Cycle Commuting has an "image problem"
 

There has been an underlying idea in a few posts that cycling has an "Image problem", well how would you feel about your image if you were riding this commuter bike....

http://www.giant.co.jp/giant08/image...R0211026_l.jpg

look closely and you will see that it has an integrated seatpost....

Isn't the point of a seat post to be not integrated?

That picture makes my think of a new "bike commuter image".
The image of a commuter who actually thinks he can get away with looking
surprised when his $6000 bike gets stolen while he's in the office.

if i were riding that as my commuter bike, my image would that of somebody deeply insecure of his image, who drives when it rains, or is dark, or when a headwind mocks his aerodynamic seat fin, or when he needs to pick up a gallon of milk on the way home.

That bike would work fine for commuting for me. It wouldn't be top choice, but totally workable (with addition of pedals, lights and mirror)

Al

Race bike + flat bars = commute bike!

I'd commute on that if I could store it properly.

You're 3 weeks early. :D

If that were my commuter, the image you would see would be one of agony as I tried to get comfortable on a bike with handlebars eight inches lower than the seat. :lol:

If that's a commuter bike, then I'm obviously being environmentally conscious by leaving the Ferrari F51 at home.

Lower that seat some and raise the bars. I'm not in that big a hurry to get to work.

I might be a lone, but I see intergrated seatposts as a way to make bikes more disposable.

Don't get me wrong, I understand the theory behind it, but would hate to see them go mainstream. That would make the prospect of buying a used bike (the only kind I buy) quite difficult.

That bike sucks.

Sorry, but that's a racing bike... and yes it's ugly as hell.

+1. And then there's the image of my bank statements after all the necessary chiropractor visits...

¥390,000 = $3900USD and it's only offered in two sizes, small and medium.

If cycle commuting has an image problem.......

That bike is not the answer!

i couldn't have said it better.

I cannot imagine going on a beer run on that bike. Plus, given the position of the seat and handlebars, I'd be worried about, well, you know, certain blood vessels...

Like a gullible fool, as well as damn uncomfortable.

Well a bike like that seems to inherently invite passing motorists to "Kiss my ass."

Maybe it's not so bad, after all. :D

How'd I feel about my image?... I don't think I'd feel much beyond the pain in my lower back, and I'd have to carry all my ***** in a backpack which at that angle would slide up my neck and flop over my head, I'd also look really stoopid trying to pedal without errr... pedals. But hey, put a rack, fenders a real seat and riser bars on it (and pedals :D ) and I'd ride it... still would be a compromise compared to my LHT tho...

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

And fenders, and racks, and panniers.