The ugliest bike known to man?

[BdaGhisallo]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2007/probikes/?id=calzati_btwin07

Has anyone ever seen anything so fugly as this AG2R bike? OMG! The team riders must cringe everytime they get near one!!!

[benb]

It's like a bad tattoo.

At some point to someone it probably looks like a pretty good bike... but you know they're going to regret it a year or two from now.

[C5 Snowboarder]

I think the Alfa road bike is fuglier

http://www.alfaromeo.com.au/default.asp?action=article&ID=18365

[William]

At some point to someone it probably looks like a pretty good bike... .

Yeah, like after about 3/4 of a bottle of good Tequilla.





William

[fiamme red]

I think this one is uglier:

http://www.496elan.net/itaria/cinelli2005/img/wysiwyg.jpg

[Dave B]

It's like an older Madone and an Orbea Opal got that tequila and a room at the motel 8!

[Ozz]

nice tires..... :rolleyes:

[Kahuna]

I think this one is uglier:

http://www.496elan.net/itaria/cinelli2005/img/wysiwyg.jpg

Looks like a dog taking a dump.

[davids]

I think Ergott compared it to a Madone, BMC, and Kestrel...

This one's been bugging me lately:

http://www.bianchiusa.com/typo3temp/9670b262bb.jpg

What's up with that downtube? It looks like it needs a belt or suspenders or something...

[ergott]

I think Ergott compared it to a Madone, BMC, and Kestrel...

This one's been bugging me lately:

http://www.bianchiusa.com/typo3temp/9670b262bb.jpg

What's up with that downtube? It looks like it needs a belt or suspenders or something...


Original quote here:
They took a Kestrel, BMC and Madone and combined them in some horrible caricature.

Painful to look at.

PS I think the Bianchi DT matches the bellies of the overweight riders on them (KIDDING!)

[T-Crush]

That thing, in all its permutations, has been bothering me lately as well. For some unknown reason, I've seen three different ones in the last 10 days. Must be on sale somewhere.....

[gdw]

bTwin should see if they can license the paint scheme from the Pegoretti Responsorium to improve that beasts appearance.

[victoryfactory]

Sorry, I couldn't resist:

[regularguy412]

I think the Alfa road bike is fuglier

http://www.alfaromeo.com.au/default.asp?action=article&ID=18365

It kinda looks like a moutain bike going backwards. Only way to tell which end is the front is where the bars are hung.

Mike in AR

[Tom]

If you get past the idea that everything on the bike is supposed to actually do something, it's not that bad looking. It does look like it has weird swellings here and there which usually indicate some kind of exotic tropical parasite, however.

[deechee]

its ugly but I can't take my eyes off of it.

[saab2000]

I've seen worse. Frankly, it doesn't bother me. I like the nude carbon look.

I also like the Deda shallows and might try a pair as an experiment.

[dgauthier]

Back when bicycle frames only came in metal, manufacturers that needed to differentiate themselves in the marketplace would tout the benefits of various tube cross sections -- oval, triangular, square, anything and everything. Of course, once the dust settled (and as Serotta would confirm, I'm sure), it turned out that any particular benefits realized from non-circular tubing cross sections were more than offset by inherent weaknesses that were introduced in other areas. A simple circular cross section was the ideal tubing shape for handling the various forces that occur in a general purpose road frame. Now, I can't think of any well regarded metal bicycle frame that uses anything but round tubing.

What we're seeing now is the same "shaped tubing" marketing foolishness, this time all dressed up in carbon fiber. I predict a similar shakeout will occur, and all these free-form carbon frames will fall out of favor as riders discover their inherent flaws. The "ideal" general purpose carbon road frame will eventually turn out to look something like a Calfee/Parlee/Meivici.

[benb]

What about the Litespeed Vortex? That's a metal bike which uses really odd tube shapes and is held in high opinion by quite a few cyclists. It does seem like Litespeed's reputation has been on the downturn for a few years though.

A lot of these carbon bikes look "melted" to me.

I'm not sure the Meivici is the shape of things to come either though.. monocoques are the long-term future and there is no reason for them to look like lugged/tubed CF frames. It's just a question of who is going to have the breakthrough inspiration that leads to the ability to make monocoques in a wide range of sizes & geometries without breaking the bank.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . something out of a "Transformers" or "Power Rangers" movie. Or one of those poser hot cars that have had fake scoops and spoilers added all over just to make them look tough.

BBD

[d_douglas]

I agree with the above - each of these bikes are hideous in their own unique ways! However, I do love the spirit of innovation, as long as people are able to acknowledge both the strengths and weaknesses inherent in their designs.

OK, the Alfa Romeo should be struck from this earth. I see sh*tty bikes on the streets here in Europe whose frames were designed in the same factory as that bike. All I can say is that at least it's a bike and not a new model of gun or new kind of cellphone.

I am still not sold on carbon, but know that one day (in several years) I will probably own one. For my money, I think nude Calfees are pretty sexy too! I don't like Treks at all because they are so common, but I have got to give them credit for committing to and designing a sound technology. They are pioneers in mass producing carbon frames of high quality!

Now, make me love those Meivicis....

[inGobwetrust]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2007/probikes/?id=calzati_btwin07

Has anyone ever seen anything so fugly as this AG2R bike? OMG! The team riders must cringe everytime they get near one!!!

I looks like a piece of military hardware, with stealth capability!


http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2007/tech/probikes/calzati_btwin07/IMG_0293.jpg

[William]

You know, on second glance....if I squint real hard.... it reminds me of the "South end of a North bound Kangaroo."




Just saying...



William ;)

[petitelilpettit]

Saw this bike and nearly lost my lunch:

http://www.sevencycles.com/road_detail.php?bike=diamas

Taking the Cervelo approach, I guess...

Pettit

[davids]

Saw this bike and nearly lost my lunch:

http://www.sevencycles.com/road_detail.php?bike=diamas

Taking the Cervelo approach, I guess...

Pettit
Don't worry - From what I hear, it doesn't actually exist in the wild...

http://www.sevencycles.com/images/road/diamas/pop.jpg

[BdaGhisallo]

Featuring groundbreaking frame design technology*, the Diamas is the first fully customizable carbon frame to overcome the constraints of conventional tubes and lugged construction.

And why would anyone want to do that if that is what the results look like?!?

[nobrakes]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2007/probikes/?id=calzati_btwin07

Has anyone ever seen anything so fugly as this AG2R bike? OMG! The team riders must cringe everytime they get near one!!!

I agree the bike is awful looking, but you have to remember AG2R is a team with mostly French riders, who cringe because they have to get on any bike.

[petitelilpettit]

I agree the bike is awful looking, but you have to remember AG2R is a team with mostly French riders, who cringe because they have to get on any bike.

I was reading an article by Bob Roll titled "12 Ways to Lose the Tour de France" and his number one was "Sadly, the best way to lose the Tour de France is to be French"

Pettit

[evoracer]

PS I think the Bianchi DT matches the bellies of the overweight riders on them (KIDDING!)

Hey, I resemble that remark! lol

[dgauthier]

And why would anyone want to do that if that is what the results look like?!?
But hey, that's a time trial bike. More to the point would be this:

http://www.sevencycles.com/road_detail.php?bike=v_ii

The arched top and down tubes are odd. Something about them screams "Me too!" rather than "This has a legit function".

Note as well how the head tube seems to be "cradled" within the top and down tubes. (After a second look, I see the Diamas appears to be joined the same way.) Kinda reminds me of "Lincoln Logs". Anyone know how these frames are constructed?

[Mud]

as the Seven. Be kind. I sell them. :crap:

[14max]

This one's been bugging me lately:

http://www.bianchiusa.com/typo3temp/9670b262bb.jpg

What's up with that downtube? It looks like it needs a belt or suspenders or something...

I thought I was the only one. Talk about an ugly Bianchi...

[vaxn8r]

I'm not sure the Meivici is the shape of things to come either though.. monocoques are the long-term future and there is no reason for them to look like lugged/tubed CF frames.
I wonder why you say that? Monocoques have a number of disadvantages over lugged frames including inability to customize, limited sizing choices, non-repairability. I just don't see monocoques being the answer for everybody, or even for most.

[Elefantino]

I wonder why you say that? Monocoques have a number of disadvantages over lugged frames including inability to customize, limited sizing choices, non-repairability. I just don't see monocoques being the answer for everybody, or even for most.

If I'm a bicycle manufacturer, I've loving that non-rapairability. Make it ride wonderfully and then break. Guaranteed repeat business.