In article ,
"Tom \"Johnny Sunset\" Sherman" ""sunsetss0003\"@invalida .com"
wrote:

See http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/2007/mountain/69er.html.

Is the bigger front wheel to better roll over obstacles, or is it
just a demented fashion statement? Conversely, does the smaller rear
wheel provide any real advantage?

Back in the day, Charlie Cunningham built MTBs with a smaller rear
wheel- IIRC 20" rear and 26" front. Many dirt motorbikes have a smaller
rear wheel. I have no idea why. Maybe Carl Fogel does, he used to ride
trials and the like.

What is the deal with single-speed anyway?

It's self-identification into a subset of a subset.

Are there prudish Trek dealers out there who will not carry this bike
because the name, or dealers who would be afraid of offending their
customers? Is the "69er" name meant to appeal to the BMX crowd who
buys products such as the "Snafu Rim Job" tires?

It's the marketing technique of trying to be hip by naming your product
with a vaguely prurient double entendre. Some marketing flack got a
bonus for that. It was funny back when Scot Nicol did it at Ibis (the
Toe Jam pump mounting peg, the Hand Job brake cable stop) but now it's
just passé. Big manufacturers are always behind the times and their
attempts to be hip are usually embarrassing.

Is the Waterloo, Wisconsin water supply contaminated with a parasite
that causes brain dysfunction?

No, it's an infestation of marketing idiots.

Who exactly is the target market for this bike?

People who want to look like they are riding an engineless motorcycle.