|
Ugly?
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...487e7fc370.jpg
I don't know what it is called but the stem on this bike is the ugliest component I have seen so far. |
1950s Capo derailleurs and shift levers.
Otto Cap wisely switched to Campagnolo by 1958, but Adolf Christian may have placed third in the 1957 Tour de France on a bicycle equipped with these -- not sure what was on his Capo. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...963a9bdfe1.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d62b055e28.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d23b2c7307.jpg |
|
I've been peeing in my pants reading the entries so far; keep 'em coming!
I do have this: https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...66d8874b2.jpeg 1¼" tandem stem. The saving grace of your version is the integrated brake hanger; the saving grace of mine is that it's and 1¼" stem designed for a Mountain Tandem, and if you need one — you need one. |
Originally Posted by DorkDisk
(Post 22260017)
Campagnolo Euclid brake levers, because somebody actually tried to make this not suck.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7239dac78a.jpg I also think there's a small chance that it would grow on you. For instance, a lot of people think the shifters below are ugly, and when I first saw them I thought so too. Over time, I've warmed up to them. https://live.staticflickr.com/2464/3...1e2d1232_b.jpg |
I am surprised no one has mentioned the Huret Alvit.. it works well, but the flattish body seems very inelegant.
|
Originally Posted by John E
(Post 22260137)
1950s Capo derailleurs and shift levers...
No Way - Those things are BEAUTIFUL! |
Originally Posted by SquireBlack
(Post 22260172)
I've been peeing in my pants reading the entries so far; keep 'em coming!
|
Originally Posted by steelbikeguy
(Post 22259433)
I don't agree, but the Mavic "starfish" crank deserves to be known by everyone, for better or for worse....
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ea03e1_b_d.jpg That whole Mavic group was novel and interesting. Maybe too much of a departure from the era of Campagolo Record for some, perhaps? In some ways, I suppose this crank could be the first step towards the aesthetic of modern Shimano cranks, and for that, it may earn some enmity of the C&V crowd. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...670095_b_d.jpg Steve in Peoria |
Originally Posted by Classtime
(Post 22259614)
Worth Repeating:
Since it's my competition, I get to make the rules:
I really do not mind being disqualified as long as I never have to touch another one of the goddam things. |
So far the adjustable Kalloy takes the biscuit, although that water faucet stem comes close.
If I still had it I'd nominate the unicrown fork on the Trek 850 Antelope (or Canteloupe, as I called it. A bike less fleet of foot is hard to imagine. Aardvark would have been a better name). Unicrown forks are bad enough, but chunky ones with big welds are too much. Never had them but the STI shifters with the cable shifter stuck in at right angles always hurt the eyes. Other monstrosities I've never had include the pink Ofmega Mistral derailleur and most 4-arm cranks, especially the Shimanos. |
The ugliest component I own:
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...21cf82e8c.jpeg those aren’t aftermarket or near-enoughs. That is the best that Dia-Compe can do. They look acceptable to some but on the bike they are uglier and feel ugliest. I bought them for somebody else’s bike and after seeing them a few times, I grabbed his bike and put some old SLR levers with hoods that were not made for them and they were not ugly. |
Originally Posted by Classtime
(Post 22259614)
Worth Repeating:
Since it's my competition, I get to make the rules:
|
I do not like the look of four-bolt crank spiders. Three-bolt and five-bolt, and even six-bolt, just look right, by comparison. (Hidden fifth bolt systems still have 5-bolt spacing.)
|
Originally Posted by zandoval
(Post 22260212)
No Way - Those things are BEAUTIFUL! |
Someone must have a disk brake they can take a photo of...
|
Originally Posted by SJX426
(Post 22259482)
I really don't like the looks of this stem. It works because I don't have another at the same length to replace it.
https://live.staticflickr.com/5678/2...df38c2ed_b.jpgP1030376 on Flickr |
Originally Posted by Chombi1
(Post 22260169)
|
Originally Posted by grant40
(Post 22260102)
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...487e7fc370.jpg
I don't know what it is called but the stem on this bike is the ugliest component I have seen so far. That stem tho'... and flipped... and pink cable lock... of all the weird beer bikes I've seen, this is one. I bet it spends a lot of time with a jorts wearing salmon ninja aboard, cigarette in one hand, a 40 of Mickey's in the other. Addendum, disclaimer: And if that's actually your bike... it's the coolest thing I've ever seen. Today. |
This is the ugliest component I own! It might have good shifting, but I don't know as I've never used it. What I do know is that it's big, heavy and just plain ugly! Don't ask me why I have still have it, as I cannot think of a bike I would humiliate with a boat anchor like that.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...adbae15474.jpg |
Originally Posted by thumpism
(Post 22259241)
...My own nominee is the Ross Safety Fork End, both ugly and badly engineered. Nearly every Ross fork with these things needed to have the tips aligned in order for the QR to work properly and dozens of them broke off during the tweak due to brittleness. Our shop had a special section for Ross bikes awaiting warranty replacement forks. Hated those things.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...207fccdc6b.jpg |
Well if you can consider the frame a component of a bike, this:
Tim https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2331f4029.jpeg 1992 Series 5 Paramount frame |
haha
Originally Posted by canklecat
(Post 22260553)
Looks like someone wanted a bullhorn bar but only had a porteur bar in the bin.
That stem tho'... and flipped... and pink cable lock... of all the weird beer bikes I've seen, this is one. I bet it spends a lot of time with a jorts wearing salmon ninja aboard, cigarette in one hand, a 40 of Mickey's in the other. Addendum, disclaimer: And if that's actually your bike... it's the coolest thing I've ever seen. Today. |
I like it.
Originally Posted by tkamd73
(Post 22260858)
Well if you can consider the frame a component of a bike, this:
Tim https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2331f4029.jpeg 1992 Series 5 Paramount frame |
These tires. I do have these. The silver parts are reflective
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ac91585528.png https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4e65fa051d.png Edit: added pic https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4da831a5c0.png |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:37 PM. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.