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

View this content on Instagram

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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

 

[bikeworkshop]

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

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

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

I'm surprised all those poor asthmatics want to breathe any CO at all!

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/talking-point-why-do-so-many-pros-have-asthma

Truth be told, if you're not prepared to take any and all technically permissible advantages, your not going to knock out a grand-tour-winning performance.

Its not really fair to blame the cyclists, for this very reason.
The race organisers have to keep it clean for them.

Lance is the fall guy for all the businessmen who got rich off their backs, knowing full well what was happening.


An ex-professional friend of mine, once he'd joined the European circuit, was invited to see "the team doctor".

When he turned down the, er, medications on offer, he was flatly told he could stay in the team as long as he could keep up.

 

[Rambo Mambo]

as

I'm surprised all those poor asthmatics want to breathe any CO at all!

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/talking-point-why-do-so-many-pros-have-asthma

Truth be told, if you're not prepared to take any and all technically permissible advantages, your not going to knock out a grand-tour-winning performance.

Its not really fair to blame the cyclists, for this very reason.
The race organisers have to keep it clean for them.

Lance is the fall guy for all the businessmen who got rich off their backs, knowing full well what was happening.
View attachment 1006082

An ex-professional friend of mine, once he'd joined the European circuit, was invited to see "the team doctor".

When he turned down the, er, medications on offer, he was flatly told he could stay in the team as long as he could keep up.

i have life long asthma and I ride. Yes it hurts but the inhalers work. That being said I am no athlete but I do like to feel the burn and I control it. I know a chap who used to ride with some of the Brit elites in their later years and they told him that the drugs they offered were to ensure they made it to the finish line and no more than that.

 

[pwebb]

(sort of off topic but I didnt start it) If there were an advantage to be had from rebreathing CO, then we would see a lot more riders drafting the team car and maybe the directeur sportif putting some nice 'additives' in the tank , plus some teams would quickly drop their EVs in favour of a 10 year old skoda ;-) I personally pity the poor competitors having to breathe in the exhaust gases on busy stages and road races where the diesel particulates have barely had time to settle before the race comes through, not to mention the dust on the Strade Bianchi and Paris Roubaix etc - this can not be good for lung health. It is highly likely that asthmatics have their condition worsened considerably from the exposure to particulate matter, principally from diesel engines, but also now EV tyres and brakes too. I prefer not to cycle around my home any more as the air quality is so poor and traffic too dense, so I am afraid I often transport bikes by car to where it is safer and where I can breathe air not pollutants. I know I am contributing to the pollution myself by doing so, but have never owned a diesel car and limit my annual mileage to sensible levels, worked remotely the last 15 years etc. ( that's my excuse anyway)

 

[ChromeChainstay]

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[Rambo Mambo]

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Full sus and a rack. I just don’t get it.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Full sus, rack, and a dropper post, flared bars and Juan-bi.

Means your shopping is still with you after that rad descent of the rock garden
Even if your teeth aren't