Russ Roth

Personally a Columbine can border on being too pretty to ride but even then I can't be bothered to own a bike I wouldn't ride. I built up my dream cross bike, from the brand, to paint color, to matching fork and matching alternate colored accents to get it looking just the way I spent a year imagining it would look. Then I went and played in the mud with it. Looked even better in my eyes with the patina of proper use, go ride and enjoy the glint of the sun on what is a pretty looking bike.

Darth Lefty 

The problem is not the pretty bike, but that you think you’re not good enough to be seen with her. I mean, it. You know.

atwl77

No, but I think they can be too clean to ride. Especially if I have just washed my bike this evening, and then it rains the next morning, lol.

TravelBiker

This is a funny but relevant question... my bike was pretty, one of my female friends called it sexy, but now it has some corrosion of the metal parts including the chain, because i set it down on the sand at the beach and one time actually it into the water but only a bit, its also somewhat dinge d up from being moved up and down the stairs almost everyday. I was told by a bike dealer that it was unsaleable, but i think it still looks pretty good, no major wrecks. Driven about 6000 miles in 3 years.

seypat

The gold headset, yuck. It's like the gold tooth the wannabe Gs were getting BITD. Too much going on there. At least settle on a color of brake pad. I'm sorry, you've turned it into a butterface. Not quite 1 or 2 bagger, but definitely a butterface.

thehammerdog

You sad fella.
​​​​it looks great to me. Now can we see the lovely handsome well groomed bicycle that u ride.
Remember this was a craigslist find built with tiny budget yet magnifico!
​​​​Thanks for ssaring.

seypat

Here's one. Original except for the consumables, 3rd ring, bar cons and wheels.

subgrade

Not if it's this color.

seypat

And another.

seypat

One more.

seypat

Wife's mixte. I have lots of them. I can keep showing them if you desire.

jadocs

Just ride it on good days, that's what I do.

mstateglfr 

You cant be surprised to see someone be critical in what is essentially a 'hot or not' thread. And even if their bikes arent as purty as yours, that doesnt mean they cant be critical of the choices that you are looking for opinion on.
The fact that this was a craigslist find is beside the point as its been totally repainted and I am guessing everything but the frame and fork are new to the bike. Also, was it a tiny budget? take into account every dollar that has been spent on the bike- does it really come back as 'tiny'? Your version of tiny must be different than many other's version, I guess.

Anyways, if you want only praise, say so at the start. Otherwise, just post this up in the roadie hot or not thread and hope everyone agrees with you that it is too nice looking to even ride.

Still curious- why 2 different brakes? I get that you chose those tires not for their look or performance, but rather their utility. Is that why you have a silver mini moto front brake and black cantilever rear- utility?

seypat

Patience. I have a black frame as well. It will be murdered out for the people who are into that look.

blakcloud

Back to the original question "Can a bike be too pretty to ride"?

Yes, any bike with Campy 50th Anniversary is too pretty to ride.

Even the pope thought this bike was too pretty to ride.

https://www.colnago.com/en/colnago-ottantasette/

Koyote

I'm not sure how the pope could ride it. I'm pretty sure his dress would get caught in the wheels.

thehammerdog

As i shared it was a budget build those front brakes go for $150.00. the original brifters Dura Ace needed replacement thus micro shift 9 speed. just a rare fun....now pretty bike.

jack pot 

you can cage it to a starbucks ... put in the bike rack ... buy a frappe ... go sit by it and pose to your heart's content

mstateglfr 

Oh gotcha, I didnt realize you bought just 1 brake. Cool and all, $150 for a single mini-v brake is a ton of money so I get why you only have one, I just figured you would buy a matching set.

AlmostTrick

This.

Too pretty to ride? Never. Too pretty to ride in the muck? Of course!
And it doesn't have to be high end or even "pretty" by anyone's standard. I have some cheap bikes that I choose to keep mint that many here wouldn't look twice at. They get ridden but barely show it, even after years and thousands of miles. I do have a few that are allowed out in the muck though, and they always have fenders!

downhillmaster

Marry that one and buy another one to ride

Fahrenheit531 

@thehammerdog ...It's not, you're good. Get on out there.

Inusuit

I think the OP's bike is very attractive. I've acquired all three of my bikes in used condition. The Specialized Tarmac Elite was almost new, my most expensive bike. I was bummed by the first dings, mostly from transporting it in the bed of a pickup. I got over it because I enjoy riding it so much which often involves hauling it to area trail systems.

subgrade

My comment was addressed to the OP, sorry if I was unclear.

Of course, thats all a matter of personal taste, but that turquoise/celeste/whatever you want to call that pastel blue/green tone is probably the color I despise most of all.

indyfabz

That saddle alone disqualifies it from ever being sexy.