« "Force and Legitimacy" | Main | Blood for Oil » The End of Gay Bike Culture19 Jun 2008 09:26 am
Meanwhile, using the Q Street bike lane the other day I noticed something I'd never seen before -- a bike shop on Q Street between 14th and 15th. Investigating with a colleague earlier this morning it turns out to be The Bike Rack, and advertises itself as "gay owned and operated." Do gay cyclists have distinctive bike shop needs? The comments of Andrew "The End of Gay Culture" Sullivan would be appreciated. Comments (21)
It says "Gay owed." I think the Bike Rack is in deep with the Lavender Mafia. 
Well, I've been called a bike fag and queer plenty of times by fat guys wearing stained undershirts in pickups, so maybe this makes sense?
With all of the gay marriage stuff in CA and the consequences, this is the ONE gay post you have managed in the past weeks? Mocking a bike store for showing pride in being gay owned and operated? And no, that doesn't suggest gay people have special bike needs... nowhere does it say "serving gay customers" on the door. I expect better from you, Matt.
Look at it this way -- wouldn't you be a little more likely to spend your money in an establishment with "Liberal Owned and Operated" in its window?
Huh? What does ownership have to do with clientele? It doesn't say "serving the biking needs of the gay community.". Why assume that's what they meant?
Everyone knows the gays run things better - this is just clever marketing on their part!
Yeah, agree with the above, this is a strnage post - gays don't have any special biking needs, why would Matthew think that? It's a marketing ploy aimed toward those who would like to patronize gay-owned businesses.
The ad says 'Gay owed'. I think Matt posted this out of queer spelling solidarity. OT: Very cool electric bike website below. http://www.electricrider.com/crystalyte/index.htm
My sister's guitar store promotes itself as "the first and only female-operated full service music store in all of New York City," which is less to say "women have different guitar needs!" and more to encourage people to support a female-owned business and reinforce the fact that the store is special.
Spandex.
Let's just say that their bike seats are a little bit different. I'll leave it at that.
Though -- as owner of a gay operated body -- I'm all for the idea of a special bike seat -- even if it does seem like it'd stop being fun and start being exhausting at some point. But seriously, beyond the "supporting your community" aspect of a gay bike store, cycling -- though often more about commuting than competing -- is still enough of a sport that it could be intimidating to my fellow gays who may have had enough bad gym class memories and other jock-related homophobia to last them a lifetime. So a noticeably gay-friendly store would presumably put them at ease.
I guess Matt (and some of the commenters) haven't heard of the gay yellow pages (GYP - under various names) published in many cities. Many cities also have a business-interest groups (think ) which give voice to the concerns of their members and provide networking opportunities. The sign in the bike store, and ads in GYP, are intended to encourage sales from gay/lesbian/et.al. members of the community - they certainly don't usually reflect a special kind of merchandise offered for sale - although their are retail stores that do have that approach (gay greeting cards, gay t-shirts, etc. But insurance is insurance, and bikes are bikes. There's a special kind of cluelessness about this specialty marketing that makes one wonder if people actually leave ever their house - especially the sniggering bigots like Nerdy (err. Nordy). OMG: a Italian-owned food shop that appeals to Italians by showing italian specialities in the window! And the Koreans, with their non-English signs!! And the Sushi photos in the Japanese restaurant windows - what will they do next that's un-American?
I'm all in favor of gay-owned business (I own one myself), but are you sure the ad isn't a typo? The bike shop could be owned by grays: http://www.ufowisconsin.com/artworkbybillburt/drawings/the_grays.jpg http://washcycle.typepad.com/home/images/etbikemoon.jpg
cycling -- though often more about commuting than competing -- is still enough of a sport that it could be intimidating to my fellow gays who may have had enough bad gym class memories and other jock-related homophobia to last them a lifetime. It's probably also a plus to straight women, who also have some of those memories, only theirs are of creepy jocks hitting on them and not wanting to take 'no' for an answer. I think there's also a perception that gay men are less likely to 'talk down' to straight women.
"Do gay cyclists have distinctive bike shop needs?" Well of course not, darling, my little buttercup. Gay is le magnifique'! All wish to be ze' gay! All want to love ze' gay! Pauvre, pauvre Matthieu. He no understand...
Is MattY "coming out"? No, not in that way, but in opposition to rampant "multiculturalism". Next thing you know, he'll be saying no one would be allowed to advertise that their shop was "man owned" or "white owned". Give MattY time.
Nice catch on the "It says 'Gay owed.'" Matt, are you writing their copy? Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Two words: Short short shorts.
"No, not in that way, but in opposition to rampant "multiculturalism"." Rampant multiculturalism is the only thing that makes your presence tolerable you miserable SOB.
Comments closed July 03, 2008. |
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Heads in the Sand
Whereas previously we saw "black owned" stores in black neighborhoods, it seems the gays are getting militant and declaring ownership and operation of stores in their neighborhoods as well. What's next, marriage? This is a dangerous trend.
Posted by jeff | June 19, 2008 9:32 AM