Recently, while looking for a white elephant gift for a Holiday party, I found a 1985 Bicycling magazine in an envelope at the bottom of a box. I posted a few pictures from it on my Twitter.
There was one ad that was particularly amusing. It shows former Virginia Cavalier/Houston Rocket basketball center, Ralph Sampson. In the advertisement, Mr. Sampson is shilling for a product called Nutrament - a “fitness and energy” drink. Ralph is standing behind a gas pipe clunker complete with steel wheels and cotter cranks. He’s palming what appears to be a BMX helmet. But what makes this ad really awkward is that Mr. Sampson is 7’4” (2.24 m) tall and the bicycle he’s standing behind looks to be about a 56 cm with a top tube sorter than his tube socks! For reference, at 6’11” (2.11 m) the former basketball great Bill Walton rides a 72.5cm.
The second bicycle advertisement comes in a video commercial format. It feature one of the all time greatest self promoters, Evel Knievel, pitching his line of AMF bicycles. It’s sort of poetry to music with a wry moment where Evel flashes the pamphlet of “safety tips that bear my name, Evel Knievel.” Evel has a blunted affect which contrasts starkly with the vivacious backup singers.
The finish is Evel rolling down what appears to be a road in a public park - stove up, stiff as a poker, and perhaps a little medicated. He's donning the full-on red, white, and blue costume complete with superhero cape, but shows no sign of movement from the neck down. A very awkward and painful moment for Evel and the viewer.
There was one ad that was particularly amusing. It shows former Virginia Cavalier/Houston Rocket basketball center, Ralph Sampson. In the advertisement, Mr. Sampson is shilling for a product called Nutrament - a “fitness and energy” drink. Ralph is standing behind a gas pipe clunker complete with steel wheels and cotter cranks. He’s palming what appears to be a BMX helmet. But what makes this ad really awkward is that Mr. Sampson is 7’4” (2.24 m) tall and the bicycle he’s standing behind looks to be about a 56 cm with a top tube sorter than his tube socks! For reference, at 6’11” (2.11 m) the former basketball great Bill Walton rides a 72.5cm.
The second bicycle advertisement comes in a video commercial format. It feature one of the all time greatest self promoters, Evel Knievel, pitching his line of AMF bicycles. It’s sort of poetry to music with a wry moment where Evel flashes the pamphlet of “safety tips that bear my name, Evel Knievel.” Evel has a blunted affect which contrasts starkly with the vivacious backup singers.
The finish is Evel rolling down what appears to be a road in a public park - stove up, stiff as a poker, and perhaps a little medicated. He's donning the full-on red, white, and blue costume complete with superhero cape, but shows no sign of movement from the neck down. A very awkward and painful moment for Evel and the viewer.
Bill Walton on his track bike
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