57" VeloLucuma Polo Frame.

what is... what?

My submission for your critique is a brand spanking new old stock 2006 CAAD 8 R800 double(rare). When picture was taken today it has not even been on the road yet, 0 miles on computer.

[IMG][/IMG]

Polished aluminum. Hot.

How did you end up with a spanking new, old stock bike? I like it BTW

Bar angle is off. Tires not lined up with valves. Could be halfway hot. Currently is not.

Overall it looks quite nice, attractive in a girl-next-door sort of way, but the chainrings look oddly flat and bluish, like an old pie pan. Also, stem and bars are rather gawky.

This bike is cut out right and sewn up wrong.

The long skyward pointing stem on top of a huge stack of spacers makes the bike look like a hybrid cruiser.

I'm surprised this bike is getting off so easy. The only thing I find impressive about this bike was 9 years old and found brand new. Other than that, it is far from anything most people would take a second look at. Understand that I'm not saying it is a POS. I'm basing my opinion strictly out of aesthetics and visual appeal (Or lack there of). Plain stock bike with upright and non aggressive position (Which includes a tower of spacers + flipped upward stem). Saddle Bag connected to a saddle that looks like a flaccid wiener. Tires that dont line up with the valve stems and borderline cross chain.

Very much a plain 'ol ordinary stock bike. Not

Exactamundo!

Well, I don't know that it's getting off easy.

You talk about spacers, tire alignment, valve stems, and, of all things, cross chaining... stuff you have to know the meaning of in order to look for - and some of it you really have to look for to find. I'm not saying that once you see them they don't have an aesthetic impact - they do, but only to a connoisseur's eye, or to those to whom such flaws have been pointed out.

What's appealing is the big picture, and especially the fine balance of black and silver, not only on the frame graphics, but the whole thing. That's basic aesthetics and visual appeal that hits you right away, something that anyone can appreciate, and something which many bikes that get the details right fail to achieve.

Maybe you don't see it right away but I do. Obviously there is no right or wrong opinion here though, so of it is appealing to you, then so be it. I judge my votes based on if I would take an immediate hard second look. I don't look at a bike as if I was at an art expo, by staring at it for long periods of time trying to see the bigger Over all picture. To me, a HOT bike is hot before you have the chance to look over the details.

Hey guys here is my contribution to the thread, tell me what you think. I have mostly been on track/fixed gear bikes but made the switch to road and have been building up this Focus for a couple of months. It was apart of a local college's team set up. pretty basic so far but that is to change. Sorry if this is not the right thread for this just thought I would share.

After a nice ride and wash:

Wow, I like it a lot! Good camera work too. Only thing is the stem / steer tube setup, also the small ring, but otherwise pretty hot.

Yes, connoisseurs like yourself more readily see more of the truth and aren't as easily blinded by superficialities. Over the last year or so I've learned to notice things right away that before I couldn't distinguish from a hole in the ground. Of course we can't argue matters of taste, but that doesn't mean opinions are all of indifferent value. Some are supported by logic and truth and others are based on fallacy. I just thought I'd point out what was appealing and why it seemed to be "getting off easy." That's how it is, though - if it's pretty enough or shapely enough, some people lose sight of the "beauty inside." Not saying that Cannondale is a bimbo, but I think you get my drift.

Here is a little nicer picture. This bike certainly does not photograph well. The color is much nicer in person. Wait til you see one. There is only one upgrade pending and it is a Contact SLR carbon stem. It will be 120mm once I get used to the new geometry which has not given me any problems. It will be VERY aggressive with time.

I've often wondered where colored spokes would look good, and here we go!

Seriously, How do I post big pictures like this? Every time I try, it ends up as a small thumbnail!

i love this bike. i say hot.


but to qualify as hot, as per the "rules" of the New and Improved™ thread it needs a picture without:

light
bottles
stem spacers
light(?) mount on the bars

somewhat OT: did you consider other frames before coming to this one? hows the ride quality?

[MENTION=397038]12strings[/MENTION] host it somewhere like imgur, then paste a link inside code

The only other bike I really wanted was a LOOK 795 but was a little beyond budget. I am not that picky about my bikes. The sponsor we got said we could get the best deal on Giants and that is what we went with, however, I can say that this bike rides like nothing I've ever ridden before. I think Giants don't get the badass rep that bikes like Tarmacs, Pinas and Treks do but these bikes may be the best bikes out there. The only bike I'd consider on top of this one would be a Venge Viias Sworks.. which is $13k.

I honestly think that this bike is worth a try. I understand how being caught up in the lightest and most aero is what iis "in" now but good riding quality and stiffness is what this bike is all about. It is not the lightest or most aero, but it is a PURE RACE BIKE. Which is what I want. After all, 14.8 pounds with cages, power meter and GPS holder aint that bad either.

I suspect this is closer to the mark. Nice bike.

Yes that looks better! Maybe I'll try taking a picture outdoors during a sunny day. The color scheme is really something else.

TESTING...



EDITED TO SAY: "hey, it worked! Thanks mumonkan!"

You tested right. The bike is pretty cool but it's long ways to compete in this thread. I like your rocking chair though.

thanks for the info, the sl2 complete seems like a good deal, considering the frameset is 3200 by itself.
seems im looking for the same kindof thing (race oriented, <15lbs) so this is good news

neons are hard to capture on film or digital, blown out in sunlight, washed out indoors