Dear Bike Companies:

[GLC1968]

Can I just say that everyones PERCEPTION of what colors are girly kills me?

Move to North Carolina and try to tell ANYONE that light blue is a girly color...you'll get your block knocked off in half a heartbeat. Carolina Blue is 'girly'?...ha, ha, ha, I don't think so.

Funny thing is, I bought my goregous, rides like a dream, fits like a glove Terry Isis in spite of the color. I liked the swirl pattern and the silver colors of the new bikes, but I didn't particularly like the light blue on the previous years model. But, I knew better than to pass up the deal on a titanium bike that would actually fit me. I get MORE compliments on that bike...both for its components/features as for it's colors. And so far, every single person who has lusted after my bike...has been a guy. Seriously, I've had more guys ask "Does Terry make that bike in a size big enough for me?".


So the moral of my story? Go ahead and complain about not seeing the colors YOU want on the bikes you like. But please, stop perpetuating stupid stereo-types. Honestly...not buying a bike becasue the color doesn't suit you is a pretty 'girly' thing to do...is it not?

[crazycanuck]

Ok..I have to agree with Meg.

The next bike I purchase will NOT be PINK or any other wierd colour. I just want a bike that fits and isn't a blech clour. Black will do me just fine thanks.
If i had a lot of $$$ it's possible i'd have Jonsey at Riders Choice here in Perth build me a road bike in simple colours.

I will not ride a green or purple bike. I will not eat green eggs and ham. Sam I am..Oh wait..this isn't a Dr Seuss book..

I don't like flashy colours when it comes to clothes, bikes, cars & hair. Just let me have my black or blue or red items thanks.

C

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

But please, stop perpetuating stupid stereo-types. Honestly...not buying a bike becasue the color doesn't suit you is a pretty 'girly' thing to do...is it not?

No, guys do it all the time. And NOT buying something you don't like if the marketers decide to give you color choices you detest is not 'girly', it's assertive!

[Crankin]

I never even considered color when bike shopping (and i have bought 3 road bikes in 6 years). My road bike is black carbon, my mtb is dark brown, and my commuter (previously my husband's mtb) is bright yellow. All I care about is fit. I definitely would NOT buy anything with swirls, flowers, designs on it. I like things plain; modern furniture, no "gee gaws," or frills. I do wear clothing in bright colors both on and off the bike, but I find black to be comforting!
And by the way, i had a serious Barbie addiction up until age 9 or so, but I also had a full set of "Army gear," i.e. a tent, canteen, fake weapons, boots when I was about 5 or 6. I used to march around the neighborhood with a trail of boys behind me screaming, "Come on, march, we're the army!" Then I would make them jump over snow banks.
Oh God, now i know why my son joined the Marines...

[pooks]

I don't see orange as girly at all.

Right now orange is a hot color. It's on cars, bikes, interiors, etc. But I have never in my life considered orange a "girly" color. Pastels and pink tend to be the girly colors, mainly shades of pink and purple, though.

I want a bike with personality. I want a car with personality. I like things that are a little different.

If I saw a deep Welch's grape jelly purple bike, I'd love it. But if that was the primary color that Trek was using this year and all the bikes were that color, probably not.

I'm difficult that way.

[xeney]

I don't know, I think the main color most guys absolutely avoid when buying a bike -- and I mean a bike where everything else is perfect, fit, price, everything -- is pink. Or anything else that's stereotyped as "girly." Which sort of gets us back where we were ... nobody wants to be associated with anything deemed "girly," because of course "girly" really means weak and lame and second-rate.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I don't know, I think the main color most guys absolutely avoid when buying a bike -- and I mean a bike where everything else is perfect, fit, price, everything -- is pink. Or anything else that's stereotyped as "girly." Which sort of gets us back where we were ... nobody wants to be associated with anything deemed "girly," because of course "girly" really means weak and lame and second-rate.

I don't think "girly" means "weak and lame and second-rate" at all....rather it means exactly what it says-- "girly"- as in little girls! So when I say i don't want a pink bike with swirly flowers on it because I'm not ten years old, it's not a put down against anyone. I can see that some might interpret that as a put down, I suppose.

The whole point though is really simply that we should have some varied color choices, and that bike designers should not make their WSD bikes in only "girly" colors.

[Veronica]

The owner of my local bike, a MAN, has a Specialized Epic (mountain bike) that is totally pink. Even the handlebars are carbon with pink grips.

I say stop perpetuating color stereotypes.

V.

[fultzie]

I don't know, I think the main color most guys absolutely avoid when buying a bike -- and I mean a bike where everything else is perfect, fit, price, everything -- is pink.

i have to chime in here... because i know a LOT of guys who love pink for the same reasons i do. it's amusing! and by amusing i mean i think it's fun/silly/slightly obnoxious (in the right shade)/kinda pretty.

indy fab's bubblegum pink color option? named after a *dude* mtber (who happened to clean the field at collegiate nats last year-- on a single speed).

one of my best friends just purchased the pink King headset for his very macho black 29-inch single speed (called a "Q-Ball") that has a bottle opener on the back.

another friend of mine, who also owns/rides a Q-Ball, happens to have *another* custom pink single speed (he's a single speed addict, apparently)

even the not-so-fast guys on my team like pink (and don't get slammed for it). one of the guys rode an old pink shwinn on the road for a while. he occasionally took out the end of the paceline when he crashed, but was otherwise tolerated.

I dunno, I think it would be fun to drop guys while riding a pink hello kitty bike. i

aw heck yah! i love hello kitty-- and the whole cult surrounding her. again, pure amusement.

then again, another mtbing buddy rides a pink wsd trek, and loathes the color (she named the bike "the pink wonder," i think to be ironic).

all that said, i currently ride two black bikes. my messenger bag is pink/brown/black, though, and my next mtb will be pink with green flames