i have now seen it all

[SadieKate]

Who uses a 500 ml bottle unless you have vehicle support?

Editing: OK, I do but only on one mtb that doesn't have space for a larger bottle and then I also wear a hydration pack. That's a pretty small niche market.

[maillotpois]

Who uses a 500 ml bottle unless you have vehicle support?

that was exactly my thought. unless you have a follow car or you're also wearing a camelback - how far will that bottle (or 2 of them) get you? sure I could probably do a quick 30 miler on that bottle (on a cool day), but I LIKE having extra water just in case.

[Tuckervill]

Claudia, I think they were referring to its phallic shape, not the blue flowers. Others were more discreet than me--I was going to post that it looks like a p@nis, too.

Unless you were kidding, too.

Karen

[rij73]

I should have chosen my words more carefully, but I guess it just seemed unnecessary to me to have a company marketing water bottles specifically to women. I thought the *idea* of marketing a bottle as WSD only because of its floral print was tacky. Maybe a man might like that bottle! I think some of the more decorative bikes and accessories are great looking...

[uforgot]

Claudia, I think they were referring to its phallic shape, not the blue flowers. Others were more discreet than me--I was going to post that it looks like a p@nis, too.


Karen

Um, oh yeah, totally missed that in my rage. Okay, you guys with the pornographic references are off the hook. Remember the banana keeper thread? But on the other hand, what water bottle doesn't look phallic or like a nipple for that matter?

BUT, that "phallic" thread drift didn't start until post #4. A lot of posts object to A. light blue color and b. flowers and the fact that it's being marketed to women. If you have girly bikes and/or accessories, no way can you be considered a serious biker, because somehow what you have is toylike and not good enough. Sort of reminds me of "If you don't wear the right clothes, have the right backpack or the latest Hannah Montana cd, you can't play with us at recess." Personally, I have a set of floral tools. Oh, not because I thought they were pretty, but my grown sons hate them, therefore I still have them several years later. I rewired the kitchen and and put new plumbing in the bathrooms with them. But, hey, I guess no one should take my repair skills seriously because my pliers fit my smaller hands and have flowers on them.

I tend to over-react when I feel that anyone is being disparaged in any way. As a teacher, I see it all the time. I see absolutely no reason to completely discredit a water bottle simply because YOU don't think it's something anyone should want. I'm not talking about the size argument here, that was a valid point. Just don't buy it. It's not like you don't have a gazillion choices there. I bet you that there are a lot of people who like it simply because of it's color and graphics, and telling them their taste is crap is simply wrong.

Instead of posting for the whole world to see when you think someone/something is wacko, you should do what I do. Email Sandra!

[rij73]

Valid points, uforgot... But, I don't think anyone was being disparaging of women who like floral patterns. We just hate it that they are marketing something WSD only because of the floral pattern.

I think lph said it best of all:

I wish that the label wsd could stick to gear that is functionally different, i.e. specifically designed to accomodate the physical differences between (most) men and (most) women. There's no reason the rest shouldn't be gender neutral.
It's nobody's business if I want something in flaming red with black skulls on it, or if my son happens to like pale blue or lilac, and we don't need to be told that "this is for women", with the annoying subtext that everything else is, by default, "for men".

[Aggie_Ama]

I think I catch what people are trying to say about the women's stuff being floral and pale colors. If this was also offered in say orange or black but still with women's features would that be okay? The design is definitely trying to change for women, although I need more water that that.
I personally like the girly stuff even though in my non-cycling life I am pretty much not girly. I hate fashion, styling my hair, in fact my only girly vice is eye makeup!

I have noticed a lot of the bike manufacturers offering gender neutral choices, maybe a slow change is coming. My WSD Cannondale came in the blue/black combo which is not over the top pink or floral but definitely not masculine and a very gender neutral silver and black.

[Bron]

lph pretty much summed up what I think too.

Personally, I am waiting for the day when traditional women's equipment is marketed with "men specific design" - vacuum cleaners with go-faster-stripes, washing machines being sold by motor size, ironing boards in black and chrome.........

[Thorn]

lph pretty much summed up what I think too.

Personally, I am waiting for the day when traditional women's equipment is marketed with "men specific design" - vacuum cleaners with go-faster-stripes, washing machines being sold by motor size, ironing boards in black and chrome.........

Brava! Well said....I need say no more....but, DH's reply....you mean like this one?

[susiej]

lph pretty much summed up what I think too.

Personally, I am waiting for the day when traditional women's equipment is marketed with "men specific design" - vacuum cleaners with go-faster-stripes, washing machines being sold by motor size, ironing boards in black and chrome.........

I'd like to see an end to "mens" and "womens," instead marketing what makes it different. For example, rather than WSD camelbacks, they would be "narrow shoulder" or "slim fit," because I can see a lot of young teen boys whose might be more comfortable in a "womens" pack -- until their shoulders broaden. And wasn't there a thread about shorter men who would be more comfortable on a WSD frame, but are put off by the classification as WSD?

It's a nice fantasy I live in, isn't it?

[OakLeaf]

Personally, I am waiting for the day when traditional women's equipment is marketed with "men specific design" - vacuum cleaners with go-faster-stripes, washing machines being sold by motor size, ironing boards in black and chrome.........

The phrase LOL is so overused these days as to be meaningless... but that one really made me laugh out loud.

[roadie gal]

Claudia, I think they were referring to its phallic shape, not the blue flowers. Others were more discreet than me--I was going to post that it looks like a p@nis, too.

Unless you were kidding, too.

Karen

Yes, this was what made me hear porn music, not the flowers.

[OakLeaf]

Who uses a 500 ml bottle unless you have vehicle support?

Editing: OK, I do but only on one mtb that doesn't have space for a larger bottle and then I also wear a hydration pack. That's a pretty small niche market.

Well maybe you've hit on it, though. I was rolling my eyes too, I admit, but my hybrid frame really doesn't accommodate a standard 21 oz. bottle. (Not sure of the frame size, but I ride a 50 cm Cannondale road bike and a measured 47 cm older custom steel frame, so the hybrid isn't super small.) I like to bring water along if I'm riding the hybrid 5-6 miles one way - especially on a hot day - or if I'm going to be at my destination for a couple of hours. I get dehydrated really easily, for one thing, plus I don't like to buy bottled water if I can bring my own.

Small niche market, maybe, but I'll bet it's almost entirely women. The flowers are a bit much, but the size, maybe not.

[SadieKate]

Even the small standard 21 ounce bottles are larger than that one though.

[Di bear]

lol - my bike shop has a Bontrager WSD tire pump! I laughed at the WSD. I liked the color scheme (different blues - blue is my favorite color...boy color). I had to ask. WHAT makes this a WSD pump? Well . . . I can't remember what minor changes they made, but my $30 Park Tool pump wasn't going to be replaced with a $60 WSD pump, especially since the Park Tool pump works great...and it's PARK! ;-)