Originally Posted by
sggoodri
Since road travel is a social activity - often the most social activity some people engage in - vehicle choice has become equivalent to clothing choice. If the clothes make the man, so does the vehicle.
Clothing is a display behavior. People may dress for a position of power, for utility, or for sport. Some American bike commuters choose to dress more for sport, choosing spandex and racing bikes, and using their commutes as workouts, partly to avoid the social status implications of dressing for basic utility.
What is wrong with dressing for utility? Nothing at all. Pedaling a utility bike in casual clothing can be a practical way to get around even in the USA. But it doesn't convey the message of strength - i.e. fitness as a mate, like most animal display behaviors - that conspicuous consumption or athletic demonstrations provide.
I wonder if our culture will evolve to view conspicuous consumption as a weakness and conservationism, frugality, and restraint as strengths? These latter traits are good for society, and thus should be considered virtuous. But as good as self denial and self sacrifice is for society overall, it is potentially bad for the self, and in turn a potential liability for the immediate offspring. It therefore requires longer term thinking to view utility cycling as sexy. Most people have shorter attention spans.
Good points... ever wonder why the necktie is part of the "uniform" of some business people... it has absolutely no utility what so ever... except as a tourniquet, should one be "wounded" in the "battles of the board room."
I doubt conspicuous consumption will ever be found as a weakness in our society... not as long as perpetual growth and the consumption of goods is perceived as a requirement to fuel capitalism.
As soon as bankers start driving economy cars, and working in shirt sleeves... then we'll know that progress is being made toward frugality and practicality.
Carter tried to push the nation in that direction with his sweaters and talk of moderation... Reagan told us it just wasn't "the American way," as he pulled the solar panels off the Whitehouse.
America has a long way to go, before we as a nation start to understand what is really "good for us" as part of the overall society of the world. Meanwhile, we'll continue to consume our 25% of the world's resources, while we beat our plowshares into swords.
Meanwhile, the fit, spandex covered cyclist, is perceived as anything but a true sex symbol. Golfers were touted as better athletes just a few years ago in a comparison of TdF cyclists verses PGA golfers by Sports Illustrated... go figure.
Never mind that each February, the sexy models in Sports Illustrated more resemble spandex covered cyclists than pudgy slow golfers.
