It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that bling!

Leslie ShapiroGear, Peak Pedaler

Biking can be serious business. Very serious. Intervals and hill repeats. Power meters and heart rate zones. Sweat rates and carbo-loading. But, it also can be fun. Lots and lots of fun.

In my opinion, a bike that’s fun to ride is going to get ridden more. There are days that I don’t feel like going out, but I look at my bike and know how much enjoyment it will be once I get out on the road. Plus, who doesn’t like showing off a pretty bike?

Maybe I’ve taken it a bit too far, but here are a few things I do to add a little bit of bling, a little “flair”, if you will, to my daily ride. And guys, here’s a little hint: if you want your girlfriend to love cycling as much as you do, make sure she loves the look of her bike. Who needs diamonds when you can have a custom headset top cap?

Don’t just bring it to Ride The Rockies, BLING IT!

While your local shops can order colored headsets for you, head to PurelyCustom.com for colored endcaps, bottlecage screws, valve caps, and even engraved components like spacers and topcaps.

While your local shops can order colored headsets for you, head to PurelyCustom.com for colored endcaps, bottlecage screws, valve caps, and even engraved components like spacers and topcaps.
Even the dorkiest-looking helmet benefits from some bling. Here a custom pink ribbon sticker makes a statement.

Even the dorkiest-looking helmet benefits from some bling. Here a custom pink ribbon sticker makes a statement.
Water bottle cages are a necessity. Luckily, they're readily available in a variety of colors and materials.

Water bottle cages are a necessity. Luckily, they’re readily available in a variety of colors and materials.
You should be starting out Ride The Rockies with some new tires, so see if your LBS has something fun that would match your bike.

You should be starting out Ride The Rockies with some new tires, so see if your LBS has something fun that would match your bike.
We're not saying to ride a saddle that doesn't work for you, but if your go-to saddle comes in a choice of colors, why wouldn't you match it to your bike?

We’re not saying to ride a saddle that doesn’t work for you, but if your go-to saddle comes in a choice of colors, why wouldn’t you match it to your bike?
New or vintage, threadless or quill, the stem is an easy place to add some glamour to your bike - just be sure you don't sacrifice fit for the sake of fashion!

New or vintage, threadless or quill, the stem is an easy place to add some glamour to your bike – just be sure you don’t sacrifice fit for the sake of fashion!
Face it - handlebar tape gets nasty. Sure, black tape looks cleaner longer, but why not rewrap your bars with a splash of color. Nothing says "I have a team mechanic waiting for me after the ride" like perfectly clean white tape.

Face it – handlebar tape gets nasty. Sure, black tape looks cleaner longer, but why not rewrap your bars with a splash of color. Nothing says “I have a team mechanic waiting for me after the ride” like perfectly clean white tape.
At about 25 cents each, this might be the cheapest way to personalize your ride. Ask your LBS to order something other than boring silver ones. Or maybe they already know how cool they are and have them in stock.

At about 25 cents each, this might be the cheapest way to personalize your ride. Ask your LBS to order something other than boring silver ones. Or maybe they already know how cool they are and have them in stock.
This is the easiest way to customize your bike. A trip to The Home Depot for some colored electrical tape and a little bit of patience goes far.

This is the easiest way to customize your bike. A trip to The Home Depot for some colored electrical tape and a little bit of patience goes far.