superficial retro styley questions

[stinkerbelle]

Please indulge me! I'd like to make my slightly retro touring bike more so, with a brooks saddle and appropriate pannier for starters.

As regards the saddle, would you choose black, brown or honey? Black seems inevitable... but less ye olde.

And pannier, what would be suitable for laptop, papers and usual commuting stuff?

Finally, is a chain guard possible? I previously had hub gears and the chainguard came already fitted.

What else will make her even more aesthetically pleasing...?

 

[Max P]

Saddle = brown or honey but remember the bar tape will need to match.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Thank you Max, but then the knobbly gear/brake bits (showing off my expertise now) will not match... I sense a slippery slope!

 

[Rod_Saetan]

Yes, you would then need to change the brake hoods (the knobbly bits) too really. Carradice make some delightful, and practical pannier bags that would suit the aesthetic nicely, plus they are made in the UK.

https://www.carradice.co.uk/

OIh, and you should probably get a lovely copper or brass bell.

 

[Jonny69]

Silver quill stem and seatpost will help (except it looks like yours might be a threadless stem so might not be possible), and bin all the reflectors which make a lot of bikes look too contemporary. I'd stick with a black Brooks B17, personally, because it'll save you re-wrapping the bars and brown ones never quite look right with black bar wrap and hoods.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Thank you for advice, it seems seat and handlebars should match, as I suspected. Seatpost threadliness is an as yet unknown quantity... but I do see that those parts being silver would be much more attractive so will have to investigate.

This is an unrelated question but since the idea of swapping the stem has arisen... I have previously enjoyed an upright style of cycling and this bike tests my confidence and comfort, is it impossible / impractical to modify her to a more upright roadster(?) type handlebar? Or should I just man-up and grow accustomed to hurtling along head-first!

Mmmh, Carradice. Green with tan leather will contrast beautifully with the red. The Kendal is very lovely.