WSD- have we gone too far?

[Kimmyt]

I stopped by a LBS today to buy a floor pump for my road bike. The one I have is old, and only goes up to 100 psi. I wanted a good pump that I could keep in my car for before my thrice-weekly rides after work.

So I stopped into the shop, knowing exactly what I wanted and asked the guy working for a recommendation. He showed me what they had, and I picked one out easily enough. As we headed to the register, he told me he had to show me one more pump, mostly because they hadn't sold one. It was over in what I term the 'girly' corner. That is, the corner of the bike shop reserved for women's specific gear, most of which is in shades of pink, violet, and baby blue.

There, in the corner stood a WSD tire pump (!!?) in a shade of bubblegum pink with white hawaiian style flowers. It was smaller than the other pumps, almost childlike in size. I shook my head, told him I was fine with my pump, and checked out.

At the register, another (male) salesperson came up and tried to sell me the pink pump. They insisted they just wanted one person to buy it. I guess it's not selling too well.

What I want to know is, is there a point where the WSD gear gets just a bit too much? Do women need specifically designed everything? Or is there some point where the marketing people are taking advantage of the fact that women shop more than men, and that anything labelled 'women's specific' will be bought by women, even if it is unnecessary?

I have to end this by saying that I myself recently bought a WSD bike. There are certain things I feel should be designed specifically for women's bodies. However, I'm not quite sure that tire pumps (or helmets, for that matter) are one of those things.

(edited to include picture of said tire pump)

[caligurl]

my bike shop has that! the first time i saw it... they were selling it to someone buying a new bike!

i'm not a pink bike person... but i love that pump.. keep trying to get hubby to let me buy it (we already have a regular park tool one).... lbs owner told me it's shorter so that us shorter folks can get more umph into it! i do admit i have a hard time with the regular pump.. have to "jump" on it when i get it up above 100 (of course.. now i'm only doing my tires to 100.... not that much of an issue! lol!)

oh.. and my first helmet was a wsd specialized.. i LOVED the pony tail spot... i miss it on my giro atmos.... i'm constantly having to push my ponytail or pigtails down further on my head!

[pkq]

I don't think my Wrench Force bike pump knows or cares about my gender.

I'm not a pink, violet, baby blue, or flower kinda' gal. But that's me and other women are.

[AussieEm]

The only reason to buy a pink pump is so the blokes at the track won't steal it!

What will they think of next - WSD tire levers?

[Grog]

The only reason to buy a pink pump is so the blokes at the track won't steal it!

I must admit that's a good reason. I used to have the girliest (and ugliest) cell-phone cover. No men would ever have pretended it was his. Same for my pink commuter bike. It may not deter a serious thief, but I am certain more than one thief would feel easily identifiable riding that bike.

Otherwise... I have lots of red and pink in my wardrobe, and tend to enjoy pink accessories, but this bike pump seems like a desperate marketing gig to me. I love my yellow Joe Blow. I can see how a children could have problems inflating tires with it, but anyone over 4'8" can use it without a problem...

[MomOnBike]

The only reason to buy that pump is to keep your *&%#*!! little brother's dirty paws off the thing. Boys don't touch pink stuff. It gives them cooties!

Actually, I have resorted to painting tools pink. I don't particuarly like pink, but those tools tended to stay where I put them - unless my sister thought she needed one.

(Sez the woman who had to deal three younger brothers growing up)

[crazycanuck]

Not sure what else to say really....pink...

c

[Nanci]

I think Michellie Jones needs that pump! Or anyone with a pink bike. I like it. I bought BF the Topeak Twister Digital pump to prevent him from taking mine all the time, but I like it so much- I steal it from him! I would buy a pump if it had features as nice as that, but not just because it was pink.

Nanci

[bike4ever]

The pump you are talking about is made by Serfas. This pump becomes easier to use above 75 psi. I tried it at Interbike. I felt no difference on a mountain bike tire (lower psi); however, the pump was easier to use on a road tire that I took to 120psi. The one thing I don't like is the lower profile.

Wrench Force has had a WSD pump in the works for almost two years.

[Lise]

Believe it or not, I own that pump. I bought it when I got my new Bianchi. The tires need to be pumped to 120psi each time I ride. I just could not do it with the other pump I owned. With the pink pump, it's easy. I don't know why it's so hard for me to do it with the taller pump I own. I'm 5'8", and have decent upper body strength (I think), but it's almost impossible.

I think it's funny that they make all this pink stuff, but I know some folks really love it. They also make color coordinated water bottle racks for my Celeste bike. For $20 each. No thanks, I said, I'll stick with the $5 aluminum ones! The LBS guy commented on the extensive use of the hibiscus flower in WSD stuff. Why that flower in particular, he wondered?

I would've been just as happy to have any other color pump that did the job as easily as this one does. I'm grateful to get to stop going to the gas station to pump up my tires every time I want to ride.

[allabouteva]

The tires need to be pumped to 120psi each time I ride. I just could not do it with the other pump I owned. With the pink pump, it's easy. I don't know why it's so hard for me to do it with the taller pump I own. :

Same here. I can't pump my tyres to 120 psi either. Whew! I thought it was just me, but I'm only 5'3". so there's not that much of me.

I'd buy that pump if they stocked it in my LBS, and the colour wouldn't bother me, but then again I ride a pink bike (an orbea)!! And yes, the boys in my household, leave it well alone!

[Nanci]

I bet it goes great with your Celeste bike! Easter colors!!

Nanci

[Robbin_G]

Yeah, my LBS guy told me about that pump too. The whole shorter thing has me curious because I have problems getting to 110 sometimes too. But 90% of the time I'm just not on my presta valves correctly.

[Lise]

I bet it goes great with your Celeste bike! Easter colors!!

Nanci

Yes! I'd look like Peeps on Wheels!

I actually rode the bike home from the shop the day I got fitted, carrying the pump in my hand, as I didn't have another way to lug it. It felt a bit dicey, manuevering my new, light, expensive bike with the brakes waaaay out front and down with one hand, holding the pump rather awkwardly with my other hand! Through the city streets of Chicago. Fortunately, it's about a mile to my house, and I (obviously) made it just fine. It didn't occur to me how spring-like I was with my coordinating celeste and pink!

[Kimmyt]

The LBS guy commented on the extensive use of the hibiscus flower in WSD stuff. Why that flower in particular, he wondered?

I don't know, but the K2 Luv line of skis has those same flowers on them...