Time to write letters...

[alpinerabbit]

I can't get the idea out of my mind that this is actually a photoshop job - sort of like digital body painting. The detail is too, well, detailed to be fabric.

Actually I'm positive. look at the big tendons on the neck where they meet the claviculae. That is never cloth on skin. Why the need to fake it?

This does not make it any less sexist or ridiculous. Actually it makes it very ridiculous.

[Biciclista]

I can't get the idea out of my mind that this is actually a photoshop job - sort of like digital body painting. The detail is too, well, detailed to be fabric.

Actually I'm positive. look at the big tendons on the neck where they meet the claviculae. That is never cloth on skin. Why the need to fake it?

This does not make it any less sexist or ridiculous. Actually it makes it very ridiculous.

that's what i thought too. And thanks for posting it on your blog, Andrea.

oh, and I got it from PansyPalmetto!!!

[Becky]

After all that effort to create something controversial and sensational, and I still have no idea what product is being advertised...

Giant FAIL, Pearl Izumi.

[OakLeaf]

Ugh.

I don't much care for PI garb anyway, but I'll definitely look for something else next time I need a new pair of gloves or toe covers.

[Irulan]

I can't get the idea out of my mind that this is actually a photoshop job - sort of like digital body painting. The detail is too, well, detailed to be fabric.

Actually I'm positive. look at the big tendons on the neck where they meet the claviculae. That is never cloth on skin. Why the need to fake it?

This does not make it any less sexist or ridiculous. Actually it makes it very ridiculous.

yep, photo shop if I ever saw one.

I can't add anything else that hasn't been said.

[Mistie]

My DH gets it and so this afternoon, it was waiting in the mailbox. I checked out the picture. First of all, for those of you unfamiliar with Velonews, the magazine pages are 11"h x 9"w. I think this is a pretty large magazine compared to my Nat Geo. The ad is two full pages and the nipple is life size. Too sexist for my taste. So, I showed it to DH. He looked at it and said, what is PI trying to sell, a boob job or soft porn? I asked if he thought it was a "nice" picture and he laughed. He said he would have skipped it entirely if I had not shown it to him since it is for women and he is only interested in that if he thinks I would like it. He laughed again and said he knew for a fact that I would not be interested in that jersey. I think he is still chuckling over that. I asked him if he thought it was gratuitous or sexist and he agreed most definitely. "Sex sells, honey," he says and then kisses my head, pats my bottom, and compliments me as he starts unwrapping a power bar. Men! It's all about the visual aids there.

[TrekTheKaty]

Obviously they have missed the mark. I would have guessed it was an ad aimed at men--but if the men don't get it--they should fire their marketing firm.

As I always say, "If I wanted to see nipples--I would look in the mirror. I've got my own!"

[tygab]

that is a poor ad if they are trying to sell to woman because it says nothing about the clothes, and a poor ad if they are trying to sell to men. I mean, would a guy think he's sexy like a female if he buys PI clothes or something?

anyway I'll be writing to let them know I'm disappointed.

The "Contact us" email from the PI site is: info@pearlizumi.com.

Maybe that'll get them some spam, too.

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

I sent them my thoughts on this also...

Thanks for the heads-up, gf!

[Grog]

I think the idea is to have men spend a bit of time looking at the poster and registering the PI logo in their brain.

Or bike mechanics posting it in the back of their shop.

My brother has a (car) mechanics shop and you wouldn't believe the calendar they're receiving... I knew they existed but I thought they were a thing of the past. No way.

[Pedal Wench]

The "Contact us" email from the PI site is: info@pearlizumi.com.

Maybe that'll get them some spam, too.

Letter written and sent.