Girls on Vintage Bikes
December 26, 2021 12:53 AM Subscribe
Whether it's NFLShop.com, or 7-11 commercials, I've been seeing what feels like a meme of young black or Hispanic women riding stingray vintage bikes. What's up with that?
I haven't seen any 7-11 commercals, but NFLShop.com shows a photo that sounds like one described, and I suspect the usage of both the vintage bikes and young, attractive women are more as props to sell NFL swag than anything else. Vintage Stingray bikes are also linked to lowrider bikes, the latter of which are often purely for looks, and as stylistic advertising choices that may speak especially well to Latino sub cultures. I'm not aware of any other trends. If this is a meme, it's a coincidental meme that's having a moment. Hard to say if the advertising is leading or lagging here.
posted by 2N2222 at 6:29 AM on December 26, 2021
posted by 2N2222 at 6:29 AM on December 26, 2021
Sounds like you're experiencing the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, or frequency bias.
posted by twelve cent archie at 7:08 AM on December 26, 2021
posted by twelve cent archie at 7:08 AM on December 26, 2021
The 7-11 ad was directed by Harmony Korine.
This article, which profiles a veterana low rider biker mentoring youth implies that low rider bike culture may have grown during the pandemic.
The other ads in the series include a Black roller skater, Japanese rockabilly enthusiasts, and some kids making music in a garage. So I can see how these are of a package: diverse, urban, retro style elements. I definitely saw a huge uptick of black women and girls taking up roller skating in my city during the pandemic. There’s also always a lot of profiles of female low rider car culture. Korine has an eye for youth culture but I wouldn’t put it past him to invent trends.
Also worth noting that the duo who did the song in the commercial, Marlowe, has a music video for a different song released in February featuring Solemn Brigham riding a low rider bike throughout.
posted by vunder at 9:21 AM on December 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
This article, which profiles a veterana low rider biker mentoring youth implies that low rider bike culture may have grown during the pandemic.
The other ads in the series include a Black roller skater, Japanese rockabilly enthusiasts, and some kids making music in a garage. So I can see how these are of a package: diverse, urban, retro style elements. I definitely saw a huge uptick of black women and girls taking up roller skating in my city during the pandemic. There’s also always a lot of profiles of female low rider car culture. Korine has an eye for youth culture but I wouldn’t put it past him to invent trends.
Also worth noting that the duo who did the song in the commercial, Marlowe, has a music video for a different song released in February featuring Solemn Brigham riding a low rider bike throughout.
posted by vunder at 9:21 AM on December 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
This recent MeFi post seems related to your question
El País photo-essay of indigenous women skaters in Cochabamba, Bolivia
posted by cda at 10:06 AM on December 26, 2021
El País photo-essay of indigenous women skaters in Cochabamba, Bolivia
posted by cda at 10:06 AM on December 26, 2021
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We don't see images of women who look like us doing these sorts of things, so some black women are looking to correct that. It's a good thing if it has reached commercial status but as I say, I'm not from the states, so something else might be going on that I'm not aware of.
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 2:40 AM on December 26, 2021