Time to change the "PUMP" name?

Well ToeKnee, if you're embarassed by wearing lycra and being associated with people who do and belong to a group named PUMP, my question is how comfortable are you with yourself?

Portland used to have a business, I see it's not currently in the phone book, called Queen Pump, which manufactured industrial pumps - I think they were purchased by another company.  Newburg still has Climax Portable Machine Tools.  They haven't changed their name I see - nor would I expect them to because someone thinks it sounds less than stellar.  Climax Portable Machine Tools is named after a steam engine that work in the coast range years ago in the lumber industry.

So, I for one will don a Lampre skinsuit and stand under a PUMP banner with pride, and then go ride my mountain bike on a trail near here!  Anyone want to ride with me?

 Dave

PS, now if there's a serious reason to change the name, let's talk, but if it's because a few people think it's pornographic somehow, then my advice is to "get your mind out of the gutter so mine can float on by!"

What Dave said.

(Except for the skinsuit part.   ;) )

gabrielle

"Why, yes, honey, I do love this bike more than you."

Though I may join Dave arm in arm in allegiance under the PUMP banner, I've long since thought there's credibility to the benefit of a new (and more bicycle-centric, perhaps) name. I remember last year when we were putting on the annual fall swap meet at the Friendly House, the craigslist posts advertising it on the bikes FS section kept getting flagged for removal. Maybe this is b/c folks had deemed it a "commercial" venture, though my first thought was that people had assumed it was some typical craigslist spammer advertising their, um, enlargement devices.

I get the impression that folks would (certainly understandably) be reluctant to re-brand and compromise the integrity that comes with the name's 20-year history. I'd like to think though that we could enact some manner of change that wouldn't disrepect the founding members, and yet might even be MORE attractive to potential new members (i.e. the future...)

Normally I get chastised for continually having my mind in the gutter, but for the eight years I have known of PUMP's existence, I only had mountain biking thoughts.  Silly me thought the acronym referenced a tire 'pump'.   It's an easy name and acronym to remember. 

as a new member - I wasn't turned off by the name.  It could be called pump club - hump club - whatever, I just want to ride man!!!

Back when the email addresses for board members where on the website, I used to get junk mail for industrial pumps. Some may confuse it with porn, others with pumping liquids. It's the acronym that is the problem. Just say Portland United Mountain Pedalers. You'll burn an extra calorie or two in the process.

In this day and age, we would end up with a jumbled mess of letters and numbers if want to have a truly unique name.

Brent