Look whats just been invented 😉

[Cloverleaf]

Conspicuous consumption, the drive to be seen with a product in order attain the appearance of status through association

And the problem is that people who do have a use for those things then get lumped into the posing category by those who have animosity towards anyone enjoying life differently to them. An example is that my dad has an Evoque. Most people see it as too fancy, show off and completely useless. However for him it's easy to get in and out of, has a heated steering wheel which makes dog walks in winter much easier with Raynaud's, and has a very good 4WD system which with winter tyres allows him to get down tracks to collect peats, and actually get in and out of the rural village in winter when everyone else seems to get stuck. It's small (compared to bigger, 'proper' off roaders), it does 45mpg and it's comfortable. And it doesn't spend its life in shopping centre carparks. But if he does visit the city then he's lumped in with all the ones bought for image. Similarly I have a Santa Cruz Megatower. The Hipster's bike of choice for a smooth trail centre near you, and by riding one I get lumped into that demographic. Except I have it because it allows me to ride descents as though I'm on a DH bike and still get to the top easily.

The problem with marketing is that it's based in making people feel inferior for having the 'lesser' or 'smaller' option, even if it is more suited. Got an Evoque? Well, it's because you couldn't afford the FFRR. Got a Santa Cruz Tallboy? It's because you couldn't afford the Megatower. And so people finance things they can't afford and which are too much for them, all to appear (at least in their head) better to people who they really shouldn't care about the opinion of.

 

[d00m]

Gravel bikes... heavier than an old mountain bike, more fragile than an old mountain bike, more costly than an old mountain bike - and you have to wear a road helmet... eh?

 

[Rambo Mambo]

The customers for super high value new bikes,
(Often termed "dentist bikes" in the trade) are
90% mammalian
and 10% racer

Like modern Land Rovers, the supposed target audience is not the real one.

Is there a name for this marketing style?

It’s the “wanna try this ‘cos I saw a clip of it online” demographic in my humble opinion.

 

[ChromeChainstay]

i liked mtb racing. within walking distance to my car if i got a mechanical or crashed. i don't understand the safety factor in long distance events personally. ultra events are not my thing. Europeans support the longterm advertising potential of cycling. Mtb racing doesn't really exist in the USA on television. I assume gravel racing will follow suit.

i blame it all on this man. gotta blame somebody, right

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and this. and that

https://road.cc/content/news/carbon-monoxide-talk-takes-over-tour-de-france-309509

i worked for Cannondale in high school and the original insignia was the train station in my town called cannondale crossing. i am still amazed by how many bikes a company has got to sell to keep the doors open. different world i was living in the 90's and early 2000's.

i am mostly surprised by the price tag of team bikes and how many are sold actually