Bikes are getting uglier

[ergmonkey]

Man, just imagine how ugly that Lightspeed could be if it wasn't black...

 

[ergmonkey]

Also, I bought a matte carbon/aluminum lug Look KX back in 2002, but I have no problem admitting that this Look tt frame sets a new standard for unsightly kinks in tube shapes (and it pushes the envelope on obnoxiously large logos, as well, and on a non-American frame no less...)

 

[brianf7]

Also, I bought a matte carbon/aluminum lug Look KX back in 2002, but I have no problem admitting that this Look tt frame sets a new standard for unsightly kinks in tube shapes (and it pushes the envelope on obnoxiously large logos, as well, and on a non-American frame no less...)

Wow is that top tube suposed to be like that or did you just bend it to get the seat forward more.

 

[ergmonkey]

Wow is that top tube suposed to be like that or did you just bend it to get the seat forward more.

Haha.

Rest assured, that is not the Look I used to own, and I did not have anything to do with the shape of the tt frame at issue.

This isn't actually my old bike, but it is the same model and general set-up:

These days I ride one of these (also not actually my bike, just some internet photo of the same frame):

 

[oronet commander]

Yeah, that Specialized is ugly as hell; it made me go out to ride my beautiful Mendiz...

 

[Anonymous]

Modern design, ....how can these so called manufacturing plants and so called corporate product development staffs have taken us all for morons?

.... maybe their only exposure to bike people is through forums like this? Or maybe they look back at the godawful stuff people used to think was cool.... like this

or this

and think, "If they bought THAT Queen Victoria design, why not ...."

 

[lostintime]

Great looking bike died with the advent of molded frames, as far as I'm concerned. They all look like toy bikes from a cartoon.

While I love the look of a lugged steel or titanium frame, even the carbon fiber bikes of the 80's looked great compared to todays molded frames. I don't know who owns this , but this is a cool looking Telekom bike from days gone by ..... long, lean lines .

 

[bc_hills]

Great looking bike died with the advent of molded frames, as far as I'm concerned. They all look like toy bikes from a cartoon.

While I love the look of a lugged steel or titanium frame, even the carbon fiber bikes of the 80's looked great compared to todays molded frames. I don't know who owns this , but this is a cool looking Telekom bike from days gone by ..... long, lean lines .

+1 on that.

Look and Time make some nice looking carbon frames that seem to merge modern design with classic lines (although compact geometry is the norm). I'd guess that a custom builder could take care of whatever design concerns a person had, if that person had the money.

Are any manufacturers not making compact geometry frames?

 

[Anonymous]

+1 on that.

Look and Time make some nice looking carbon frames that seem to merge modern design with classic lines (although compact geometry is the norm). I'd guess that a custom builder could take care of whatever design concerns a person had, if that person had the money.

Are any manufacturers not making compact geometry frames?

I see this sort of sentiment so often.

You would be surprised to learn that a great many very good custom builders will put you on a new bike for less than the retail price of a great many of the "molded" frames in the local bike shop.

Certainly for less than a Look or a Time.

 

[richwagmn]

Great looking bike died with the advent of molded frames, as far as I'm concerned. They all look like toy bikes from a cartoon.

While I love the look of a lugged steel or titanium frame, even the carbon fiber bikes of the 80's looked great compared to todays molded frames. I don't know who owns this , but this is a cool looking Telekom bike from days gone by ..... long, lean lines .

Man, it looks so fragile...

There certainly is marketing hype in some of the new designs, but certainly bikes are faster today than bikes of 20 years ago (more efficient, more aero, less friction etc). I'd be more concerned if engineers weren't trying to build better bikes. And yes, that Specialized bike is quite ugly.

 

[krebs303]

I tried enlarging it but still have no clue

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

krebs, it's a massive cadence sensor. Look at the zip tie around the crank arm. Actually it looks like a wireless sensor that's usually on a front fork, so both sensors are clumped together.

Yeah, that's a wireless transmitter. I don't see any cables anywhere.

 

[Sheltowee]

Great looking bike died with the advent of molded frames, as far as I'm concerned. They all look like toy bikes from a cartoon.

While I love the look of a lugged steel or titanium frame, even the carbon fiber bikes of the 80's looked great compared to todays molded frames. I don't know who owns this , but this is a cool looking Telekom bike from days gone by ..... long, lean lines .

Is this the Ugly Bike Thread or what. The Merckx bike is **** f@kng, puke ugly.

 

[Black-Balled]

Man, it looks so fragile...

But it is not! It bends back!


For a while anyway!

 

[Oldman]

I tried enlarging it but still have no clue

It's the motor that propelled Merckx to all of his victories. Cancellara is merely following tradition.

 

[BroDeal]

Another thing that is really starting to bug me are carbon rims that are covered with huge lettering and other graphics. These things usually make a bike look too visually "busy."

Crap like this.

Can't we get wheels in soild black with a small discrete logo?

 

[Oldman]

Another thing that is really starting to bug me are carbon rims that are covered with huge lettering and other graphics. These things usually make a bike look too visually "busy."

Crap like this.

Cannot we getr wheels in pure black with a small discrete logo?

My Zipps came with applique' decals and I heat-gunned them off before riding them. Now they come bonded into the top layer, dammit.

 

[RedheadDane]

Come one, guys... who cares what a bike looks like? It's a bike race not a fashion show... as long as it works...

 

[Oldman]

Come one, guys... who cares what a bike looks like? It's a bike race not a fashion show... as long as it works...

Yes, but it shouldn't make you ill to look at it.

 

[krebs303]

krebs, it's a massive cadence sensor. Look at the zip tie around the crank arm. Actually it looks like a wireless sensor that's usually on a front fork, so both sensors are clumped together.

Yeah, that's a wireless transmitter. I don't see any cables anywhere.

it looks bigger than some mini-pumps

 

[ergmonkey]

Come one, guys... who cares what a bike looks like? It's a bike race not a fashion show... as long as it works...

Clearly, you have never seen a rear-faring recumbent.

 

[L29205]

Yes, but it shouldn't make you ill to look at it.

Now you know the real secret to the Specialized Doped bike. Everyone was happy to Cancellara go off the front so they didn't have to look at the god ugly bike

 

[krebs303]

old doesn't have to mean beautiful

 

[Oldman]

old doesn't have to mean beautiful

My Eyes! My Eyes! My Eyes!

 

[krebs303]