lala

I do think it's cool when guys where pink, tho!

R-Wells

I made my wife vote for me.
She says no to the pink.
She says yellow all the way.

Hawaiimish

I like pink but would really LOVE to see some bikes and gear in Hot Pink (Fuschia), especially shorts and tights. The black gets a little boring. I have found Primal Wear and they at least add some cool colors/stripes along the sides of the shorts and tights. Terry has the pink butterfly saddle which is nice and part of the proceeds go towards breast cancer research which is even better. So I do keep my eye out for cool colors, even pink, and I would love to see more variety.

foehn

I personally think that pink has a stink. I get tired of all the pink stuff for women. Like others here I realllllyy like orange and make it dayglo.

What I would like to see is manufacturers to NOT assume that all women are leeeetly teeny things that wear short shorts, miniscule sport bras and have these delicate wittle tootsies and think with little "pinheads". Of my whole family, I am the shortest at 5'8"--both my sisters are taller than me. My mom comes from a family of 8 sisters, several of which are 6 footers; we all have large heads. And if I shop carries larger sizes, I wanna see it in their advertising.

sweetharriet

Tied in with my pink hatred is suspicion of companies marketing to me as a "girl". I get belittled every day because I'm short and blonde, so yes, it's partially Napoleon complex, but it's also very real evidence that someone who wants my money can't be bothered to suck up a bit for it. I've been a grown-up with a real paycheck for about a decade. Offering only pink because you're trying to maximize economies of scale or whatnot will continually limit your growth. First company to offer me an honest range of me-specific products (and it's not just color, no, I notice when you don't change anything else) gets some lovin'. Otherwise I'll continue to spend it on booze to numb the harsh reality that we're stereotyped/recognized as society's major materialists but marketed to as if we're still dependents.

merider1

I think your point is very valid and well made, Sweetharriet. However, I feel the responsibility ultimately falls on us female consumers. Unfortunately (IMHO), a large majority of women buy the very products these companies market to us as "girls" with images that incorporate stereotypically female colors, textures, designs, etc. - just as men buy products that are marketed to them (which are typically marketed with images of "girl" models semi-naked and licking their “pink” lips). So, even if it is infuriating, it's a fact of our materialistic and gender-appointed society that is unlikely to change unless the demand for the color among the female population diminishes drastically, which to be fair – some women really like pink and have a right to wear it. So, yeah, I get pissed off when I walk in and all of the jerseys (to use cycling attire as one example) are either pink, hot pink, fuchsia or pastel shades of any color otherwise considered masculine - and often with pink flowers or butterflies stitched on them! So, I tend to buy men’s jerseys instead, and then the cut makes me look like a stuffed sausage because I have hips.

Machka 

Is the whole "pink" thing really an issue at all? I just took a look at one of my favorite clothing suppliers and browsed through the women's jerseys which are in my price range, and only one of them came in pick. All the rest came mainly in blue, white, yellow, grey, and black. Not that I need another jersey, but faced with that selection, I might choose the pink simply because the rest of my cycling wardrobe tends to be blue, yellow, grey, and black and pink would be something different ... variety.

So ... are clothing and bicycle, etc. manufacturers really using pink to attract women?

merider1

Yes and no, Machka (again, my opinion). I've seen a good deal of pink shades among other pastel colors when out shopping. I've also ordered online and had better luck with finding an array of colors, but have in my experience paid more for the online purchases which offer me the better choices. I think companies do consider offering women colors that are more associated with our gender (which market research has led them to believe because there is a majority of women who like those specific colors). By the way, pink is being picked on because the author of this thread asked about that color specifically. He could have asked if we all liked flower designs or lilac hues - it's female specific marketing that is more the issue than the color, I think. At least that is what I garnered from Sweetharriet's post to which I was specifically responding. Oh, and I still really like the jersey you posted with the Canada design on it, by the way!

sweetharriet

Quick non-scientific online research:

Nashbar.com

# women's short-sleeve jerseys (most common bike apparel?): 64 link so you can see type of selection
# men's short-sleevers: 124 linky

# women's long-sleeve: 12 mm pastel

# men's: 40 a-yup

so, yes, those of us who don't like pink or are real tired of pale blue are buying men's clothes and skewing marketing numbers. i'm a triathlete and the selection's worse there. and don't even get me started on the "shelf bra". so useless.

as for actual bikes, if it fit me well and had good components i guess i'd be stuck with a pink one. luckily they had...pale blue. one day i hope to scar retinas as i pass people wearing real colors. but, question, sure i like thees color (the one that's not a steve irwin tribute), but what's up with boob venting?!

sweetharriet

triple-dog dare anyone on any planet to wear these.

that color is only cool if you see it the morning after a solid celebration of oktoberfest

munkyv22

Pink gear makes me sad. I have an eight year old daughter, so I am sick of pink.

MarianneL

I totally agree. Orange is definitely THE color I'm looking for. If I see a bike I like and it only comes in pink, I aint buyin'. I'd pay more to get a different color. I've never been a "girly- girl", not going to start now.

sweetharriet

those shorts might help her grow out of it then again you don't want CPS calling. somewhere there are some jpg's to display why shorts should always be black.

slowandsteady

I hate pink and any other sissy color. My WSD bike is light blue and even that is pushing it. I would have preferred a red and silver, or yellow and black or some nifty fade job. Flames would be nice. Not painted flames...actual flames.

It is like having a pink Ferrari. Performance or racing items should look the part...fast, slick, and exotic. Pink just screams...I am not serious...I like dolls...My IQ is 78...I can't keep up with men.....oops I broke a nail....do I look fat in this...

merider1

Do you have the WSD Trek 1500? Just curious since that is my bike and yes, it's pale blue as well. But better than the p**** pink shade on the TREK 2200! (no offense to anyone riding the 2200 - it is a superior bike to the one I own... )

Hipcycler

hey this poll says it is for ladies....
has botto answered yet?

Thylacine

WTF?!?! I thought you were joking about the boob vents!

merider1

I don't agree, Dan. I actually think there is a very unique opportunity for companies to cater to us "disgruntled color anal" women and make a nice profit in the end. I'm not suggesting that pink or any other female-specific-identified color go to the wayside. Instead, I'd like MORE options in colors that are not for just for the "girly-girls" - which I am actually one of even if I don't like pink - yet another perpetuated stereotype! When I'm on a bike, I'd like to wear the color of my choosing and find cuts and designs appealing to me as a cyclist - not just as a woman - without having to browse through the men's section to find additional options.

merider1

I'd prefer if you'd take a good hard look at me, MDU. Perhaps you could help me discover the shade of pink that becomes me...

Pedal Wench

Like I said, it's got to be hot pink - none of this flowery, polka-dot stuff. Hot pink. Like I said, black with hot pink flames - come on - what's not to like???

But, if it's purple, there's no way I can walk by without buying it!

BitterSweet

Pink is overrated and I never liked it in the first place.

wneumann

Speaking as a guy who enjoys shopping for men's clothes, it's a bit hard for me to feel sorry for you. There are days when I would kill to have a 2/1 or even 3/1 ratio in the amount of styles and colors available in women's clothes to men's clothes in the general clothing market. I'd say it's at least a 10/1 ratio for that. Essentially, if you hit one or two men's stores you've seen all you're going to see unless you're willing to fly to some place where they have the clothes that are well out of your price range.

Breastfeeding bike riders?

dauphin

I just got a kick out of the title of this thread...but then I have had a couple of beers...

sweetharriet

not to worry, it all MATCHES a bike:



all non-breastfeeding jerseys (much love for the EO!) available on teamestrogen.com, probably the place that gets all my green. you may return to drunken innuendo.

slowandsteady

Nope. I have a Fuji Finest 1.0.