Since When Are Bikes Gender-Specific?

I read your magazine quite frequently and find the articles interesting and well-written. I was especially interested in the “This Week’s Thingamajigs” piece (by John M. Glionna, Nov. 14) and was excited to open up the magazine and see a mountain bike featured. Then I read the line at the top--”men’s accessories”--and the text, and I was surprised.

The last time I checked, these items were not gender-specific. I own and maintain a very nice mountain bike. I also recently purchased a Sony Vaio and installed Linux on it, will spend many an hour browsing Sharper Image and Brookstone catalogs, and always have a Swiss Army knife or a Ritchey tool with me. These featured items are great gadgets, but why stereotype? Women and men both are interested in these items and there is no need to classify your magazine as out of step with the many men who don’t revel in gadgetry, or with women who do.

Tracy Teal

Pasadena