No more pumpkin carriage for Cinderella. Like a fairy god-auntie, Ofo conjured up a new 'Princess Bike' aimed for the girls.
The new fem-model is marketed as being much lighter and easier to handle, complete with skirt guards to protect the clothes from being caught in the chain, and a leather saddle to a softer seat. The cane basket up front is for "flowers or a small dog", according to the Beijing-based bike sharing startup.
Okay. It's a surprise the Princess weren't rolled out in baby pink.
"It's nice that they are offering a lighter model because the bikes are pretty heavy and difficult to handle. But it's unfortunate that it has to be gendered. I bet plenty of guys would prefer a sleeker, lighter bike just as much", says Ping, a daily bike-share user.
READ MORE: PHOTOS: 'Tuhao Gold' Shared Bikes Debut in China
The Princess isn't even all that original. It's reminiscent of a classic Pashley model released way back in the 1920s. Except, yeah, it looks much cheaper.
While the vintage bicycle is a massive black-glazed metal pile with numerous details and nuances, Ofo's Princess is just sticking an iconic basket to a habitual yellow-glazed carcass. No 'ding-dong' bells, mudguards or frame-fitted pumps.
Anyway, this decision to 'adhere to consumer demands' is a certified target-oriented strategy leading to gain more profits, especially with more and more bike-sharing brands flooding the streets.
What's next, a male-oriented bike resembling Harley Davidson?
[Images via CGTN and Pashley]
0 User Comments