Professional Cycling For the Fans - Most Gorgerous Bike of the Tours

Let's take a break from the AC/LA bitter-fest and look at the beautiful machines in the Giro & TdF.

By beautiful, I mean both in a style and functional sense.

I think this bike is gorgeous:

http://www.bicycling.com/tourdefrance/tourbikes/5.jpg

Maybe because I ride a Felt too!

Oh, a disembodied hand, nice.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/multimedia/photo_gallery/0907/cycling.tour.de.france.scenes/images/CYCLING_(23).jpg

I for one think todays carbon frames are too cartoonish to be considered anything but utilitarian. The big logos on everything, while great for the vendor . . . are tasteless.

Gorgeous are small, round tubes(steel, titanium, carbon) . . . lean lines . . . . silver parts and shallow rims. . . but hey, there's as many tastes as people. . . but I doubt todays carbon bikes(or few of them) will be classics.

I ran across a Edyy Merkcx frame thread here .....http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=70726

I found this Telekom bike to be unusually cool looking. Lean lines are where it's at baby:)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/3668004934_9d4d2dd4ab_o.jpg

I really liked the paint scheme on Contador's TT bike. Don't have a pic, though.

Euskatel's Orbeas were absolutely gorgeous this Tour. Wish I could find a really nice photo of them.

Euskatel's Orbeas were absolutely gorgeous this Tour. Wish I could find a really nice photo of them.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1425/577082046_34d6c4f278.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1049/998576253_d193dd1509.jpg?v=0

Dig the orange.

yeah at first I didn't like the TIMEs but now I just drool over them

yeah at first I didn't like the TIMEs but now I just drool over them

http://photos.oregonlive.com/photos/oregonian/6c0b74fe29a5c18c73eb9435cb42beb5.jpg

I for one think todays carbon frames are too cartoonish to be considered anything but utilitarian. The big logos on everything, while great for the vendor . . . are tasteless.

Gorgeous are small, round tubes(steel, titanium, carbon) . . . lean lines . . . . silver parts and shallow rims. . . but hey, there's as many tastes as people. . . but I doubt todays carbon bikes(or few of them) will be classics.

I ran across a Edyy Merkcx frame thread here .....http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=70726

I found this Telekom bike to be unusually cool looking. Lean lines are where it's at baby:)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/3668004934_9d4d2dd4ab_o.jpg

Very classic, nice!

Very classic, nice!

With all the over-sized BBs around, its nice to see an elegant one.

Oh I LOVE this thread!! :love: :love: :love:

More please!

http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/2009/07/05/2/saxo_bank_cancellara_tt_full_view_600.jpg

Lance's Paris bike (aka The Butterfly Bike)

http://media.marketwire.com/attachments/200907/MOD-550131_untitled.jpg

IMO the color is off in this pic.

Lance's Paris bike (aka The Butterfly Bike)

http://media.marketwire.com/attachments/200907/MOD-550131_untitled.jpg

IMO the color is off in this pic.

Christ, that is one ugly thing on two wheels!

Lance's Paris bike (aka The Butterfly Bike)

http://media.marketwire.com/attachments/200907/MOD-550131_untitled.jpg


Is this a Photoshop joke?
No Im serious, is this a joke?

Is this a Photoshop joke?
No Im serious, is this a joke?

I'm sorry to say, it is not a joke. One of the bikes, painted by various famous artists, that will be auctioned off.

How about the Manx Missle's bike! Its a Scott painted like a british fighter plan. Pretty Sweet.

I for one think todays carbon frames are too cartoonish to be considered anything but utilitarian. The big logos on everything, while great for the vendor . . . are tasteless.

Gorgeous are small, round tubes(steel, titanium, carbon) . . . lean lines . . . . silver parts and shallow rims. . . but hey, there's as many tastes as people. . . but I doubt todays carbon bikes(or few of them) will be classics.

I ran across a Edyy Merkcx frame thread here .....http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=70726

I found this Telekom bike to be unusually cool looking. Lean lines are where it's at baby:)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/3668004934_9d4d2dd4ab_o.jpg

I'm on a similar wavelength. Cav's bike was pretty cool though, IMO.

I love Lance's TT bike in Monaco. Since I am a Slipstream fan, of course I love the first picture.

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2009/07/22/1248286496346-163w2jowv1k82-798-75.jpg

This is Contador's bike for le Tour.
GREAT LOOKING BIKE! However, it's a trek. :(

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2009/07/22/1248286973460-mryywrolo2uq-798-75.jpg


Contador's bike again.

THIS is, by far, the coolest thing I've seen on a carbon frame. The rear derailler goes into the downtube and doesn't exit until it reaches the rear dropout. It's an even cleaner look than what could be achieved with the Dura-Ace electric components. Unfortunately, it's from Trek. Nice bike. Shady business practices. I'll stay away. Sorry Alberto. :(

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2009/07/22/1248286496346-163w2jowv1k82-798-75.jpg



http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/multimedia/photo_gallery/0907/cycling.tour.de.france.scenes/images/CYCLING_(23).jpg

Black hoods = FAIL

Oh, a disembodied hand, nice.


Thank you, Thing.

http://www.scifiupdates.com/home/images/stories/TV/Addams_Family/Thing_Addams-Family_001.jpg

With reguard to Lance's butterfly bike, those wings arent painted on they are real butterfly wings harvested from a bunch of butterflys bred for the purpose.
Read about it here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1201914/Damien-Hirst-accused-horrific-barbarity-bicycle-covered-dead-butterfly-wings.html

With reguard to Lance's butterfly bike, those wings arent painted on they are real butterfly wings harvested from a bunch of butterflys bred for the purpose.
Read about it here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1201914/Damien-Hirst-accused-horrific-barbarity-bicycle-covered-dead-butterfly-wings.html

:twitchy:

Hirst is a terrible artist, if he can be called one at all. Neither a thinker nor a craftsman, he only tries to shock people into awe. Anyone trying to pass off a bling-encrusted skull as art must be high or taking the piss on everyone.

And on the road the rims blur to a solid pink, making it much less "busy" than it looks sitting still.

I really liked the phonak BMC's:

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/photos/2005/tech/probikes/landis_phonak_bmc/dsc00701.jpg

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/races04/tdf04/tech-tystt.jpg

I really liked the phonak BMC's:

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/photos/2005/tech/probikes/landis_phonak_bmc/dsc00701.jpg

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/races04/tdf04/tech-tystt.jpg

BMCs design stunning bikes - I really like their straight edge style, as opposed to the sleek look others go for.

Too bad this bike brings back bad memories.

Chippo's worlds bike is one of my favorites.

Horner's Lemond is another.

And yet another! Gerolsteiner.

Lombardi Sports - Ofoto- Klein.

I for one think todays carbon frames are too cartoonish to be considered anything but utilitarian. The big logos on everything, while great for the vendor . . . are tasteless.

Gorgeous are small, round tubes(steel, titanium, carbon) . . . lean lines . . . . silver parts and shallow rims. . . but hey, there's as many tastes as people. . . but I doubt todays carbon bikes(or few of them) will be classics.

I ran across a Edyy Merkcx frame thread here .....http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=70726

I found this Telekom bike to be unusually cool looking. Lean lines are where it's at baby:)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/3668004934_9d4d2dd4ab_o.jpg

They looked even better in the flesh. Lovely looking bikes.

With reguard to Lance's butterfly bike, those wings arent painted on they are real butterfly wings harvested from a bunch of butterflys bred for the purpose.
Read about it here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1201914/Damien-Hirst-accused-horrific-barbarity-bicycle-covered-dead-butterfly-wings.html

Gotta love the obligatory wail of anguish from PETA. Boo-hoo, but don't dare cry on my nice leather boots.

I like Coppi's '52 bike. Looked better new.:)

http://rouleur.cc/images/stories/coppibike/img_1318.jpg

They looked even better in the flesh. Lovely looking bikes.

That is a beautiful bike!

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2009/07/22/1248286973460-mryywrolo2uq-798-75.jpg


Contador's bike again.

THIS is, by far, the coolest thing I've seen on a carbon frame. The rear derailler goes into the downtube and doesn't exit until it reaches the rear dropout. It's an even cleaner look than what could be achieved with the Dura-Ace electric components. Unfortunately, it's from Trek. Nice bike. Shady business practices. I'll stay away. Sorry Alberto. :(

Klein had been doing that since the 80's, god I wish they had sponsored a tour winning team

BMCs design stunning bikes

BMC == stunning bike.


I love every one I've ever seen.

i started this same thread in the middle of the tour, but it fell down behind the 800 threads about astana et al. and cavendish being cocky.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=559560

i loved the wheels on milram's focuses (foci?)
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/photos/2009/tech/probikes/wim_stroetinga_milram_focus09/KU3L1041.jpg

cavendish's bike...
http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/images/cav-scott-side-lo.jpg
http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/images/cav-scott-head-lo.jpg

Damn! That may be the shortest head tube I've ever seen.

Let's take a break from the AC/LA bitter-fest and look at the beautiful machines in the Giro & TdF.

By beautiful, I mean both in a style and functional sense.

I think this bike is gorgeous:

http://www.bicycling.com/tourdefrance/tourbikes/5.jpg

Maybe because I ride a Felt too!

:lol:

Chippo's worlds bike is one of my favorites.

who's "chippo?"

Lance's Paris bike (aka The Butterfly Bike)

http://media.marketwire.com/attachments/200907/MOD-550131_untitled.jpg

IMO the color is off in this pic.

I ride a Madone, but I sure wouldn't ride this one. I can't imagine what was going through the artist's head at this point.

I ride a Madone, but I sure wouldn't ride this one. I can't imagine what was going through the artist's head at this point.

This sort of "art" is such a crock of $hit. Wealthy goofballs fight over this rubbish.

My definition of art is stolen from someone I despise, Rush Limbaugh. "If I can do it it, it isn't art".

If I heard Lance correctly, he predicts this bike will fetch more money at auction than any price paid for a bike, ever.

Like I said, some wealthy people are idiots.

Great cause though, way to go Lance.

This sort of "art" is such a crock of $hit. Wealthy goofballs fight over this rubbish.

My definition of art is stolen from someone I despise, Rush Limbaugh. "If I can do it it, it isn't art".

If I heard Lance correctly, he predicts this bike will fetch more money at auction than any price paid for a bike, ever.

Like I said, some wealthy people are idiots.

Great cause though, way to go Lance.

+1

Hirst showed his true colors with that skull. Before, he could wax lyrical about life and death with soaked sharks, but no one bought the skull rubbish he put out.

Some artists have nothing to say at all. All they try is to shock people.

I wonder what he or the riders of the peloton truely think of the butterfly bike? Do they laugh about it on the team bus to each other or do they wish that they had something so unique such as this made just for them them to ride on 1 stage. I'd be honored, no matter how ugly I think the thing is. its not like theyre wanting Lance to ride up and down mountains in a clown suit with big, floppy shoes and orange afro. Its just a very "fancy" bike paint job.

who's "chippo?"

Mario's younger brother.

I ride a Madone, but I sure wouldn't ride this one. I can't imagine what was going through the artist's head at this point.

'Art is anything you can get away with' - Marshall McLuhan.
;)

It's doing as art is supposed to do, cause you to think, question, discuss & analyze.