Comments on: General Motors buys Specialized

By: P Buddery

P Buddery — Fri, 09 May 2008 08:03:27 +0000

If it’s a joke, then it’s a joke.

But if it’s real, then it suggests that GM can smell a profit making bikes in the future. Over the last few years I have been counting more and more bike commuters mixing fun and travel. Perhaps the GM engineering staff is comprised of bike riders – ours is.

What annoys me is the greater and greater specialisation of bikes. I want a full-suspension MTB suitable for commuting, off-road and lazy days. It needs a stand, a chainguard and a rack No-one makes a high or medium quality bike like this, but my semi-cheapy MTB has survived 4000 miles. I want a commuting roady, light and fast, good on the big hills. It needs a rack, a chainguard and a stand. Guess what? No-one makes one, but I have put a rack on one of my brother’s lovely old roadies.

And the helmet stuff? I have a BMI of 32, the lightest I have been in 20 years, but I get faster as I get fitter. I stay just as hot, and cooking my brain with a helmet is a very dangerous idea.
Why can’t all those helmet lovers encourage tail light use instead? I have 4, but only two are on the bike of the day because the other two have flat batteries and electrical gremlins.

Sure, I love cars. I have one parked outside my house. But commuting by bike is a great way to get 6 hours a week of good solid pedalling, up and over a nice fruity hill that might have been put there just for my pleasure.

We all know that rampant consumerism and materialism and stupidity is destroying the planet. Fuel costs are arising faster than my body temperature. We can all lessen the damage by some fun pedalling.

P B

By: rick

rick — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:02:32 +0000

As this joke circulated I was astonished by reading comments at different sights that suggested that it might not be a bad idea. What kind of company is General Motors exactly?
GM fought seat belt use, GM fought against ABS brake systems, GM currently fights against reducing vehicle emmisions, GM currently fights against increasing fuel milage standards, GM manufactures Hummers,

They are an evil empire and are the enemy IMO.

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:11:47 +0000

Well, of all the bike-related blog pranks pulled today, this one takes the cake! Very cleverly crafted, CbBers!!!

By: JiMCi

JiMCi — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:48:55 +0000

The press release names Flora Lopi as GM’s VP, Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. This job title belongs to Elizabeth Lowery. Flora Lopi is an anagram for April Fool.

By: Noah

Noah — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:42:16 +0000

It is, in fact, a joke. But I think it was quite well-played.

http://www.bikebiz.com/news/29459/GM-takes-Specialized-back-into-all-American-ownership

Apparently, the Specialized guys didn’t think it was so funny.

By: rick

rick — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:57:43 +0000

Please please please someone confirm that this is in fact a really bad joke!!!

By: william

william — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:45:08 +0000

the problem with april fool’s day is that people who are not funny attempt to be, and their joke ends up being merely a lie. I wonder if this had any effect on GM or Specialized’s stock…

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:28:13 +0000

DOH! First time I’ve been fooled today. Way to go!!

By: Geribaldo

Geribaldo — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:46:23 +0000

This is an awesome joke.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:14:09 +0000

i _hate_ april fool’s day on the net. is this a joke? you can’t tell who’s telling fact vs. fiction. i mean – it’s modern day america. our government makes orwell-esque pronouncements just about every day. so stupid.