bikes that might see some non-asphalt time. Skinwall/tanwall/etc tends to age/stain/etc worse IME.

Paul Brodek

Hillsdale, NJ USA

[lucky...@gmail.com]

Sweet Kelly, Paul. I love the classic orange and green Kelly bikes. 

On Dec 11, 2021, at 15:42, Paul Brodek <pcb....@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Joe Bernard]

My Velo-Orange Neutrino with Rohloff Speedhub and SON Dyno. Not a great pic but the cranks have since been swapped to a silver Sugino so this is all I have to show for a blacked out bike. 

Joe Bernard

[Paul Brodek]

Thanks, Lucky! Knobbys are kinda scarce. I had a Toothpaste one for a while, like that color as well. 

Paul Brodek

Hillsdale, NJ USA

On Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 7:19:46 PM UTC-5 Lucky wrote:

Sweet Kelly, Paul. I love the classic orange and green Kelly bikes. 

On Dec 11, 2021, at 15:42, Paul Brodek <pcb....@gmail.com> wrote:



Being that this is RBW I won't delve too deeply into mostly-black since I have no mostly-black Riv builds. But here are two non-Rivs in orange, which are stupidly Fort Lee High School Bridgemen tribute color schemes, in Orange-and-Black: W'ford RS-22 and Kelly Knobby-X. And I guess a recent-ish Ritchey Swiss-Cross Canti, no orange to speak of.

I find that mostly-black parts on a lighter-color frameset work fine for me. I've got a couple of black-on-black Gunnars which also look fine to me, but they generally need the right lighting to not look too dark.

I'm not a fan of "murdered-out" all-black schemes with no frame/etc decals, or with murdered-out decals that are all but impossible to see/read. But I'm fine that other folks might find it cool.

I also find I'm more partial to all-black tires these days, especially on bikes that might see some non-asphalt time. Skinwall/tanwall/etc tends to age/stain/etc worse IME.

Paul Brodek

Hillsdale, NJ USA

[MoVelo]

i always figured black components became a thing to make the dirt less obvious

James Poulson

[J Schwartz]

[Patrick Moore]

Joe: How do you like the Neutrino, and how does it ride compared to a big bike? Is it twitchy?

I have absolutely no need of a bike like this, but I admit I've more than once reviewed the specs on the VO site.

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[Patrick Moore]

Actually, black shows up dust more than lighter colors; I can't speak about mud. The silty sand around here (get it wet and it turns to clay) makes a mess out of the Monocog after just one ride.

[Matthew Williams]

Joe's Joe has a sharp look:

https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/e9cFQqaLcas/m/RlQ5wyUxAwAJ

On Dec 10, 2021, at 8:39 AM, Eric Marth <eric...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm pretty sure that I dislike black components on bikes. Oh, I can handle a black derailer or some brakes, I guess. But all black stem, bars, seatpost, crank, etc is, I'm thinking, not my cup of tea. I'm more of a decaf espresso type. 

Any who — can anyone share with me pictures of nice builds with black components? 

With gratitude,

Eric 

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[Joe Bernard]

Patrick, 

The Neutrino rides pretty normal to me. If I ride it back-to-back with my wayyyy long and mellow custom the V-O feels notably short-coupled and quicker steering, but that's fun..I wanted them to feel significantly different.

It's a great "dodging around things" bike for the city, I might even try it on a couple dirt switchbacks just to see what happens. I used to ride XO-1's and 3's that way, this feels quite similar to those bikes. Go get one! 

Joe Bernard

[lconley]

I have a Neutrino also, but is has a lot of purple Paul components. It is kind of a replacement for my Bike Friday, that I no longer ride, due to being too heavy for the Bike Friday now. My Neutrino is a single speed. As Joe says, it rides pretty normal. I haven't done any long rides on the Neutrino, But I did do a two day double century on the Bike Friday. It was very comfortable. The shorter overall length can be a great feature.

Laing

[MoVelo]

My reference to 'dirt' showing up less on black was imprecise. By 'dirt' I meant that filth that turns black due to grease, oil or other lubricants. I prefer silver components myself since I can better tell when they need a good cleaning. The only experience I've had with black was on a car I owned. When it was clean it was beautiful, but as you point out Patrick the dust shows more easily. 

[Ted Durant]

On Friday, December 10, 2021 at 10:39:15 AM UTC-6 eric...@gmail.com wrote:

Any who — can anyone share with me pictures of nice builds with black components?

 

Well, each of us has to use our own judgement as to whether it's a nice build, eh? :-)

Here's my Breadwinner G Road. My guidelines in selecting colors and finish included "everything in balance", which meant not too much of any one element. I also have a specific reason for using black on some things, especially the stem, for instance. Shiny silver surfaces reflect a lot of light. That makes them pretty, but the glare can get tiring on an all-day ride. Also, on this bike, I liked the look of black next to the main green color of the frame, hence the black seat post collar and headset.  The rims were chosen for functionality, and silver wasn't an option, but I was okay with that. Silver chainrings weren't an option with the White Industries crankset. Again, I'm okay with that. Not shown in this photo are the chrome fenders ... could have gone with black, but decided I wanted shiny there.

Ted Durant

Milwaukee, WI USA

[Patrick Moore]

Don't tempt me, man, don't tempt me. 

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[Patrick Moore]

Now this is certainly true.

[Chris Buzzini]

Thanks, Eric, for kicking off this thread and to everyone who responded! I put down a deposit for a Roadeo over the summer and have decided to go with black and cream for the frame. These images are really helping me visualize my options when it comes to the build. 

Pretty certain I’m going with Shimano components/brifters, but that Shimano crank… not so hot to my eye. Hoping that if I go with it in black, it may disappear a bit against the black of the frame. Thinking silver for most everything else, except the brifters and maybe a pair of black compass tires. 

In any case, fun to think about. Thanks for the inspirations! 

On Friday, December 10, 2021 at 3:09:35 PM UTC-5 Jeremy Till wrote:

My Clem H with black bars/stem/seatpost/rims/chainrings:

https://flic.kr/p/2mELwX1

-Jeremy Till

Sacramento, CA

On Friday, December 10, 2021 at 11:33:58 AM UTC-8 Patch T wrote:

I second both these sentiments. Very nice indeed.

On Friday, December 10, 2021 at 1:53:21 PM UTC-5 cycli...@gmail.com wrote:

Nice Roadini, Bones.  I'm becoming very partial to black rims with machined (silver) sidewalls.

On Friday, December 10, 2021 at 10:08:35 AM UTC-8 Lucky wrote:

Not a Rivendell but here’s my Kelly Roshambo (now with black pedals). The bike itself is kind of a coffee bean color. 

On Dec 10, 2021, at 09:49, Patch T <ptro...@gmail.com> wrote:

Maybe Bill Lindsay will show his Amethyst Smoke Legolas with black components. I love that bike and the build he chose for it. (I love most of Bill's bikes and the builds he chooses for them.)

Patch, in NYC, who somehow feels inappropriate linking to someone else's Flickr, so won't

 

On Friday, December 10, 2021 at 12:41:12 PM UTC-5 cycli...@gmail.com wrote:

Reverse order.

On Friday, December 10, 2021 at 9:40:29 AM UTC-8 David Person wrote:

One of each.  Hillborne with mostly silver components (though I really like the black Dyad Rims with silver braking surface) and Surly Disc Trucker with a mix of black/silver components.

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[Jason Glenn]

Christ, 

I love the black and cream frame choice.  FWIW, I think David's Sam looks fantastic with the silver cranks -- are they Rene Herse? -- and the black rims.  

Jason in L.A.  

[Nick Payne]

Here's my Dolan. Seatpost and small chainring and FD cage are silver, everything else is black.

Nick

[Peter Stock]

nothing is sexier than black 1st Gen Dura Ace.

and i have two bikes with this groupaet.

a Puch Vent Noir

https://photos.app.goo.gl/nY5DFS65ejufNYJ9A

and a Ron Spencer shop brand (probably Harry Quinn built) 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/BOg1R7vxov0u9xin2

On Fri., Dec. 10, 2021, 11:39 a.m. Eric Marth, <eric...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm pretty sure that I dislike black components on bikes. Oh, I can handle a black derailer or some brakes, I guess. But all black stem, bars, seatpost, crank, etc is, I'm thinking, not my cup of tea. I'm more of a decaf espresso type. 

Any who — can anyone share with me pictures of nice builds with black components? 

With gratitude,

Eric 

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peter stock
toronto canada

[Robert Dowtin]

Such beauty! I have been waiting for what feels like an eternity to enter the conversation with my Riv Road Custom "Blue Panda." I was waiting on the last part I needed and that is the silver/black panda MKS pedals that arrived today! These are the first pics, in my filthy garage. I'll get her out again soon!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mzEj6ZZE71fxKD3g9

~Rob in NW Ar

[David Person]

Yes Jason, the crankset is a Rene Herse.  And thanks for the compliment on the build.

David

[Max S]

Wow, many nice bikes. Gonna link to my Halloween Special Scary Riv... I've got a black stem and seatpost I might swap in for the next Halloween, but in the meantime, I will put back some gray-finish wheels and cranks back on, because gray & orange is a bit less "on the nose" :-) 

- Max "sotto voce" in A2

https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/K9RbCHAtCzE 

[Mr. Ray]

Velo Orange low kicker in black:

 

[Patrick Moore]

Max: Please explain (in excruciating detail): Fixed or ss? Gear inches? What are those wheels, and especially, why? And explain radial. 2-cross rear? What is that ass hatchet? (I don't doubt you find it comfortable; I've been loving original issue Flites since 1990.) Custom decals ...???!!! And gravel tires and front rack to complete the package. 

The list demands explanations!

On Tue, Dec 14, 2021 at 2:06 AM Max S <msh...@gmail.com> wrote:

Wow, many nice bikes. Gonna link to my Halloween Special Scary Riv... I've got a black stem and seatpost I might swap in for the next Halloween, but in the meantime, I will put back some gray-finish wheels and cranks back on, because gray & orange is a bit less "on the nose" :-) 

- Max "sotto voce" in A2

https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/K9RbCHAtCzE 

Patrick Moore, grimly bottom-cropping in ABQ, NM 

[Garth]

Oooooo .... I wanna play "name that saddle" Patrick !  

If you zoom into the photo you can see at the rear of the saddle the stylistic remnants of Italia , and below forward of that 3 little symbols which spell out SLR. That'd be a Selle Italia SLR saddle ..... (((((((  for the cookie !  )))))))) 

[Max S]

Garth is correct – Selle Italia SLR, one of the later models, 135 grams, no cutout. There's an "Ass Saver" on there. The wheels are Enve 6,7 – 60 and 70 mm deep rims, front and rear, respectively, on DT Swiss 350 hubs. I was running a White Industries crank with a 50 t ring and 18 t rear cog (in aluminum) by Endless Cogs. Eriksen Ti seatpost, Ibis Ti stem. 

- Max "the Fastest Pumpkin" in A2

[spencer robinson]

Here is a picture of my sam, pretty much all black components

[Marc Irwin]

Here's my Soma Buena Vista with black components and black powder coated Hunq.

[Eric Marth]

Thanks to everyone for the pictures and comments!

[Mackenzy Albright]

[Patrick Moore]

Garth: Either your eyes or your monitor are better than mine. When I blow up the image on my $1K hi rez 42" work monitor I can make out a fuzzy, "maybe" Selle Italia, but that's it.

Max: I beg forgiveness for using a puerile word, but that bike is neat!  I did note the ass saver. 50 X 18 with those tires -- I'd guess 27" tall: 75 or 76 gi? Just right for what I assume is a very light and efficient bike.

Whatzit Weigh?

My 1999 custom Joe gofast fixie is 18 event, but with heavy pedals (DA SPDs at 360 grams the pair) and heavy Phil hubs F&R, and 2 Iris cages. Original edition Flite saddle,

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[Michael Baquerizo]

due to covid supply chain issues and lack of funds this bike came together with a decent amount of black (maybe not as much as silver, but a mix) 

i ended up doing the same thing with my appaloosa as a result of liking it so much. i think i was very pro all silver at one point and was able to lax up a bit on that aesthetic.

you can't really see it but 

black kasai dyno hub

black deore rear hub

black deore rear derailleur

black paul thumbie

black and charcoal deore brake levers

black white industries crank arm

[Patrick Moore]

Michael: What is that 2-story rack?

[mbaqu...@gmail.com]

the second story is an unfortunately heavy (like twice the rack below it) yepp adapter for my kids yepp seat. am I crazy to think people who like bikes would happily buy a yepp compatible nitto rack? or even surly or tubus. 

the bottom is a nitto campee. 

On Dec 15, 2021, at 3:56 PM, Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:



<IMG_1669.jpeg>

 

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[Max S]

"Max: I beg forgiveness for using a puerile word, but that bike is neat!  I did note the ass saver. 50 X 18 with those tires -- I'd guess 27" tall: 75 or 76 gi? Just right for what I assume is a very light and efficient bike.... Whatzit Weigh?" 

Yep, just about 76 inch gear. Tires are Specialized 32 mm cross tubulars, latex tubes, so not too heavy for that size tire. The wheelset isn't much lighter, if at all, than my regular DA hubs with Reflex rims. A 50 mile ride on dirt roads around here will net only about 2,000 ft of elevation gain, so weight isn't a big priority. With those tires, rack, heavy bb and crank (by modern standards), spare tire, repair kit, full pump, lights, it's over 20 lbs. But the fit on the bike is good, and thanks to the wheel aerodynamics, I do manage a half-mph more on this than on other set-ups. 

The rear dropouts on the frame had been spread to 130 mm, so I can swap wheels with other bikes without too much trouble. I do have a wheel with a long-axled Surly fixed/fixed hub that I run sometimes, and riding fixed is somehow just as fast for me (but a bit more tiring). 

- Max "less whining, more fix(edgearrid)ing" in A2 

[Michael Baquerizo]

forgot to add this one - a favorite i found somewhere. if i recall correctly, it was a complainer on serotta forums, about riv's inability to run a business. jokes on them, these days.

[Chris Halasz]

Very limited black parts on the Platypus: Paul cantis and levers, MKS XC-III pedal cages, some trim on the BxB saddlebag, and gray bar tape - and that pesky dog. Saddle is Berthoud deep brown, not black. 

I don't like how some black components visually wear, but like this mix, and am OK with how these components will show their miles. I also like how the black complements the green and cream colors. 

Chris

SB, CA 

[David Person]

"Very limited black parts on the Platypus:"  I think a combination of black and silver look very nice on your bike.

David

[Eric Marth]

I agree with David, nice selections and very neutral overall, which I think is a great thing. All in balance, as you say, with the paint. Nice!