Bikes and Cycling themes in random commercials

[laupsi]

anyone else notice the increased amount of bicycles and related props in random nationally advertised commercials? I for one think it's cool but like the proverbial geek, bikes are now considered cool among the mainstream. Is this when we lose our virginity?

[Keith A]

Just like surfing did many years ago. When I was a youngin', surfing was not cool or mainstream at all...matter of fact, many people looked down on surfers and assumed we were all on drugs or just bums.

The biggest difference though is that when surfing became mainstream and cool, this put more people in the water...which isn't a good thing as your fellow surfer is essentially your enemy since he/she wants to surf the same wave you do. But for cyclists, I hope that more people on the road would result in more awareness from drivers, gov't officials, road planners, etc.

[cachagua]

On the contrary, other riders ARE your enemy!

Think: points for the first 3 places, at a lot of USCF events, back when I was racing. Three people show up, everybody wins! But when the field is fifty or a hundred, you actually have to be fast to upgrade... where's the fairness in that?

No, all seriousness aside: there's worlds more public awareness about cycling now than when I was a kid. Transportation departments and other public organizations are starting to respond, and overall, it's easier to be a practical rider than it used to be -- commuting, shopping, etc. -- even if you don't want to be a fanatic. And I think a generation of people who began taking biking seriously in their teens or twenties are now starting to get their kids into it at very early ages, which I'm overjoyed to see -- here comes a generation of life-long healthy, non-fossil-fule consuming adults.

My hackles still rise at a bike-racing beer commercial, but -- we're a demographic.

[KF9YR]

I just spoke about this with my daughter on Sunday evening.

We were watching a show and the McDonalds commercial looked like it was taking place in a bike shop...

[Aaron O]

It's funny you wrote this, my wife and me were discussing this last month. It seems like every apartment shot contains a bike, every shot of a street has a bike(s). It definitely seems like bikes are being equated with young, hip and cool.

[Louis]

young, hip and cool.

Yup - that's me right there. ;)

[Louis]

Completely out of the blue: NYT OpEd Page (http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/24/the-trouble-with-intentions/?smid=pl-share)

Read down to the 5th paragraph.

[MattTuck]

Was looking through old beer commercials for a project I'm doing for work... this one has some cycling 'themes'...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoGOhvPkSo4&NR=1&feature=endscreen

[oldpotatoe]

Was looking through old beer commercials for a project I'm doing for work... this one has some cycling 'themes'...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoGOhvPkSo4&NR=1&feature=endscreen

they were on bikes?

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . many people looked down on surfers and assumed we were all on drugs or just bums.

. . . you're not?

:eek: :rolleyes: ;)

BBD

[MattTuck]

they were on bikes?

Yeah... I think I saw one or two dork disks...

[false_Aest]

Is this when we lose our virginity?

no.

I remember people talking about the bike on the wall back when Seinfeld was still in production.

Also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL3j7Ru0oYM