How do you feel about ugly bicycles?

[Likes2ridefar]

I will ride an ugly bike but I will not ride any bike with branding like this:

[prototoast]

I don't want to ride a bike that I find ugly, but I'm happy to ride a bike that other people find ugly.

[weisan]

If I am stranded on an island and the only bike available is so ugly that it will make me puke, you bet your a$$ I am gonna ride it.

[Elefantino]

Originally Posted by Likes2ridefar

I will ride an ugly bike but I will not ride any bike with branding like this:

And that brand is ... ?

[Likes2ridefar]

Originally Posted by weisan

If I am stranded on an island and the only bike available is so ugly that it will make me puke, you bet your a$$ I am gonna ride it.

In this case I would ride the trek.

[Peter P.]

Ugly bikes? What about ugly riders?!

[cgolvin]

Originally Posted by Peter P.

Ugly bikes? What about ugly riders?!

I try not to ride ugly bikes.

I definitely don't ride ugly riders.

[Xrslug]

Ugly is subjective, but I don’t mind ugly (ATMO) if it’s somehow interesting mechanically or otherwise. What I really don’t like are proportions that are off, maybe a crazy high stem, or handlebars and brake levers that are angled awkwardly. I’m trying to overcome my snobbery on that point and remind myself that if the rider is comfortable and happy and riding their bike, then it doesn’t matter. But wow, I really hate handlebars that are angled up too much (per my faultless internal protractor). The unsung benefit of one-piece bar and stem combos is it is impossible to screw this up (albeit still possible to get the levers too high on the bars). Pardon me, some clouds are passing overhead and need a fist shaken at them.

[bironi]

Is that your collection of classics?
Thar Preston takes “Best in Show”.

[Hilltopperny]

I love ugly bikes! Not all of them, but they have their place. The Lotus and even some of those funky dual suspension mtb's are very cool even if they aren't pretty.

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

[Novasfyre]

Originally Posted by Roberto Yunge

I wouldn`t ride an ugly bike if I can help it. I`m totally convinced that I like bikes way more than what I like riding bikes, and I ride 15 hours a week.

The question is... if I couldn`t ride a bike that isn`t ugly, would I ride at all? I`m not ready to answer this.

That is a deeply uncomfortable thought...

[Novasfyre]

Depends on what is ugly about it. someone accidentally made a head mast instead of a seat mast? Probably not. But one of my favorite bikes to ride has been a fat bike, even if you're being passed by children on strider bikes.

[bicycletricycle]

The Zinn is ugly
I can view bicycles with whatever lens I like

Originally Posted by slowpoke

Including the Zinn in your lineup isn't fair. That's a custom bike for a very tall rider that makes 700c wheels look like 24" wheels.

And a lot of these choices are viewed through a today's lens. So it's possibly those old full-suspension bikes were considered cutting edge, therefore overlooked for any ugliness at that time.

Better to ride an ugly bike than no bike at all.

[5oakterrace]

Back in time I used to ride a bike which had a steerer extender. The lbs recommended it as I could not get a lot of bend since I had had a few disc surgeries. What a great thing that extender was! I had no clue what the bike looked like. I never paid attention to "looks" until I joined this forum! All that mattered was I was comfortable and could manage it. I have a new appreciation now for bike appearance aesthetics. That bike of mine had to "look" awkward - out of the "norm." But as we contemplate appearances I think the issue is to consider the situation of that bike's rider. The bike "looks that way" for a reason. And, as others have commented on other threads, when you are on the thing, who is really aware of what it looks like. Even when off the bike - mine are in the garage. I see them for only a few moments. If they were on the wall in the house that might be a different story.

[DeBike]

The way all of my bikes are now set up, a lot of naysayers, I am sure. Particularly with cycling purists. Anyone is welcome to opine that they are ugly. Even I would call at least one them "a bit unattractive", but they sure are comfortable, and I sure like riding them.

"Ugly" Tourmalet attached.

I just saw the above post by 5oakterrace. Subtract the first three sentences, and I could just quote that.