MobiBike

This particular Clark Kent I had was too stiff for my weight then and the chip seal roads of Idaho. (a Bianchi Carbon Virata replaced it)

The Miyata was possibly my mistake. The trend of the day then was to buy smaller bikes, and I never found a "happy feel" zone. It sort of reminded me of riding a flat feeling soft aluminum bike. It lacked a certain spring back I was looking for (my Italian steel Olmo did have) , and I was overly influenced in those days with finding stupid light weight, which it was not. Amazing nice build quality! As time passed, Miyata bikes became a favored brand of mine in the handling department! Feel vote went to Italian brands however.

So one was too stiff, the other too softish sorta.

thinktubes 

That was the same impression I had with the Litespeed. There was just something missing.

abshipp 

Yeah, I don't think I would want to load up my 710.

I have found it to be rock solid on descents with a 63mm offset fork, 650b x 38mm tires, and a ~6lb handlebar bag, but that's pretty lightly loaded. No shimmy even up to 45mph. I think ready to ride weight is somewhere around 35lbs. It is a little whippy, especially in my 64cm size.

The flex is very welcomed in the context I use it as a randonneuring bike, but it certainly doesn't feel like a tourer. I couldn't imagine front and rear panniers on this thing.

jeirvine 

I had a late 70's Serotta Club special for about a month. It felt heavy and overbuilt. Not really my cup of tea.

KonAaron Snake 

To follow this theme - vintage bands/songs that don't wow?

I'll start with The Pogues in general, and Fairytale of NY in particular. Boring song, frat bro, drunken lout band. Not even MacColl can save this stinker.

GordoTrek

My '73 Raleigh Super Course that I brought back to life. Sat in the stand for months, coffee colored, nothing special about it and it fit me well. Just didn't do anything for me. I think it's mostly because I had a Gran Sport fall into my lap a few months after I purchased the Super Course and the Gran Sport got all of my attention, which btw did give me the WOW.

jet sanchEz

A 1982 Raleigh Super Corse built in Japan by Panasonic (I think it was Panasonic). It rode like a donkey until I changed out the original wheels with some Mavic 501 hubs laced to some nice Mavic SUP rims....she flies now and I am very glad I sorted the issue out, it is a great all-rounder.

TiHabanero

Around 1994 a customer ordered in a Ritchey road bike. Don't remember the model, but it was very nice. After assembly, I took it for a spin and was shocked at how ill mannered it was. The front end was super sensitive to input and I did not like it at all. The customer was nuts about it, and he ordered a Ritchey Swisscross after that! The Swisscross was much more to my liking.

jeirvine 

And this is exactly why I prefer to take my chances on cheap used (nice) bikes, rather than being fitted for a bespoke custom frame. After paying $$$, it could just not feel or ride great.

Lemond1985

Which is the exact opposite of the feeling you get when something you pay almost nothing for, turns out to be something to die for. Way more satisfaction from that, cheaper too.

Cyclist753

Yeah... sometimes when you pay the BIG bucks for something there is a subconscious factor in play that tells you to 'like' that which you purchased come Hades or high water!

TiHabanero

Whoa, fellas! The customer I referenced loved the quickness of the bike, and it was exactly what he wanted built. I, on the other hand, hated it. When going custom the builder builds to suit. You tell him what you want and he builds it. This guy wanted a race bike and got one. Not sure it actually had a model name as it was built to spec.

iab

Hate to say it, but pretty much every Peugeot ever made.

eja_ bottecchia

My Master is from the new generation of steel frames coming out of Ernesto’s shop.

it is a great riding bike. It would be interesting to do a side by side comparison and figure out where the difference is.

iab

Obviously, you have fallen from the grace of god.

But along your theme, anytime Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin plays on xrt, I turn immediately to 101. When they play Linkin Park, I turn back. Hate those 3 in particular. Never cared much for Mick Jagger, ick. And I have similar ideas about Elvis as Public Enemy.

jamesdak 

I've had a few that I just didn't connect with although they do get raved about and I searched them out based on reps.

One was a Trek 560 Pro. It was competent enough but I just never came to terms with it despite trying various wheels and gearing options on it. I just never felt compelled to ride it and eventually moved it on to a lady that fell in love with it from the first test ride.



Another was a 1987 Paramount. Here again, I chased after the "right one" for a while and finally found this one. Beautiful bike, tastefully upgraded, should have blown my doors off yet I seemed to always choose other bikes over it. I even preferred the 87 Circuit I still have over it. This was moved on to another rider also. The Paramount always felt "soft" in the back like it was flexing or something when I tried to push it. I tried several wheelsets on it and they never helped, go figure....



Another one (or two) that didn't do anything for me in terms of riding fun were a pair of the Huffy built Raleigh Team USA bikes. Neither quite the right size and I just never felt right on either one. I did love the paint job though and for that alone I'd love to find another one in my size. Silly I know.

sumgy

Said it before, but my Gilco tubed Colnago Master Olympic was the harshest riding bike I ever owned.

Goofball

Get copies of beggar's banquet, let it bleed, sticky fingers and exile on main street, a bottle of your favorite bourbon, a pack of Marlboro's, lock yourself in a room and play these albums continuously. Eventually you will have your rolling stones epiphany 🎸🎷

samkl 

It’d be interesting to hear people’s weights and riding styles along with their bike duds. One person's whippy is another’s dead.

Trakhak

Nothing by Pink Floyd after their first album, Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, holds any interest for me. Or, to put it another way, I'll take playful over ponderous every time.

Trakhak

Agree, except I'd replace everything after "Get copies of" with Between The Buttons. And with The Who Sell Out, of course.

non-fixie 

My expectations are generally not that high, and I'm quite willing to forgive a bike any minor issues, so I'm not often disappointed. One did fall way short, though: this Peugeot PA60.

Bought it as a bare frame, and spent quite some time and my nicest French parts on the build. Rode it twice. On both occasions I headed back home prematurely because I was bored.

I suspect the geometry has something to do with it. Or maybe it comes alive with 40lbs of luggage? Not going to try it. It has served as a parts donor for other projects since, and is now almost back to a bare frame again.

KonAaron Snake 

Zeppelin, I'm right with you. Hobbit rock, and I don't like Plant's vocals. They also just seem so incredibly stupid. Floyd...I mostly agree, but I do like a few tunes. Elvis...I get the Public Enemy approach, I appreciate it, but he still was a damned fine performer, and some of those earlier tunes, appropriation or not, are pretty good. Don't get me wrong...he's no Chuck Berry.

Whenever anyone asks me Beatles or Stones, I answer The Kinks. I do like the stones a lot, but they can be a bit repetitive.

Fahrenheit531 

When I saw the '86 Peloton on craigslist I couldn't get there fast enough. There's a whole thread dedicated to this thing, and it's got Columbus tubing and the stays aren't painted they're "black chrome" and oh man it's gonna be awesome!

Meh. Maybe it was a victim of expectations.

Gravity Aided

I have almost the same Trek. It was exactly the same when I got it. I found it rides a lot better with a GXP bottom bracket. I also added Tiagra derailleurs and brifters, but I love the ride of the bike. I think some of the noodliness comes from the bb. I got mine in Bloomington,Illinois at a bike shop that was on my commute home.