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Lenny Kolb English 1101 Dr. Hinnant 10-15-2013

Man in the Form of a Bike

The ideal man today is multifaceted and able to react well in any situation. He should be determined, self-sufficient, and sophisticated. The Trek XO-2 was designed for the ideal man. The Trek XO-2 bicycle personifies this model of an ideal man in many ways. The color scheme was chosen to speak to the customer the second they look at it. It draws their attention and inspires thoughts of success and self-improvement. The styling of the bike combines multiple varieties to create a package that is perfectly appropriate for any and every occasion. The bike speaks also about its creators and lives up to its expectations. The design of the Trek XO-2 bike prepares it for dual-use; it is a combination of a road bike and a dirt bike. The snap-in pedals require special cycling shoes, typical of road bikes. It has the signature curved handlebars of a road bike, which allows the rider to aerodynamically lean into the bike to gain speed on straightaways. There are two bottle holders which imply that the rider will be travelling very long distances; this touring aspect is more customary to road bike. Road tires provide a smooth surface to glide on pavement without causing unnecessary friction, however there are a spare set of dirt tires with more grip that can be switched out to accommodate trails and rough terrain. Additionally, the frame is straighter to put the rider in the upright position common to dirt bikes. The Trek XO-2 bike is advertised as perfect for racing. A key factor in competitive cycling is the weight. Bike designers search for the best material and design for each part to
Comment [B2]: While these details intrigue me, this paragraph seems to address all summary and no analysis. Try your best to weave analysis throughout. Remember that it should outweigh summary at least 70% to 30% Comment [B1]: This is an interesting opening, but Im not sure if these sentences are enough to form their own paragraph. Formatted: Indent: First line: 0"

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reduce weight as much as possible. Many of the parts on this bike are printed with the weight in grams. These parts can be switched out for lower weight parts to reduce the overall weight of the bike, for an advantage in racing. The rims are the well-known Race Light brand. Much of the text printed on the bike is in italics, Much of the text printed on the bike is in italics, making it appear as if the text is forced back and the bike is in constant motion which hints at movement and speed. The saddle is very slim with no excess cushioning, placing performance over comfort. The brand name alone Rival elicits thoughts of competition and domination; this name is imprinted on the gears and pedals. While there are many racing features on this bike, it is not decked out with everything. This makes it attractive for commuting as well. Because of its aluminum frame, the Trek XO-2 is much more affordable than a higher performance carbon-frame racing bike. A phone mount on the center post allows commuters to access GPS, or one of the many apps designed for cyclists to track speed, time, elevation, and other statistics. These apps could be useful for the cyclist to track of his progress. The phone mount also has a rain cover. Additionally, the bike has a headlight, taillight, and lights on the ends of the handlebars. For safety reasons, these are necessary for commuting during the night time. Each of Tthese features suggest that the bike is appropriate for commuting where the rider would have to be prepared for traffic or weather. Just as this bike is designed for many purposes, the targeted owner is also expected to have many faces. Again, this bike is designed to appeal to the idea of the ideal man. Men today are expected to embody many roles: a businessman as well as a humorist; a ladies man and a family man; strong and confident, yet sensitive and caring. The Trek XO-2 bike appeals to the lifestyle of this ideal man; for example, a businessman who commutes to work during the week,
Comment [B5]: Good connection, but do you think you could push it any further? I feel like some of those features might come in handy for other reasons as well. Comment [B3]: How so? Comment [B4]: Good. I wouldnt have thought of this.

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and then goes mountain biking on the weekends. Just as men should have a professional and recreational side, so too does this bike. The designers of this bike had their target audience in mind during the design. The bike is designed for an adult male who is a more advanced rider and has expendable incomethe Trek XO-2 comes with a twenty-five hundred dollar price tag. The black and white color scheme, accented with red, combines to entice the ideal rider: red symbolizes action, ambition, determination, and energy; white implies newness or pristineness, and self-sufficiency; black denotes strength, sophistication, protection, mystery, power, and control. These are characteristics that the ultimate man would embody, and that all men would strive to attain. The Trek XO-2, therefore, appeals to men seeking these characteristics. White also implies new beginnings and simplicity. Black suggests comfort. These ideas would attract a man who is turning over a new leafperhaps try to become more physically fit, or be motivated to take control of his life. The Trek XO-2 bike makes bold statements with language as well. Many of the words printed on the bike imply that this bike is better that the competitors. Alpha Aluminum is printed on the side of the frame. Aluminum is a very light metal, but the upgraded aluminum alloy formula used for the Trek XO-2 claims superiority over other aluminum frames. Alpha suggests animal packs with alpha males, promoting the idea of power and domination. The shifters have the brand name Ultegra stamped on them. The base word, ultra, again implies superiority. Finally, in the name of the bike itself: it is an XO-2, suggesting that its an updated model and better than previous bikes made by the same company. The Trek XO-2 makes these claims for good reason. Trek is a very well-known cycling company along with their sub-brand Bontrager, which sells cycling components and accessories.
Comment [B9]: Good! Comment [B8]: Nice! This is really interesting. Comment [B6]: I like this connection/metaphor. I think its an interesting way to structure your analysis.

Comment [B7]: Why/how is it designed for an adult male? What about females? Male teenagers?

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For the price, this bike is the best you can get. When compared with the Focus 2011 cyclocross model, the MARES CX 1, which sold for about four thousand, and Scotts 2011 cyclocross model, the CX Comp, which sold for around fourteen hundred, the Trek model still came out on top with more sales and higher review ratings. Focus and Scott are also very good bike manufacturers but simply cannot compare with Treks unwavering quality of their products. Living up to expectations is another pressure put on men today. If their father or grandfather goes into a profession they are encouraged to follow in their footsteps. They are pushed to live up to, and earn, their family name. The fact that this bike earns it name encourages the buyer that, if purchased, it can help them do the same. Every consumer item advertisements, clothes, and even bikes sends out two messages. The first message is from the producer to the customer. Producers load their product with color, design, and features to lure in the customer. They try to get the buyer to think that this product will in some way complete his life. Once the purchase is made, the second message is sent from the customer to the world. Every purchase we make and every object we consume sends out a message about who we are. Most purchases are made solely for this purpose. The Trek XO-2 is no different. It is loaded with attributes to draw in the customer and convince him that this bike will improve his life and help his attain his goals. The second message, from the buyer to the world, is that by owning the Trek XO-2 bike over other bikes, they are somehow enhanced and on their way to becoming the ideal man.
Comment [B11]: Nice conclusion. Comment [B10]: Im not sure Im completely following your argument here. Do you think you could explain your connection a little more?

Lenny, Overall, I think this is a really nice working draft. Its well-organized, well-written, and predominantly well-argued. Im intrigued by the comparison metaphor youve chosen to construct your analysis aroundits an interesting concept and it allows your reader to stay on track with most of your arguments. Im also particularly impressed with your arguments concerning color scheme and language use. Still, I think theres room for more

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development and expansion. Some of your early arguments feel a bit rushed through. For example, you address some of the features of the bike in order to argue that riders may use it as a tool for commute, but I think there might be other meanings for those specific aspects as well. Remember that you dont have to make any large (or singular) conclusions until the end of your paper, so before that point I expect you to examine the multiple meanings some of these details might hold. Also try to avoid too much summary. There are some paragraphs that I feel are heavier in summary than they are analysis. This is good work, but keep pushing yourself hard to make deeper and more meaningful connections.

*Note: I bought this bike used and spent nowhere close to three grand on it.