Bicycle Brand Personality Survey

As a former marketing person in the industry I suspect this is a bit flawed. The overall bicycle brand doesn't actually have much "brand presence" or "personality" because companies like Trek are like an umbrella brand (think like Johnston and Johnston) and where it really gets interesting is the sub brands below that for example Madone series etc.

That's because different bike types require different marketing. There's no way the marketing story I tell to road bike riders will connect to BMX bike riders- if fact it would probably turn them right off. Their motivations for purchasing are a lot different to a road bike rider (and in fact we actually created a seperate sub-brand with seperate website, marketing collateral etc to support BMX and street bike riders).

I reaslise that this surveying is probably for an assignment but if you are even thinking about showing this to Trek at some point I think you need to be a bit more upfront about what you are doing. Companies pay lots of money for info so becareful how you use or abuse it. I think you have already started to offend some people here and TE forums are considered "neutral ground" where we can express our opinions. Sure, bike companies probably keep an eye on this site but don't actively commerical post or even survey here. Bike Forums.net actually has a seperate area for industry to do this kind of thing but TE does not.

OK, I might need help matching celebs with my bikes.

Cdale SuperSix (road): pretty-boy, athletic, vain.

Redline Conquest (CX): laid-back, reliable, boy-next-door. Gives me the giggles and we get into mischief together on a regular basis.

Cdale F5 (mtn.): I haven't ridden her enough to really get a feel for her personality. I crash a lot on her, so I think maybe she's a klutz. And she's kinda on the heavy side, but strong. Oh, wait...I think I'm projecting myself on my bike! :p

Huh. I call my 230 Honda 'motard "my Bart Simpson bike." Never occurred to me to associate a celebrity with any of my other vehicles. :p

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

Cdale SuperSix (road): pretty-boy, athletic, vain.

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So would you say he's the Mick Jagger of bikes? :p

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

Cdale F5 (mtn.): I haven't ridden her enough to really get a feel for her personality. I crash a lot on her, so I think maybe she's a klutz. And she's kinda on the heavy side, but strong. Oh, wait...I think I'm projecting myself on my bike! :p

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Sounds like Lucy Ricadro? But then she was no klutz. Those pratfalls, and slapstick were pure art. :cool:

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Originally Posted by Trek420

So would you say he's the Mick Jagger of bikes? :p



Sounds like Lucy Ricadro? But then she was no klutz. Those pratfalls, and slapstick were pure art. :cool:

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Hmmm...I don't know about Mick Jagger...he's less pretty than sorta icky. Maybe Russell Crowe. Attractive, athletic, kinda douchey... :p

Lucy Ricardo, now THAT does sound a lot like my mtn. bike! And the art part would be the colorful bruises that end up decorating my body! :D

My bikes aren't really celebrity material :rolleyes:

My TT bike has earned the nickname "the short bus"... cause it's tiny and school bus yellow - I suppose if it had to be associated with a celebrity figure it could be Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump?

My kiddie sized cross bike Mini Me from Austin Powers? or maybe Mighty Mouse?

OK... my new road bike could be a star I guess (2011 Amira pro - the carbon black and matte black one) - but probably not what they were thinking - I'd say it's Batman :D

My rain bike is plain jane ti... the only personality it has is by what buddy flap I put on it (used to be hula girls, currently bacon)... I couldn't even say its a centerfold, cause naked as it is, it's not particularly sexy with it's heavy duty rims and fenders.... more like the old lady at the nudist camp.

(I checked out the survey for giggles... I don't think I knew who 1/2 of the celebrities were to be able to compare their personalities to a corporation anyway....)

Ok, what about all of our Surly LHT? Would they have the personality of a dependable butler or a sexy, strong, dependable guy who will go the distance for us? Ooohhhhh, Matt Damon. Or at least what I imagine Matt Damon to be.

I could care less about celebrities and most certainly do not associate my bikes with them. I don't name my bikes, either.
I saw the first question on the survey and quit. It really looks like some stupid college assignment, where the writers don't actually ride bikes.

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Originally Posted by Savra

Ok, what about all of our Surly LHT? Would they have the personality of a dependable butler or a sexy, strong, dependable guy who will go the distance for us? Ooohhhhh, Matt Damon. Or at least what I imagine Matt Damon to be.

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Ooh...or Daniel Craig or Hugh Jackman... *swoons*

Heh. Now, I don't have a LHT, but I very much understand the appeal. Still, they don't strike me as sexy at all. I'd go more toward Ron Perlman. :p

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Heh. Now, I don't have a LHT, but I very much understand the appeal. Still, they don't strike me as sexy at all. I'd go more toward Ron Perlman. :p

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Ooh, or Tom Hanks as himself...not sexy in the traditional sense, but stable and likable.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

I could care less about celebrities and most certainly do not associate my bikes with them. I don't name my bikes, either.
I saw the first question on the survey and quit. It really looks like some stupid college assignment, where the writers don't actually ride bikes.

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This sums up my feelings as well.

I hope the person who posted this survey takes the time to read these responses. They are great feedback and an excellent focus group on what we think of the survey.

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Originally Posted by jobob

You've got some nerve, kid.

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ha, no kidding.

I took it just to see, wow, those question made no sense. Brand personality? It's a BRAND. I have no idea where to place "vain" and "selfish", jeeze. These question need a third option of "I have no idea what you're talking about". I only knew the name of one female celebrity, and I kind of recognized two other faces. Knew two of the male personalities, that's it.

"how much did you recently spend on a bike"
lol, I just bought a chepo beater, it was $125 as is. But don't ask me about my custom soma build, I'm sure it wont matter to your research :rolleyes:

No place for comments at the end, either. What a terrible survey. I hope they come back to the comments here, but I doubt it since they don't seem to be addressing anything.

For the record, I asked this person not to post any additional surveys.