Well I have never received so many comments on and off list as I have for my color preference. I do want to say that every message I received was respectful while defending each owns opinion. That is what I like about this list, common theme with room to discuss ones likes and dislikes.
I also want to assure folks that I hold no animus towards anyone who owns a brown bike. I have owned many in my past so I can sympathize. I also need to thank Harvey for giving me a whole new reason to dislike brown bikes and also chide him for an image burned into my mind that will leave a psychological stain for life.
I can trace my dislike for the brown bikes to my early days in collecting Schwinn bikes. They had two colors that I just did not care for. I believe one was called Sierra Brown and the other Chestnut brown. It seemed when ever I would find a bike I liked, it would inevitably be in one of those two colors.
Now for those who wanted to win me over by using terms like Chocolate, Coffee light with cream and English Tea. I am with you all on this. I like the lighter tan / browns especially if they are used in a tasteful two tone paneling. It is that solid brown that I shy away from. I do not care for those Raleigh root beer bikes. Again this is all personal taste and as so many have said before, there is no wrong or right here.
Also, I did an informal, unscientific pole yesterday and today. I went out in my parking lot from work that is pretty full of cars. Not one brown one to be seen. I also rode to work today, 26 mi one way and all the way heavy traffic. Anyone who knows NJ during rush hour knows what I mean. Not 15 seconds passes where there are not cars, trucks, etc bearing down on you the whole way. I counted maybe 5 brown cars and I was pretty liberal with my selection. Perhaps a few thousand cars passed me today and not many brown among them.
Finally, I will respond to each of you that wrote me off list but will need some time to do so. I did not expect this kind of outpouring from my comment.
Lastly, the Worse flavor of all time for Ice Cream...
Chocolate chip mint. Who thought that putting mint in Ice Cream was a good thing ;)
Ray Homiski
Elizabeth, NJ