WSD- have we gone too far?

I stopped by a LBS today to buy a floor pump for my road bike. The one I have is old, and only goes up to 100 psi. I wanted a good pump that I could keep in my car for before my thrice-weekly rides after work.

So I stopped into the shop, knowing exactly what I wanted and asked the guy working for a recommendation. He showed me what they had, and I picked one out easily enough. As we headed to the register, he told me he had to show me one more pump, mostly because they hadn't sold one. It was over in what I term the 'girly' corner. That is, the corner of the bike shop reserved for women's specific gear, most of which is in shades of pink, violet, and baby blue.

There, in the corner stood a WSD tire pump (!!?) in a shade of bubblegum pink with white hawaiian style flowers. It was smaller than the other pumps, almost childlike in size. I shook my head, told him I was fine with my pump, and checked out.

At the register, another (male) salesperson came up and tried to sell me the pink pump. They insisted they just wanted one person to buy it. I guess it's not selling too well.

What I want to know is, is there a point where the WSD gear gets just a bit too much? Do women need specifically designed everything? Or is there some point where the marketing people are taking advantage of the fact that women shop more than men, and that anything labelled 'women's specific' will be bought by women, even if it is unnecessary?

I have to end this by saying that I myself recently bought a WSD bike. There are certain things I feel should be designed specifically for women's bodies. However, I'm not quite sure that tire pumps (or helmets, for that matter) are one of those things.

(edited to include picture of said tire pump)

http://images.rei.com/media/658561.jpg

my bike shop has that! the first time i saw it... they were selling it to someone buying a new bike!

i'm not a pink bike person... but i love that pump.. keep trying to get hubby to let me buy it (we already have a regular park tool one).... lbs owner told me it's shorter so that us shorter folks can get more umph into it! i do admit i have a hard time with the regular pump.. have to "jump" on it when i get it up above 100 (of course.. now i'm only doing my tires to 100.... not that much of an issue! lol!)

oh.. and my first helmet was a wsd specialized.. i LOVED the pony tail spot... i miss it on my giro atmos.... i'm constantly having to push my ponytail or pigtails down further on my head!

I don't think my Wrench Force bike pump knows or cares about my gender. :)

I'm not a pink, violet, baby blue, or flower kinda' gal. But that's me and other women are.

The only reason to buy a pink pump is so the blokes at the track won't steal it! :D

What will they think of next - WSD tire levers?

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Originally Posted by AussieEm

The only reason to buy a pink pump is so the blokes at the track won't steal it! :D

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I must admit that's a good reason. I used to have the girliest (and ugliest) cell-phone cover. No men would ever have pretended it was his. Same for my pink commuter bike. It may not deter a serious thief, but I am certain more than one thief would feel easily identifiable riding that bike.

Otherwise... I have lots of red and pink in my wardrobe, and tend to enjoy pink accessories, but this bike pump seems like a desperate marketing gig to me. I love my yellow Joe Blow. I can see how a children could have problems inflating tires with it, but anyone over 4'8" can use it without a problem...

The only reason to buy that pump is to keep your *&%#*!! little brother's dirty paws off the thing. Boys don't touch pink stuff. It gives them cooties! :eek:

Actually, I have resorted to painting tools pink. I don't particuarly like pink, but those tools tended to stay where I put them - unless my sister thought she needed one.

(Sez the woman who had to deal three younger brothers growing up)

:eek: :eek: :eek:

Not sure what else to say really....pink...:eek:

c

I think Michellie Jones needs that pump! Or anyone with a pink bike. I like it. I bought BF the Topeak Twister Digital pump to prevent him from taking mine all the time, but I like it so much- I steal it from him! I would buy a pump if it had features as nice as that, but not just because it was pink.

Nanci

The pump you are talking about is made by Serfas. This pump becomes easier to use above 75 psi. I tried it at Interbike. I felt no difference on a mountain bike tire (lower psi); however, the pump was easier to use on a road tire that I took to 120psi. The one thing I don't like is the lower profile.

Wrench Force has had a WSD pump in the works for almost two years.

Believe it or not, I own that pump. I bought it when I got my new Bianchi. The tires need to be pumped to 120psi each time I ride. I just could not do it with the other pump I owned. With the pink pump, it's easy. I don't know why it's so hard for me to do it with the taller pump I own. I'm 5'8", and have decent upper body strength (I think), but it's almost impossible.

I think it's funny that they make all this pink stuff, but I know some folks really love it. They also make color coordinated water bottle racks for my Celeste bike. For $20 each. No thanks, I said, I'll stick with the $5 aluminum ones! The LBS guy commented on the extensive use of the hibiscus flower in WSD stuff. Why that flower in particular, he wondered?

I would've been just as happy to have any other color pump that did the job as easily as this one does. I'm grateful to get to stop going to the gas station to pump up my tires every time I want to ride. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Lise

The tires need to be pumped to 120psi each time I ride. I just could not do it with the other pump I owned. With the pink pump, it's easy. I don't know why it's so hard for me to do it with the taller pump I own. :

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Same here. I can't pump my tyres to 120 psi either. Whew! I thought it was just me, but I'm only 5'3". so there's not that much of me.

I'd buy that pump if they stocked it in my LBS, and the colour wouldn't bother me, but then again I ride a pink bike (an orbea)!!:D :D And yes, the boys in my household, leave it well alone!

I bet it goes great with your Celeste bike! Easter colors!!

Nanci

Yeah, my LBS guy told me about that pump too. The whole shorter thing has me curious because I have problems getting to 110 sometimes too. But 90% of the time I'm just not on my presta valves correctly. :o

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Originally Posted by Nanci

I bet it goes great with your Celeste bike! Easter colors!!

Nanci

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Yes! I'd look like Peeps on Wheels! :p

I actually rode the bike home from the shop the day I got fitted, carrying the pump in my hand, as I didn't have another way to lug it. It felt a bit dicey, manuevering my new, light, expensive bike with the brakes waaaay out front and down with one hand, holding the pump rather awkwardly with my other hand! Through the city streets of Chicago. Fortunately, it's about a mile to my house, and I (obviously) made it just fine. It didn't occur to me how spring-like I was with my coordinating celeste and pink!

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Originally Posted by Lise

The LBS guy commented on the extensive use of the hibiscus flower in WSD stuff. Why that flower in particular, he wondered?

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I don't know, but the K2 Luv line of skis has those same flowers on them...

My Bell helmet is pink with hibiscus flowers on it. I've noticed that cars are more polite to me when it's obviously a GIRL riding in the road (my Terry commuter skort does a great job of advertising that). So when I got my new helmet I chose pink mostly for that reason. And cuz it's visible. And cute. And cuz the saleschickie was shocked that I'd want pink. I'm a pink rebel!

My Serfas saddle has flowers on the nose that could be hibiscus. They're kinda small. The BEST decoration on that saddle is the smiling sun-face on the right side. I had to drop the nose a bit to make it as comfy as my ancient Terry Sport saddle. (which I sold with my old bike. Dang!)

My Terry skort has hibiscus on it.

Maybe hibiscus is fashionable because it looks more Hawaiian than Girlie, so marketers figure adults will like it?

MMmmmm, Peeps! I just bought purple bunny Peeps last night, and have slit the package open so they can harden to just the right consistancy.

Nanci

I'll admit, Peeps are more of a visual than gustatory treat for me! But this time of year, I do think a lot of things look like Peeps. Some of the medical assistants around the hospital are wearing pastel pink and purple scrubs lately. They look like Peeps! Wasn't there a Peeps related thread lately? Are there any hibiscus flower shaped peeps? They might sell well at bike shows...oh, heck, I'm out of egg shaped malted milk balls....! :p

No, that was those disgusting Cadbury Eggs.

Nanci

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Originally Posted by Lise

Yes! I'd look like Peeps on Wheels! :p

I actually rode the bike home from the shop the day I got fitted, carrying the pump in my hand, as I didn't have another way to lug it. It felt a bit dicey, manuevering my new, light, expensive bike with the brakes waaaay out front and down with one hand, holding the pump rather awkwardly with my other hand! Through the city streets of Chicago. Fortunately, it's about a mile to my house, and I (obviously) made it just fine. It didn't occur to me how spring-like I was with my coordinating celeste and pink!

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Lise! I thought it was just me! I've got hot pink Schwalbe tires (purchased right here at TE!) on my Bianchi too. I think it looks awesome, if not a bit Art Deco/Miami Vice.

I don't get the hibiscus. I mean, they are pretty, but they are one of the most phallic flowers I can think of. Take a close look--they will be blooming here in the next month or so. Rose of Sharon and marsh mallow are in the same family.

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Originally Posted by tulip

I don't get the hibiscus. I mean, they are pretty, but they are one of the most phallic flowers I can think of. Take a close look--they will be blooming here in the next month or so. Rose of Sharon and marsh mallow are in the same family.

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Maybe it's guys putting them on womens' bikes? It would explain a lot. :p

Pedal Wench--I'm going to have to check out those hot pink wheels. Although the ones that came with my bike are sooooo beautiful. Here she is (how many times will Lise post this picture? As soon as I'm on the bike around someone with a digital camera, I'll post a picture of me on it.)

That is a beautiful bike. I remember when I was a little girl, my dad had a fancy 10-speed (that's what they were in those days). It must have been a Bianchi because it was definitely Celeste. It was stolen, and I was so sad because I thought I'd never see that color again!

Isn't it lovely? It does have a classic look, like some of those fancy 10-speeds from the 70s. Is your dad still around? You could take him down memory lane with the Bianchi website.

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Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

Lise! I thought it was just me! I've got hot pink Schwalbe tires (purchased right here at TE!) on my Bianchi too. I think it looks awesome, if not a bit Art Deco/Miami Vice.

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Oh! Pink tires I want those too! I have had my LBS looking for pink tires for me forever. He wasn't able to find them and I truthfully never tried myself. Then I stumbled across them on TE the other day I was so excited it spurred a whole pink makeover for my bike. I was going to have my wheels powder coated pink, because I can get it done for free, then I found out the temp to do it is so high it might warp my wheels. Anyway I am so excited to find someone who actually has those tires!

Jessica

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Originally Posted by Lise

Isn't it lovely? It does have a classic look, like some of those fancy 10-speeds from the 70s. Is your dad still around? You could take him down memory lane with the Bianchi website.

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I love those classic 70s and 80s 10-speeds. The LeMond Sarthe (last year's orange one) is another one that I really like, and that I almost bought, but i ended up getting a custom bike instead (quite nice, I must say).

My dad is still around. I don't think that bike made half the impression on him as it did on me...he didn't race or anything, it was a just a nice bike he bought when he was younger than I am now (:eek:) But he might like to look at the website, I know I will. Thanks.

I'm not much of a pinkie girl myself, but I figure if it turns others on, live and let live. On the other hand, I've noticed there IS a preponderance of pink and "pastels" in women's cycle clothing--that's just wrong. Sure some of us like pink, but not ALL of us. It's a matter of having choices--we all want that.

Having said that, hey, what a hot-looking Bianchi--I've always loved their signature color.

And hey, Nanci--you can just pop those Peeps into the freezer to harden them up quickly--nice cool treat!

I bet they're kind of like a Charleston Chew then!

Nanci

Argh. That's just wrong.

I'm not a girly-girl. I'm feminine, but I think if someone showed me a pink pump I'd want to stuff it where the sun didn't shine on him.:eek:

I live in jealousy of the awesome man-jerseys, with Animal House characters on them, Gonzo art, etc. Sometimes I choose to wear my husband's jerseys because it is hard to find anything that isn't blue or pink. Yuck.

There's no law against wearing man-jerseys...

nanci

I like pink and proud of it. I don't care if it is girly! I am a girl so that works for me. I do wish they would get a bit more creative. I have found other stuff but it is limited. My local LBS just got in some really cool sleeveless jersey that are white with red edging and blue with black edging. They look very sleek. I have not wanted to by sleeveless in the past because they looked manly. I really like these though. Any suggestions fro sports bras? I have heard of those that you can put your heart rate monitor in.....is that comfy?

Jessica

I also have a pair of Continental GP3000's that I found online in the T-Mobile colors. Call it what you want, I call them hot pink! Oh - actually, they're technically called 'magenta'. Again, PINK to me! I'll try to post a picture of my bike. It's a Bianchi XL, which is mostly matte carbon, but all the logos and decals are Celeste. I love it!