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I know I've said this before: but I just can't get over how beautiful my Campy Athena rear derailleur is! All sleek curves and solid pieces. And the Waterford's rear drop-out/der hanger is sculptural, too.
How do designers do it? How does someone have the artistic sense to take something functional and make it so beautiful?
I'm in awe of all you artists/designers/engineers/mechanics.
Once upon a time, that was the trademark of Italian engineering. Beauty combined with function. An Italian artisan would not just make a chair or a knife; he would make a beautiful chair or a beautiful knife. And the same goes with bikes. I think they blew it (most Italian bike manufacturers) when they decided to go with Carbon and of course, sending their work overseas..
now their stuff looks like everyone else's!
I've seen some beautiful carbon pieces, too. And look at Nitto stems and bottle cages and bars! Suntour canti brakes. Wow. Just wow.
Talk about bike porn!
Even things like Speedplay Frogs. How does someone design a pedal (I mean, it's just a PEDAL for goodness sake!!) that works so simply without moving parts *and* is symmetrical and pleasing to look at?
I'm certainly no artist, but man do I appreciate bicycle beauty!
after I read your post, I pulled out my box of parts for my future bike to look at the rear derailleur :cool: