I-Like-To-Bike

On today's Sunday Morning show on CBS the opening sequence on a segment about the designer Giorgio Armani showed a clip from one of his fashion shows. All the male models were wearing good looking Armani suits and riding bicycles down the runway.

Now that would be a positive advocacy message to be projected to the public. Look good while cycling wearing fashionable "kit".

unkchunk

What kind of bicycles? That would be funny if they were riding Wal Mart specials. $2,000 suits on a $50 bicycle.

I-Like-To-Bike

I have it on video tape and will look at it later; if I remember correctly they were typical upright city bikes. The kind "normal" people ride in Europe.

Actually I think it would be a plus for bicycling advocacy if biking could be portrayed as fashionable in the media, without emphasizing expensive, zoot-suit high tech equipment that has little appeal outside of enthusiast cliques. Well dressed, stylish fashion models, or prominent people enjoying casual cycling on bicycles - sounds and looks good to me. Nothing makes a more positive statement for bicycling like the possibility of taking Rita Hayworth type woman for a ride.

unkchunk

If it was me, I'd let Rita steer the bike. No, I would insist on it.

Upright city bicycles... I bet they were probably Breezers.

Agree that the American attitude toward bike configuation has to change before more people start utilitarian biking. Racing versions are pretty much only good for racing. Jimmy Clark didn't drive an Lotus Ford 49 to get the groceries. Ayrton Senna didn't drive a McLaren-Honda to the post office.

The image thing, I'm not sure about. I know too many people that have the ideaology, have bikes, know how to ride them, will drive for an hour to ride on a rail trail... and yet won't ride the 6 blocks to the post office. I just can't figure it out. Everything is already there. They just won't ride. It's sad that the only effective tool to get people to utilitarian cycle has been the DUI.

Brian

This is the only decent image I could find from one of the best cycling scenes in a classic movie. By the way, your basic Armani suit starts at around $900.

sbhikes

Eureka That's the answer! Advocacy through promotion of alcohol consumption. Party your way to a healthier lifestyle!

caloso

Eh. I don't see the big deal. I've ridden to work wearing in a Hugo Boss suit. (Got it on deep discount at Nordstrom Rack, but no one has to know, right?)

Brian

No one has to know. My Ermenegildo Zegna came from my "Mrs. Robinson". One of my Armani suits came off a mannequin.

Travelinguyrt

My black T-shirt from K-Mart will call your armani t and save you 45$

Brian

I'd never consider an Armani T. And I do wear Kmart t-shirts with designer clothing. Armani flatters my somewhat less than perfect figure, and gives me that extra bit of confidence for job interviews and also for shooting weddings. The same can't be said for my cycling jersey.

thebankman

The bikes they were riding were Armani bikes, they've launched their own brand of bikes. I think they're rebadged from a big name brand, flat bars and semi-upright position. Wouldn't want to get Armani trousers sucked into the front chainring though, yikes!

ItsJustMe

I finally tossed out my suit. I went to put it on last year, for the first time in about 6 years or so, and it didn't fit at all, and besides it was dusty and hanger-shaped.

Someone will probably have to buy me a suit to bury me in. No, wait, I've got cremation in my will, so I'm safe. They can put me in a rental for viewing :-)

Brian

Anyone have any info on the Armani bikes? The Mercedes bikes were pretty sad. I rode the Porsche MTB, and it was ok. I would have liked to taken that off my brother's hands, as it's likely to have been the only Porsche I would bother owning. Can't wait to see what other designers end up with a bike. Obviously, Ralph Lauren is out.

I-Like-To-Bike

Don't know anything about Armani bikesbut I bought a Calvin from the Opel dealer in my town just south of Heidelberg in about 1999. It is German Made with a Sachs Torpedo 3 speed with coaster and 622 x 47 wheels. The standard tires are Nokians. It is marked Made in Germany and also made by M. Biria. It is a great city bike and my daughter used to ride it to clubs and stores in Heidelberg about 17-20 kms from home. It is a great bike, bought it new for DM560 ( about $300 at the time). But the main reason for selecting this particular bike was my daughter who was 15 at the time, liked the color scheme.

Calvin Klein had nothing to do with it though. It's all about function and my daughter did not ride it in just her underwear.

cyclezealot

My expectation. Armani might next exceed Pearl Izumi as the top priced manufacturer of high end bike kit.

Brian

Not likely. Armani is more of a traditionalist, and likes to work mostly in wool, silk, and cotton. Look to Ermenegildo Zegna for what they call "High performance textiles". I've got a US$240 dress shirt that has a tiny bit of spandex or Lycra in it. The rest is cotton. I'll go Google it, and may have to edit this post.

I-Like-To-Bike

But if track record means anything ,cyclists will look a heck of a lot better wearing Armani clothes than cycling specific clothes.

cyclezealot

Ah. My cycling goal...Not so much Armani. But, instead to keep comfortable within my 501's.

Brian

As long as no one brings back Dolphin shorts.

I-Like-To-Bike

Cyclists in 501's may not be in Armani, but will look a lot more normal, if not attractive, to the general public than the Pearl Izumi clad crowd.

Cyclaholic

ILTB, you've started 2 threads in the past 5 days... after over 1,900 posts! Who are you and what have you done with the real ILTB?

slvoid

I have a $19 dress shirt which is cotton with a bit of spandex for stretch, the material is teflon impregnated and woven in, pretty wrinkle free, and if I spill coffee on it, rolls right off. Same for a pair of $15 pants that I have.

cyclezealot

I like to bike. After biking in Europe, the whole American thing about looking normal, seems pretty abnormal . Wear what is functional . Like playing football without shoulder pads or a cup.

2wheeledsoul

I usually wear jeans, a t shirt, and battered old work boots or equally battered sneakers, and an easily replaced $5 watch. No spandex bike kit here. Even my fullface BMX helmet looks enough like a motorcycle helmet to confuse Joe Public.

Artkansas 

They could use Del Playa on a Friday night as the poster child road for that campaign.