Actually it's a real problem. There are things I can do, by the way - have it resprayed for a start. But look at it this way: most people are desperately concerned about the colour of their bike. Nearly all men, whatever their protestations about colour not mattering would never choose to own a pink bike. Plenty of other people are persuaded by the colour of a bike (amongst lots of other things they buy like cars and clothes). Most people are happy though with a socially neutral "colour" like grey, i.e. no colour at all - but that's not great for those who like a particular colour.
But now let's look at it from the perspective of a small bike maker like Thorn. They already have four sizes in two different lengths in two colours: that's 16 bike frames to stock. Add two more colours and it's 32 bike frames with only one of each size/colour and from only one bike model. And they are not even half way to satisfying the colour choices of a range of customers.
So part of my post is about looking at the wider issue, not just from my preference. I'm wondering if Thorn wouldn't offer standard colours at a certain price and then a colour choice at an additional cost. Other bike makers do this although AFAIK Bob Jackson don't charge extra. I have a feeling that Thorn themselves have done something similar in the past. It may depend on when, where and by whom the bikes are sprayed/coated. Or could they offer an unpainted frame?
What do people think? And what does Thorn think?
