“Glad a real person put thought and effort into this picture”: American outdoor shop under fire for AI-generated image in bike ad… with drop bars beneath the saddle + more on the live blog

June 22, 2026

We don’t much like Generative AI at road.cc. Every and any opportunity we have to therefore put it down a peg must be seized upon. And there have been opportunities already!

Remember the double cassette on a Specialized design? The brand blamed their web layout rather than a cursed machine or insane mechanic.

Or how about the time Komoot launched a ChatGPT app designed to give routes based on a text prompt?

The latest bit of madness comes from the American clothing manufacturer REI who published an ad for the new Van Rysel EDR AF bike.

Sometimes images speak for themselves. But, in the interest of image description, we have what appears to be drop bar handlebars extended onto the back of the saddle. Incidentally we also have both rim and disc brakes, as well as a cyclist with a disproportionately long pinky finger. Thankfully the comments are sarcastically on point… road.cc