Monday’s mail bag: Paris, Saturn, the big game and a banana

Monday’s mail bag: Paris, Saturn, the big game and a banana

Photo:

Spend your money at home
Editors,
The Parisian bike shop scene is dismal (see “You’ll always haveParis” in Wednesday’s mail bag). Selection is poor and prices are horrible.

La Maison du Velo noted by one of your readers has closed down. Thebest bet for high end gear is La Gazelle (two locations, one near L’Archedu Triomphe) www.la-gazelle.com. There are a couple of other shops near by on the Ave de la Grande Armée.

I stock up on bikes and bike supplies when I’m back in the States wherethe selection is far superior and the prices are much better.
Tom Grosman
Paris, France

Even the accident prone like the ad
Editor,
The people who are bitching about the Saturn ad really need to focuson something else in life (see “But we thought they loved cyclists!”in Wednesday’smail bag).

Bikes hitting cars is in fact something that does happen. I gotran into a parked truck in the ’80s. It hurt. It dented a panel on thetruck. Maybe if I’d hit a Saturn, there would have been a bit less paperworkto deal with. They could start pushing the ‘when you hit our cars, theflexibility of the panels which not only helps them pop back into form,also makes for a softer landing for the poor sap who’s on the bike’ angle.

As the person who leads the Pittsburgh area in the ‘hit by car/truck’category (six times, including one that got me a helicopter ride), I don’treally see what all the fuss is about.

Maybe the visual of the person on the bike hitting the car attractedthe viewers eyes more than a shopping cart would have. Judging by the responseit got here, I’d say it worked. Its all about name recognition. Whose namedo you remember more after the ad? Saturn’s or Kia’s? Wonder how many peoplewould have been bitching if the Wrench Science girls (of VeloNewsweb site fame) were sitting on top of the Saturns in the commercial?

Hmmm, better yet, why not show the girls from the Wrench Science adsin skimpy bikinis on bikes hitting the cars? (Note to self, Call SaturnASAP.)
Jay Downs
Greensburg, Pennsylvania

It was the bike that was moving, not the Saturn
Editor,
I didn’t see the letter until today, but I saw the commercial and gota bit of a chuckle out of it. If the car was moving and came through anintersection and hit the cyclist that would be one thing, but, come on,they’re making an attempt at humor and showing all the things that won’thurt the panels on their cars. If that thing is a cyclist not watchingwhere they’re going than so be it.

I think someone needs to lighten up a bit. I don’t think anyone watchingthe commercial would think they need to get in their Saturn and have acyclist hit their cars, or try to run down a cyclist.
Thanks
Dave Endy
Pennsylvania

The big game
Dear Editors:
I am a graphic design student in Washington state. Our last assignmentwas to create a cover and lead article for our favorite magazine. I choseyours.

However, my project was too cycling-specific for most of my classmates,who did not know the personalities. I thought your mailbag readers mightfind it amusing, and be willing to give me some feedback on my caricaturesand game board. The photo of Lance, obviously, is not mine. We are allowedto use web images FPO (“For position only”) for our class assignments.

Thanks for your time.
Steph Sammons
Liberty Lake, Washington

The last banana letter
Editor,
If my buddies and I stop along the road on a ride and smoke some ofthese discarded banana peels, is this considered performance enhancing?
Patrick Caselli
San Jose, California