Time to write letters...

[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.

[VeloVT]

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.

I would just like to say, I sent Castelli a message through the contact form on their website to let them know that the black palms of my Castelli gloves were fading onto my white bar tape, and that I hoped they would fix the issue because otherwise I really liked the gloves and would want to buy them again.

It took about a week, but I got a nice email from the president of Castelli USA, saying that he had forwarded my message to the product development manager and that they would try to address the dye problem. I am pretty sure this is true because the email was open cc'd to someone else at Castelli. I was impressed because it really seemed like a personal response, rather than a form response (the fact that it was open cc'd rather than forwarded or bcc'd made it seem very informal and non-corporate, which suprised me).

I support your letter writing. In the meantime, I will continue to vote with my pocketbook.

[SadieKate]

A few days have passed. Any response from PI yet? I keeep forgetting to look at Velonews in the LBSs so I feel I can't send them a letter directly until I see the ad. I do know that I was in a running/outdoor store earlier this week and mentioned the ad to one of the female clerks. Two other customers piped up that they had seen the ad and were boycotting PI in thorough disgust.

Since PI is now owned by Shimano, another one of the manufacturing bullies of the cycling world, I don't expect much. I was very saddened by the purchase from Nautilus. I have to suspect it was too much competition/conflict with Nike for them to reside under the same "roof."

[SouthernBelle]

I sent an email and never got the courtesy of a response.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

I think the photo could be seen as a work of art. But it was intended to sell jerseys for women. A 'serious' vendor of gear (for lack of a better description). It would be something I would expect from someone targeting the casual rider, or someone that wants to look like a rider?! Is there such a thing? Do 20 somethings wear PI gear to raves and night clubs now?? Sounds ridiculous but I would love to know what they are trying to say with that ad.

What rubs me the wrong way is PI is always sooooo smallllll...I'm a 38D (ha NO PUN intended!). It rubs me the wrong way because not all women that ride look like that and furthermore, any woman that seriously rides isn't going to wear that because...she just isn't. It's so unrealistic it is my big pet peeve with athletic gear in general. To me, they are targeting the 'look at me' crowd vs the 'is it drifit and will I be comfortable' crowd. I find that more and more with athletic wear. Sure it looks good but start pounding over rocks and boy...well the girls would be pretty angry. Why can't they just focus on making stuff that fits right for all women?
I wrote half a letter but haven't finished it. I agree, vote with the pocketbook. I'm returning a pair of PI gloves to REI as soon as I can, not because of the ad, but because they are horrible. Seems they should focus on getting that padding right instead of playing the tata card.

[Trek420]

And when you're done writing PI, start with Fiat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDBCL...eature=related

[SadieKate]

And when you're done writing PI, start with Fiat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDBCL...eature=related

Yeah, that is pretty funny.

[Lifesgreat]

I never heard from them after emailing them, unless they are now named Susan or Dorothy and they are trying to sell me "personal medications" intended for men. Don't know if it is them b/c I don't open the emails. . .