Style v Substance

MickeyTake

On a scale of 1 (Substance) to 10 (Style), what criteria do you use when making bike-related purchases?

Everyone likes to look good (or at least think they look good), but at what cost in terms of quality of item? For people that are on the lower end of the scale above, is it just that you convince yourself that whatever item you think looks the bees knees is actually of the highest quality too?

:cool: -v- :pac:

kumate_champ07

I pick the highest quality in my price range, then choose black or silver for, whichever matches my color scheme

If my seatpost is black my saddle will be white
black handlebars-white grips
and vice versa

Lumen

These dimensions are orthogonal.

smacl

1

TheBlaaMan

Style. Unless it negatively effects Substance. In those case, Substance unless it makes me look shyte in which case please refer to above.

Jk_Eire

My current bike was dilemma on style versus substance.
The 2013 Giant Defy 2 doesn't look great with a blue and grey paint job, along with fairly featureless branding.
In my price bracket it was by far the best bang for buck though. It was also the least visually appealing.

I'd give it a 6 on the scale as the look of it has grown on me.

Same with shoes. Black and dark grey Mavic Rush. Looked better in white, but not Irish roads.

All about style for Jerseys though. Tight and Italian all the way.

Brian?

I don't think there's much of a trade off with most gear. Most really good quality clothing is stylish. Ditto shoes, helmets, gloves etc.

With bikes there is a trade off sometimes. Planet X being the prime example; great group sets, decent frames and a very good price all wrapped up in a horrible paint job.

thebouldwhacker

I would never shy away from style however substance always comes first. Fortunately in cycling the two are often one in the same, sidi, campag......... Trek? Ok not always but you know what I mean.

Cee-Jay-Cee

It depends on what I'm buying. I tend to buy lidl/Aldi/Monton clothing as it's cheap
and does what I need but for bike components intend to go for middle range parts.

Cyclewizard

i have an friend who's an engineer (aeronotical) and although he can appreciate style its interesting that with his 'engineers mind' substance is valued over everything and it shows with his cycling! nothing he likes more than pulling apart any fads or style items that are done for the sake of it.

Personally I like a balance of both but it definitely makes me laugh when you see some of these guys looking all 'euro' and 'stylish' at events who cant back it up with their riding. (we've all seen them!) That's pretty tragic. Anyone who buys for quality / substance though can be forgiven in this event I think just as you'd buy decent tools, machines, clothes? etc

The only way for companies to keep on their toes and keep producing the goods is through competition and so i'd never blindly follow any company. just because they've got a great history in the sport means nothing if their current output is sh!t.
In that sense i suppose id lean towards substance, its up to the companies to work for the people to produce quality and style at the same time and at a fair price. Competition drives this not blind brand loyalty.

thebouldwhacker

I'm surprised this hasn't cleared up this question....

Puggy

Lumen wrote: »

These dimensions are orthogonal.

You mean 1 dimensional, orthogonal implies two

Harrybelafonte

Rule 14 people!

A lot is down to budget tbh. But at a race/sportive the rider and substance above all.