Why are most modern bikes ugly?

[Soltydog]

I can appreciate the beauty in old & new bikes. I love the look of the old curly Hetchins bikes, I also think that some of the modern carbon bikes are equally stunning. But if you are wanting modern ugly, then I reckon this will take some beating

 

[Crackle]

It looks like you've ridden over a couple of squid who've wrapped themselves around the bike.

 

[Soltydog]

If all that white plastic was black and removable it looks like the perfect winter bike.

I'm not sure it is though If you 'need' carbon for a winter bike I think Trek have the right answer with their hidden eyelet mounts, not sure if anyone else has a similar system, but IMO it's more pleasing on the eye

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I can appreciate the beauty in old & new bikes. I love the look of the old curly Hetchins bikes, I also think that some of the modern carbon bikes are equally stunning. But if you are wanting modern ugly, then I reckon this will take some beating View attachment 392749

I was going to make the point that when you're riding a bike you're not looking at it. Then you had to post that!

 

[Dan B]

I can appreciate the beauty in old & new bikes. I love the look of the old curly Hetchins bikes, I also think that some of the modern carbon bikes are equally stunning. But if you are wanting modern ugly, then I reckon this will take some beating View attachment 392749

Someone's nicked your basket, mate

 

[ozboz]

I can appreciate the beauty in old & new bikes. I love the look of the old curly Hetchins bikes, I also think that some of the modern carbon bikes are equally stunning. But if you are wanting modern ugly, then I reckon this will take some beating View attachment 392749

A bit Batman and Robin !

 

[Soltydog]

A bit Batman and Robin !

You've looked at the price then

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Someone's nicked your basket, mate
View attachment 392755

That I like

 

[AndyRM]

If all that white plastic was black and removable it looks like the perfect winter bike.

Yep, much less jarring.

Seems to have not made much progress... https://www.gofundme.com/steblesbikes

 

[Smokin Joe]

Every now and again somebody (Mike Burrows in this case) comes up with a radical new design concept that not only out performs existing designs but looks rather tasty into the bargain.....

....and the UCI promptly ban it, bless their little 19th century hearts.

 

[GuyBoden]

Vintage Carbon fibre 1987. (With lugs)

 

[Smokin Joe]

Vintage Carbon fibre 1987. (With lugs)

View attachment 392806

Beautiful looking frame, but carbon tubes bonded into aluminium lugs are a potential weak point.

 

[Amanda P]

I find myself sometimes wincing when I turn a page in a bike magazine to be confronted with a photo of something with hardly any spokes and a thick plastic - sorry, carbon frame. I think it's partly because the fat tubes and deep rims mean that the garish decals can be larger and more garish, so naturally they usually are.

In the days of lugged steel frames, the thinner tubes and flat profile rims necessarily had smaller, subtler decorations.

(Owner of a Spa Tour, which while modern(ish) is steel, is black with tiny gold logos. While it's welded together, it does have a gusset which you could pretend was a lug at the head-to-down tube joint).

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Beautiful looking frame, but carbon tubes bonded into aluminium lugs are a potential weak point.

Doubtless the weakness might show up over its next 30 years!

 

[wonderdog]

In exactly the same way as the last decent music was produced in about 1984.....


Yes.

And so will the next generation be when they get to your age. They'll think that stuff from their youth was the best ever. 'twas ever thus.

How much music from the past 20 years or so survives to the extent that people still say, "Sheeesh that was a marvellous song." Or in the antipodean argot, "Ripper tune Boris."