Booth Babes @ Interbike

[jessmarimba]

Yeah, I was able to get into the Denver Snow Show this year and it was the same deal. I'd imagine it's the snow sports equivalent of Interbike - but photographers were just chasing down these scantily clad girls showing off boots or hats or somesuch...or a girl in snow pants and bra, or panties and jacket...COME ON. Unfortunately most of the guys I know who bike (or ski) don't understand why I find it so offensive.

[zoom-zoom]

Unfortunately most of the guys I know who bike (or ski) don't understand why I find it so offensive.

Fortunately most of the guys I hang out with are just as perplexed as I am about the skin showing up at these conventions. I noticed in the negative comments around the net re: the WTB dunk tank chick that even most of the guys were turned-off by that sort of marketing.

[ridebikeme]

I guess I'm showing my age when I say this, but unfortunately this is true of every industry. Nice looking people are always in ads whether they actually look the part or not. Take for instance Terry bicycles, owned my a woman however many ads simply show women that don't look the part...obviously no different than others.

I have been in the industry for 21 years now, protested a lot at the beginning, refused to buy inventory for the shop because of these "sexist" attitudes... apparently it simply didn't do any good. It's in the media, and doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.
However, I do hope that more people will 'vote' with their checkbook and perhaps if there is enough impact, then perhaps things will start to change.

Voice your opinions to your LBS, sales reps and anyone that is part of this industry... but don't forget it's everywhere and in the true sense of the world... bikes are only a small part.