Perfect Mix of Silver and Black

[Kirke Campbell]

Historically, I'm a big fan of all-silver builds. It's just classic and you really can't go wrong with that approach. But lately, I've really been into bike builds that perfectly balance a mix of silver and black components on a classic steel frame. I'm looking for inspiration on an upcoming build and would love if folks could share pictures of bikes that match this criteria. 

Here are some shots from some Blue Lug builds that capture the vibe:

https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/54226713982_9185d237c3_b.jpg

https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/54096167114_85c6059bf8_b.jpg

Thanks!

-k. 

[Ted Durant]

On Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 7:57:55 PM UTC-4 kirkebc...@gmail.com wrote:

Historically, I'm a big fan of all-silver builds. It's just classic and you really can't go wrong with that approach. But lately, I've really been into bike builds that perfectly balance a mix of silver and black components on a classic steel frame.

+1!

I've been trying to work on that aesthetic with my Sams. Not sure I'm there, yet.

Ted Durant

Milwaukee WI USA

[Franco Rinaldi]

Building a roadini and went black on the brakes (Leo is silver). Gonna do black bar tape. Really want to bike to have a hint of Danzig 

Franco Rinaldi 

c:  646.403.0661 

-Pardon any typos, Siri typed this message-

On Mar 29, 2025, at 8:33 PM, Ted Durant <tedd...@gmail.com> wrote:

On Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 7:57:55 PM UTC-4 kirkebc...@gmail.com wrote:

Historically, I'm a big fan of all-silver builds. It's just classic and you really can't go wrong with that approach. But lately, I've really been into bike builds that perfectly balance a mix of silver and black components on a classic steel frame.

+1!

I've been trying to work on that aesthetic with my Sams. Not sure I'm there, yet.

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Ted Durant

Milwaukee WI USA

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<Rivendell-Hillborne-Ted-30.jpeg>

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[Steve]

Maybe not perfect, but I've been digging it. The next set of tires will be black walls. 

Steve in AVL

[Justin Dedini]

Not a riv but my Boulder is somewhat adjacent and fits the description.

I 

[Steve]

I meant to add --- Ted, I love your threesome. The Green Sam wears it well. 

[Aaron Wilson]

Not my best shot, but I hope it captures the vibe 

[P W]

Boulder is incredible!! 

P. W.

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(917) 514-2207

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On Mar 29, 2025, at 6:37 PM, Justin Dedini <jde...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Mike Rossi]

Mike

On Mar 30, 2025, at 12:07 AM, P W <philip....@gmail.com> wrote:

Boulder is incredible!! 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9AAD3A1B-88C3-407F-B3E5-CAFAB555747F%40gmail.com.

[larson....@gmail.com]

I have been trying a black/silver combination on my Monstercross and like the look. Great looking bikes posted - Ted, the lime/olive Sam is spectacular (all three look great).

Randy in WI

[Michael Baquerizo]

[esoterica etc]

Another Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross. I didn't plan out the silver:black ratio when building it up (with the exception of the chainrings; that was a conscious choice), just went with the parts I had on hand along with what was available on Craigslist at the time. I'm also biased towards as much silver as possible, and when it first came together I thought it was too much black, but I've grown to really like it.  

~Mark

Kailua, HI

On Mar 29, 2025, at 1:57 PM, Kirke Campbell <kirkebc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Historically, I'm a big fan of all-silver builds. It's just classic and you really can't go wrong with that approach. But lately, I've really been into bike builds that perfectly balance a mix of silver and black components on a classic steel frame. I'm looking for inspiration on an upcoming build and would love if folks could share pictures of bikes that match this criteria. 

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[Shannon Menkveld]

I thought I had sent a long-winded post about "panda" bikes and what I think makes them look rad, but the internet seems to have eaten it. And I'm not going to type it all out again, so I'll just offer this as an example of "how to do it right." It's not a Riv, but it is lugged. And it's bitchin'.

Not my bike. (Although it looks like it would fit me.) Picture swiped from a Bike Forums C&V thread about American framebuilders. H/T to "easyupbug" on BF for this build.

To the topic at hand, I like how the silver bar, stem, and seatpost pick up the chrome fork and silver / grey decals. If everything was black, the fork would look weird. The red is also the business, but sorta off-topic.

--Shannon

[Garth]

Mix mix of parts is a product of carefully chosen parts for their function and what finish was available. Function is first and foremost though. Just because something is silver but isn't exactly what I need, I'll pass on it. I do rather like some gloss black finishes though, as my custom cut Andel crank is. Salsa shaft seatposts are just plain awesome, I don't care what color they are. So much so I bought 3 at the time. The 31.8mm Profile stem is a +/-25d 130mm. The good thing about black stems is that they don't reflect sunshine in your eyes ! Cranks are real easy to mix and match arms and ring colors and generally always look good.

I don't care about brake hood color, but black would my last choice ever for the cable housing. Some mix of silver and black is okay for derailleurs, but all black is just too much. Bar tape is white or anything bright !

[Garth]

That's supposed to start with "My mix of parts" ..... hah hah.

That said, frame color is something that can really make of break a mix of part colors. Like lighter and brighter colors.

[Michael Baquerizo]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHQoQvluNpJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D&img_index=2

this Wake Robin is super well done. Makes me want to get tanwalls on my Hillborne. 

[Andrew Scherer]

No black on my Homer, I considered it but it wanted silver metal and honey leather. I think my King of Mercia wears it well:

On Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 7:57:55 PM UTC-4 kirkebc...@gmail.com wrote:

[Kirke Campbell]

Some fantastic examples here y'all, keep them coming. That Wake Robin is incredible - practically perfect in my book. 

-k. 

[Ben Miller]

Really dig Ted's green Hillborne and Steve's Platty!

If you haven't seen them already, there are two really well done Riv's that I'd describe as a perfect mix of black and silver on the Radavist: One is John's own Hunq and the other a S&S Coupler'ed Rambouillet

Personally more of an all Silver kind of person, but my sage green Ram does have black hubs & skewers with black Mavic A319's with machined SW's for a black and silver mix in an otherwise silver/brown/green palate.

, 

[J G]

I have 2 bikes that purposefully seek to blend black and silver in as pleasing a way as possible.  The use of old 8 and 9 speed XT black/silver RDs helps and old forged silver cranks mixed with some black TA (or Salsa) rings always looks sharp.  Creating an even balance throughout is always the challenge:

-Justus

Mpls, MN

[Steve]

Justus, that Rosco-Bubbe is sharp!  Love the custom (?) racks. Sheeweet!!!

Steve in AVL

[J G]

Thanks Steve!  Yes, custom Clockwork Bikes racks.  I really like the innovative and minimalist design of the rear rack in particular.  An unexpected and appreciated design.

-Justus

Mpls, MN

[Shannon Menkveld]

Allow me to tip my hat to Dave Kirk, as well. That looks like a fantastic all-weather sport bike.

--Shannon

[Jeffery S]

Not to derail from the superb silver & black builds, but that metallic green Rambouillet is nicest color I've seen on any Ram – sorry orange fans.

Ben, was this a stock color? I've only seen orange and blue Rams IRL. I think there are some dark forest green frames out there, but this one looks like slightly darker version of the current Mermaid paint.

Bravo on the build too!

[P W]

Couldn’t agree more with Jeffery’s sentiment!

P. W.

~

(917) 514-2207

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On Apr 4, 2025, at 8:26 PM, Jeffery S <shep...@gmail.com> wrote:

Not to derail from the superb silver & black builds, but that metallic green Rambouillet is nicest color I've seen on any Ram – sorry orange fans.

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[Aaron Wilson]

So many great bikes here. Thanks for the inspiration. 

Put my VO fenders back on the Cross Check and thought I'd share. This is my most panda and my oldest build. (I love my Rivs, but this Surly will forever hold a place in my heart.)

[Shannon Menkveld]

Tallest, what's the story on that rack? I've not seem anything like it before.

--Shannon

[Mike Godwin]

Two for review. Not Rivs though. Bob now has black pedals and black Dia Compe Nuevo 980 cantis, black DT Swiss rims and black shimano rear, black Schmidt dyno hub. BMC Monstercross went to Reno last year. 

Mike SLO CA

[Aaron Wilson]

Shannon, that's the Surly 24-Pack rack. It holds my Atwater Atelier Porteur Box. This bike's my commuter/grocery getter. 

[Ben Miller]

Thanks Jeff and Philip!

One of the things that I love about the RBW group is I can actually trace back the linage of my Riv's fairly easily. I got my Ram from Keith Muller who got it from Anthony Ritchey who got it from Rollum Haas. Here is the original sale post from Rollum on RBW. In it, he states that it was part of "[a] small batch got a little scratched up in shipping and Riv had them repainted." That post was a great photo of how Rollum had it built up. I haven't seen a photo of how Anthony had it built up (there is a link but it's broken), but apparently he only had it for a year. Keith only had it for a few months and never built it up. Anyways, as Rollum states, the paint is really nice and has a pearlescent to it. It's got more beausage by my hands then from the previous owners, unfortunately. But oh man, that paint is a real stunner, especially in real life. It's pretty hard to capture in a photo. If anyone knows the exact color, I'd love to know!

Oh, and despite the fact this bike changed hands alot, it's mine now :) At least until I can't ride a bike it anymore. To quote Shannon from a recent post: "I think the Ram is one of the Rivviest Rivs that Riv ever Riv'ed." Just don't tell my Orange Roadeo that :)

[Ben Miller]

Well, right after I said I'm "more of an all Silver kind of person", I bought this black and white frame. This thread inspired me to think outside the box and try to achieve that perfect mix of black and silver (and brass)!

[Will Boericke]

I was pretty happy with how my 650b conversion of a Lemond Zurich turned out, silver-and-black-wise.

Will

[Kirke Campbell]

Here's a 1994 Bridgestone MB-3 I just finished building up. 

[iamkeith]

Nice.

[Steve]

Love that looong Ritchey stem!  

Steve in AVL