Ugliest component competition
10-05-21, 08:41 PM
#1
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Ugliest component competition
Occasionally, someone says something nice about one of my bikes, and I'm chuffed. More often, no one comments. But last Saturday, before our ascent of Larch Mountain, gugie said: that's the ugliest stem I've ever seen. He was referring to the stem on my not-yet-completed Black Shadow Campeur KoF.
Admire the elegance of the welds!
Is the the ugliest stem you've ever seen?
In my defense, 1" treadless stems are hard to find, at least if you don't have arms like a gorilla. (For some reason that I have yet to fathom, the local haunts seem to have plenty in 13 and 14cm lengths). And now that I dialed-in the right size, I have in fact procured a decent looking (even if it is black) NOS Ritchey 9cm stem from fleaBay. But gugie 's comment did prompt me to think of a fun completion for BikeForums: the ugliest component ever competition.
Since it's my competition, I get to make the rules:
Admire the elegance of the welds!
Is the the ugliest stem you've ever seen?
In my defense, 1" treadless stems are hard to find, at least if you don't have arms like a gorilla. (For some reason that I have yet to fathom, the local haunts seem to have plenty in 13 and 14cm lengths). And now that I dialed-in the right size, I have in fact procured a decent looking (even if it is black) NOS Ritchey 9cm stem from fleaBay. But gugie 's comment did prompt me to think of a fun completion for BikeForums: the ugliest component ever competition.
Since it's my competition, I get to make the rules:
- You have to be the owner of the completion-entry component: no submission of random photos found on the web
- Post your photos in this thread; component can be on or off a bike
- Competition is open for entries until Halloween (31st October)
- The winner will be decided by
acclimationacclamation, or, if there is controversy, by voting; all those submitting entries may vote. - The prize will be my ugly stem shown above, or any uglier component that a member may wish to donate. (Winner pays postage.)
Last edited by SquireBlack; 10-06-21 at 06:04 PM. Reason: Spelling correction
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10-05-21, 09:23 PM
#2
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I need to find my Campagnolo U brake
might win the Klunky / most mass award.
the cable anchor is cool in its defense.
might win the Klunky / most mass award.
the cable anchor is cool in its defense.
10-05-21, 09:25 PM
#3
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That stem is not ugly for me. Usually the ugliness is caused by an attempt to embellish the part; this stem is totally functional IMO.
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10-05-21, 10:25 PM
#4
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Handsome Is As Handsome Does
Campagnolo Valentino Rear Derailleurs
Handsome Is As Handsome Does
Not only are they uber UGLY - they don't work for spa***tura!!!
Tulio must have hated his son Valentino!
verktyg
Handsome Is As Handsome Does
Not only are they uber UGLY - they don't work for spa***tura!!!
Tulio must have hated his son Valentino!
verktyg
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
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10-05-21, 10:35 PM
#5
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I would vote for any modern crankset by Shimano.
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I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
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10-06-21, 12:22 AM
#6
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One small point of clarification that only I may care about.
ac·cli·ma·tion
/ˌakləˈmāSH(ə)n/
noun: acclimation; plural noun: acclimations
/ˌakləˈmāSH(ə)n/
noun: acclamation; plural noun: acclamations
Apparently, a football fan's dictionary site paid Google to prioritize it's definitions.
For what it's worth, that certainly is a butt-ugly component, but consider that welded aluminum has an inherent (and possibly unfair) advantage.
ac·cli·ma·tion
/ˌakləˈmāSH(ə)n/
noun: acclimation; plural noun: acclimations
- the process or result of becoming accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions.
"he spent most of his rookie season documenting his acclimation to life in the NFL"
/ˌakləˈmāSH(ə)n/
noun: acclamation; plural noun: acclamations
- loud and enthusiastic approval, typically to welcome or honor someone or something.
"the tackle brought the fans to their feet in acclamation"
Apparently, a football fan's dictionary site paid Google to prioritize it's definitions.
For what it's worth, that certainly is a butt-ugly component, but consider that welded aluminum has an inherent (and possibly unfair) advantage.
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In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
10-06-21, 01:32 AM
#7
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Originally Posted by SquireBlack
The prize will be my ugly stem shown above... Winner pays postage.
10-06-21, 01:44 AM
#8
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I think the stem is cool. I sort of wish I had an ugly part to win it. Will have to look for something...
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1980s Vanni Losa Cassani thingy, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981? Faggin, 1996ish Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe (most not finished of course), 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba...I...am...done....
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1980s Vanni Losa Cassani thingy, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981? Faggin, 1996ish Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe (most not finished of course), 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba...I...am...done....
10-06-21, 05:29 AM
#9
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I'm going to have to go with verktyg : while the "design" of the valentino is just OK, its style seems deliberately ugly. The Huret Svelto is a very similar design but looks somehow more elegant while not really functioning any better than the Campagnolo..... 
I wonder if they gave a challenge to an apprentice at the development shop and said "make the cheapest and ugliest derailleur you can"....
I wonder if they gave a challenge to an apprentice at the development shop and said "make the cheapest and ugliest derailleur you can"....
10-06-21, 05:40 AM
#10
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My entry: not my photo (from interwebs, might have stolen it from gster as this looks like a Toronto photo) but representative of a class of really ugly (IMO) saddles that many of you are familiar with....this one is especially heinous with the chrome rail.....
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10-06-21, 06:37 AM
#12
Le savonnier
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This Kalloy stem, on my Peugeot PXR80, while not having those *lovely* welds that you have, is very ugly. As far as functionality goes, I'm not sure why anyone would want a bouncy stem. Must be a touring thing. Seriously annoying when I'm hill-climbing, and creaky to boot. Fortunately, I just received a very elegant Nitto Dynamic stem to replace it.
EDIT: Ha! BFisher beat me to it!
EDIT: Ha! BFisher beat me to it!
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10-06-21, 06:40 AM
#13
Junior Member
Following this thread with great interest. I've been entertaining myself with the idea of building a bike with the ugliest parts I can find, just for funsies
10-06-21, 07:03 AM
#14
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I know some will say blasphemy, but I don't have a picture because I wouldn't own one.
Mavic starfish crank.
Here's a pic from the web (Edit: not allowed)
So somebody that owns one needs to post it.
Mavic starfish crank.
Here's a pic from the web (Edit: not allowed)
So somebody that owns one needs to post it.
Last edited by Ex Pres; 10-06-21 at 07:07 AM.
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10-06-21, 07:24 AM
#15
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Straight-blade forks, especially straight-blade carbon fiber forks on a vintage steel frame.
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10-06-21, 07:25 AM
#16
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A blob of brown plastic with $200 cleats
I don’t think the true cheapness and ugly comes thru in this pic…
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10-06-21, 07:25 AM
#17
Bikes are okay, I guess.
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I use both a welded threadless stem (riser version) similar to the one pictured and an adjustable hybrid stem like the one pictured. Neither is what I'd ordinarily choose to have on its respective bike but each does exactly what I want it to do, and affordably.
Ugly is as ugly does. My own nominee is the Ross Safety Fork End, both ugly and badly engineered. Nearly every Ross fork with these things needed to have the tips aligned in order for the QR to work properly and dozens of them broke off during the tweak due to brittleness. Our shop had a special section for Ross bikes awaiting warranty replacement forks. Hated those things.
Ugly is as ugly does. My own nominee is the Ross Safety Fork End, both ugly and badly engineered. Nearly every Ross fork with these things needed to have the tips aligned in order for the QR to work properly and dozens of them broke off during the tweak due to brittleness. Our shop had a special section for Ross bikes awaiting warranty replacement forks. Hated those things.
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10-06-21, 07:36 AM
#19
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There are a lot of ugly stems out there. But my vote goes for this Dia Compe (?) cable hanger, made from pot metal:
They do work pretty well, however.
They do work pretty well, however.
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10-06-21, 07:58 AM
#20
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In my opinion the C&V community has aleady awarded that prize. There's only one C&V bicycle component that I'm aware of, where the name of a classic horror monster is commonly used as an adjective to describe the product.
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10-06-21, 07:59 AM
#21
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There’s ugly, then there’s creepy ugly. This very nice and well regarded SMP saddle came to me on a bike I picked last year. It just looks wrong to me. Hard to appreciate the looks from about any angle. Very high quality - I’d like to like it but it’s hard to get around the way it screams ED.
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Last edited by majmt; 10-06-21 at 08:10 AM.
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10-06-21, 08:11 AM
#22
Full Member
Originally Posted by verktyg
Campagnolo Valentino Rear Derailleurs
Handsome Is As Handsome Does
Not only are they uber UGLY - they don't work for spa***tura!!!
Tulio must have hated his son Valentino!
verktyg
Handsome Is As Handsome Does
Not only are they uber UGLY - they don't work for spa***tura!!!
Tulio must have hated his son Valentino!
verktyg
Last edited by gbi; 10-06-21 at 10:22 AM.
10-06-21, 08:21 AM
#23
Full Member
Originally Posted by majmt
There’s ugly, then there’s creepy ugly. This very nice and well regarded SMP saddle came to me on a bike I picked last year. It just looks wrong to me. Hard to appreciate the looks from about any angle. Very high quality - I’d like to like it but it’s hard to get around the way it screams ED.
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10-06-21, 08:35 AM
#24
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Originally Posted by majmt
There’s ugly, then there’s creepy ugly. This very nice and well regarded SMP saddle came to me on a bike I picked last year. It just looks wrong to me. Hard to appreciate the looks from about any angle. Very high quality - I’d like to like it but it’s hard to get around the way it screams ED.
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10-06-21, 08:41 AM
#25
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Originally Posted by markk900
My entry: not my photo (from interwebs, might have stolen it from gster as this looks like a Toronto photo) but representative of a class of really ugly (IMO) saddles that many of you are familiar with....this one is especially heinous with the chrome rail.....
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