"Form Over Function" or "Function Over Form&q

[Inigo Montoya]

having seen another riser-bars & barends bike in the readers bikes section i wonder what is more important for the retrobike community, esthetic appeal (form) or performance (function) of bikes/bike parts?

 

[dirtjumper_dmr]

i dont like the risers and barends look at all and i wouldnt on one of my bikes but i guess if it works for someone then the important thing is that they enjoy riding their bike and it comfortable... so i guess its the old 'horses for courses' chestnut we all have things we dont like dont we? i cant stand it when a saddle is nose down, its gotta be flat parallel to the ground, i dont like long cable outers flapping about... but then on the recent southwest ride it was pointed out to me that my front QR had the cam on the drive side and not the same side as the back QR which i had never even thought about... oh i also dont like it when modern bikes have a whole stack of spacers under the stem either

 

[perry]

with some of the antlers the boutique brands are knocking out these days bar ends on risers are the cheap utilitarian approach that im favouring over all at the moment so i firmly say function over form

id rather have bland and cheap than pretty but expensive , if you think too much about the components you risk forgetting about the ride

thats not to say function doesnt breed beauty , its just i cant see the point in paying a premium for what is often just a colour or name

years ago id have laughed at myself for that view when me and most of my mates would spend all out time saving for the xtr/chris king / handmade but at the time one mate would say " deore is good enough for me "

 

[WD Pro]

My vote is in

Function should come first - Its not allways possible to have the best, but you should allways make the best out of what you have got

WD

 

[al]

I say balls to function! :shock:

If i wanted stuff to work and look crap i would go and buy some nasty carbon bike with full Shitmano groupset.

Where's the fun in that?

Form is a must,function is a bonus. Thats the reason we have five classic cars and only one is on the road at the mo' :roll:
And lets face it if things brake on your retro bike/car then you've always got something nice to look at when waiting for the troops to arrive!

Al.

 

[jez-4-bikes-max]

Im a bike tart so yes its not as important unless it looks good.

Sad.

 

[al]

jez, shallow is the new deep!!

Al.

 

[jez-4-bikes-max]

Suits me then Al!

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Although not a fan of the riser bar/barend look if you have a bad back then why not? So speaks someone who has never actually owned a riser bar! Surely a mountain bike is a functional bit of kit though? Never, not back then or more recently have I ever felt the need for a boutique component. Spend £200 on something that doesn't actually work very well? No ta!
I wonder if other subject forums have this debate? I can imagine the reply on a Fire Extinguisher forum. "I'm sorry your house burnt down because our extinguisher fell to pieces in your hands, but you have to admit, the Rasta paintwork on it is so much prettier than dull old red!"

Each to their own, but guess where my vote went.

 

[al]

I think that people that run risers and ends need a kick in the pants! :shock: firm but fair,i think.

As for the fact that function comes before form.We may as well close this forum down and buy a nasty alloy spesh with bland stamped out tat, like most other consumers!

Where the hell would our hobby/sport/lives be without risks in the industry?

Al.

ps.I have already kicked a friend in the pants! I did need to ride off quickly though!