[Closed] Military styled cycling stuff......

Camo on cycling kit and bikes is awful imo. Not sure why a roadie would want to wear camo but you can get the tops. Its like that recent Steve Peat bike awful looking thing and pretty cringe worthy riding at a international comp. The type of UKIP or Clarkson would approve of 👿

Especially if you fall off the bike in spectacular fashion and the got-away bike is subsequently disguised in the bushes. Precious time lost relocating it if ever!

This.

Wear what the hell you want. If you like camo, knock yourself out. If you like wearing team kit, go for it. If you want to wear baggies on a road bike, go for it. If you want to ride a Brompton, there's no law against it.
Just don't expect me not to judge you, and I'm pretty sure it won't be positive.

I looked at the bigger picture on Specialized website [url= https://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/adventure/awol/115623 ]AWOL[/url] I think it looks alright, the only stencilled bit I can seem to see is the name AWOL which is the military term Absent With Out Leave which is why I guess it is stencilled.

Team Saxo Tinkoff were rocking a camo strip a few years ago..I'm sure Sagan was in some at one point.

Just for clarification, I don't care what anyone wears either.
🙂

Ex army kit is cheap and it works - I've had a few pairs of para boots in the past and still have various bits I wear for fishing and shooting.

Chaka, Sue's not that arsed, tbh - just me who finds it a bit sad and unnecessary.
I know bikes have been used to facilitate troop movements since they were invented, but it still strikes me as incongruous that one of the world's major bike manufacturers feels it necessary and desirable to use faux military branding to market a bicycle.

According to Spesh, AWOL stands for Adventure Without Limits - it's stencilled onto the bottom bracket, left hand side.
There's a bit more stencilling on one of the stays too.
🙂

It's a lovely bike btw, sure it'll look even nicer in a nice Fender Daphne Blue or Sea Foam Green.

According to Spesh, AWOL stands for Adventure Without Limits

Learn something new everday 😀

Being ex-Army, I tend to shy away from any DPM or other camp based kit.
However, I have just had a set of bikepacking bags made up in Black Camo.. 😳

[IMG] [/IMG]

Another day and something else to get outraged about. Are you lot sure you're not closet DM readers? It's a paint job, get a grip.

Seriously, you lot need something better to do with your time if this is the best you can come up with to get upset about. The only sad behaviour is the judgemental crap being spouted.

I'm not upset.
Or outraged.
🙂

And could you point out where I've been judgemental?

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What about this one?

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Certainly.

Chaka, Sue's not that arsed, tbh - just me who finds it a bit sad and unnecessary.

Who's Sue...? That's the only thing I care about in this sodding pointless thread!

WHO IN FRICKIN' FLIP IS SUE?????

Touché.
🙂

It's not that overly critical though, just an opinion.

Sue's the one who quite likes the colour.
Not renowned for her taste, tbh.
😀

Opinion is fine but to make an entire topic about it and describe it the way you did in the op?

Plus all the other UKIP jingoistic nonsense comparison's with Peaty's bike...

[img] ?v=1465815381[/img]

Well, I still think it's a bit of a sad and pathetic way to market a bicycle.

Would you care to debate the issue or are you just happy to criticise me for having an opinion?

Rusty Spanner - Member

Well, I still think it's a sad and pathetic way to market a bicycle.

If they market the bike as the [i][b]"AR-16 INSURGENT KILLER. With Hollowpoint Linkage and Wound Channel cable routing"[/b][/i] then it's a slightly distasteful way to market a bike. Anything else is just a styling aesthetic that references militaria which designers and marketing men have been doing since time immemorial on countless products.

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But nowadays, we all know the reality of war.
We can watch the fresh blood and mutilated bodies on our HD screens, hear the screams of the dying live, in surround sound.

There would appear to be little milage in selling the glamour of war anymore, because we all know there isn't any.
Previous generations didn't have that luxury.
We do.

Yeah it must have been terribly confusing for those poor primitive savages. People going off to war (with guns and bayonets) and coming back full of holes or in pieces. What on earth could have happened.

Would you care to debate the issue or are you just happy to criticise me for having an opinion?

What issue? That's my entire point!

You seem to be thinking this is somehow glorifying the military and trivialising the "horrors of war". Lets see what the big S say:

AWOL

The AWOL is equal parts versatility and durability, all in one perfectly balanced package. Whether it's navigating through the urban jungle as your commuter rig or strapping on panniers to explore the back roads less traveled on a bikepacking adventure, the AWOL relishes either challenge. So go ahead, plan your next adventure or see where you daily commute will take you. With the AWOL, the only thing holding you back is your imagination.

ZOMG BABY KILLERS!

Described as Oak Green / Taupe. Not Olive Green / Khaki.

This issue seems to entirely exist with in you and the other hand wringers heads. I'm all against glorifying war or promoting the military in insidious ways but even I can see you're talking shite.

I bet you have one of these on your front door as well:

[img] ?oh=f62324bd3c9d70106cb8e9e75858ad97&oe=58601032[/img]

Well, I only have the testimony of family members who fought in WW2.

My dad was born in 1916 and was, as we're most of his generation, brought up on tales of heroics from the Boer War and WW1.
He was quite vocal on the subject - if more people knew the truth, they wouldn't sign up.

We know the truth.
We can see it everyday.

Squirrelking, thanks for your input.
You believe I'm talking shite.
Fine.
Thanks for your contribution.
Anything constructive, or is that it?
🙂

Rusty Spanner - Member

Well, I only have the testimony of family members who fought in WW2.

My dad was born in 1916 and was, as we're most of his generation, brought up on tales of heroics from the Boer War and WW1.
He was quite vocal on the subject - if more people knew the truth, they wouldn't sign up.

We know the truth.
We can see it everyday.

And yet people still go to war. People still join up. And society as a whole still regards it as a brave and heroic thing to do. Regardless of how horrible (maybe in part because of) war is the average person will still acknowledge the bravery of soldiers, and society will hold it's military institutions in high regard. Meaning military themes will have a degree of desirability or aspiration / positive association.

The wars Britain and the U.S are engaged in are waged on some of the sketchiest moral foundations, but woe betide anyone who criticises a soldier.

There would appear to be little milage in selling the glamour of war anymore, because we all know there isn't any.
Previous generations didn't have that luxury.
We do.

TBH Rusty, if those cigarette adverts were run today the outrage would be over the tobacco advertising not the use of soldiers in marketing...

They clearly started with the bike name, which as everyone knows stands for "absent without leave", and the military design cues are a reference to that

I'm no fan of specialized, but I don't see how they are endorsing warfare here.

Are they referencing Jean Claude?

I had my croix de fer powder coated Nato green...but asked them to do a rainbow sparkle laquer on it coz I am a pacifist and not very rufty tufty really

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You believe I'm talking shite

Anything constructive, or is that it?

Well I did profer the bike description straight from the Specialized site which contains absolutely no military references or inferences.

As I said, this "promotion" is entirely within your own head however if you have anything better to offer than a green paintjob and stenciled font I'd be more than happy to listen to how it's "military fantasist jingoistic boy's own fantasy".

However, in your own words:

There's no correlation in my mind between violence and cycling.

Your evidence base makes JHJ seem like a citeable source in comparison.

jimjam
Regardless of how horrible (maybe in part because of) war is the average person will still acknowledge the bravery of soldiers, and society will hold it's military institutions in high regard. Meaning military themes will have a degree of desirability or aspiration / positive association.

squirrelking - Member
Well I did profer the bike description straight from the Specialized site which contains absolutely no military references or inferences.

Well it wouldn't, would it?
🙂
In fact, they're very careful not to.
Despite the bike being matte green, with a name derived from military parlance and stencilled graphics.
😀
Amazing how anyone could draw that conclusion really.....

Well it wouldn't, would it?

In fact, they're very careful not to.

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Well I for one am now convinced. Quite a compelling argument you put forward there.

Makes you think.
🙂

*APPLAUSE!*

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Avanti clearly trying to get a seat at the top table here.

They clearly started with the bike name, which as everyone knows stands for "absent without leave", and the military design cues are a reference to that

*Absent Without Official Leave

I have camo gear I use for shooting.

I quite enjoy eating the odd rabbit I've battled with, mano a conejo.
I usually use a Browning .50 cal, for the small ones anyway.

My dad was born in 1916 and was, as we're most of his generation, brought up on tales of heroics from the Boer War and WW1.
He was quite vocal on the subject - if more people knew the truth, they wouldn't sign up.

Das Sturmfahrrad

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Killing living beings for fun?

Or food.

More ethical than any commercial slaughterhouse though thats for sure.

CountZero - Member .......If you don't like it, sue me.

Rusty Spanner - Member
Just for clarification, I don't care what anyone wears either.
Ex army kit is cheap and it works - I've had a few pairs of para boots in the past and still have various bits I wear for fishing and shooting.

Do try reading what I've actually said, rather than what you'd like to believe I've said.
🙂

Maybe one of these as an alternative to orthodox handlebar bags...if you've been invited to the 'right' kind of party.

Narrow enough to fit between the drops of a racing bike too.

https://www.majorsurplus.com/german-repro-wwii-gas-mask-canister.html

This has all gone somewhat...

... [IMG] [/IMG]

I think I prefer the MiG pilot's helmet, a bargain at $150.
🙂

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Malvern Rider - Member
This has all gone somewhat...

Oh shush, we're enjoying it.
People getting sweary, straw men, no one actually bothering to read the posts, CZ missing the point and going off on one.
Business as usual really.
😉

Your point is, caller?

Cheesy line dude!