Just my opinion
09-15-23, 02:18 PM
#101
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You are only looking for N+1+1+1+1... Given the many hundreds of options on the market, 10% un-fugly bikes could result in you owning scores of new/used beautiful bikes. What's the problem? Where's the beef? Tig welded 4130 is a strange stage from which to judge beauty. Elmer Fudd probably wouldn't like visiting The Louvre or El Prado, imho.
Cwazy wabbit,...but a nice ride with Crossover driveline
Cwazy wabbit,...but a nice ride with Crossover driveline
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09-15-23, 02:23 PM
#102
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Ask her how she feels about "honed in on" versus "homed in on," and "centered around" versus "centered on," and "[anything]-centric" versus "[anything]-centered."
There are more where those came from (versus "There's more where those came from").
Word games: the very first time I played Scrabble, the first word I put down was "japan." I was challenged on the basis of allegedly having used a proper noun. Ha. (The European furniture finish that imitated the black enamel finish used on some traditional Japanese furniture, first seen in the West at the Paris International Exposition of 1867, is called a "japan" finish. The process is known as "japanning.")
There are more where those came from (versus "There's more where those came from").
Word games: the very first time I played Scrabble, the first word I put down was "japan." I was challenged on the basis of allegedly having used a proper noun. Ha. (The European furniture finish that imitated the black enamel finish used on some traditional Japanese furniture, first seen in the West at the Paris International Exposition of 1867, is called a "japan" finish. The process is known as "japanning.")
There used to be a soul food/southern type restaurant near here where you could play the owner a game of Scrabble and if you beat her you won a free dinner. Mrs John never got the chance to play, though.
09-15-23, 02:38 PM
#103
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Spiro T Agnew = In the United States today we have more than our share of nattering nabobs of negativism......who don't like todays' bicycles!
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
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09-15-23, 02:45 PM
#104
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I don't disagree with you about them both being in the museum. But there are plenty of things in museums that I don't find attractive. "Fountain" by Marcel Duchamp, for example.
I do disagree that technological advances are "the elephant in the room." I spent some time at a high-end bike shop yesterday, something I haven't done in years, examining up-close some of Shimano's finest wares, and I was duly impressed with the quality and workmanship. I have no doubt that the parts function beyond compare. Did I like the looks of the new parts? Nope.
I do disagree that technological advances are "the elephant in the room." I spent some time at a high-end bike shop yesterday, something I haven't done in years, examining up-close some of Shimano's finest wares, and I was duly impressed with the quality and workmanship. I have no doubt that the parts function beyond compare. Did I like the looks of the new parts? Nope.
...I came back to post something about Brutalism, in art and architecture. And how it doesn't work for me. Likewise, I find a lot of current bike styling reflective of Brutalist elements.
Then I was going to end with how Duchamp, who broke away from more traditional painting with "Bicycle Wheel", ending up as a dadaist was not a coincidence.
Thanks for ruining that for me.
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09-15-23, 02:51 PM
#105
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09-15-23, 02:59 PM
#106
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Did anyone ask for this one? 
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
09-15-23, 03:19 PM
#107
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Speaking as a guy who spends a lot of time helping operate a steam locomotive, I've got to say much of the design work in today's world is lacking. I much prefer the Chrystler building to the glass cubes that pass for offices today. Victorian homes hold my attention far longer than the vinyl-clad pre-fab homes of today. Fountain pens write much nicer and are far more rewarding to use than plastic Bic ballpoints. I definitely prefer my automatic analog watches to anything digital. The list can go on and on.
I use an iPhone daily and have satellite TV and streaming services, so I don't feel out of touch at all. Neither do I believe that I am at all cynical. But I do appreciate what came before.
I use an iPhone daily and have satellite TV and streaming services, so I don't feel out of touch at all. Neither do I believe that I am at all cynical. But I do appreciate what came before.
To say that much of modern design work is lacking sounds pretty cynical to me.
09-15-23, 03:34 PM
#108
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I just loaded my "Ugly" bike on the bike rack and locked it up. We are traveling tomorrow morning and I take a bike so I can go ride while the wife gossips with friends and family.
I really didn't expect this much attention to me thinking out loud .
I really didn't expect this much attention to me thinking out loud .
09-15-23, 03:40 PM
#109
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Apart from design classics from the likes of Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, BMW etc most ordinary 3-box cars of the 70s and 80s were pretty dire and their modem equivalents are light years ahead in all respects, including looks. Trucks are just trucks. But I do quite like American Muscle cars from the past.
09-15-23, 03:45 PM
#110
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09-15-23, 04:06 PM
#111
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09-15-23, 04:19 PM
#112
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You are only looking for N+1+1+1+1... Given the many hundreds of options on the market, 10% un-fugly bikes could result in you owning scores of new/used beautiful bikes. What's the problem? Where's the beef? Tig welded 4130 is a strange stage from which to judge beauty. Elmer Fudd probably wouldn't like visiting The Louvre or El Prado, imho.
Cwazy wabbit,...but a nice ride with Crossover driveline
Cwazy wabbit,...but a nice ride with Crossover driveline
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09-15-23, 04:29 PM
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09-15-23, 04:32 PM
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09-15-23, 04:32 PM
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09-15-23, 07:35 PM
#116
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Really? A member for approximately 15 years and thought starting a thread about the aesthetics of steel bike would not feed the vocal traditionalist which dominate these forums. You don’t expect us to believe this do you?
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09-15-23, 07:58 PM
#117
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You mean people are actually taking this seriously? I figured it was a BF version of a bull session or water balloon fight.
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09-15-23, 08:04 PM
#118
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09-15-23, 08:16 PM
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09-16-23, 06:59 AM
#120
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I personally can appreciate the better examples of pretty much any vintage of bike. What I do find realy ugly are the bikes that folks build up with uncut steerers and huge stacks of spacers, especially when there is a stack of spacers under the stem and then a bunch more on top. High bars with old style gooseneck stems were a little ugly, but not so offensive as the uncut stems and stacks of spacers.
09-16-23, 12:35 PM
#121
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My current Raleigh is a modern bike with retro styling. Would you'all say that its a good looking bike?
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09-17-23, 01:59 PM
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In 2019 on my 2 month car/bike trip, I was in some fabulous museums with ANCIENT artifacts. The Hirshhorn modern art galley in DC was 99% a POS. The front had pathetic industrial ship metal pieces. LOL. There was a curved wall over 100 feet that had ropes GLUED to it. Some of the GIANT "paintings" looked like somebodies house wall painted with a roller. ART !!!! LOL hahahahaha
On the way out I said to some people, don't bother. LOL
On the way out I said to some people, don't bother. LOL
Last edited by GamblerGORD53; 09-17-23 at 02:07 PM.
09-17-23, 02:39 PM
#123
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I own four Surly bikes I like them because they’re simple tig welded steel bikes. I like lugged bikes as well, I used to own a Colnago Master it had wonderful simple lugs, the issue is that for many years lugs became the point especially for UK bikes. They turned into these intricate hand cut monstrosities that I just don’t like. There are some wonderfully simple carbon bikes out there, then there’s the Pinarello, Ridley, Scott, and Cannondale some are simply ugly and others the proportions are just wrong. I’m not a big fan of modern hydrofomed aluminum, I know it has benefits but it lost the cool big pipe aesthetic I liked.
09-17-23, 03:17 PM
#124
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I attended a couple races this weekend.
Every likes different stuff I know, but to me, ta lot of the bikes I saw were absolutely representative of the idea that form follows function, and a really well-designed form has an esthetic of its own.
A lot of those bikes were just crazy beautiful. Designed to go fast but they looked so good doing it (or actually, in the parking lot before and between race, but you know ... )
Whatever. I like to go to vintage car shows, hot rod shows, and I like to go to auto races to see cars that look like space ships or sci-fi submarines which can stop, go, and turn better than any car ever built in the past.
On another hand, hard to beat a Lamborghini Miura .....
Every likes different stuff I know, but to me, ta lot of the bikes I saw were absolutely representative of the idea that form follows function, and a really well-designed form has an esthetic of its own.
A lot of those bikes were just crazy beautiful. Designed to go fast but they looked so good doing it (or actually, in the parking lot before and between race, but you know ... )
Whatever. I like to go to vintage car shows, hot rod shows, and I like to go to auto races to see cars that look like space ships or sci-fi submarines which can stop, go, and turn better than any car ever built in the past.
On another hand, hard to beat a Lamborghini Miura .....
