Ugliest (2010) bike awards

jonginge

Wallace1492 wrote:

Then raise you:

Concept bikes I can handle but the built-in washing machine takes it a bit far.

UndercoverElephant

lost_in_thought wrote:

TT bikes seem to be featuring quite highly in this... interesting.

To be fair, a lot of the new Kestrel road bikes are almost as bad...

http://www.kestrelbicycles.com/getattachment/c3859708-c80c-4155-8e7f-f5fbba3272ac/Talon.aspx

lost_in_thought

UndercoverElephant wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

TT bikes seem to be featuring quite highly in this... interesting.

To be fair, a lot of the new Kestrel road bikes are almost as bad...

http://www.kestrelbicycles.com/getattachment/c3859708-c80c-4155-8e7f-f5fbba3272ac/Talon.aspx

Agreed. Ewww.

I like not these funny-shaped downtubes.

Pokerface

cjcp wrote:

Not a fan of this either:

That's hot!

Pokerface

Before anyone else get critical of TT bikes - please remember that they are built on aerodynamic principals - not on looks.

The new, odd shapes coming out are a reflection of improvements in aerodynamics and wind tunnel testing. Yes, they look weird, but they are designed to shave seconds off personal bests - not make the rider look good.

Road bikes don't suffer from this as much - so if you see an ugly road bike - get critical!

MonkeyMonster

Oh of course - but you can do wonders with paints an decals - why do they the bikes loose in a children play area is where most of the gripes come from I think.

lost_in_thought

OK, so it's not ridiculously ugly, but what's with the tree-branch-like toptube to seat tube link? And the rear triangle looks a little odd.

jonginge

Yeah. Always make me think:
designer: 'Here's the design'
engineer: 'it's not strong enough, let's just add this strut here. No-one'll notice'

lost_in_thought

JonGinge wrote:

Yeah. Always make me think:
designer: 'Here's the design'
engineer: 'it's not strong enough, let's just add this strut here. No-one'll notice'

I always look at it the other way:

Engineer: Here's the prototype. It's lighter, stiffer, better.
Designer: Well that's a bit dull. Looks just like a normal bike. We should make that join there like a tiny forky thing. That would be new and exciting.
Engineer: You are a complete pillock.

cjcp

Pokerface wrote:

Before anyone else get critical of TT bikes - please remember that they are built on aerodynamic principals - not on looks.

The new, odd shapes coming out are a reflection of improvements in aerodynamics and wind tunnel testing. Yes, they look weird, but they are designed to shave seconds off personal bests - not make the rider look good.

Road bikes don't suffer from this as much - so if you see an ugly road bike - get critical!

True, but the Kestrel has got brown on it. Brown? It's universally accepted that brown is not a fast colour and so shouldn't be on a TT bike.

I like the BMC. But, I wouldn't get one. It'd be like buying white football boots and not being able to kick a ball.

_Brun_

lost_in_thought wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

Yeah. Always make me think:
designer: 'Here's the design'
engineer: 'it's not strong enough, let's just add this strut here. No-one'll notice'

I always look at it the other way:

Engineer: Here's the prototype. It's lighter, stiffer, better.
Designer: Well that's a bit dull. Looks just like a normal bike. We should give it an anniversary tail-bone or something. That would be new and exciting.
Engineer: You are a complete pillock.

Ahem

jonginge

_Brun_ wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

Yeah. Always make me think:
designer: 'Here's the design'
engineer: 'it's not strong enough, let's just add this strut here. No-one'll notice'

I always look at it the other way:

Engineer: Here's the prototype. It's lighter, stiffer, better.
Designer: Well that's a bit dull. Looks just like a normal bike. We should give it an anniversary tail-bone or something. That would be new and exciting.
Engineer: You are a complete pillock.

Ahem

All good hypotheses. Now, I need my version of the engineer to apply struts to my recently split sides.

lost_in_thought

choirboy

lost_in_thought wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

Yeah. Always make me think:
designer: 'Here's the design'
engineer: 'it's not strong enough, let's just add this strut here. No-one'll notice'

I always look at it the other way:

Engineer: Here's the prototype. It's lighter, stiffer, better.
Designer: Well that's a bit dull. Looks just like a normal bike. We should make that join there like a tiny forky thing. That would be new and exciting.
Engineer: You are a complete pillock.

+1 (spake the engineer...)

hipshaker

There must be some crazy tandem bikes out there?

hipshaker

Actually, how about this baby?



I'd absolutely love to drive that down Lillie road in the morning...

Neil Holland

You'd be wanting to wear the Lawrence of Arabia cap back to front before venturing out on that... :shock:

jedster

I always look at it the other way:

Engineer: Here's the prototype. It's lighter, stiffer, better.
Designer: Well that's a bit dull. Looks just like a normal bike. We should make that join there like a tiny forky thing. That would be new and exciting.
Engineer: You are a complete pillock.

That is spot on.

I'm going to lay down the aesthetic law here:

1. Great thing about bikes is that they are really elegant in a form following function bauhaus kinda thing
2. It's a bit pointless to criticise the look of full sussers and TT bikes PROVIDED all that design clutter is actually functional, which it probably is in most cases
3. What is REALLY bad taste bike design is when framesets are tweaked to make them LOOK different rather than because it has real substantial performance benefits. You can see where the marketing folks are coming from - "we have a problem - we want to charge a big fat premium for a bike frame that superficially looks very similar to other much cheaper frames. That's tricky. We need to have some visible cues to differentiate our frame". That way leads the silly bridge bits on that BMC. The lumpy down tube on that willier and althose bloody wobbly bits on the Pinas. I think it's getting ridiculous. :x

Personally I'm getting more and more tempted by ostentatiously understated Ti frames.

J

ratherbeintobago

Changing the subject, this is hideous:



What's with the curved top tube? It looks like it's melted, and looks worse in other colours.

This isn't too bad, but could have been better:



I thought Italian bikes were supposed to look good?

Andy

DonDaddyD

I like the Pinarello not feeling the fork and seat stays anymore, not sure I like it as much as I like the Prince. In fact I don't like it as much as I like the Prince. Also 'Dogma' isn't a name for a bike.

Not feeling the Wilier, that's a big negative-angular move away from pretties like the Izoard and Cento.

Gilbie

lost_in_thought wrote:

I'll get the ball rolling:



OK, so I'm cheating, it's an MTB.

Dont worry - at $7,349.99 you are unlikely to see one being used on the road.

fossyant

Trek District.........and it's Grey with orange wheels...nasty

Mike400

The Hundredth Idiot wrote:

Yike Bike?



And here's their website to see it in motion! (But I still think Wallace's beats this. And all the dual-sus MTBs, goes without saying! )

Ready to get a flaming, but I like this in concept anyway - its one of the more interesting electric bikes out there. Looks a bit unstable at speed in that video, and the riding position looks a trifle odd too...

You cant actually pedal it either?

Any idea how much its likely to cost?

attica

DDD

Bianchi are not unimpeachable, check this out:-


Actually I think Bianchi have stopped making such lovely bikes of late. Still wouldn't kick one out of my bike shed though.

DonDaddyD

Attica wrote:

DDD

Bianchi are not unimpeachable, check this out:-


Actually I think Bianchi have stopped making such lovely bikes of late. Still wouldn't kick one out of my bike shed though.

Why would you post such a thing! I thought we were cool now!!!??

<< Runs away crying >>

MonkeyMonster

Aye caramba - that thing is UGLY

cjcp

jedster wrote:

Personally I'm getting more and more tempted by ostentatiously understated Ti frames.

J

J - , and a big +1 on the above. How bikes should look etc.

ratherbeintobago

The full-suss Bianchi was built with a specific race in mind, so it can be forgiven for looking like a bit of a pig. Next year's 928 is very nice though:



Andy

KnightofCydonia

my addition to this. Take the gt off it and I'd totally see it as 'shockwave' :?

redvee

Attica wrote:

DDD

Bianchi are not unimpeachable, check this out:-


Actually I think Bianchi have stopped making such lovely bikes of late. Still wouldn't kick one out of my bike shed though.

Built/created for the Paris-Roubaix some years back.