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The Ugly Bike Thread

Old 10-29-20, 01:52 PM
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KennyFSU
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The Ugly Bike Thread

I know beauty is in the eye of the beerholder but let's see what you guys think is an "ugly bike."

Even though I own a couple, folding bikes are some of the ugliest bikes I see around town but, function over form!

I'll start with the ugliest folding bike to me, the Sinclair A-bike.

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Old 10-29-20, 05:05 PM
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I always thought of my Trek 520 (1999 model) as an ugly bicycle - navy-blue frame/fork and black everything else. But I have to agree with you: Folding bicycles are the ugliest. That said, I want one, if I can get it with drop-bars and chromoly frame/fork (both seem to be very unpopular with folding bicycle designers) and 20" wheels.
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Old 10-29-20, 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by KennyFSU View Post
I know beauty is in the eye of the beerholder but let's see what you guys think is an "ugly bike."

Even though I own a couple, folding bikes are some of the ugliest bikes I see around town but, function over form!

I'll start with the ugliest folding bike to me, the Sinclair A-bike.

I bet you couldn't wait to get to your 10th post
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Old 10-29-20, 07:04 PM
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Alenax. The proportions look wrong and the mechanism weird. Very un-bicycle-y.

Last edited by thumpism; 11-01-20 at 06:06 PM.
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Old 10-29-20, 07:26 PM
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Those tiny wheels. Don't know about ugly but sure looks useless. Probably walk faster.
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Old 10-29-20, 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by shelbyfv View Post
Those tiny wheels.
Imagine hitting a pothole?

My son the triathlete.
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Old 10-29-20, 08:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Nyah View Post
I always thought of my Trek 520 (1999 model) as an ugly bicycle - navy-blue frame/fork and black everything else. But I have to agree with you: Folding bicycles are the ugliest. That said, I want one, if I can get it with drop-bars and chromoly frame/fork (both seem to be very unpopular with folding bicycle designers) and 20" wheels.
And I thought my bike was pretty cool looking. 😪

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Old 10-29-20, 08:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Mojo31
And I thought my bike was pretty cool looking.
Yours is much lighter blue than navy. Mine is so dark that it doesn't really contrast with the black much at all. I'd post a photo, if only I could find one.
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Old 10-30-20, 08:01 AM
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Originally Posted by KennyFSU View Post
I know beauty is in the eye of the beerholder but let's see what you guys think is an "ugly bike."

Even though I own a couple, folding bikes are some of the ugliest bikes I see around town but, function over form!

I'll start with the ugliest folding bike to me, the Sinclair A-bike.

Is that a bike, or a stool with wheels and pedals"?
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Old 10-30-20, 08:20 AM
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My JustGo Runt.
I’m 6’1” and it always gets a laugh.

my boss moved my office next to his and away from the server room.
So I would ride this through the company to visit the servers.
Don’t think he was amused.

Barry



JustGo Runt
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Old 10-30-20, 08:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Barry2 View Post
My JustGo Runt.
I’m 6’1” and it always gets a laugh.

my boss moved my office next to his and away from the server room.
So I would ride this through the company to visit the servers.
Don’t think he was amused.
You're supposed to leave it IN the recycle bin, not on top of it!
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Old 10-30-20, 08:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Barry2 View Post
My JustGo Runt.
I’m 6’1” and it always gets a laugh.

my boss moved my office next to his and away from the server room.
So I would ride this through the company to visit the servers.
Don’t think he was amused.

Barry



JustGo Runt
It doesn't look ugly to me. It is kinda cute !
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Old 10-30-20, 08:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Reflector Guy View Post
You're supposed to leave it IN the recycle bin, not on top of it!
They wouldn’t take it....... hazardous waste.
I can vouch for that!
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Old 10-30-20, 08:59 AM
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Originally Posted by cubewheels View Post
Say no more!

The folding bike below is a full suspension folding bike that folds at the suspension hinge. It comes stock with dropbar depending on the model. Bike is "Pacific Reach" . It's been used in road races and triathlons.

I've not rode the bike but I have experienced riding its siblings - Birdy folding bikes with the same suspension and folding mechanism. I'd say the ride is solid and the full suspension is firm - just perfect for road use. Comfortable but won't impose itself on your pedaling efficiency. Just need to use the hardest suspension elastomer for best pedaling efficiency Would be incredible as city commuter. Gives you the handling and speed of regular road bike and the superior acceleration and agility of 20" wheels.

Unfortunately, they don't seem to make chromoly models. Not entirely sure though.
Wow, that thing does look disproportionate but pretty cool about the efficiency.

Originally Posted by Reflector Guy View Post
Is that a bike, or a stool with wheels and pedals"?

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Old 10-30-20, 10:48 AM
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[QUOTE=GlennR;21767122]Imagine hitting a pothole?

What I thought at first sight--looks like pedal strikes would be a problem also.
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Old 10-30-20, 11:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Barry2 View Post
My JustGo Runt.
I’m 6’1” and it always gets a laugh.

my boss moved my office next to his and away from the server room.
So I would ride this through the company to visit the servers.
Don’t think he was amused.

Barry
Man, would love to see a video of that haha. I like it, checking eBay now...
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Old 10-30-20, 06:28 PM
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If someone posted a picture of an old very rusted "vintage" road bike with rotted tires etc. It wouldn't fit in to this ugly bike thread. The BF responses would be " wow that's nice !
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Old 10-31-20, 08:43 AM
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Well, to me my "around town, errand bike" is quite ugly or at least odd looking. Gets the job done with comfort and ease though.


How many freakin' tubes does one bike need, LOL!
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Old 11-01-20, 02:02 PM
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My not-a-bike is ugly ... but then, it's not a bike, so maybe it doesn't qualify.

Anyway, it's ugly in part because I wanted it to be. When I ordered it, there were two colors available, an attractive blue and the one I call Pavement. I chose the pavement color because I didn't know if I would love the thing or hate it, and if I hated it, I wanted it to be easier to hate because of its ugly color.

I don't have a decent picture of mine, so I kyped this one off the net. Ugly.

It's too bad, too; when they started making these, the frames had graceful curves.

But I never hated it, I just couldn't really start loving it until I changed its gearing from 3-speed to 8.

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Old 11-03-20, 11:45 AM
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Litespeed, lasts a lifetime.

Specialized Tarmac, lasts a lifetime, or until it breaks.
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Old 11-04-20, 06:12 PM
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This thread is disappointing in the ugly. The fgss sub had a “JA bikes” thread that definitely had some good ugly in it.
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Old 11-05-20, 08:23 AM
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I see ugly bikes all over the pro peloton, ugly shapes, ugly paint, ugly wheels, and ugly bars.

It's probably easier to name the attractive bikes since there are so few.
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Old 11-05-20, 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by jamesdak View Post
Well, to me my "around town, errand bike" is quite ugly or at least odd looking. Gets the job done with comfort and ease though.


How many freakin' tubes does one bike need, LOL!
I think this guy has it beat.

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Old 11-05-20, 12:56 PM
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'00 ish full squish MTBs were awful looking. They had that K-mart aesthetic about them.

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Old 11-06-20, 01:57 AM
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Originally Posted by DorkDisk View Post
'00 ish full squish MTBs were awful looking. They had that K-mart aesthetic about them.
Isn't it the other way around though? i.e. those cheap K-mart et al bikes using outdated FS designs?
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