Any colour, so long as it's...

I remember (maybe through rose-tinted glasses?) choosing my first new bike in about 1958.

Drooling in the bike-shop window & pouring over the catalogues.

Bikes then were brightly coloured.

The one I chose was mainly in metallic middle blue, with panels of light blue outlined by fine multicoloured lines.

The bottoms of the forks were chromed, as were all the other steel bits.

The frame joints were elaborate-shaped lugs, outlined for show.

The rest was polished alloy.

With white hand grips & brake-lever covers.

And white-wall tyres.

Jewellery for boys!

All for £17-10s.

I just ordered a new bike.

It is going to cost 60 times as much, which is way more than any inflation data would allow...

For the frame, I had the choice between drab battleship grey & black.

The just-announced 11-speed gear hub (critical factor in this purchase) is light alloy, but black.

The alloy handlebars are - black.

With black grips.

The extra-cost adjustable handlebar stem - black.

Seat pillar - black.

Brakes - black.

Brake levers - you guessed it.

Alloy cranks - yep!

Saddle too.

And rims.

And tyres...

Maybe I can find a red bell?

Of course, I should have expected this.

You only have to sample any crowd to see that 80-90% of people are wearing black, black & black.

So I suppose bike manufacturers are just responding to current taste.

What a waste!

Parting thot: "I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars." - Og Mandino