Modern Bikes vs. Personal Taste
06-01-11, 02:06 PM
#51
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06-01-11, 06:22 PM
#52
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Here's what I don't understand: I thought the sloping top tube was designed to get the bars higher. Yet I look at the Specialized and the bars are no higher than if the top tube was level. Seems frame should be bigger. And the foot of seatpost just looks awkward to me.
Its really about making 3 frames sizes rather than 6.
Do you have any trouble climbing on and off the Maronni?
The increased length and leverage of the seatpost can't be an effective design decision.
Its really about making 3 frames sizes rather than 6.
Do you have any trouble climbing on and off the Maronni?
The increased length and leverage of the seatpost can't be an effective design decision.
I have no trouble getting off and on the Marinoni. I have a 33 1/2 inseam.
The seat post stem on the Roubaix can't really be seen in the pic.
I don't know if that long carbon post with its gel insert does anything but maybe that's why it reduces the noise through the seat? The difference in noise through the bars is very much noticed riding these back to back.
I'm no faster on the Specialized, but I can ride a lot farther in greater comfort.
And when you hit the big 4-0 comfort=speed in some cases.
06-01-11, 06:29 PM
#53
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Well, this is NASCAR country, so I can't say I hate the new graphics....But it would be nice to see Junior in an all-red car with chrome rims and bumpers....
Maybe we should have a thread with monologues like Costner's in Bull Durham, about bikes....
Maybe we should have a thread with monologues like Costner's in Bull Durham, about bikes....
06-01-11, 07:35 PM
#55
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I like them both, my "modern" bike is an 06 Specialized Sequoia Elite. I like that it isn't overloaded with graphics and is painted a dull stealth silver gray. I think my classics are better looking, but I like the variety when it comes to riding.
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1971 Paramount P-13 Chrome
1973 Paramount P-15 Opaque Blue
1974 Raleigh Professional Blue Mink
1991 Waterford Paramount
Holland Titanium Dura Ace Group
Holland Titanium Ultegra Triple Group
06-01-11, 07:41 PM
#56
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I admit that I find that - in terms of appearance - contemporary CF and aluminum frame bikes disturbingly remind me of some of the early 1970s department-store trashmo "10-speeds". There's something about the elegance - and superior ride qualities - of a fine, lightweight, traditionally-built lugged-steel frame that the modern made-from-a-mold CF frames simply can't match IMHO.
06-02-11, 05:07 AM
#58
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I really don't mean to come across as a "hater", but personally, I find a lot of today's modern bikes to be absolutely hideous.
Fat cranks, what look like oversize stemsets, and mostly, those horrendous paint and graphic schemes. My personal tastes run, of course, to the older classic streamlined look.
Just one man's opinion, FWIW.
Fat cranks, what look like oversize stemsets, and mostly, those horrendous paint and graphic schemes. My personal tastes run, of course, to the older classic streamlined look.
Just one man's opinion, FWIW.
Ditto, I feel the same way about cars too...
Good post, and dam good point!!
06-02-11, 05:18 AM
#59
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to go one further - i find that the most interesting color schemes / designs are from the ultra cheesey dept store 10 speed bikes of the 70s and 80s
i agree todays high end CF offerings are boring to look at - though some of the newer steel still has the classic appeal
i agree todays high end CF offerings are boring to look at - though some of the newer steel still has the classic appeal
06-02-11, 05:34 AM
#60
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Y'all realize that in another 25 years, our grandkids will be reminiscing over carbon fiber bikes in the Classic and Vintage section, and we'll be posting in the newly created Ancients and Antiques section. 
06-02-11, 06:21 AM
#61
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i took a look at bikes direct to get an idea of modern bikes
main thing i notice is: boring colors and paint schemes. all the logos use similar typefaces which are intended to be easily read from a distance
after that, the brifter bump is fugly, especially with the new style squashed looking handlebars, where the brifters stick straight out. threadless headset/stems are big and bulky
other things: wheel graphics and logos are hideous! forks have very little rake. cranksets are big and bulk looking. no polished, shiny bits.. everything is blacked out. carbon and aluminum frames look kind of plasticy and cheap
there are some nicer looking bikes on that site though
one other thing i don't like about modern bikes: their prices
I was able to build up my Ironman for about $100 all said and done.. I've never ridden a modern bike but I'd have a hard time believing a $2000 bike is 20 times "better"
main thing i notice is: boring colors and paint schemes. all the logos use similar typefaces which are intended to be easily read from a distance
after that, the brifter bump is fugly, especially with the new style squashed looking handlebars, where the brifters stick straight out. threadless headset/stems are big and bulky
other things: wheel graphics and logos are hideous! forks have very little rake. cranksets are big and bulk looking. no polished, shiny bits.. everything is blacked out. carbon and aluminum frames look kind of plasticy and cheap
there are some nicer looking bikes on that site though
one other thing i don't like about modern bikes: their prices
I was able to build up my Ironman for about $100 all said and done.. I've never ridden a modern bike but I'd have a hard time believing a $2000 bike is 20 times "better"
06-02-11, 06:29 AM
#62
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Bikesdirect are designed to be graphically boring. Simple painting with simple decals is one way they keep their prices down. Its also how they can rotate their frames among different "models".
06-02-11, 06:37 AM
#63
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06-02-11, 06:41 AM
#64
Bicycle Repairman
However - At the risk of coming across as a hypocrite, I do like this bike:
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This thing is so incredibly ugly it's cool!
I wonder if I could get one that's purple...
06-02-11, 10:53 AM
#66
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I think my Klein looks nice for a newer bike. It's a 2003 model, so not so new.
06-02-11, 11:48 AM
#67
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I don't see how anyone could think that's ugly. 
It even has lugs. I want one with SRAM Yellow on it. They offer SRAM Red, i'm sure I could talk them into the yellow. Better be able to for the 14k price tag.
It even has lugs. I want one with SRAM Yellow on it. They offer SRAM Red, i'm sure I could talk them into the yellow. Better be able to for the 14k price tag.
06-02-11, 11:52 AM
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^^^ Pretty sure if I tried to ride that, you'd need to call a chiropractor afterward.
06-02-11, 11:52 AM
#69
Senior Member
i took a look at bikes direct to get an idea of modern bikes
main thing i notice is: boring colors and paint schemes. all the logos use similar typefaces which are intended to be easily read from a distance
after that, the brifter bump is fugly, especially with the new style squashed looking handlebars, where the brifters stick straight out. threadless headset/stems are big and bulky
other things: wheel graphics and logos are hideous! forks have very little rake. cranksets are big and bulk looking. no polished, shiny bits.. everything is blacked out. carbon and aluminum frames look kind of plasticy and cheap
there are some nicer looking bikes on that site though
one other thing i don't like about modern bikes: their prices I was able to build up my Ironman for about $100 all said and done.. I've never ridden a modern bike but I'd have a hard time believing a $2000 bike is 20 times "better"
main thing i notice is: boring colors and paint schemes. all the logos use similar typefaces which are intended to be easily read from a distance
after that, the brifter bump is fugly, especially with the new style squashed looking handlebars, where the brifters stick straight out. threadless headset/stems are big and bulky
other things: wheel graphics and logos are hideous! forks have very little rake. cranksets are big and bulk looking. no polished, shiny bits.. everything is blacked out. carbon and aluminum frames look kind of plasticy and cheap
there are some nicer looking bikes on that site though
one other thing i don't like about modern bikes: their prices
I was able to build up my Ironman for about $100 all said and done.. I've never ridden a modern bike but I'd have a hard time believing a $2000 bike is 20 times "better"
06-02-11, 12:27 PM
#70
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SRAM would be nice. Me? I'd go with Super Record 11sp on that machine.
06-02-11, 12:32 PM
#71
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Bicycles seem to have seemed to have undergone similar fates aesthetically as GP F1cars did from the 80's to the present.
Just compare an 80's/early 90s Ferrari GP F1 race car to the monsterous looking things they drive today and you will see the way technology whacked them with the "ugly stick" through the years, just as much as it did with bicycles.
Chombi
Just compare an 80's/early 90s Ferrari GP F1 race car to the monsterous looking things they drive today and you will see the way technology whacked them with the "ugly stick" through the years, just as much as it did with bicycles.
Chombi
06-02-11, 12:41 PM
#73
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Meh. I just think those bubbly welds are really ugly. But I'm also an artist that does a lot of miniature trained to pay attention to minute detail. I don't even like a little bit of leaked glue. To me the welded frames on mid-range mass produced bikes say "Look! No one cared about me looking good! I am not unique at all!"
06-02-11, 01:55 PM
#74
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Not trying to make this personal but if you don't care about racing or performance for whatever reason that's fine, but it doesn't make stiffness a 'fashion issue'. You obviously haven't listened to interviews with veteran pros talking about vintage versus modern bikes, they invariably cite frame stiffness as a performance improvement.
Seems like there are a lot of slow old dudes on this forum that simply can't (or refuse to) appreciate the performance of modern bikes
Seems like there are a lot of slow old dudes on this forum that simply can't (or refuse to) appreciate the performance of modern bikes
06-02-11, 01:59 PM
#75
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Guess I'll chime in with the rest of 'ya. I like old bikes, I like new bikes and I like in-between bikes. I like bikes. Prefer older bikes, but don't turn up my nose at new ones.