Time to write letters...

[Red Rock]

I agree to all what has been said before. This is discusting. They must be selling other matters and not cycling clothes. I would be more than happy to write a letter to whomever.

That is one reason I have continued to look at men's clothes for cycling. They have larger pockets and the jerseys have longer front zippers. Not only that, the sleeves are actual sleeves not a wanna-be sleeve that gives you no coverage. Also there seems to be more choice in what to wear.

Red Rock

[Miranda]

They could have at least put a freakin sports bra on her and showed the t.h.o. if they really wanted to. That at least does happen in real life cycling for women. An un-modest moment for women, and a cheap thrill for any male riding partners. There's no woman I know who wants their girls free wheelin it in the wind and jarring with potholes braless over the top tube. Gheez...

[sundial]

It looks like body paint that was photoshopped in with part of the jersey. Grrrrr. Are they trying to compete with Assos soft porn??

[Grog]

So what's the email address of Velonews? And what's your contact for PI?

[Andrea]

I used the general contact forms on their websites. The couple of times I've had complaints about a manufacturer in the past, I've found that those work to get your message forwarded to the right people.

[short cut sally]

I just looked at the pic Andrea, and wow. I think PI should start selling lingerie, cuz that's what it looks like to me..or should I say, I've seen lingerie that is less revealing than that photo. As a female cyclist, I am offended by that ad. Sex sells I guess. Are they advertising a mans or ladies jersey? Only men would find that ad appropriate (ok, 99% of the men I know as not to offend the appropriate men we have here).

[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.

[tygab]

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.

I know, it's aimed at brand recognition/association. But they can do it in a whole bunch of other ways that wouldn't offend a reasonably large proportion of their customers. PI has upset me with another campaign they've run in Runner's World, denigrating "jogging" versus "running." In an age where too many are inactive, any form of exerciser should be praised and a potential customer. I didn't email them about those, but this is probably enough to push me away from Pearl Izumi. I'm liking other brands more anyway these days...

[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.

[Trek420]

And, if it were of the male genitalia-- well, we wouldn't even have a chance to see it ....

Because like the scan it would say "I’ve made it small on purpose. Click for full-size):" ?