I was perusing eBay and found this Merckx frame that has been "hybrided". I have the same frame on a road bike and it is really a fantastic ride. The listing calls it "Lemond Ti" even though it is a Litespeed manufactured bike. Here is a link and a pic.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Eddy-Merckx-Hybrid-with-Ti-Le-Mond-Titanium-Steel_W0QQitemZ120044604330QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4231 3QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Poor bike, what a fate! What's up with that seat angle, was the owner afraid the brakes would throw him over the bars?

holy moley? that's a merck? man... insulkting

With a starting bid of $1000.00?

Think of the shame that frame must be feeling right now.

This one really hurts my eyeballs for a number of reasons from the bar ends on the carbon riser bar to the Synchros crank to the cheap fork and stem to the street tires to the general configuration. If someone at Seven saw it, I bet they'd break down and cry. (Sorry if it belongs to some RBR person :D )

from ebay...

http://i17.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/d2/b1/ea_1_b.JPG

.....

<img src=http://www.cardiffjif.com/news/newsphp/uploads/ugly%20bike.jpg>

Wasn't there a GMC bike off e-bay a while ago that had the fork mounted backwards. I'll try searching for it...

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=58453&highlight=fork+backwards+gmc+e-bay

Now that I think is a good idea. 2 bikes in 1. I'd probably put some padding on the MTB bars so that I could rest my chin on it while I was in the drops. If you built a tandem with that set up, the stoker could give you a nice back massage during a long ride.

Didn't Sheldon do at least one rig like that? Whoever threw this thing together either has a terrific sense of humor, or is totally clueless.

.....

<img src=http://www.cardiffjif.com/news/newsphp/uploads/ugly%20bike.jpg>

This thing is pretty sweet. I especially like the rim/disk brake combo.

This thing is pretty sweet. I especially like the rim/disk brake combo.

Is that Nexus hub as well?

/\ Very funny.

Yes it is. That's whats weird. That guy spent some bucks on that bike. I can't figure out how he rides on the drop bars. Does he put his arms over or under the mtn bars?

Actually, that's a Rohloff, not a Nexus, which means this guy really dropped some spendolies. Whatever. I admire weirdness in a bike....

Didn't Sheldon do at least one rig like that? Whoever threw this thing together either has a terrific sense of humor, or is totally clueless.


I think that is the sheldon brown KM. looks like it anyways, and how many of those can there possibly be.

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=58453&highlight=fork+backwards+gmc+e-bay
Well, I guess so much for the theory that more rake = less trail. Such silly maxims assume a fork installed in the right direction, ya know.

after an encounter with an old man in a rush, in a Mercury marquis.

Details!? Geez! I'm surprised that the fork didn't torque and actually that the wheel wasn't even worse, before a ti frame would just truly sheer like that on TWO tubes!

Give us da rundown.

Whose says you dont have to post-weld heat treat bike frames? :mad2:

That stem fractured right through the HAZ (most likely in the grain coarsened region)...dang, interesting failure...I am kinda surprised that the fork/wheel didnt take more of that impact...

nK

Details!? Geez! I'm surprised that the fork didn't torque .
Looking down the left fork leg it looks like it did snap.

but hey...that's a good tire u got there.... still inflated! (? looks like it anyway)

This one really hurts my eyeballs for a number of reasons from the bar ends on the carbon riser bar to the Synchros crank to the cheap fork and stem to the street tires to the general configuration. If someone at Seven saw it, I bet they'd break down and cry. (Sorry if it belongs to some RBR person :D )


Christ, TB. I saw that, and I lost my vision for about 10 minutes. Since the visions's come back, I see red spots everywhere.

I'd rather have a 5W IR laser shined in my eyes than see that thing again. You better watch your back....or more specifically, your eyes.....when you come out for El Tour. I have access to many different lasers, and retribution will be mine....

but hey...that's a good tire u got there.... still inflated! (? looks like it anyway)

Yep! Tires are still good -- just a small abrasion to the sidewall.

The fork was snapped, and the front hub is a goner (it no longer rotates on the Axle).

I was traveling southbound on a road that was not too heavily trafficed. A senior citizen apparently was in a rush to make a left turn from the northbound lane, and claimed that he never saw me. I was hit head on while I was in the intersection. I spent 12 hours in the ER, a week in an ICU and close to three weeks in the hospital with head and face trauma, a torn rotator cuff and broken vertebral processes. The old man received a ticket for "failure to yield right of way in an intersection." I also did a pretty good number on his roof and windshield. Of course the ******* has the bare minimum in terms of insurance and his no-fault isn't even sufficient to cover my visit to the ER which cost about $75K. I just hope he has enough assets to replace my bike.


I previously had never heard of a Ti tubeset failing like mine. Then again, the old man drove a Mercury Marquis, just a little smaller than a Sherman Tank.

Carbon fork, carbon stays, steel chainrings on a $600 bike. Compact geometry. All it needs is some cheap low spoke wheels.

wrong? or just not right.<br><br><img src="http://www.rideyourbike.com/images/fixedxtracycle.jpg">

Carbon fork, carbon stays, steel chainrings on a $600 bike. Compact geometry. All it needs is some cheap low spoke wheels.Help me out. What exactly is wrong with this $600 bike?

Wrong, wrong, wrong. Turning that beautiful Italian racing machine into a cargo hauler.

It's like hooking up a gardener's trailer (mower, clippings, etc.) to a Farrari.

Help me out. What exactly is wrong with this $600 bike?

The bike used cheap components, then they stick on a carbon fork and carbon seat stays to mimic more expensive bikes. The cheap carbon compromises durability and safety for marketing. An entry level bike should first and formost be tough, durable and safe. Sacrificing the basic necessities and using a fad to market is OEM gone wrong.

It's like hooking up a gardener's trailer (mower, clippings, etc.) to a Farrari.

I used to have a neighbor who owned one car, a red Dodge Viper. It was his everyday car, and he used to go to the grocery store with it, it had coffee stains and trash on the inside, used to drive it in the snow in winter, etc. It even had a few rust spots from the harsh Boston winters.

Just a real-life anecdote! :-)

from ebay...

http://i17.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/d2/b1/ea_1_b.JPG


How do you even safely control that bike???

The bike used cheap components, then they stick on a carbon fork and carbon seat stays to mimic more expensive bikes. The cheap carbon compromises durability and safety for marketing. An entry level bike should first and formost be tough, durable and safe. Sacrificing the basic necessities and using a fad to market is OEM gone wrong.To be fair, the pictured bike is actually a last year's model $1100 bike that is currently being discounted by Nashbar for $600. Granted, I would not pay $1100 for a Tiagra-equipped bike, but that's the MSRP. There are plenty of bikes in the $1100 range from Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc. with carbon stays and forks.

If you can tell me definitively that the Iron Horse bike you pictured has actual safety problems, please share that information. Nashbar's blowout pricing proves nothing except that Iron Horse's marketing sucks.

wrong? or just not right.

http://www.rideyourbike.com/images/fixedxtracycle.jpg
A Classic Lamborghini pickup truck.
Interesting place to keep a spare gear, too.

http://xtracycle.com/albums/real_loads/9_5_03_bike.jpg

http://www.samedeutz-fahr.com/lamborghini/img/fotoHome.jpg

Tell me about the rear brake and gears. I see a rear brake cable but it seems to end just behind the saddle. Is this a single speed? I see no gear cables/shifters. Intriguing

Saw this on the "Is Ti Dead" thread. I can't take credit for it, but felt this threaded needed another picture.

wood bike

http://www.xtracycle.com/

Tell me about the rear brake and gears. I see a rear brake cable but it seems to end just behind the saddle. Is this a single speed? I see no gear cables/shifters. Intriguing

http://www.sogreni.dk/Images/the_mountaingoat_stor.jpg
http://www.sogreni.dk/Images/the_wooden_stor.jpg

Buth from sogreni in copenhagen

holy moley? that's a merck? man... insulkting


that is awesome- ti AX, made by Litespeed, frame w/Kestrel EMS fork approx $1500 in it's day.

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/1521/dirtragmagphotokq8.jpg

Looks like a Chia Pet.

that is awesome- ti AX, made by Litespeed, frame w/Kestrel EMS fork approx $1500 in it's day.

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/1521/dirtragmagphotokq8.jpg

My Merckx Ti has an old school Wound Up carbon fork on it. I absolutely love the ride of that bike. Here is my frame that I built up.

boy, it's a sad day when wound ups are considered old school . . .

i feel old.

boy, it's a sad day when wound ups are considered old school . . .

i feel old.

Ok, it isn't really old school :p .... it is just not as newfangled as many of todays all carbon aero forks.

The round carbon with polished lugs isn't something you see on many new bikes, but judging by the ride of this bike, daddy like.

The bike used cheap components, then they stick on a carbon fork and carbon seat stays to mimic more expensive bikes. The cheap carbon compromises durability and safety for marketing. An entry level bike should first and formost be tough, durable and safe. Sacrificing the basic necessities and using a fad to market is OEM gone wrong.

Actually, that frame/fork was probably built on the same assembly line as mid-priced Giants, Scattantes, Treks, Schwinn, Fuji, etc, etc. It's not a Walmart GMC bike. Decent quality tubing and precision, if automated, construction.

I'm not defending true crap Chinese bikes, but this ain't one of 'em.

Jim

Yeah, it hurt. I was just going around the block and "didn't need to put on my gear". Luckily, the wife is an RN. The rash has healed, but the heartbreak has not.

Highsides suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, that frame/fork was probably built on the same assembly line as mid-priced Giants, Scattantes, Treks, Schwinn, Fuji, etc, etc. It's not a Walmart GMC bike. Decent quality tubing and precision, if automated, construction.

I'm not defending true crap Chinese bikes, but this ain't one of 'em.

Jim

If manufacturers would forgo the marketing fads they could produce a very high quality durable entry level bike. A nice tig welded steel frame with butted tubes, high quality 32 spoke wheels, Shimano 105 level components. Instead they are using carbon stays and forks on a so-so frame, using cheap hubs, low quality crankset and bottom brackets, and poorly built wheels. Knock over that iron horse once in the garage and the stays could snap. You could make and sell a bike now for $600 that's better than any bike that existed 20 years ago, but instead we get this marketing compromise.

If manufacturers would forgo the marketing fads they could produce a very high quality durable entry level bike. A nice tig welded steel frame with butted tubes, high quality 32 spoke wheels, Shimano 105 level components. Instead they are using carbon stays and forks on a so-so frame, using cheap hubs, low quality crankset and bottom brackets, and poorly built wheels. Knock over that iron horse once in the garage and the stays could snap. You could make and sell a bike now for $600 that's better than any bike that existed 20 years ago, but instead we get this marketing compromise.

Well OK. Now I understand where you're coming from, but I have to ask: have you ever owned or ridden an Iron Horse? I have an IH FS MTB, a Scattante Ultegra roadie with carbon stays and fork, and just bought a similarly configured IH roadie for my wife. I wouldn't compare them to the better US-made frames (which are few nowadays) but they are easily comparable to any other Taiwan-made frame. I've put 1500 miles on the Scattante (although it's gathering a bit of dust since I built my custom steel ride), and I ride rough roads, bunny-hop potholes and railroad crossings, and even with my 210 lbs aboard have never had a failure, or even had to touch a spoke on the cheap, low-spoke-count, machine-made wheels.

The point of all this? I think you'd be really surprised at the quality coming out of these 'secondary' brands.

Jim

http://images.thatimagesite.com/core/2472/2472_image.jpg

http://images.thatimagesite.com/core/1265/1265_image.jpg


and since you include motorcycles....


http://images.thatimagesite.com/core/42/42_image.jpg

Ok, it isn't really old school :p .... it is just not as newfangled as many of todays all carbon aero forks.

The round carbon with polished lugs isn't something you see on many new bikes, but judging by the ride of this bike, daddy like.
I dunno. I think it's old school, personally. I never even conceived of the idea of... round carbon forks. I mean I guess it makes sense, but I always imagined them bladed.
Maybe I'm just a total noob.
-estone2

Saw this on the "Is Ti Dead" thread. I can't take credit for it, but felt this threaded needed another picture.

I would not could call this a bike gone wrong, but a one of a kind done by Craig Calfee..a very neat bike..

I dunno. I think it's old school, personally. I never even conceived of the idea of... round carbon forks. I mean I guess it makes sense, but I always imagined them bladed.
Maybe I'm just a total noob.
-estone2

why, frame tubes are round, no? wound ups always reminded me of road versions of the bontrager mountain bike forks, and i liked them from the minute they came out. of course, i didn't actually own a set until early this year, and i like the ride. and i still think the look is much more interesting than other carbon forks out there.

.....

<img src=http://www.cardiffjif.com/news/newsphp/uploads/ugly%20bike.jpg>
This bike was built up by Harris Cyclery to be a test ride bike for Surly frames, Rolloff hubs, disk brakes and rim brakes. In the article I saw about it they say feel free to stop in and take it for a ride.

As for the Orange and Black Cannondale R2000, it's Detroit style, other wise known as Hobo style.

A classic used for a unique purpose or a classic that sits around and never ridden !!
The soul wants to be set free. Just ride and enjoy.

wrong? or just not right.<br><br><img src="http://www.rideyourbike.com/images/fixedxtracycle.jpg">

I know the guy who owns that; he is in Seattle. The Colnago seems to go through various forms of reincarnation as a kind of running joke. The owner knows his business, and can change the frame back to it's intended configuration in a very short time.
I am actually in this photo, sitting on a bench in the background.

Yeah, it hurt. I was just going around the block and "didn't need to put on my gear". Luckily, the wife is an RN. The rash has healed, but the heartbreak has not.

Highsides suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ouch!! Is that a 916? I need a Ducati one of these days...

Jim

Okay, now that my eyes are bleeding. Geez. What an interesting collection.

This thread reminds me of the "Island of misfit bikes" or something Rankin-Bass
would have done for a holiday special with fabric and clay characters.

why, frame tubes are round, no? wound ups always reminded me of road versions of the bontrager mountain bike forks, and i liked them from the minute they came out. of course, i didn't actually own a set until early this year, and i like the ride. and i still think the look is much more interesting than other carbon forks out there.
Yeah, that's why I was like "i guess it makes sense"
more of a "wow, i don't know sh*t"
It makes perfect sense for the inital versions but I was so used to bladed ones, and I think most steel forks now are bladed too, etc etc, so it never occured to me.
I'm an idiot :D
-estone2

Actually, it was only a 748. With mods, it ran quite well, though.

I messed up and passed on a pristine 998 when this one went to the big Duc pond in the sky. It only had 3500 miles, still had the nipples on the edge of the tires and 1" chicken strips on the rubber, and was only $10,500. Coulda', shoulda', woulda'....

I ride a serotta, so I shouldn't really trash them... but their custom stuff is often "rich old guys gone wild". I don't know why they allow their customers to design crap like this.

What's the thing at the top of the seat stays that looks like a beer can?

What's the thing at the top of the seat stays that looks like a beer can?

The NOS canister.

The NOS canister.

Seriously, wtf?

This just further proves my theory that serotta doesn't bother checking over the geometery charts that customers/shops send them. Half the reason why I feel my serotta came out so shitty....I'll save my long serotta rant for later

On a thread related note... There used to be a guy that often posted a pic of his colnago carbonissimo that he had converted to a touring/charity event bike. It had:

-Aero bars for comfort
-Zipp 404 Clinchers
-Campy Record
-A rear rack
-behind-the-seat bottle racks
-A kick stand.

I couldn't find it, but some of you may remember it from when the rbr photo section was an uncharted wasteland of racial slurs..

The NOS canister.
:D LMAO! :D

from craigslist... :eek:

http://d.im.craigslist.org/QH/WC/cyxiGObIXXTNndgWuXmP7VMgwYEg.jpg

I ride a serotta, so I shouldn't really trash them... but their custom stuff is often "rich old guys gone wild". I don't know why they allow their customers to design crap like this.


Haaaaa, that's the picture I was looking for. He has a custom Calfee done up the same exact way, Ughhhhh.

from craigslist... :eek:

http://d.im.craigslist.org/QH/WC/cyxiGObIXXTNndgWuXmP7VMgwYEg.jpg
OMG, I LOVE that stem. :rolleyes:

more coolness fron ebay...

http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/77/77/ebb6_1.JPG

more coolness fron ebay...


I'm no expert but I don't think that one is getting by the UCI officials!

Found this abandoned in NYC a few years back.

Found this abandoned in NYC a few years back.
I hope you liberated that poor thing.

Seen in the "Bikes, Frames & Forks" forum:

http://www.cinelli.it/prodotti/biciclette/prodotto/ZZ_prod_07.jpg

This is apparently a factory offering by Cinelli. Did they throw it together with parts left over from other models? :out:

what's up with this headset?
this was recently posted on houston craigslist.

what's up with this headset?That's where he carries his girlfriend?

Ooooooo... I'm going to get banished for taht one.

Part of the Burning Man festival in Brooklyn

I know the guy who owns that; he is in Seattle. The Colnago seems to go through various forms of reincarnation as a kind of running joke. The owner knows his business, and can change the frame back to it's intended configuration in a very short time.
I am actually in this photo, sitting on a bench in the background.

you too can make a bike look this ugly!

http://216.109.125.130/search/cache?ei=UTF-8&fr=slv8-grpj&p=27+conversion+700c&u=www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002TIZE2/ref%3Dnosim/kkorg-20&w=27+conversion+700c&d=fZnur5IFNulv&icp=1&.intl=us

Part of the Burning Man festival in Brooklyn

Nah, those dudes are Black Label.

http://www.blacklabelnyc.com/bk4/index.html

The article in the NYT stated that they were antithetical to Burning Man, and not in the same vein. Think of them as more punk rock and less hippy-dippy freakout.

BiKeS gOnE wRoNg

let me tell you the story about that bike.

The owner had a severe back problem and that design was the absolutly only way that he could ever get on a bike and ride it.....the Bear can as you guys called it, is a shock designed to take jarring hits and again protect his back.

I find any bike that gets someone on the road as elegant.

I applaud Serotta for finding a soultion to someones problem and allowing them to enjoy this sport.

len

Is that shopped?

Seen in the "Bikes, Frames & Forks" forum:

http://www.cinelli.it/prodotti/biciclette/prodotto/ZZ_prod_07.jpg

This is apparently a factory offering by Cinelli. Did they throw it together with parts left over from other models? :out:


Come on, thats the bootleg! The genesis of the "wtf bike." Last time I checked they had a whole model line of those. I guess someone is buying them, though much like the rest of their products these days I'll just have to imagine they live in some far off place where I will never meet any of them.

what is OEM?

from ebay...

http://i17.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/d2/b1/ea_1_b.JPG

I think that was one of the short-live Cannondale Busboy line of bikes from the late 90s. It came with a pair of black polyester slacks and a white polyester shirt.

what is OEM?
original equipment manufacturer.

basically, 'as is' from the original production line.

This thing is pretty sweet. I especially like the rim/disk brake combo.

Isn't that Sheldon Brown's daily ride?

BTW, here's my nomination: It's owned by some guy in Asia named Yip. He obviously has more money than sense. At first, I thought it was a joke (the 3-rail Brooks saddle alone weighs more than the Lightspeed frame), but he used to post on one bike site, and he seemed serious.

cippo's retirement ride...

http://www.geocities.com/admrnimitz/zebra.JPG

i was in bordeaux and an old guy was selling a bunch of crazy bikes he made. i have photos of probably all of them.