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Red or Dead: 'we saw a gap in the market for a fashionable bicycle'
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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
"Fashion brand expands on partnership with Raleigh"
(14 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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Ok, so have they have put a flashy paint and sticker job on some pretty bog standard and uninspiring far eastern BSOs and asked the marketing types to come up with the sort of name you give a fabric softener.
The bikes are being pitched as fashion accessories first and bicycles second
quite.
As official spokesman on such matters on behalf of ladies, I know a lot of lady cyclists (okay, I mean some have mentioned in passing to me!) are tired of this gender-stereotyping approach to marketing cycling to women that all they really want is pink and pastels and flowers on their bikes, regardless of the quality of the base product. Quite often they end up getting "men's" bikes and tailoring them to their sizing needs. But maybe they are the sort of women who want a bike first and a fashion accessory second?
I know I'd be pretty patronised if men's bikes came with decals of a pint of beer or a muscle car on the side!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Pedalling with Flares?!?? That's just asking for trouble...
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'm too offended by how ugly and overpriced they are to be offended about the stereotyping..
Posted 12 years ago # -
Thing is, whilst a lot of ladies are tired of this gender stereotyping, there seems to be enough of a market for them to suggest that a load of other ladies aren't tired of it and are quite happy to buy stuff in pink.
The Red or Dead bikes look crap, though.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Meanwhile, on a London-based cycling internet forum, the news of the new fashionably-overpriced bicycles elicits much excitement. I expect. Maybe someone can ride one round a supermarket in a pop music video or something.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Just a reminder of previous threads -
Posted 12 years ago # -
The Red or Dead bikes look crap, though.
If Primark sold bikes you'd just ride them once and chuck/recycle!
Many 'fashionistas' just want a bike to supplement their throw-away foot wear.
Meanwhile you could have a Paper Bicycle in the colour of your choice and want to keep it for longer... and enjoy the way it works.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Meanwhile you could have a bicycle in the colour of your choice and want to keep it for longer"
Posted 12 years ago # -
I suppose the partnership is very logical: after all the business models are very similar. Use the power of branding to sell at a premium stuff made in China, Malaysia, Indonesia... Like it or not most people who buy a bike don't buy from specialist bike shops.
Come to think of it most 'quality bicycles' for the mass market (or the frames anyway) are made in Taiwan. Many of the former craftsman based frame builders import frames and components and assemble bikes in the UK.
Personally I'm not so disdainful of brands like Raleigh. How could I be? My wee cheap as chips Raleigh/Halfords folder is fine now I've made a few minor enhancements. I'd never pretend it was a 'good' bike, but it's not bad for what it is and for the price. In so many ways a Dahon, Brompton or more exotic folder like Birdy or Airnimal would be 'better'. They would also have completely different uses: I couldn't see me ferrying large amounts of shopping on nice bikes like that.
I suppose in the end it comes down to why people get on a bike in the first place...
Posted 12 years ago # -
Meanwhile in Denmark -
http://raleighbikes.dk/sites/classic_classicdeluxe_lady_pink.html
Posted 12 years ago # -
And in the Netherlands...
http://www.raleigh.nl/default.asp?pid=795
Their UK range is not markedly different, it is just marketed differently. Note their Classic range.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Now that's a carrier -
Posted 12 years ago # -
Regardless of the debate around whether bikes should be transport items or fashion accessories, these new designs by Electra at least look a bit more unique and a bit less like tarted-up BSOs. The owl decorated bike is certainly unique!
Coming soon to a north of Edinburgh bicycle shop near you?
Posted 12 years ago #
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