WSD- have we gone too far?

[Kimmyt]

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)

[caligurl]

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!

[pkq]

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.

[AussieEm]

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

What will they think of next - WSD tire levers?

[Grog]

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

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...

[MomOnBike]

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!

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)