Just to be clear, I don't think any of these products are butt ugly, though the splats won't win a beauty contest. But I do believe that they are functional and produced to keep costs down and durability high (simple shapes, few seams). While I like things that are actually good-looking, I understand and appreciate the design philosophy. But I don't appreciate the design philosophy behind the ugly labels, if there is one, other than to be contrary.
Ironically, while I think Riv usually overdoes it with the reflective tape, I really wish that the splats had it on both feet, rather than the ugly MUSA logo on one. I am glad that they are selling well, though. When it rains here in Thailand though it's so warm that I am wearing sandals or flip flops, so I won't get a pair until I move to colder climes. Gernot On Feb 21, 5:43 am, Robert Zeidler <zeidler.rob...@gmail.com> wrote: > I'm throwing the splats into the mix of butt-ugly stuff. I'm already ugly > but those things however well they work just look like some prototype > high-school kids' project. IMHO, YMMV. > > RGZ > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Feb 20, 2011, at 5:37 PM, Mike S <mikeshalj...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > I had a hostile reaction to the brand-v label on the handlebar bag-- > > proceeded to quickly butcher it off upon arrival and effed up the > > stitching on the scotchlite strip as a result. Put a dab of shoe goo > > on the separated spot and it's fine, but yeah that really is a crappy > > looking label (unless your an Oregon Ducks fan?). > > > On Feb 20, 11:29 am, Earl Grey <earlg...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Interesting post. Here are my personal reasons for the underselling > >> items :) > > >> Brand V Grab Sack: > > >> I have a Swiss Army gasmask bag that is very similar, albeit a bit > >> more narrow and taller, and uses a metal button closure. Love that > >> bag, take it everywhere. So the basic concept is sound, I think, > >> though perhaps we are all too attached to bags that attach to the > >> bike. My reason for NOT considering it? May seem snobbish, but I think > >> the Brand V logo patch is UGLY. The graphic design does not complement > >> the bag design at all. The fact that the RBW logo is so lovely makes > >> the Brand V logo even more of a crime. But actually it's the colors > >> that really get to me. Can't think of colors that would clash more > >> with the lovely tan and olive of the bag. > > >> An aside: The MUSA logo is terrible as well, mostly because it's way > >> too big. I do like the Sackville logo. But I bet you if all those > >> items simply sported some variant of the Rivendell logo, not only > >> would they sell better, they would also help sell more bikes. While we > >> are at it, while I love (most of) the model-specific head badges, I > >> think Rivendell is doing itself a disservice here as well, by > >> incurring additional cost, and missing a blatant opportunity to > >> strengthen the Rivendell brand (you really have to examine my > >> Hillborne in detail to find our who makes it). I know, I don't like > >> marketing either, but it's such an easy opportunity to get the > >> Rivendell message out to more people. Just use the lovely Rivendell > >> logo you have on all your in-house designed products, and don't waste > >> your time creating more and more brands (with ugly logos) that most > >> people cannot connect with Rivendell. > > >> Windshield: > > >> Again, color. Yes, safety is good, but there are other ways to be seen > >> from the front. If I lived in a colder climate and it came in an > >> interesting shade of green, or a dark grey, I'd get one. > > >> Stubby Bill caps: > > >> I have the wool stubby, and LOVE it. I think the problem here is that > >> Riv has a bunch of nice cotton hats at half the price, and that the > >> woolly one is the same price as the cotton stubby. Most folks expect > >> to pay less for cotton than for wool. > > >> Note Cards: > > >> Well, I have to admit it's been a long time since I wrote a card that > >> wasn't for my wife, and she isn't into bikes that much. Maybe that's > >> the problem: Perhaps Riv owners still write cards, but do we write > >> them to our bike buddies? We either see them regularly on rides, or we > >> communicate on the computer through this group and others. > > >> Ponchos: > > >> Once again, color. Admittedly bright color in a rain poncho is more > >> important than in a wind shirt, but I have never been a fan of primary > >> colors. I much prefer the orange of the rain pants for the poncho (I > >> know, you probably can't get that fabric in orange), and would prefer > >> the rain pants in black, cause pants get dirty and light colored ones > >> will look yucky. A bright top should be enough to be seen, no? And > >> yeah, considering the price of the breathable MUSA rain pants, the > >> poncho seems a bit over-priced. > > >> Cheers, > > >> Gernot > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > > For more options, visit this group > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
