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Would you buy this bicycle?

I saw the Fuji Shakalaka cruiser bicycle tonight in the Fairview Heights Touring Cyclist shop. I was bored, and so were the shop's employees, who were experiencing a slow day. Of course, most bicycle shops in the Midwest experience slow days in February.

The model in stock is pink, a perfect color for Jody Martin de Camilo, who just bought a Trek Madone SL 5.2 WSD with a Pink Lace frame. Then, when I saw the Fuji catalog and notice there's a yellow version of the Shakalaka, I decided it would be a perfect match for Belleville Area Bicycling and Eating Society ride leader Christine Warta. She has a yellow car. She has a yellow road bike. Surely, she would want a yellow cruising bike, wouldn't she?

Take a look at the funky graphics on this bike:

First there's the calming image of the palm trees and seagull. This creates the image that would be a perfect bike for the beaches of California or Florida. Get rid of the palm trees and include some images of fudge and you would have the perfect bike for Mackinac Island! Get a load of the lovely polka dots alongside the name of the bicycle. Nice touch!


But the piece de resistance is on the rear bumper. Note the martini glasses. I guess there must be champagne in those martini glasses because of what appears to be bubbles coming out of them. Funny, I always thought champagne was supposed to served in a flute!

Look carefully and you will see the upraised leg of a lovely, leggy woman. The woman is properly attired for a party with high-heeled shoes, polka-dotted stockings and a skirt or dress that shows a bit of thigh. I told the shop's manager, Dawn Weber, she needed an outfit like that Friday night for Touring Cyclist's 2005 Wine and Cheese Party at the Richmond Heights store. Dawn says she once had a pink skirt that she wore as part of a Halloween costume. I tried to tell her that she probably could find one like that at a Goodwill store, but she didn't seem too interested.

On the down side, somebody didn't do his or her homework on fonts when it came to designing the chain guard. The I and J in this particular font are very similar, making you wonder whether the make of this bike is Fujj or Fuji. As the design editor of the Belleville News-Democrat, I know a few things about font choice, kerning and tracking. To get an extreme example of why those matters are important, take a look at this page on the DT&G Typography site. (Warning: Some viewers may find this objectionable!)

All in all, I wouldn't buy this bike because I'm not into cruisers, but it may be good for those of you who are into that kind of bike.

Roger 0 comments 11:00 PM