It feels like the entire world has Donald Trump fever. I’m sick of it already.
Serious and considered analysis will occupy the experts over the coming days, weeks, months and beyond. Many trees will die for the PhD theses and any number of popular books that will be written about what just happened in the good old US of A—a sad irony given Trump’s climate change denials.
Look at the recent articles on these pages and you’d be forgiven for thinking The Conversation is a “Trump Studies” think-tank now. And elsewhere, most other mainstream media and other news outlets are poring over the entrails to examine the many and varied ways we have all just been “Trumped.”
For a bit of fun, and some distraction from the slight anxiety I am feeling about the US right now, I decided to look at the Donald Trump thing through the lens of cycling.
But bear with me. Before you start rolling your eyes, it may surprise you to hear that the Trump phenomenon has even seeped into the beautiful world of cycling. Does the reach and impact of this man have no limits?
Way back in 1989 and 1990 there was actually something called the “Tour de Trump”—an East Coast US elite cycling race that some folks, including Trump himself, thought might one day rival the monumental Tour de France. Donald Trump’s money and influence made it all happen.
It caused a bit of a ruckus though. Not everyone was happy that a brash, filthy-rich American was jumping into the time-honored and sophisticated Euro-centric culture of professional cycling. Surely someone like that would tarnish this pure and noble sport?
Of course, history has since shown us that Trump wouldn’t be the only outspoken American to upset world cycling. Indeed, the International Cycling Union (UCI) would probably have already built a wall to keep the Yanks out if the cheats and miscreants from most other countries hadn’t already infiltrated the sport for good.
Some of the world’s biggest cycling news publications have written recently about the Trump-cycling connection. If you’re interested in cycling history (or want to see what Trump looked like with hair) you can see here, here, and here.
The US Tour de Trump is certainly an interesting bit of cycling history. It involved some of the world’s best riders of that era, including the likes of Dutch rider Gert-Jan Theunisse, the Russian Viatcheslav Ekimov, and the first American to win the Tour de France, Greg LeMond.
Along the way, there was even a threat by Trump of legal action against what he (curiously) saw as a rival to his cycling aspirations in the form of the bespoke “Tour de Rump” race being run out of Aspen, Colorado. He’d be a “punchy” angry rider if he ever pinned on a cycling race number, I reckon—as we have seen, the man hates competition.
Anyway, after a large amount of initial enthusiasm around the Trump-sponsored US cycling race, it ran for just two years before the future president-elect walked away. Despite this, some commentators have since lauded Trump for his role (read: money and connections, and the media interest that followed) in helping to elevate American cycling by supporting the race even for a short time.
Whether it was that Trump quickly grew bored with cycling, or got distracted with something else is uncertain. But many around the planet may well now be fantasizing about history repeating itself, and hoping against all hope that Trump gets distracted and walks away from the presidency.
Cycling writers have also written a range of other pieces speculating about the possible future impact of Trump on different areas of cycling. The UK print and online publication Cycling Weekly has told us how the cycling world is reacting to the Trump thing. It’s a fun piece if you care how some of the current pro cyclists are responding on Twitter.
There has even been some analysis made of the possible impact of Trump’s election on bicycle infrastructure schemes in the US, and questions about what his climate change skepticism might mean for cycling enhancement measures.
Others have looked at whether we should be worried that any subsequent Trump-caused trade agreement changes, and movements on the financial markets might impact the bicycle industry. Will the cost of bicycles and other cycling consumables increase?
Cycling enthusiasts might care about such issues, but they look like trivial problems next to some of the other potential “Trump effects” the serious commentators are currently floating in the domains of human rights, world economics, and international relations.
Surprisingly, no one from the world of cycling has yet done an analysis of how many cyclists voted for Trump. You’d have to guess not many since Trump recently made fun of US Secretary of State John Kerry after he was injured in a cycling crash in the French Alps.
Who does that? If you’re against cycling, how on earth can you possibly be a good Leader of the Free World? Trump must be bad, right?
In all seriousness, I don’t know yet if Donald Trump will be a good or bad US president. Past behavior and initial impressions are suggestive, but hardly conclusive.
I do know that I am not alone in hoping this man’s latest “Tour de Trump” will end quickly. And I’m not the only one that wishes Donald’s Trompe le monde was just a bad dream. Greg LeMond must be beside himself.
Happily though, there’s one tangible thing all cyclists around the world have to be thankful for. Trump made an election promise that we can all holler and cheer about.
Amen to that.
Craig Fry, Associate Professor, Centre for Cultural Diversity and Wellbeing, Victoria University
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
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21 products that are gaslighting us into thinking they’re essential when they’re not
Some things in life are actually necessary—clean water, decent healthcare, basic human decency. But then there are the things that feel like they’re gaslighting us. The things we’re told we can’t live without, even though we survived just fine before they existed. Things like "smart" fridges, lawn fertilizer services, and yes—whole body deodorant.
Recently, our sister-site Upworthy asked their Facebook audience the question: What's a product or service that feels like it's gaslighting all of us into thinking it's necessary? More than 8,000 responses poured in. The answers were passionate, funny, and surprisingly unified.
Here are 21 products, services, and systems people called out for pretending to be essential—when they might actually be optional, overpriced, or flat-out invented.
1. Whole body deodorant
"Take a shower," said Shannon H.
“How did we ever manage all those years without it!! 😂😵💫” added Karen R.
Others noted it may help people with medical conditions—but for the average person, it's definitely a marketing creation.
2. Health insurance
It topped the list. Erica L. explained: “My doctor prescribes, the pharmacist issues meds, nurses care for people, surgeons do surgery—Health Insurance stands between health care and patients and says no, exclusively on whether they think it’s financially effective to treat you.”
Important note: Health insurance can provide life-saving access for many—but what people are frustrated by here is the profit-first system, not care itself.
3. The wedding industry
Multiple people slammed the high cost of modern weddings.
JoElla B. put it plainly: “We spend too much time and money planning one day, and not enough thought on how to blend two lives in a mutually beneficial one.”
Others called out expensive dresses, venues, and pressure to perform for social media.
4. Bottled water
Carole D. said: “Water in plastic bottles! Get a cup!”
While bottled water has value in emergencies, it’s often just filtered tap water—sold for profit in plastic.
5. Baby product overload
“Most baby products,” wrote Kelli O. “They really aren’t as needy and complicated as companies want us to think.”
6. Fabric softener
“It’s bad for clothes, bad for the Earth, bad for the wallet, and totally unnecessary,” said Gail H.
Some experts agree—many softeners contain chemicals that can reduce fabric lifespan and irritate skin.
7. Smart appliances
“Adding ‘phone controls’ to every appliance instead of making them last as long as they used to,” wrote Sherry S.
When your fridge needs a software update, something’s gone off the rails.
8. Makeup and anti-aging products
“Anything anti-aging,” said Melissa T., “Please just let me age into the gargoyle I was meant to become.”
Others questioned products designed to “fix” eyelashes, eyebrows, pores, and graying hair.
April S. added, “Products that women are convinced they MUST have in order to be ‘beautiful’ and therefore ‘loved.’”
9. Cosmetic surgery
Ron P. called out the industry as a whole. And while body autonomy matters, many commenters questioned whether insecurities are being commodified and sold back to us.
10. Ticketmaster and “convenience fees”
“Let’s go back to waiting in line at a record store,” wrote Nicole C.
Zaida B. added: “Convenience fee for online purchases—then charging $10 more at the actual event.”
11. Engagement rings
James P. didn’t mince words: “Engagement rings.”
The diamond industry has long been criticized for manufactured scarcity and marketing-fueled necessity.
12. Lawn chemicals and services
“Plant native grasses and you don’t have the pests or need for constant watering,” wrote Jamie B.
Environmental groups have raised similar concerns over runoff and unnecessary pesticide use.
13. AI and generative tech
“This stuff squeezes the lifeblood and individuality out of the human experience,” said Teresa L.
Saskia D. and others echoed skepticism about its necessity, even as many of us are being pushed to use it.
14. Funeral services
Amy W. shared: “My parents both have already paid to have themselves cremated and are very adamant that they do not want anything big done for them. In their words, ‘I won’t care, I’m dead.’”
Of course, some families find comfort in tradition—but the cost and pressure can feel overwhelming and predatory.
15. Rinse and repeat
Amy D. nailed it: “It’s just to sell more. Not even sure you need it at all.”
16. Credit Card Surcharges
Shawn S. took aim at the extra fees popping up at checkout: “That is the cost of doing business and shouldn’t be the burden of the purchaser.”
Many questioned why customers are increasingly being asked to pay extra simply for the convenience of using a card.
17. Constant phone upgrades
“Apple are notorious for releasing the same shit every year,” said Steph S.
Diana H. added, “Needing to upgrade our phones so frequently.”
Built-in obsolescence and marketing cycles drive most of the demand.
18. Vitamins and supplements
“If I took every supplement they say I NEED I wouldn’t need food. Nor could I afford it,” said Tausha L.
19. Fake pockets on women’s pants
Jessica W. said, “I have to buy men’s pants for work because women’s pants would just get torn up too fast!”
Form over function, and then they charge more for it.
20. Disposable everything
“The ‘convenience’ of disposable everything,” said Rick R.
It’s killing the planet—and draining wallets.
21. Tipping
“I’m sick of supplementing for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage,” wrote Susan V.
Tipping culture has evolved into something far removed from its original intent, and for many, it now feels like a burden shifted onto the customer.
The bigger picture
People aren’t saying all these things should vanish tomorrow. But when we start seeing convenience sold as necessity, and insecurity turned into billion-dollar markets, it's worth asking: who benefits from all of this?
And more importantly—who pays?
This article originally appeared earlier this year.