Ugliest (2010) bike awards

2

Comments

  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    Then raise you:

    bicycles12.jpg
    Concept bikes I can handle but the built-in washing machine takes it a bit far.
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • 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
  • 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
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    cjcp wrote:
    Not a fan of this either:

    img_rep_5740_1.jpg

    That's hot!
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    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!
  • 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.
    Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
    The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]
  • 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.

    SLR01.jpg
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    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'
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • 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'

    :lol:

    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
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    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.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • _Brun_
    _Brun_ Posts: 1,740
    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'
    :lol:

    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
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    _Brun_ 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'
    :lol:

    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.
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • 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'

    :lol:

    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...)
  • There must be some crazy tandem bikes out there?
    Kona Africabike 3 - 20kgs of love and steel
  • Actually, how about this baby?

    escape_two_cats_screamer.jpg

    I'd absolutely love to drive that down Lillie road in the morning...
    Kona Africabike 3 - 20kgs of love and steel
  • You'd be wanting to wear the Lawrence of Arabia cap back to front before venturing out on that... :shock:
  • jedster
    jedster Posts: 1,717
    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
  • Changing the subject, this is hideous:

    Pinarello_Dogma_60_1.jpg

    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:

    IMPERIALE-carbon-lo.jpg

    I thought Italian bikes were supposed to look good?

    Andy
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    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.
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • I'll get the ball rolling:

    toppy1.jpg

    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
    fossyant Posts: 2,549
    Trek District.........and it's Grey with orange wheels...nasty
  • Mike400
    Mike400 Posts: 226
    Yike Bike?

    Yikebike.jpg

    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! :wink: )

    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?
    twitter @fat_cyclist
  • attica
    attica Posts: 2,362
    DDD

    Bianchi are not unimpeachable, check this out:-
    bianchipez1.jpg

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

    "Thanks...

    ...I can taste blood"
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    Attica wrote:
    DDD

    Bianchi are not unimpeachable, check this out:-
    bianchipez1.jpg

    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 >>
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • Aye caramba - that thing is UGLY
    Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
    The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    jedster wrote:
    Personally I'm getting more and more tempted by ostentatiously understated Ti frames.

    J

    J - :lol: , and a big +1 on the above. How bikes should look etc.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • 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:

    ac05be53d4.gif

    Andy
  • FURY.jpg


    my addition to this. Take the gt off it and I'd totally see it as 'shockwave' :?
    Start Weight 18st 13lbs March 2009
    17st 10lbs August 2009
    17st 4lbs October 2009
    15st 12lbs December 2010

    Final planned weight 12st 7lbs
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Attica wrote:
    DDD

    Bianchi are not unimpeachable, check this out:-
    bianchipez1.jpg

    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.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.