Victoria Pendleton launching range of bikes, says Halfords

Surely they could have given her one with a basket to carry her hovis in?

Funny how everyone out of shot is wearing rather more layers than she is...

Yes, funnily enough Halfords were just saying on Twitter how everyone else is wearing coats and scarves. #hardasnails is how they put it...

fluff piece - advertising reportage

VP is a serious cyclist so how about some info whether these will be serious bikes sold through serious outlets

Not sure I wouldn't find any comparison offensive if I was Chris Boardman

this is ridiculous, whatever next ...

What is ridiculous about it? A skilled and hardworking athlete who has probably struggled financially to continue in her sport tries to earn a bit of a living? Good luck to her.
The bike looks very nice too.

I'm happy to be complicit in this particular bit of fluff because it (the fluff, not me) will get Ms P in newspapers and websites and featuring a positive side of cycling. If that helps more drivers (who might kill us) and town planners (who might think about better cycling provision) see cycling in a better light eventually then good luck to Ms P and Halfords if they sell some bikes as a result of it. I really cannot see a downside.

And I would bet that Mr Boardman, while he has made his reputation riding and selling racing bikes, as a family man likely to ride his bike with his kids, he would be just as happy about this.

I'm as obsessed about 'serious' bikes and bike shops as anyone on here but I don't think they're more important than the bikes normal people ride or, indeed, the bikes they might be encouraged to buy from the likes of Halfords if they see Pendleton as a cycling role model.

Get them cycling first and even better if they subsequently get 'serious' but life will be better for all of us if more people are riding, whatever they ride.

+1 to Nick's comment above.

mmmm, got a Nigella Lawson thang going on there...

VP seems determined to promote womens cycling from the 'never been on a bike' level up so good for her.

I'd love to see her develop a range running from the £200 town bike inc wicker basket all the way to a £2,500 race machine.

I dont see what is so ridiculous about this, is it the fact that its Halfords that is upsetting people? Is it the fact that its a town bike that she is launching? Is the logic that she should be selling fixed track bikes because thats what she competes on? If so then perhaps Boardman should stop selling triathlon, cyclocross and mountain bikes and hybrids?

As for the downtube logo its an italic VP.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/01/26/article-0-1178CDA5000005DC-139...

Why or how I managed to notice that given what else was going on in that picture I dont know.

I personally think this can only be a good thing, even if it is essentially a Pashley rip off.

Apparently the bike in the photo is the Somerby and will be £300 and there is another bike, The Dalby, which will be £350.

Edit: There is also a Brooke model:

http://news.glidetechnologies.com/story/20166/pendleton-s-designs-on-cyc...

+2

My only other comment would be...

How many pretty ladies do you see riding round london on these 'cool' old dutch bikes, no helmet, ballet shoes and a huge handbag either in the basket or over the shoulder with the handles of the bag waiting for an unsuspecting wing mirror to pull them to the ground. Lets be cool, but lets be safe and cool

here here !! Good luck to her

+3 and f@ck she is HOT!

Sorry 'whats a serious bike' and also whats a 'serious outlet'. Sounds incredibly narrow minded. To me a serious bike is ANY bike that someone rides regularly whether it is old dutch type or a road racer or a MTB.

As for serious outlets they are most likely blinkered, opinionated and very very specific to a cycling genre. If we want more people to ride these so called serious outlets should lighten up a bit and cater for the incidental cyclists that may be out there.

Its great to see such a professional athlete like Ms P illustrating there is more to cycling than those seriously blinkered road racers who have no idea about about other people but like to bleat on and demean all those outside there very small clique.

Nice bikes and good luck to her.

VP may be a serious cyclist, I don't know, but she is known primarily for non-serious, (read: sport) cycling. A quick glance at the model in the picture shows that whilst it is not a completely non-serious bike, like a racing or mountain bike, it is not exactly a serious bike either, having dérailleur gears and V-brakes for a start. A 'serious' bike would be something like a Pashley or a Gazelle; used primarily as a tool rather than as 'sporting goods.'

....and this point is helping how? Newcomers must look at the cycling niches all arguing between themselves as to who is or isn't 'serious' and wonder a bit. I'm looking in vain for an 'eyes rolling and head shaking slowly' emoticon.

@Stuartpeck1
'My only other comment would be...
How many pretty ladies do you see riding round london on these 'cool' old dutch bikes, no helmet, ballet shoes and a huge handbag ... '
frankly, more and more

Wehey !!