The beefy downtube and headtube make the stem and toptube seem positively anemic.

I like what looks like a warning sticker [bang] on the seat tube.

IPerhaps I came across wrong, but I was far more concerned that your shop was shoehorning you into an inappropriate bicycle and then charging you so they could pseudo-fit you. If that's not the case, then that's good!

This is a thread about aesthetics and elitism. I also took a dig at that guy's Venge knockoff, and my bike is nothing special either- some of my early bikes were pretty lol. Dont take it so personally

All that nice equipment... and $5 bottle cages?

Oh, no. I just get the bike from the shop as is. My father has been a serious cyclist longer than I've been alive (and has a slew of bikes that legitimately deserve to be in this thread) and he has been through a few major manufacturer fit classes and is going to get me squared away when I'm down in Arizona.

So no harm, no foul. I knew my bike was't fancy enough to really get love in here, but wanted to share after I finished getting parts on it anyway.

Cheers.

Mine were 12$ with unidirectional carbon, matte finish. They work, and super light. Why pay more?

well, if you ever use good/nice ones, you'll understand.

Two things:

I don't think it's just shops doing this. Specialized are doing it themselves. Allez is a race ready bike, with the same geometry and design as a Tarmac. Yet in the shops you see them stems with lots of spacers and a high rise. Specialized knows people want to ride the bikes that the racers they sponsor ride and accommodate their desires.
- Shops I think overtime have just given up convincing cyclists what they should ride and what is appropriate. They learned, it's better to just fit a rider to a bike he wants, no matter how inappropriate.
- I think Allez is inappropriate for the majority cyclists who buy them and shops probably think so too. But that's what customers want. Why else do you think Craigslist is filled with Allez that are in excellent condition? They buy it thinking I"m going to start cycling. But riding a bike that is inappropriate and give up. They probably would still be riding if they bought a Secteur instead.

Second part: The Venge rider? He rides a ton. I would bet he has well over 5000 miles this year. He knows whether he can ride that or not.

That's a hot one to my eyes.

It's got a well balanced look. Co-Motion is a fitting name for a bike.

But their website sucks. Only a few of their bikes have any info, links don't work for the rest. $1850 for a steel touring frame for racks and fenders, lame. Made in US, made in Oregon, rather have a bike made by Giant in China/Taiwan.

Just finished building up my road/gravel/adventure/go-anywhere-climb-anything bike. Full album of pics here: https://imgur.com/a/1ZixR

Are you one of those people who needs to find a reason to dislike everything? I feel sorry for you.

Photo taken with Training wheels.

I feel like I'm looking at the twilight zone... looking down at the grass, but I can see the under side of the bars... distracts me from the bike, except the RIKEN PM, that's pretty shill.

New Stem and Handlebar. Note Asbestos siding in the background, to prevent my garage from catching on fire.

Should'a put some black tape on there when you did the new bars....

Frame is still hot, but I'm not a fan of ergo bars (despite both of my bikes having them).

I might agree with you about the bar tape. The white was supposed to highlight the decals and break up the black but not sure it works. Oh well it'll wear out soon enough.

I don't entirely like the look of ergo bars either but they're light and comfortable.

My new ride... Not the best pick, but it will do for now until i can get her in some better light.

That's a great pick of a bike! (I know what you truly meant)

Ergo bars are fugly, tape is dirty, replace the saddle with a Swift or chamfer the sides.

ugh, so smitten over it i can't even use correct grammar!

Black tape with white finishing tape might do the trick.

Asbestos siding is great. That stuff is bombproof - as long as you don't have to work on it, it's great stuff!

White bar tape is dirty and what's up with the green finishing tape?? That don't fly on here, sorry. The sad part of this story is that your frame is hot! I'd change the bars and bar tape (and finishing tape) and this bike could definitely be hot! But as is, NOT.