Time to write letters...

[dex]

I wonder if this is from CP+B (Crispin Porter + Bogusky). They've done a good bit of work for Peal Izumi in the past, including the We Are Not Joggers campaign, which got a lot of praise in the agency world. On the other hand, they also did some awful work for Nike that got them pretty widely mocked (and then fired by Nike).

This one is a definite miss, though. Feh.

[Lifesgreat]

This is what I emailed to PI:

I love your products, especially your ultra sensor shorts and jackets. I spend a lot of my discretionary income on cycling products, including Pearl Izumi items.

However, I won't be spending any more money on your company's products. I have found some of your most recent ads to be vulgar, sexist and inappropriate. I decided the best way to express my dissatisfaction is to no longer buy Pearl Izumi products.

Yes, I may be a prude, but I am a prude who has money to spend on cycling.

Sincerely,
/s/

[tygab]

:I wonder if this is from CP+B (Crispin Porter + Bogusky). They've done a good bit of work for Peal Izumi in the past, including the We Are Not Joggers campaign, which got a lot of praise in the agency world.::

well, they were noticeable and I suppose provocative. But if making fun of people exercising garners praise, I am glad I am not in that world.

I am not alone in this view... Google is proof.

[ginny]

Here's my letter (perhaps not as eloquent as Grog's <-- nice letter, Grog!)

I just saw the ad in VeloNews for the... uh... jersey (?). Really? Whoever thought this was a good idea should be fired! As a female cyclist, I hope to be respected for my ability rather than my ... uh... parts! Moreover, this seems to be an ad directed at women. I am a member of a large, female specific cycling forum, and I am afraid you have just lost a number of female customers. I'm sure your ad people are aware that women usually have a big influence over what is purchased for the household in general, so, in addition to royally pissing off serious women cyclists (and any woman with any self respect), you have probably also lost a number of men customers as their wives would promptly return any PI purchases in the near future. I happen to like PI cycling clothes, but there are others out there that are comparable, and I will not be purchasing anything from PI in the near future.

I do hope you retract this ad and post an apology to the female cycling community.

[bluebug32]

Wow, kind of shocked at how graphic that is

Maybe this photo will help them sell some bibs:

[Skierchickie]

Is it possible that they are trying to say "Our cycling clothes are so comfortable, you won't know they're there"?? Even so, this is inexcusable.

[Mr. Bloom]

A male perspective:

I don't think it's aimed at guys, but at brand awareness through achieved the "shock factor". I'm not an ad guru, but the trend in men's magazines has been away from nudity. This picture is clearly photoshopped and anyone seeing it would know its not real...and fake tends to be unappealing.

This has proven to be bad business in the past. Consider a few years ago when Abercrombie had to withdraw a racy ad campaign. Overnight, their stock went down 25% and lost much of its luster for about 18 months. I remember this because I owned the stock at the time...and sold it in disgust at a loss.

[Andrea]

So has anyone heard back from PI or Velonews? I know I haven't

[Pax]

So has anyone heard back from PI or Velonews? I know I haven't

Hell, I didn't hear back from PI when I was trying buy some gear. They don't seem to be too big on communication.