Author Topic: Can you love a fugly bike? (Read 5231 times)

L CC · « **on:** 22 July, 2020, 11:50:48 am »

I need¹ a new bike. I've seen one that's super cheap, in my size, all the right parts.

However.
That colour scheme.

Would I learn to love it? Or would I be constantly reminded that it's not quite right.

There aren't actually a lot of bikes out there, compared to normal. Would it always feel like a poor compromise?

1: "Need" - of course I don't. Just want.

nikki · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 July, 2020, 11:57:13 am »

Does "super cheap" leave room in the budget for a re-spray?

The French Tandem · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 July, 2020, 11:59:34 am »

What about a new paint job? If the bike is perfect for you, except for the color, maybe an extra £100 would make it really really perfect?

A

(cross posted with Nikki)

Paul · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 July, 2020, 12:50:42 pm »

Quote from: fboab on 22 July, 2020, 11:50:48 am

Would it always feel like a poor compromise?

In my experience, yes.

L CC · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 July, 2020, 12:54:07 pm »

This isn't some heritage 853 steel thing. It's brand new, modern and aluminium.

Respray would be like painting tiles. (Yes it can be done, but it's naff and not worthwhile).

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 July, 2020, 12:57:35 pm »

Do you need to love it or will needing it be enough?

L CC · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 July, 2020, 01:00:04 pm »

I love all my current bikes. (Although unlike children, I do have favourites).

I think I need to love it.

Ashaman42 · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 July, 2020, 01:01:09 pm »

Plus when you're on it it'd be mostly other people seeing it.

Then again I've been put off a few bike with offset top tube/seat stays and the same argument applies there.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 July, 2020, 01:03:43 pm »

Quote from: fboab on 22 July, 2020, 01:00:04 pm

I love all my current bikes. (Although unlike children, I do have favourites).

I think I need to love it.

Then I think you've answered your question. Then again, "a face only a mother could love" leads naturally to "a mother could love even that face".

The French Tandem · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 July, 2020, 02:43:40 pm »

Quote from: Ashaman42 on 22 July, 2020, 01:01:09 pm

Plus when you're on it it'd be mostly other people seeing it.

Nah! That's not true! We all know that red bicycles are faster.

Seriously, I'm sure that some colour schemes are a source of motivation for riding further and faster. It's certainly just another variation on the placebo effect, but placebo effect often has a real influence on our lives.

A

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 July, 2020, 02:46:59 pm »

"Don't knock the placebo effect, it's still an effect," as the OP herself has been known to say.

grams · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 July, 2020, 04:20:33 pm »

Not loving it makes it easier to part with if you realise you don't "need" it or someone else decides they do.

Being fugly doesn't help with selling of course, unless you find someone who likes that sort of thing.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 July, 2020, 06:12:25 pm »

Quote from: The French Tandem on 22 July, 2020, 02:43:40 pm

Quote from: Ashaman42 on 22 July, 2020, 01:01:09 pm
Plus when you're on it it'd be mostly other people seeing it.

Nah! That's not true! We all know that red bicycles are faster.

But Black is the Only Colour for a Gentleman's Bicycle.

Chris S · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 July, 2020, 06:59:28 pm »

So - I'm in the privileged position of having seen The Item.

If the colour scheme was called "Tequila Sunrise revisited", that wouldn't be any surprise. By "revisited", think "pavement", although for balance, it's no Audax UK jersey, so it's not *that* bad.

Given the intended usage of the bike - I'm not sure I could stare at that for n-hours at a time (where "n" might be considered a Large Number).

ETA: We'd need to make room in the garage for YAB.

ETA2: Though we could make some room with fewer light bulbs.

ElyDave · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 July, 2020, 07:54:21 pm »

In one word - NO

The French Tandem · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 July, 2020, 08:31:55 am »

Quote from: Chris S on 22 July, 2020, 06:59:28 pm

ETA: We'd need to make room in the garage for YAB.

Now is a good time to buy a new house with a larger garage.

A

giropaul · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 July, 2020, 08:21:41 am »

I’ve got a slightly weird liking for having things that are camouflaged good things. If you’ve got the legs, being able to coast along with someone on a £10,000 Pinarello when you are on a fugly bike can be very satisfying.
I had a bike that appeared to be a Halfords special Falcon, down to all the graphics. It was actually a PMS Falcon 753 Dolan built frame. One of Shane Sutton’s spares. It always amused me.

L CC · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 July, 2020, 10:28:47 am »

I found some other things wrong with it and bought a pretty one instead.

^^super shallow

ElyDave · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 July, 2020, 12:29:31 pm »

Quote from: fboab on 24 July, 2020, 10:28:47 am

I found some other things wrong with it and bought a pretty one instead.

^^super shallow

mzjo · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 July, 2020, 11:48:09 pm »

Quote from: fboab on 24 July, 2020, 10:28:47 am

I found some other things wrong with it and bought a pretty one instead.

^^super shallow

But of course you did, nothing to be ashamed about. Boys don't have the monopoly on looking at (and buying) pretty things.

(Of course the cool thing is liking the pretty thing and getting the boy/dad to buy it; I'm a dad with daughters DAHIKT

)

cygnet · « **Reply #20 on:** 27 July, 2020, 10:57:37 pm »

Quote from: fboab on 24 July, 2020, 10:28:47 am

I found some other things wrong with it and bought a pretty one instead.

^^super shallow

Pictures required

L CC · « **Reply #21 on:** 28 July, 2020, 10:26:17 am »

... Arriving Friday...

phantasmagoriana · « **Reply #22 on:** 28 July, 2020, 10:33:28 am »

Quote from: fboab on 28 July, 2020, 10:26:17 am

... Arriving Friday...

ElyDave · « **Reply #23 on:** 29 July, 2020, 10:41:06 am »

Purple - Cools

Chris S · « **Reply #24 on:** 30 July, 2020, 12:55:25 am »

The tension of anticipation in the household becomes more palpable with each passing day