World’s Greatest Bicycle?

. . . or at least that’s the title of this Creative Commons photo by t-dawg on Flickr :

To be fair, this is probably a little ostentatious for my tastes, though I like the attention to detail on the locking, looking after that Brooks (a B33?) saddle. Not sure about the actual quality of the lock & cable used though . . .

But all this raises the interesting question as to what IS the world’s greatest bicycle?

That insane, €20,000 - €80,000 gold monster from Auromania? This is allegedly a track bike . . .

If it’s all about speed, what about the custom bikes ridden by the pros? Either in time trials . . .

. . . or road racing (though remember, it’s not about the bike, as the detail of Lance’s legs reveals) . . .

Then again, the Dutch seem to know a thing or two about bikes. It it possible to beat the classic omafiets? . . .

. . . or the practicality of the Bakfiets?

Or how about the Brompton? Supremely practical, chic, positively ooozing charisma, and by all accounts, not a bad ride (I may be secretly in love with Brompton bikes, and I can see a whole post dedicated to them in the near future):

Or the go-anywhereness of mountain bikes? That’s gotta count for something…

How about the friendliness of a tandem?

The crazy tricks you can do (assuming a level of skill and lack of fear) on a BMX must make them worthy of consideration for the title . . .

But when you really think about it, I’m sure you’ll agree that the best bike you ever had was that one you rode during those endless summers when we were kids . . .

Filed under: Bike Culture, Everyday People, Friends, Photographs

6 Responses to “ World’s Greatest Bicycle? ”

  1. Mitch Roberts on April 10, 2010 at 11:42 am

    I totally agree Karl! one of my most favorite bikes was the one the I received for Christmas, green banana seat, and I rode it forever!

  2. Andy in Germany on April 10, 2010 at 2:25 pm

    I’d nominate an Xtracycle, maybe because it’s based on my favourite bike of all time. My M-trax has far more happy memories than all my childhood bikes put together, one of which broke under me.

  3. Karl On Sea on April 10, 2010 at 6:26 pm

    Andy - Doh! How could I have forgotten the Xtracycle?

    Thanks for the reminder!

  5. dr2chase on April 12, 2010 at 2:12 am

    Yeah, I was going to ding you for the lack of xtracycle/big dummy. Especially the Big Dummy. I like mine quite a bit — upright or hoods, as appropriate, plus a chain guard to keep my pants clean, dynamo for lights, stoker bars for passengers, a cup holder for coffee, tools in front (just in case), and Hello Kitty for a mascot.

    But does it need aero-bars in front, too? And how about that 11-speed Shimano hub that’s coming (I suppose to be “best”, it needs a Rohloff).

  6. magicroundabout on April 12, 2010 at 9:35 pm

    I love my Fuzzy. Seriously. My first road bike had transformed my cycling experience.