Considering we wash cars about once per decade, and our kids bikes seem to have magnetic attraction to the car doors, we wanted a color where the abuse wouldn't be as obvious. I would have been more inspired by blue or black, but practical (and available at the right price!) won out. Silver it is! It did great today on both the long ascent to and descent from Clingmans Dome at 6300ft. Tons of power going up and very controllable going down with the trans in manual mode.