Booth Babes @ Interbike

[zoom-zoom]

:rolleyes: I have seen SO many pictures of hoochies from Interbike, like this one:
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/218936_10151166962717929_1190068406_o.jpg

I have half a mind to write Cannondale and tell them that I'm going to put opaque tape over every one of their danged brand graphics on the THREE Cdale bikes in our garage. The bimbos they chose are clearly not even cyclists (tiny, undefined thighs with no tan lines). I would have thought Cannondale had more class after they sponsored the Reve tour. Guess not.

MTB had a photo that garnered a lot of well-deserved criticism (http://bicycling.com/blogs/fitchick/2012/09/18/an-open-letter-to-interbike/#.UFiR256V5Dd.facebook), too--on their FB page--from irritated women and men. Eventually they pulled the photo and replaced it with a shot of a guy in the dunk tank. Seriously, is that the best idea they could come up with to sell product? Cyclelicious (http://www.cyclelicio.us/2012/interbike-2012-booth-babes-law/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Cyclelicious+%28Cyclelicious%29) also discussed the issue and offered some really interesting links on the topic.

I understand that the show is in Vegas, but isn't it possible for vendors to attract retailers their product without resorting to silicone boobs? If that's all they've got going for what they're selling, then it's a wonder they stay in business. That crap is offensive to at least half of the public.

[Kiwi Stoker]

I have to agree that this is really not required. Even the podium girls at TdF wear more clothing than these ones!

When I worked in the industry I NEVER used women in such a way in any advertising or promtional activity. When someone came up with such a bright idea I would ask "so can we have a stripped to the waist ripped guy in bike shorts as well?" and that normally deflated it.

[tulip]

Wow, a different scene than the National Women's Bicycle Summit last week, which was so positive and empowering. And what's up with the bishop impersonator? I'm not Catholic but that strikes me as being in pretty poor taste and irrelevant to a bike show. Come to think of it, the whole thing is in poor taste and irrelevant to a bike show.

Elly Blue has a great test: http://takingthelane.com/2012/09/19/putting-the-bike-test-to-the-test/

[Amira]

I understand that the show is in Vegas, but isn't it possible for vendors to attract retailers their product without resorting to silicone boobs? If that's all they've got going for what they're selling, then it's a wonder they stay in business. That crap is offensive to at least half of the public.


AMEN!!!!!!! I find it insulting.



Although, I have to confess, I don't have any tan lines (ha, or tan) either, despite riding all summer. Sun block, knickers, sun sleeves on my arms and more sun block. Got to keep my dermatologist happy.

[shootingstar]

Make our views known. Maybe if Sue O. was interested, send this thread to some of these major bike manufacturers.

I wouldn't have a problem if these women were also regular cyclists. This form of advertising is just getting OLLLLLLD and cheap reach. And hiring those ladies probably is more expensive than a more intelligent but still fun way of market reach in a different way.

[OakLeaf]

Back in the day someone started a company to market umbrella girls for motorcycle races, who were racers themselves. They were babelicious and they dressed in ordinary scanty umbrella girl fashion - but they had impressively developed forearms, and plenty of them had scars from where they had rods in various bones.

The company is still around, marketing to a variety of sports, and the women are no longer (at least exclusively or visibly or per the press materials) participants in the sports. :( It was cool while it lasted, even if it didn't move past "sex sells."

[limewave]

I am really turned off by the pictures I've seen come out of Interbike. It's upsetting. There's a new local bicycle fabrication company that started posting bike p0rn every week. At first it was just of the bikes/frames. They were stunning photographs, nice craftsmanship. Then they started posting photos like this (see below) . . . So turned off. At first I thought how cool it would be to own a locally built, handmade bicycle. Now not so much. At least not from them.
15365

. . . just now they posted "babe" free photos for this week. We'll see how they decide to continue to market their brand . . .

[zoom-zoom]

I am really turned off by the pictures I've seen come out of Interbike. It's upsetting. There's a new local bicycle fabrication company that started posting bike p0rn every week. At first it was just of the bikes/frames. They were stunning photographs, nice craftsmanship. Then they started posting photos like this (see below) . . . So turned off. At first I thought how cool it would be to own a locally built, handmade bicycle. Now not so much. At least not from them.
15365

. . . just now they posted "babe" free photos for this week. We'll see how they decide to continue to market their brand . . .

Is it a certain "area code" brand? Interesting...

[zoom-zoom]

Back in the day someone started a company to market umbrella girls for motorcycle races, who were racers themselves. They were babelicious and they dressed in ordinary scanty umbrella girl fashion - but they had impressively developed forearms, and plenty of them had scars from where they had rods in various bones.

The company is still around, marketing to a variety of sports, and the women are no longer (at least exclusively or visibly or per the press materials) participants in the sports. :( It was cool while it lasted, even if it didn't move past "sex sells."

Yeah, you know...I think that's what gets me--that none of these booth babes appear to be actual cyclists. I know some very sexy, attractive women (and men--why only have female babes?) who are seriously accomplished athletes. I think I'd be much less annoyed if real riders were hired and paid to catch people's eyes, but also talk up a product and know what they are talking about from personal experience.

[limewave]

Is it a certain "area code" brand? Interesting...

You know it.

[zoom-zoom]

Although, I have to confess, I don't have any tan lines (ha, or tan) either, despite riding all summer. Sun block, knickers, sun sleeves on my arms and more sun block. Got to keep my dermatologist happy.

I don't have much in the way of tan lines, either--I'm pretty pasty. DH is a melanoma survivor, so we go pretty all-out with the sunblock and protective clothing. He was the coach in Tahoe with white arm sleeves. We still don't seem to be the norm, of course. We still have friends that pride themselves on their tan lines. I personally don't want cancer or wrinkles, so staying pale is a win-win. I like getting carded at almost 40!

Even without tan lines, those women are all far too "skinny fat" looking to be doing much of anything athletic, with the exception of the little platinum blonde who strikes me as maybe someone who lifts a bit and runs from her nature of her muscle definition.

[zoom-zoom]

You know it.

Shame...I was pretty intrigued by their fat bikes, too.

[Sky King]

Drives me totally insane as well. Who is your buyer, is so degrading to both women and men. To take it further when companies do use women who actually are athletic they still do the sex spin - I really see this now in ski and snowboarding. My DD competed in Freestyle skiing for about 5 years and anytime they wanted to photograph her they wanted a "sex" shot instead of a skill shot.
the ads even say "looking for hot babes"
As I am "old" in the eyes of the marketers I haven't even bothered to protest with words, I protest with my pocket book.

[zoom-zoom]

Elly Blue has a great test: http://takingthelane.com/2012/09/19/putting-the-bike-test-to-the-test/

That is a great blog...bookmarked!

[jessmarimba]

Yeah, I was able to get into the Denver Snow Show this year and it was the same deal. I'd imagine it's the snow sports equivalent of Interbike - but photographers were just chasing down these scantily clad girls showing off boots or hats or somesuch...or a girl in snow pants and bra, or panties and jacket...COME ON. Unfortunately most of the guys I know who bike (or ski) don't understand why I find it so offensive.

[zoom-zoom]

Unfortunately most of the guys I know who bike (or ski) don't understand why I find it so offensive.

Fortunately most of the guys I hang out with are just as perplexed as I am about the skin showing up at these conventions. I noticed in the negative comments around the net re: the WTB dunk tank chick that even most of the guys were turned-off by that sort of marketing.

[Amira]

Yeah, you know...I think that's what gets me--that none of these booth babes appear to be actual cyclists. I know some very sexy, attractive women (and men--why only have female babes?) who are seriously accomplished athletes. I think I'd be much less annoyed if real riders were hired and paid to catch people's eyes, but also talk up a product and know what they are talking about from personal experience.



Exactly. One of the reasons I love the Athleta and Title 9 Sports catalogs is the fact that their models all seem to walk the walk, so to speak. They are all gorgeous hot bods, but man, they look like they do in real life what they are shown doing in the catalog.

[zoom-zoom]

Exactly. One of the reasons I love the Athleta and Title 9 Sports catalogs is the fact that their models all seem to walk the walk, so to speak. They are all gorgeous hot bods, but man, they look like they do in real life what they are shown doing in the catalog.

+1! Especially the yoga chicks--how do they hold those poses while making the clothes look good and not covered in sweat?!

[Amira]

I don't have much in the way of tan lines, either--I'm pretty pasty. DH is a melanoma survivor, so we go pretty all-out with the sunblock and protective clothing. He was the coach in Tahoe with white arm sleeves. We still don't seem to be the norm, of course. We still have friends that pride themselves on their tan lines. I personally don't want cancer or wrinkles, so staying pale is a win-win. I like getting carded at almost 40!



Me too. Melanoma 5 years ago. Now I'm super cautious about it. I wish I'd see more people wearing the arm sleeves, although I think that clothing manufacturers are becoming more conscious of this and I definitely talk them up at rest stops (when people ALWAYS ask me if I'm hot in them). I cringe at all the women I see on long rides around here in full sun and wearing teeny little cami's and tanks. It's just so many hours of brutal sun and it can't be good for them, no matter how much sunscreen they might wear.

I wear the arm sleeves even in the hottest weather and I've learned that not only do they help me not get burned, but they actually make me feel less 'beat up' by the sun and keep me cooler. I had to experiment - the Pearl Izumi ones are way to thick and hot for Texas, but I LOVE the Craft ones - super light, but SPF 50 and wetting them as you ride definitely works to keep you feeling cooler in hot weather. I also love the YMX by Yellowman ones (and their wild jerseys). I was wearing one of the YMX ones (from TE) in Tahoe. I always look to see the SPF rating on clothes and even shorts now are getting better about SPF ratings on them. I wish Craft would make a similar sleeve for your legs - I know TE carries a different one made for legs (forgetting the brand now), but they look sorta like support hose. I ordered a pair, though, and will try them with my shorts. I'm not above looking like a total dork if I'm saving my skin.

[Amira]

+1! Especially the yoga chicks--how do they hold those poses while making the clothes look good and not covered in sweat?!

No kidding! Because my yoga experiences were sweat filled and I never mastered some of those crazy hard poses. And when I say I never mastered them, I mean I never even attempted many of them because they were so hard.

[zoom-zoom]

Me too. Melanoma 5 years ago. Now I'm super cautious about it. I wish I'd see more people wearing the arm sleeves, although I think that clothing manufacturers are becoming more conscious of this and I definitely talk them up at rest stops (when people ALWAYS ask me if I'm hot in them). I cringe at all the women I see on long rides around here in full sun and wearing teeny little cami's and tanks. It's just so many hours of brutal sun and it can't be good for them, no matter how much sunscreen they might wear.

I wear the arm sleeves even in the hottest weather and I've learned that not only do they help me not get burned, but they actually make me feel less 'beat up' by the sun and keep me cooler. I had to experiment - the Pearl Izumi ones are way to thick and hot for Texas, but I LOVE the Craft ones - super light, but SPF 50 and wetting them as you ride definitely works to keep you feeling cooler in hot weather. I also love the YMX by Yellowman ones (and their wild jerseys). I was wearing one of the YMX ones (from TE) in Tahoe. I always look to see the SPF rating on clothes and even shorts now are getting better about SPF ratings on them. I wish Craft would make a similar sleeve for your legs - I know TE carries a different one made for legs (forgetting the brand now), but they look sorta like support hose. I ordered a pair, though, and will try them with my shorts. I'm not above looking like a total dork if I'm saving my skin.

If you ever do the DV ride I really recommend sleeves...I wore them last year and people thought I was nuts, but it's so arid out there that you can spray water on your sleeves and the evaporative cooling is amazing!

I will have to check out the Craft ones. We have Moeben sleeves, but I think that company may be no more.

I'm with you on seeing women in strappy tanks while riding. Sun stuff aside, what happens if they crash?! A friend of ours has commented to me while riding that she likes the strappy tops to tan more of her upper body. I looked at her this Spring like she was nuts and said "yeah, I kind of lost all caring about getting tan when Derek had the melanoma spot and a lymph node removed." That people even make these sorts of comments around us is really perplexing. It would be like raving about drinking to a recovering alcoholic or someone who had suffered liver damage from alcohol. People are weird.

[Amira]

If you ever do the DV ride I really recommend sleeves...I wore them last year and people thought I was nuts, but it's so arid out there that you can spray water on your sleeves and the evaporative cooling is amazing!

I will have to check out the Craft ones. We have Moeben sleeves, but I think that company may be no more.

I'm with you on seeing women in strappy tanks while riding. Sun stuff aside, what happens if they crash?! A friend of ours has commented to me while riding that she likes the strappy tops to tan more of her upper body. I looked at her this Spring like she was nuts and said "yeah, I kind of lost all caring about getting tan when Derek had the melanoma spot and a lymph node removed." That people even make these sorts of comments around us is really perplexing. It would be like raving about drinking to a recovering alcoholic or someone who had suffered liver damage from alcohol. People are weird.


I expect at some point I will do DV. I laughed that I was more trained for that, having ridden the entire summer in Texas, than for Tahoe. The starting temps were like a winter ride for me. It's funny, our seasons are really totally flipped. Riding all summer is the B!tch here! Honestly, you'll probably never see me riding without either a sun sleeve or a long sleeve jersey, so no worries about taking them just to DV. You can tell from FB that I'm wearing the sleeves in most of the cycling shots taken since last May, which is when I found them.

Yes, definitely check out the Craft ones - TE carries them as well. I have the white, black and fuscia ones. Super light. The white does get dingy after a lot of wear, but so what. I also have two pairs of the YMX ones - the red/black ones shown with one of the new fall jerseys (TE chose to pair them with a jersey this time, but you can get them separately at YMX) and the black/white 'cloud' ones. I'm kicking myself now for not getting the red/green ones that go with the Henna Sport jersey, like my sister did. Um, I may have gotten a little bit carried away with buying cycling clothes this year. :eek:

[girlontheroad]

Selene Yeager at Bicycling Magazine did a post on this exact issue with the same perspective. She got flack for the picture she posted in it but took responsibility for it pointing out that it was from the interbike website and showed what she was talking about. She makes the further point that this is not a good way to attract women consumers who make up 42% of the market.
http://bicycling.com/blogs/fitchick/2012/09/18/an-open-letter-to-interbike/

[SheFly]

So, my understanding is that these "babes" are locals who do the same thing for any convention in Vegas that will hire them - it's not just Interbike. And I'm not entirely sure it's actually the bike companies that are hiring them... It may be the company that puts on Interbike that does that.

Don't get me wrong - I don't like it either. And I've been to Interbike twice and seen this with my own eyes.

SheFly

[Amira]

Selene Yeager at Bicycling Magazine did a post on this exact issue with the same perspective. She got flack for the picture she posted in it but took responsibility for it pointing out that it was from the interbike website and showed what she was talking about. She makes the further point that this is not a good way to attract women consumers who make up 42% of the market.
http://bicycling.com/blogs/fitchick/2012/09/18/an-open-letter-to-interbike/

Thanks for the link. I agree with every word she wrote. I also agree with SheFly that it's a much more widespread practice (sigh, I'm sure the camera companies, when they have their big show in Vegas, are also using a lot of T&A to show off their stuff, same is true in the ski/snowboard industry and even the SHOT show - which is all about the shooting sports industry) and that the bike companies may not be the ones doing the actual hiring, but until the bike companies hear from the 42% of the market, in force, that we don't like it and that we do put our money where our mouth is, it isn't going to change.

[zoom-zoom]

Selene Yeager at Bicycling Magazine did a post on this exact issue with the same perspective. She got flack for the picture she posted in it but took responsibility for it pointing out that it was from the interbike website and showed what she was talking about. She makes the further point that this is not a good way to attract women consumers who make up 42% of the market.
http://bicycling.com/blogs/fitchick/2012/09/18/an-open-letter-to-interbike/

Yup, I referenced that article in my OP. I don't think it's even a good way to attract most men. By using booth babes it sort of paints men as a bunch of base, slobbering animals. Men should be every bit as insulted as most of us gals are. Skin should be reserved for AVN Awards week in Vegas. If I'm going to drool over anything at a bike show it should be bikes and gear and clothes and other things related to the quality of my rides.

[girlontheroad]

Ah sorry. Must have missed the link. Yes the bikes should be attraction enough.

[Bethany1]

I'll get blasted for this, but sex sells. It's as simple as that. Every company/convention uses it to some degree and it's not going away. Guys are visually oriented for better or for worse and companies know that. Now the guy representing the pope in this shot for some odd reason leaves much to be desired and leaves me feeling grossed out. If that's how Cannondale is representing themselves, their PR department screwed up.

Where the companies need to appeal to women is through their reps attitudes toward women. Be friendly. Be comfortable and be willing/know your stuff. Nothing wrong with a little ego stroking, just don't come across as pathetic. If I walk up to a booth and feel talked down to or made to feel stupid, I'm walking away. If the only things at your booth are made for the male audience, you have nothing I want. If you cater towards the elite professionals, someone like me knows I don't belong at your booth.

The thing that companies need to realize is that there are a huge range of cyclists out there from the top professionals to recreational riders and provide for that. Catering to one group leaves you earning money only for that percentage of the population. If that's all you care about, that's fine. My money goes to the companies that cater to my needs. I'm not brand specific or loyal to one company. If you have what I need or want, you have my attention, my money and I'll be at your booth.

In real life, most guys know what makes a real woman athlete and it's not about booth babes, it's about us.

[goldfinch]

My sister has a friend that has a booth at DEFCON, the long running computer hacker/security convention. For some years he hired "promotional models." He also had friends work the booth for part of the time, including my middle-aged sister. What his friends had in common is a lot of knowledge about the products sold. They did far better than the models at getting people to stop by the booth and buy his products. He dropped the eye candy

Sex doesn't necessarily sell. If they claim it does I want to see the data. Maybe the booth babes attract some guys to come by and chat them up, but do they really help sales or is it an assumption that they do?

[Kiwi Stoker]

I don't think sex selling and cyclists really fit well. I mean guys that ride bikes are normally a bit tech-heady. They want to know about the technology, the design, the weight savings, did it help so-and-so to win this race. They actually find the bikes "sexy" in themselves- like the curves, colour, shape etc. I tried to get our photography more "sexy" as such by getting the photographer to try different angles and not just side on- boring shots. I wanted close ups of the carbon lay-up, the aero curves as well as the technical data and testing to be shown. That's what a person is buying with a bike.

However things weere a bit different for race and street BMX- these guys are skater boy, strret creed stuff. They wanted colour, design and people doing tricks and stunts. I think most guys here are not really into booth babes either. They admire skill and ability top most and are anti-establishment. Racing BMX also doesn't have anything to do with skin showing- it's all body armor and full race helmets there.

I suspect the brands that are using "sex sells" are either out of touch with their target audience or trying to take the easy- shock value route.

[shootingstar]

My sister has a friend that has a booth at DEFCON, the long running computer hacker/security convention. For some years he hired "promotional models." He also had friends work the booth for part of the time, including my middle-aged sister. What his friends had in common is a lot of knowledge about the products sold. They did far better than the models at getting people to stop by the booth and buy his products. He dropped the eye candy

I'm not totally convinced that alot of cycling guys are not interested in boob babes --but they do prefer fit, sexy women who are athletic as well. In hanging out in some internet forums that are co-ed, some at the very least, use boob jokes, photos as a sort of shared bravado, as a joke.

Which is what my partner seems to see that sort of tactic: an amusing joke. I know this is insulting to those gals. But how else do some guys respond to ill-conceived marketing tactics?

My thinking is a car, is what you use to ...also take someone else in a car. A bike.....well?

[tulip]

Just watch this.

http://www.streetfilms.org/the-inaugural-national-womens-bicycle-summit/

[zoom-zoom]

Just watch this.

http://www.streetfilms.org/the-inaugural-national-womens-bicycle-summit/

2025 seems so far away. I hope we see gender equity in cycling well before that!

[tulip]

2025 seems so far away. I hope we see gender equity in cycling well before that!

Hoping won't go far. Get out there and be a part of it, if only even by riding your bike (which of course you do already).

[zoom-zoom]

Hoping won't go far. Get out there and be a part of it, if only even by riding your bike (which of course you do already).

Even better, I happily participate in and jabber gleefully to anyone who will listen about one of the "fringe" segments of cycling where women make up a small part of the field, but our presence is growing. At Saturday's cyclocross race we had 8 gals in the C race out of maybe 50 or more riders. A couple of years ago 1-3 was more typical. I don't think we saw >5 until later in the season last year.

[Jo-n-NY]

I was at Interbike and did not see anything like that. Were then in the Sands Convention Center? What is also weird is that Cannondale bikes were not represented there this year (or last year also). There was an announcement that Guru is joining the brand and there was a Guru booth in the Triathalon section.

[Crankin]

What do you mean, that Guru is joining the brand? They are going to be part of Cannondale?
Glad I already bought my Guru.

[ridebikeme]

I guess I'm showing my age when I say this, but unfortunately this is true of every industry. Nice looking people are always in ads whether they actually look the part or not. Take for instance Terry bicycles, owned my a woman however many ads simply show women that don't look the part...obviously no different than others.

I have been in the industry for 21 years now, protested a lot at the beginning, refused to buy inventory for the shop because of these "sexist" attitudes... apparently it simply didn't do any good. It's in the media, and doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.
However, I do hope that more people will 'vote' with their checkbook and perhaps if there is enough impact, then perhaps things will start to change.

Voice your opinions to your LBS, sales reps and anyone that is part of this industry... but don't forget it's everywhere and in the true sense of the world... bikes are only a small part.

[Jo-n-NY]

What do you mean, that Guru is joining the brand? They are going to be part of Cannondale?
Glad I already bought my Guru.

Yes although when we walked into the room you wouldn't know it because Cannondale was not shown anywhere. We thought we were in the wrong room until the Guru guy made the announcement.

[Susan Otcenas]

I'd like to weigh in on this.

First, let me start out by saying that the booth babes drive me batty. It's so sexist and outdated that it makes me see red every time I see one of them. That said...

Interbike is not aimed at the consumer. Although a few consumers get in to the show because their bike shops get them passes (a big no-no, but it happens), the vendors are not really attempting to speak to the consumer here. What they want is shop owners and their employees to be attracted to their booths and to place orders for their products. The harsh reality is that this industry is VASTLY dominated by men. Male owners, male shop employees, males running the vendors and vendor booths, etc. There are two ways to attract men to the booth that might not otherwise stop by. 1) eye candy in the form of booth babes and 2) free beer.

Over the 12 years I have been going to interbike, I've noticed two things. 1) the number of booths serving beer has increased every year, and the time at which they begin serving has gotten earlier and earlier. And 2) the number of booth babes has actually diminished quite a lot. Yes, they are still there at some vendors, but in far fewer numbers than it used to be. I think these two trends are correlated. If you can't give 'em skin, give 'em beer.

There is far more women's product at Interbike than there used to be. Not just from the traditional brands, but also a surprising number of women's-only brands (shebeest, sheila moon, soas, skirt sports, active angels, harlot, and more.) More female buyers and shop owners. The OIWC (Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition) has a women's lounge set up on the floor for women to meet and greet, have happy hour, etc. Lots more coordination and networking amongst female show goers than there used to be.

So, it's getting better. We aren't there yet, but as someone who has been around the industry a long time, I can say its definitely improving.

If you want it to get better, make your voice heard. When you see brands advertising in ways that you find offensive, you should send them a letter expressing your displeasure. Most of these companies just aren't all that big, and a relatively small number of complaints received can actually have a reasonably big impact.

Susan

[zoom-zoom]

If you want it to get better, make your voice heard. When you see brands advertising in ways that you find offensive, you should send them a letter expressing your displeasure. Most of these companies just aren't all that big, and a relatively small number of complaints received can actually have a reasonably big impact.

Susan

I think that's what surprised me by the Specialized ad with the sexy nurse...seriously, Specialized feels the need for that level of desperation?!

Replacing booth babes with beer?! That would be fine by me. I <3 beer, though. :D

[withm]

When I hear stuff like this - booth babes, beer at the show, etc, and coupled with so many inane articles and columns, not to mention silly advertising, in Bicycling Magazine, it makes me think the entire industry is being run by juvenile young men. Is it "Dumb and Dumber" for the cycling industry?