NOPE! I'm not sure what the deal is either. If it's meant for racing and has an engine I want to own/drive/ride the fastest most technologically advanced thing available. But if it has pedals I like to own/ride Fred Flintstone machines. Makes no sense to me either.

Like I said about the previous Tri bike, I'd never own or ride one, but I can appreciate what a serious instrument it is.

Yeah, I don't mean to dog on triathlons or triathletes (well, maybe a little, but only in good fun). I just don't sense any joie de vivre in the sport or the equipment -- the cycling component of a triathlon just seems like something to get over with as quickly as possible rather than something to be enjoyed for itself. There's probably plenty of people who would say I'm wrong about that. Maybe I'll do a triathlon one day and see for myself. Anyway, I've got tons of respect for triathletes but I think their bikes are ugly as ****.

Yes, "as quickly as possible" is the general idea.

It's a time trail. There is no joy, just pain.

either way, that bike is vomit

as a slight segue to take the focus off our friendly Tri guys and gals.. here is something we can all aspire to, or not..... now I don't want to sound all "anti patriotic American" but when you call your company "bird of prey" I just cringe. Saying at the cafe I own a Scott, Trek. Even Giant is totally fine but to say out loud in a crowded cafe " I own a Bird Of Prey", cue laughter and mocking....if the name of the company isn't bad enough check out the design! https://birdofpreybicycles.ning.com/photos/birdofprey

Actually that's not Honda's goal. a quote from HRC CEO, "we want to make the easiest MotoGP bike to ride fast". Honda realised a few years back its more about how big the riders bits are. Not how fast their bikes are. It sorta lends itself to our sport.

It looks like this thread has again gone off the tracks. This thread is supposed to be about jackass, not ugly, which are totally different concepts. An ugly functional tribike is definitely not jackass. To me, jackass implies stupid, non-functional and dangerous. Jackass is also the misapplication of something, such as running carbon disk wheels on a fixie bike with riser bars.

Of COURSE it looks dumb, they aren't wearing the proper helmet!

Um, sure, OK.

Lol, very nice. Love the upside-down drive train.

Notice the wounds on the model's calf/ankle?

Clipless pedals...running shoes.

That bike looks ridiculous. But the model posing on it is a hammer! She makes even that stupid monstrosity kinda look good in a way. Imagine her on a classic Colnago track bike.

uhh,....assembler's meeting in the conference room.

I have a throbbing headache, and this only made it worse. :/

To be fair, that walmart rotor is just about as effective on that side anyway

You should return there and have some fun with the brilliant professionals who assembled that gem.

Point out what's wrong, and tell them to correct it they need to move the caliper to the right side. (Then sit back and watch... you might even want to bring some popcorn.)

Those "professionals" get paid starvation wages, so I'd not be inclined to harass them.

Exactly. Many of those people get paid by the bike and aren't concerned with safety of anyone because that doesn't make them money. I always laugh when people try and defend those bikes with any level of seriousness.

I want to get a TT bike eventually. I think I'd be good at it, and it looks like fun, in a sick and twisted kind of way . Plus, I like how safe it is compared to mass start racing.

It might be interesting to vary equipment and pacing strategy and see how it affects your time on a routine course.

With all the new ones and their massive storage functions you could do some ultra fast aero tours on it. No more stupid panniers and saddlebags just store it in your side aero trunks ; )

The trouble is, in order to keep their prices so low, WalMart can only afford to pay their employees "starvation wages." And customers of course want the lowest price possible, even if that means getting a bike that was put together like... well, like the one pictured above. I guess the silver lining is that at least these people have a job. Starvation wages are better than no wages at all when your education/skills/experience don't qualify you for anything more advanced than building bikes to this level of quality.

Pay a little more (or maybe quite a bit more) at a bike shop, or even a sporting goods chain for that matter, and you get something of decent quality. Plus... here's the kicker! You support a business that pays its employees more than starvation wages. WalMart has really thrown a wrench into the supply/demand balance and indeed every part of our economy. On the surface, it seems ordinary people have benefited from the shift they induced. I'm not so sure that's the case though.

Those folks making only starvation wages are not complaining when they shop at the same store where they work to buy a big plasma TV for $300, piles of DVDs at 5 bucks apiece, a $10 pair of shoes... or a $79 mountain bike.

Anywhoo... that's a real JA bike right there!

lol