So wrong it's right

[KneesUp]

I've been for a little ride with LittleKnees today, along a bit of the Trans Pennine Trail. On such rides I normally take my do-it-all bike, which is a rigid MTB with drop bars, mudguards, slicks and a rear rack.

Today though we were going on a trail I know to be muddy at the best of times, but I couldn't take my knobbly tired MTB because I have to carry the stuff, so I wanted the rack. Plus I didn't want to be firing wet mud in my kids face if I got in front, so I wanted the guards too. But equally I didn't want to be sliding all over the place. My simple solution was to swap the wheels over between the two bikes (luckily I never did get around to trimming the stays on the 'guards...)

Can anyone explain why both bikes now look better? The 'road-ified' MTB with it's full guards and drop bars looks awesome with proper off road tyres, and the flat bar MTB looks pretty good on slicks. What's that all about? What have you done to your bikes that is 'wrong' but actually looks cool?

 

[CanucksTraveller]

I bought a stock Trek 7.3 hybrid which was designed to be fairly quick I suppose, and over the years I've put deeper tread tyres on, mudguards, a rack, and a Brooks saddle, and somehow I've ended up with something that a vicar would more likely be seen on. But I quite like it in a way, it sort of looks right as a town bike.

 

[Drago]

My old Raleigh Wayfarer 46'er was so dangerously wrong it was eerily cool.

 

[raleighnut]

I converted one of these

To this,

 

[cyberknight]

[QUOTE 4727686, member: 76"]A mountain bike with drop bars?

They both look better now because you clearly have no taste to start with [/QUOTE]

 

[Fab Foodie]

View attachment 343102

Like it! Built for the post-apocalypse urban commute!

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

View attachment 343102

I like it too. And such radiant nipples!

 

[Drago]

If Mad Max gave up car based slaughter and mayhem and took up cycling, that is what he would ride.

 

[cyberknight]

You haven't seen the CYCLE PATH I use

 

[derrick]

View attachment 343102

User76 got it right.

 

[raleighnut]

[QUOTE 4728851, member: 76"]You took the basket off and put panniers on [/QUOTE]

 

[ufkacbln]

There was a fashion a while back for RTBs

Avon Valley marketed the "Caribou" brand in the late 90's

Here is an example

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I've been for a little ride with LittleKnees today, along a bit of the Trans Pennine Trail. On such rides I normally take my do-it-all bike, which is a rigid MTB with drop bars, mudguards, slicks and a rear rack.

Today though we were going on a trail I know to be muddy at the best of times, but I couldn't take my knobbly tired MTB because I have to carry the stuff, so I wanted the rack. Plus I didn't want to be firing wet mud in my kids face if I got in front, so I wanted the guards too. But equally I didn't want to be sliding all over the place. My simple solution was to swap the wheels over between the two bikes (luckily I never did get around to trimming the stays on the 'guards...)

Can anyone explain why both bikes now look better? The 'road-ified' MTB with it's full guards and drop bars looks awesome with proper off road tyres, and the flat bar MTB looks pretty good on slicks. What's that all about? What have you done to your bikes that is 'wrong' but actually looks cool?

Pics would help