Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

According to the BBC, these are the ten most beautiful bicycles

Search
Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

According to the BBC, these are the ten most beautiful bicycles

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-18-15, 08:24 PM
  #1  
Ed.
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Ed.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Hopkinton, MA
Posts: 1,538

Bikes: 1938 Raleigh Record Ace (2), 1938 Schwinn Paramount, 1961 Torpado, 1964? Frejus, 1980 Raleigh 753 Team Pro, Moulton, other stuff...

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 11 Posts
According to the BBC, these are the ten most beautiful bicycles

BBC - Autos - The 10 most beautiful bicycles of 2015

I call it a stretch.
Ed. is offline  
Old 05-18-15, 08:34 PM
  #2  
weapons-grade bolognium
 
thinktubes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Across the street from Chicago
Posts: 6,353

Bikes: Battaglin Cromor, Ciocc Designer 84, Schwinn Superior 1981

Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 988 Post(s)
Liked 2,397 Times in 897 Posts
I wonder what al jazeera has to say about this...
thinktubes is offline  
Old 05-18-15, 08:44 PM
  #3  
is just a real cool dude
 
Henry III's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: The Thumb, MI
Posts: 3,165
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 34 Times in 14 Posts
Wow that was pretty bad. It says bicycles but there were trikes in there also and one bike was in there twice. That three wheel trike with the two little wheels in the back looked like a face plant waiting to happen. BBC stick to Dr Who and not picking out bikes and it's only five months into 2015 so how can you pick the best of year already?
Henry III is offline  
Old 05-18-15, 08:47 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
ncrnelson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Champlin, MN
Posts: 207

Bikes: 1983 Cannondale ST500, 1987 Cannondale SM400 with SA 3 speed hub, 1987 Schwinn Tempo, 1982 Schwinn Voyageur SP, 1992 Kona Explosif

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 5 Posts
Hmmmmmmm.....

I'd reccomend they stick to cars.
ncrnelson is offline  
Old 05-18-15, 09:09 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: south kansas america
Posts: 1,913

Bikes: too many

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Liked 236 Times in 141 Posts
Barf. Barf. Barf. Barf; yes barf. And again, barf. Barf. Double barf. Barf. Uh, well, maybe........ no, barf. I think your basic, early eighties racing twelve speed will always be the definition of bicycle beautiful. These are all regrettable and forgettable attempts to add to that which is simple perfection.
uncle uncle is offline  
Old 05-18-15, 09:41 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,305
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3464 Post(s)
Liked 2,834 Times in 1,998 Posts
Originally Posted by uncle uncle
Barf. Barf. Barf. Barf; yes barf. And again, barf. Barf. Double barf. Barf. Uh, well, maybe........ no, barf. I think your basic, early eighties racing twelve speed will always be the definition of bicycle beautiful. These are all regrettable and forgettable attempts to add to that which is simple perfection.
You guys have it wrong, they let go the main Top Gear talent and are searching for a more politically correct alternative.
They missed the mark on this one, maybe they will follow the Americas Cup instead.
repechage is offline  
Old 05-18-15, 10:38 PM
  #7  
Junior Member
 
mattk42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 166
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Liked 48 Times in 19 Posts
I must have misread the title. I was expecting beautiful bikes. I saw neither beauty nor what I recognize to be bikes.
mattk42 is offline  
Old 05-18-15, 11:27 PM
  #8  
52psi
 
Fahrenheit531's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 4,016

Bikes: Schwinn Volare ('78); Raleigh Competition GS ('79)

Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 790 Post(s)
Liked 802 Times in 391 Posts
The Armadillo I liked.
And except perhaps for the bamboo number they couldn't be bothered to assemble I think they need to work on their vocabulary. "Beautiful?"

__________________
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera

Last edited by Fahrenheit531; 05-18-15 at 11:33 PM.
Fahrenheit531 is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 04:44 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
randyjawa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,684

Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma

Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1374 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,761 Times in 945 Posts
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and what is beautiful is different for most of us. That said, I don't think all of the bikes are beautiful, but a couple sport more than appealing aesthetics. However, that is not really the issue we need to consider...

Innovation! Every one of those bicycles demonstrates innovation, something new and, perhaps, now and again, something better. How would we feel today if someone, somewhere had said to heck with developing a tire full of air. How silly! Needless to say, we are ALL happy that that someone did think to get rid of the solid rubber tire and install one full of air. So...

Give the innovators a break. Without them we would never had had the bicycle, to begin with. Look at this old (early seventies) Skyway...



It features bio-pace cottered cranks, disc brake on rear and a couple of other "innovative" features that were considered heavy and stupid, at the time. But look what happened in years to come - some of those new ideas were incorporated into today's finest bicycles, be they beautiful or not.

I should add that, even though I am not much of a fan of the Skyway, it is pretty, as far as I am concerned...
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
randyjawa is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 04:48 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
daf1009's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 2,982

Bikes: LESS than I did a year ago!

Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Beautiful bikes? Maybe, maybe not...

Interesting? Definitely...
daf1009 is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 04:53 AM
  #11  
Señor Member
 
USAZorro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 17,947

Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs

Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1499 Post(s)
Liked 1,102 Times in 645 Posts
Bizarre? Exotic? Out-of-the-box design? Check, check and check. I think the people zeppelin had an appealing look, but the others, not-so-much.
__________________
In search of what to search for.
USAZorro is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 07:04 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
BigChief's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,240
Mentioned: 103 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 103 Times in 85 Posts
It is always easier to say that beauty is totally subjective. You can avoid sounding elitist and judgmental. Or you can speak the truth and admit that some designs are just plain ugly and similar designs can devolve aesthetically over time.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
chairs.jpg (35.4 KB, 8 views)
BigChief is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 07:20 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
ncrnelson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Champlin, MN
Posts: 207

Bikes: 1983 Cannondale ST500, 1987 Cannondale SM400 with SA 3 speed hub, 1987 Schwinn Tempo, 1982 Schwinn Voyageur SP, 1992 Kona Explosif

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 5 Posts
I don't think anyone would argue that innovation is a bad thing, but that certainly doesn't mean it isn't ugly as all hell sometimes.

ncrnelson is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 07:28 AM
  #14  
Fat Guy on a Little Bike
 
KonAaron Snake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 15,944

Bikes: Two wheeled ones

Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1254 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times in 174 Posts
None appealed to me, but I doubt I'm the target demographic. I'm in the demographic people don't market towards now...most of us are.
KonAaron Snake is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 07:32 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Blue Belly's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,200

Bikes: Pinarello Montello, Merckx MX Leader, Merckx Corsa Extra, Pinarello Prologo, Tredici Magia Nera, Tredici Cross

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
looks more like a calendar of curiosities than a lineup of beautiful bikes
Blue Belly is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 11:16 AM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 225
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 31 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
I tried using the link, but it sent me to a different page.

I live in Britain, so all I saw was page telling me that the content was for overseas people only, but would I like to learn about 'all the easy ways' that I could pay my TV licence...
Fidbloke is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 11:18 AM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 225
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 31 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by ncrnelson
I don't think anyone would argue that innovation is a bad thing, but that certainly doesn't mean it isn't ugly as all hell sometimes.


If H.R.Giger designed bikes, they would look like that.

Does it bite.?
Fidbloke is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 11:54 AM
  #18  
Fat Guy on a Little Bike
 
KonAaron Snake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 15,944

Bikes: Two wheeled ones

Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1254 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times in 174 Posts
Originally Posted by Fidbloke
If H.R.Giger designed bikes, they would look like that.

Does it bite.?
If an air jordan had a baby with a roller blade...
KonAaron Snake is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 11:55 AM
  #19  
Ed.
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Ed.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Hopkinton, MA
Posts: 1,538

Bikes: 1938 Raleigh Record Ace (2), 1938 Schwinn Paramount, 1961 Torpado, 1964? Frejus, 1980 Raleigh 753 Team Pro, Moulton, other stuff...

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 11 Posts


OK, the child in me likes this one. Reminds me of a Norton Manx. Hope there's some gearing in the rear hub, otherwise one's feet will be very busy.
Ed. is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 11:57 AM
  #20  
staring at the mountains
 
superdex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Castle Pines, CO
Posts: 4,560

Bikes: Obed GVR, Fairdale Goodship, Salsa Timberjack 29

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 394 Post(s)
Liked 197 Times in 112 Posts
nothing but ad bait. blech.
superdex is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 11:59 AM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
ChicagoGOBLUE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 74

Bikes: 1989 Schwinn Premis

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Hideous. Only one I remotely like is the Embacher Collection one (last pic in the slideshow).
ChicagoGOBLUE is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 12:13 PM
  #22  
Forum Moderator
 
cb400bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,686

Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista

Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3101 Post(s)
Liked 6,647 Times in 3,808 Posts
I hadn't realized that BBC stood for Blind Bicycle Critics.
cb400bill is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 12:22 PM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
GhostSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 638

Bikes: 2012 Switch Performance BlackSkin LE Urban, 2013 Leader 725, 1975 Fuji America, 1990 Giant Cadex 980c, 1986 Peugeot PH10LE, 1995 Trek 2120 Carbon ZX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 22 Times in 13 Posts
The Canyon track pursuit looked fine, normal for today's time trials and pursuits. The rest are totally bonkers or plain ugly. In fact standing trike was posted in the Jackass thread in FG/SS.
GhostSS is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 12:33 PM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
IcySmooth52's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Portland, ME
Posts: 1,620
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Puts hand on forehead & closes eyes in disgust. As head shakes NO slowly, he states: "If only Darwinism were true."
IcySmooth52 is offline  
Old 05-19-15, 12:38 PM
  #25  
Get off my lawn!
 
Velognome's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: The Garden State
Posts: 6,031

Bikes: 1917 Loomis, 1923 Rudge, 1930 Hercules Renown, 1947 Mclean, 1948 JA Holland, 1955 Hetchins, 1957 Carlton Flyer, 1962 Raleigh Sport, 1978&81 Raleigh Gomp GS', 2010 Raliegh Clubman

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 93 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 98 Times in 48 Posts
Originally Posted by Ed.


OK, the child in me likes this one. Reminds me of a Norton Manx. Hope there's some gearing in the rear hub, otherwise one's feet will be very busy.
Once I realized there was a bike in the picture, I thought; "yea, a Triton minus the Triumph parts"

But this did pop up as the last in the list

Which I like very much. So I give them 2/10 anyway.
Velognome is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.