How important are looks?

turnerjohn

think this blog has highlighted the fact that us cyclists are right picky b*ggers !

bike companies really do have a tough job in specs and colours as we all seem to go for something different....variety the spice of life and all ;-) !

think what does sum it up tho, "if it looks right it rides right"...aka you feel right !

not that am at all a tart....especially if its carbon :-)

Monkeypump

Since Supersonic is confused by my response regarding Hope skewers, I'll explain.

Without re-reading it, I do believe I mentioned the lack of plastic parts, the steel acorn nuts, the non-issue with exposed cams AND the fact that I've had 1500 trouble-free miles on them BEFORE I wrote the quoted line.

The fact that they look good IS a secondary concern, and my motivation for responding was the disdain in Sheldon Brown's blog (i.e. the suggestion that 'boutique' skewers had to useles because it would be impossible to look good AND perform well).

To add something to this discussion, much of the beauty of bikes and components is in their engineering. For me, a well constructed frame or an intricately machined component is the root of good aesthetics.

MacAndCheese

Looks are a big part in my choice, I also find frame size can have a massive effect on the way bikes look - I tend to like the look of the smaller size frames which is probably the reason I ride a slightly undersized frame - even though I think I prefer the handling...guess it has something to do with small Dual slalom frames being in fashion when I first got into MTBs back in the late nineties!

Branding also plays a big part - I'm in the market for a new frame at the mo and there's a certain company that make excellent frames that I can't consider cos I hate there branding graphics! ( I won't name names as I know they have a lot of fans and this is only my second post!)

ride_whenever

Or if you look at it the other way, they can make any old thing in any old colour and there'll be someone to buy it...

MacAndCheese

Also agree with MonkeyPump that intricately machined parts can look great, I also run hope skewers, but I brought them purely to match the the Hope wheelset I brought.... :oops:

supersonic

Monkeypump wrote:

Since Supersonic is confused by my response regarding Hope skewers, I'll explain.

Without re-reading it, I do believe I mentioned the lack of plastic parts, the steel acorn nuts, the non-issue with exposed cams AND the fact that I've had 1500 trouble-free miles on them BEFORE I wrote the quoted line.

The fact that they look good IS a secondary concern, and my motivation for responding was the disdain in Sheldon Brown's blog (i.e. the suggestion that 'boutique' skewers had to useles because it would be impossible to look good AND perform well).

To add something to this discussion, much of the beauty of bikes and components is in their engineering. For me, a well constructed frame or an intricately machined component is the root of good aesthetics.

They are still not as effective as Shimano IMO (which are easier to judge the clamping force - hence why so many Hope ones come loose), and as was clearly explained by some users, the cam CAN be an issue. Sheldon explained one of the problems as the size of the mechanisms, and did state that not all 'boutique' skewers came with inferior nuts.

joshtp

supersonic wrote:

I think maybe because I have worked with bikes for a long time, and research them, looks aren't the first thing that draws me in: value and spec does.

+1
i like my bike to look good, but its not the be all and end all, id rather it actually BE good. i do have a bit of a thing for white and red though...... hence why i love the 'zochi 44's so much, despite poor performance.

bomberesque

Shmano Skerwers rule, and are the opitomy of a nicely engineered piece of kit IMO thus satisfying both criteria. They don't come in shiny colours but black works for me

as for the rest, I like a nice looking bike, sure. If a bike visually offended me I'm not sure if I would stick with it or not. Then again, beautiful but useless is not where I want to be either. Life is balance

As for what constitutes attractive, well that is a terribly open question. Generally there's a limit to how much shiny I will find attractive. Ibis Tranny frame. Sure ... beautiful. CB cobalt wheels. Nope ... too flash

I am old enough (easily....) to have been sucked into the purple anodizing wars of the early 90s but I never was. I still had an early pair of Pace RC35s though, they were the best looking forks anybody had ever made ever in the history of ever. Crap by comparison with the simplest shock forks today of course but god were they pretty!

Monkeypump

But if something can perform well AND look good...?

Agree with bomberesque on the Pace forks... beauties.

supersonic

Monkeypump wrote:

But if something can perform well AND look good...?

Agree with bomberesque on the Pace forks... beauties.

Oh, absolutely. Many people like the raw functionality and beauty of some parts - Thomson stems for example and the CNC ringlets, and classic steel frames.

schmako

Function > Fashion

joshtp

some manufacturers just have the knack, GT for example, of making both beutifull and exelent bikes. just look at SS's Zaskar, or my Aggressor. STUNNING! and they ride brilliantly. (at least i presume the zascar does!)

supersonic

Yeah, it does lol. Many many budget parts though, and I got the frame for a low price.

geordiefreerider

I dont think looks are going to matter soon if these so called summers keep on being as damp, you can barely see my bike for mud these days !!

angrymeerkat

Well, my last purchase came down to the Merida, or a Commencal combi disc... the Commencal rode slightly better, was marginally lighter - but the thing was ugly beyond belief.

So I just picked up the Merida and upgraded the dodgy bits... actually, red Hope skewers are next on my shopping list!!

projectsome

looks are very important to me but that doesn't mean I'll choose a bike with less good specs.

SUPERSUTT

i personaly think specs over looks is a must you want a bike thats going to last and upgrade as parts wear out or get damaged . like you say we pay a lot of hard earnd cash fo our steads so they have to last . ALL BIKES LOOK THE SAME WHEN CAKED IN MUD . if its not brokern why fix it

fcumok

angrymeerkat wrote:

Well, my last purchase came down to the Merida, or a Commencal combi disc... the Commencal rode slightly better, was marginally lighter - but the thing was ugly beyond belief.

So I just picked up the Merida and upgraded the dodgy bits... actually, red Hope skewers are next on my shopping list!!

Or you could get the superstar ones http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=85

supersonic

Or shimano and get some nail varnish out ;-)

fcumok

I am addicted to buying red bits for my bike

lm_trek

fcumok wrote:

I am addicted to buying red bits for my bike

Alan is that you??

Otherwise known as Hednesfordxcer or Re-Born or Harlquin

passout

According to my wife, not very.

fcumok

lm_trek wrote:

fcumok wrote:

I am addicted to buying red bits for my bike

Alan is that you??

Otherwise known as Hednesfordxcer or Re-Born or Harlquin

My brother's called Alan if that helps??

xtreem

60% look
40% feel, spec.

Look is very important to me.
And I can't imagine riding a silver, yellow or brown bike. :?
But pink, lime green, sky blue, purple and red are awesome colours.
Offcourse, combined with white parts. 8)

Chaz.Harding

Xtreem wrote:

But pink, lime green, sky blue, purple and red are awesome colours.
Offcourse, combined with white parts. 8)

Sounds like some kinda crazy trifle...

fcumok

bigchazrocks wrote:

Xtreem wrote:

But pink, lime green, sky blue, purple and red are awesome colours.
Offcourse, combined with white parts. 8)

Sounds like some kinda crazy trifle...

Trifle bikes are the future

lawman

id love a purple bike with white rims and finishing kit and lime green graphics ...... would look the muts nuts

timthetinyhorse

i just like my bikes to look fast, im not even sure how i define a bike as looking fast but thats what i like, if the bike looks fast i tend to ride faster.....