| Title: | Bicycling |
| Notice: | Bicycling for Fun |
| Moderator: | JAMIN::WASSER |
| Created: | Mon Apr 14 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 3214 |
| Total number of notes: | 31946 |
There's a tv advert running in the UK at the moment, or in my ITV
region at least, that I find really irritating. It's for mortgages from
the Natwest bank.
The ad features Walter, who's about 40+, unmarried and living with his
mother. He's a real trainspotter (wally, nerd) who can't make up his
mind about anything and emits indecisive ums and ahs when asked a
question. He obviously doesn't have a girlfriend, doesn't drive and
probably has some really boring job. The idea behind the ad is that
Natwest are so helpful that they can even help an idiot like Walter
make up his mind about what mortgage he would like.
The most notable part of the image they've created for Walter is that
he cycles. You know this because he wears a Sam Brown reflective belt,
cycle-clips, and a cycling helmet that he keeps on even when he's
talking to the competent, young and smartly-dressed mortgage man.
This all bugs the hell out of me. Obviously we're all meant to be
driving round in turbo Porsches, and obviously any adults who still
cycle must be social inadequates like Walter. And obviously the thought
has never occurred to this ad agency that some adults might reject
those prejudices, and see cycling as a sensible and beneficial mode of
transport, AND be able to hold these notions while still being
attractive to the opposite sex!
Pass the sickbag, please...
Rod
PS Apologies to train freaks!
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1132.1 | Could be worse.... | CESARE::JOHNSON | Truth is stranger than fiction | Tue Apr 25 1989 17:57 | 5 |
This ad would never run in the U.S., because a large portion of
the population wouldn't even recognize that the helmet was for
cycling.
MATT
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| 1132.2 | role model for what? | SHALOT::ELLIS | John Lee Ellis - assembly required | Tue Apr 25 1989 21:50 | 10 |
RE: .-1 So true, so true. Much less, reflective material.
RE: .0 Well, it infuriates me, and I haven't even seen the ad.
Kind of an Arthur Dent on push-bike?
Ironically, here, cyclists (at least lycra-clad ones) seem to be
role-models in ads portraying a youthful, sporty image (carbonated
beverages, etc.). But the lycra is de rigeur.
-john
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| 1132.3 | Don't get mad, get bad! Blow their minds today! | PIC::CANELLA | Sandino Vive | Wed Apr 26 1989 13:39 | 9 |
Hey, Rod, as a cyclist and a trainspotter (especially the tracks,
they really give your rims a pounding) I take umbrage to that.
Turn the joke on NatWest. Ride over to the nearest branch (in your
lycra tights, of course), stick the water bottle inside your pants
(make sure the water is warm), go in and ask for a loan. 5 will
get you 10 you'll get it.......plus a date!
Alfonso
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| 1132.4 | JUMBLY::MACFADYEN | Direct vision viewfinder | Thu Apr 27 1989 05:53 | 15 | |
Re .3: Hi Alfonso! Good idea, but I'm crippled with the mortgage I've
got already.
Re .2: Actually there are a few ads in Britain now that feature
lycra-clad cyclists, notably a current one from Kentucky Fried Chicken
(still doesn't persuade me to eat that stuff), one for Canada... the
Whitney Houston Olympic song video... all N American, come to think of
it.
Re .1: I lied by omission, you actually see Walter getting off his bike
outside the bank so you can't fail to get the point that he's a
cyclist.
Rod
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