Erok, right now your team options are dwindling so you may end up in a mini cooper, sharing it with Jackie and Plo (in the trunk). "robin the thief", that's a good one. Could start a whole thread on that topic!
If you started a thread on "Robin the thief" there'd be too much "hate". I keep trying to forgive the jackA$$, but can't. So don't go there. I love this time of year though when no one tells you who they're racing for next year until the last minute. Is there even a Kodak program anymore? I heard Sierra was done. But I am probably just "hearing things" through all this wind out here in the great northern plains...
If by sponsoring you mean giving so down on his (or her) luck bike racer a "job" to "sponsor" his "job" of bike racing. In that case Micky Ds is sponsoring a team.
From a purely business point of view, one has to wonder if sponsoring a D3 team is worth the advertising expense. Do you think anyone in Richmond VA is going to look at Erok and say "Hey, that guy finished 5th in the CapTech Classic and he's sponsored by McGuire Real Estate. Next time I buy a house in SF I'll use them as my agent." The gear/sport specific sponsors you might get some advertising bang, but those are the small dollar ones in the 5-10k range. A title or presenting sponsor is a big cash outlay that has to be justified compared to other advertising venues.
The sad thing is, none of the MBA's in marketing at any company ever think about cycling as a opportunity. I work with alot of speaker companies that would kill to increase their visibility in the sports market but fret that they can't afford NASCAR or a football team. I wish there was some sort of ebay that could put marketing execs in touch with Team Directors from sports that could really make that money go far, like soccer, cycling, womens volleyball, professional ninja fighting, etc.
Webcor seem(ed) to be pretty happy with what they got out of having the team in SF. But I do see that a regional sponsor taking on a national/international team doesn't necessarily add up. I reckon most of these companies are owned by enthusiasts who just want to be a part of it all.
"I reckon most of these companies are owned by enthusiasts who just want to be a part of it all."
Right, I agree. As Erik and Hamblen put it better than me, with NASCAR it's like an arms race - "look at us, we're such a great company that we can sponsor a car". I think alot of that takes leadership back at the legislating body.
"But cycling's not popular" According to the Outdoor Industry Association (a mrketing/lobby body) cycling is now the most popular past time in the US. 78 million over Golf's 25 million.
I wish some business brainiac with a politician's charisma would link up w/ the USCF and build some momentum/buzz behind cycling and relay that to the industires. Fine, big fish brands like Gillette and Tide can have NASCAR. There are still tons of $100 million companies out there with enough marketing money and general interest in cycling to belly up if someone would just connect the dots for them.
How much cash does somebody like Jittery Joe's kick in for the team compared to what they get out of it? It's a passion, but not necessarily a good investment. It's not like I see their coffee in the local Food Lion! This year you saw a bunch of mergers because many title sponsors didn't want to go it alone. Next year will be even tighter as advertisers worry that Lance's retirement will mean less interest in cycling. Dodge has been on the fence with the TdGA for a couple of years now. Saturn was a biggie, but they changed their focus.
Stuff like the Red Bull race is the future of sponsorship. You don't have to know a front wheel from a headset to be a spectator at that type of event.
Erik's marketablility has less to do with his results and more to do with his accessibility to folks. (in reference to the cap tech results comment) He needs an agent. As for D3 teams this year...sponsors are seeking different things it seems. Like they're less impressed with the moving billboard approach that has been so often a big bullet in the random proposal package. Lots of focus on the "community" thing....and how their companies get recognized. does this make sense? Getting dough/sponsors seems easier this year to me. It's weird.
Many D3 teams didn't really have a "developmental program" and that was indeed there (UCI) proposed purpose. Webcor's main goal? Win the Sf Race. McGuire's main goal? Top ten at the SF Race. That's not a program...and there's nothing sustaining in it to the sport and it does nothing for the sport. When Durso was running Ofoto it was to get guys to the big races, so they could grow as athlete's---Durso had a program. That's one thing that differentiated him from other guys at his level. Jitterey Joe's has a program. As for the Kodak/Sierra program of 2005? I think Robin likes riding around in a team car at the races. He likes the idea of running a team...but where was the program? (Note...I don't know much about the Kodak program and so this is just my bitchy opinion since I hate what happened to Durso in that whole mess).
The dough it takes to have a successful D3 team is so large that the moving-billboard-slogan or race wins aren't enough. You gotta have a program. Bike racer's go to the race to win. It's what they do. Nobody would suffer like they do for the heck of it. But without a good program and foundation for the win...it's meaningless and just a cash cow which runs out.
there are at least 3 new US D3 teams for next year as far as I know. But now you've got riders from Seasilver, Webcor, McGuire, etc., chasing down those spots...and if you're over 26...then it's really tough.
I should have added that it's Erik's accessibility to his fans/sponsors/etc. That's what markets him. He also is someone to be reckoned with at the front of any race...
That said, sponsor's love him. He is very available to them. For all intents and purpose, he ought to have a good gig going next year.
The catch all is that he also has a life. It's hard to have a life (relationship) AND committ to racing the bike for quite honestly peanuts. But if you don't have a life too, then when it's all done, you've eaten all your peanuts and have nothing...
I hope he gets on with a team that can offer him some ways to grow his talent---focus on the TT. (Get him a TT bike with fancy dish wheels!) Or a team that can get him to the end of a long hard race and let him finish it off...
Jittery Joe's is, as far as I can tall, quite a unique situation... tho' they do have expansion plans in the near future, I can't see that they give a whole lot besides the snappy name & good coffee to dudes who like to sit on picnic table benches. Also speaking of JJs, does anyone here know what the Georgia Lemon Law is? I refer, of course, to U.S. 'cross hero, U.S. road nothing (think Saunier Duval might have been, uh, right to ice him out?), Tim Johnson. anyone wanna guess what he made on JJ & what Health Net is gonna pay? I don't have ANY scoop but it wouldn't be bad to see E-Rok on JJ, add a little North Carolina to the Georgia scene.
Jittery Joes or Jelly Belly, either way Erok can bring up some good swag for his loyal pals when he hits RVA. Caffeine and sugar, yeah baby!
He's a classic case, a good strong rider who gives it his all, usually alone (see the final lap of the 04 CapTech for proof of his lone ranger status), but doesn't always make the podium. Yet, he's often the one getting the press coverage because first and foremost he is worth talking to, gives a great interview (even though he sometimes does sound like the son of one of the Beach Boys).
as far as my team last year goes.. mcguire wanted a team because he wanted to be a patron of the sport in the bay area... the idea is to have a competitive team at the top races to give his program credibility locally... its something that can work really well and i think he got somehting good out of it this year... SFChronical runs large storied with color photos of weekend local races.. and they devote time to the sport because its very ppular up there...
although he isnt continueing with the same organization he has upped his commitment to the sport and is doing a broad based regional development team with juniors and under 25 men...
if cycling is only ever a sprt where the pitch is a simple one like "people see the name on the jersey and go buy whatever it says on there" it will never grow...
i think in the end we didnt deliver what he wanted. so he went elsewhere to get it... but i understood what he was looking for from the very begining... and it leads me to think of another thing- knowing what your sponsors want and delivering it to them... too many teams at all levels just take the money and go race their bikes...
43 comments:
dope...
Hey Cameron, That's a great site!!! keep them comimg....
"Waylon absolutely adores it and keeps kissing it.."
So they are saying that their son is in training to be a pimp.... Their next post: the pimp cup, cane, and fedora he gets for halloween...
I mean for christmas..
at this rate Erik, that may be your only option for a team car next year.
EROK,
who will drive it? Terry?durso? or robin the thief!
Billy better car for you.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4587943435&category=31839
RVS
I believe this would make a cool team car and it might keep up a little better than the other.
http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/images/golfcart_01.jpg
I'm not sure if you'd be able to hear the race radio over the bass, though.
Erok, right now your team options are dwindling so you may end up in a mini cooper, sharing it with Jackie and Plo (in the trunk). "robin the thief", that's a good one. Could start a whole thread on that topic!
If you started a thread on "Robin the thief" there'd be too much "hate". I keep trying to forgive the jackA$$, but can't. So don't go there. I love this time of year though when no one tells you who they're racing for next year until the last minute. Is there even a Kodak program anymore? I heard Sierra was done. But I am probably just "hearing things" through all this wind out here in the great northern plains...
C'mon Joni, let loose with your great white north scoopage...
No Sierra? The cash crunch is hitting everyone. Gonna be a lean 2006. There's always the Gap.
Is The Gap sponsoring a team??
Yeah, a team of well dressed but out of work cyclists.
"Is The Gap sponsoring a team??"
Yeah, it's a team of salespeople working in their stores at the mall... DOH!
If by sponsoring you mean giving so down on his (or her) luck bike racer a "job" to "sponsor" his "job" of bike racing. In that case Micky Ds is sponsoring a team.
From a purely business point of view, one has to wonder if sponsoring a D3 team is worth the advertising expense. Do you think anyone in Richmond VA is going to look at Erok and say "Hey, that guy finished 5th in the CapTech Classic and he's sponsored by McGuire Real Estate. Next time I buy a house in SF I'll use them as my agent." The gear/sport specific sponsors you might get some advertising bang, but those are the small dollar ones in the 5-10k range. A title or presenting sponsor is a big cash outlay that has to be justified compared to other advertising venues.
The sad thing is, none of the MBA's in marketing at any company ever think about cycling as a opportunity.
I work with alot of speaker companies that would kill to increase their visibility in the sports market but fret that they can't afford NASCAR or a football team.
I wish there was some sort of ebay that could put marketing execs in touch with Team Directors from sports that could really make that money go far, like soccer, cycling, womens volleyball, professional ninja fighting, etc.
C'mon people... it was joke.
Unless they are sponsoring a team. In which case, where do I send a resume??
RB
Webcor seem(ed) to be pretty happy with what they got out of having the team in SF.
But I do see that a regional sponsor taking on a national/international team doesn't necessarily add up. I reckon most of these companies are owned by enthusiasts who just want to be a part of it all.
"I reckon most of these companies are owned by enthusiasts who just want to be a part of it all."
Right, I agree.
As Erik and Hamblen put it better than me, with NASCAR it's like an arms race - "look at us, we're such a great company that we can sponsor a car".
I think alot of that takes leadership back at the legislating body.
"But cycling's not popular"
According to the Outdoor Industry Association (a mrketing/lobby body) cycling is now the most popular past time in the US. 78 million over Golf's 25 million.
I wish some business brainiac with a politician's charisma would link up w/ the USCF and build some momentum/buzz behind cycling and relay that to the industires. Fine, big fish brands like Gillette and Tide can have NASCAR. There are still tons of $100 million companies out there with enough marketing money and general interest in cycling to belly up if someone would just connect the dots for them.
I hope...
Dead horse, I know...
Does someone more eloquent and knowledgable (i'm looking at you, RB and Joni) want to take over so I can shut up?
How much cash does somebody like Jittery Joe's kick in for the team compared to what they get out of it? It's a passion, but not necessarily a good investment. It's not like I see their coffee in the local Food Lion! This year you saw a bunch of mergers because many title sponsors didn't want to go it alone. Next year will be even tighter as advertisers worry that Lance's retirement will mean less interest in cycling. Dodge has been on the fence with the TdGA for a couple of years now. Saturn was a biggie, but they changed their focus.
Stuff like the Red Bull race is the future of sponsorship. You don't have to know a front wheel from a headset to be a spectator at that type of event.
I reckon a big crit like Athens or a in-town circuit like Philly/SF is at least as marketable as the Red Bull thing.
Neither eloquent nor knowledgable.
RB
i like this WAY better than slover, beavis and zamudio!
I like it both ways... wait, that came out wrong.
RB
Erik's marketablility has less to do with his results and more to do with his accessibility to folks. (in reference to the cap tech results comment) He needs an agent. As for D3 teams this year...sponsors are seeking different things it seems. Like they're less impressed with the moving billboard approach that has been so often a big bullet in the random proposal package. Lots of focus on the "community" thing....and how their companies get recognized. does this make sense? Getting dough/sponsors seems easier this year to me. It's weird.
Many D3 teams didn't really have a "developmental program" and that was indeed there (UCI) proposed purpose. Webcor's main goal? Win the Sf Race. McGuire's main goal? Top ten at the SF Race. That's not a program...and there's nothing sustaining in it to the sport and it does nothing for the sport. When Durso was running Ofoto it was to get guys to the big races, so they could grow as athlete's---Durso had a program. That's one thing that differentiated him from other guys at his level. Jitterey Joe's has a program. As for the Kodak/Sierra program of 2005? I think Robin likes riding around in a team car at the races. He likes the idea of running a team...but where was the program? (Note...I don't know much about the Kodak program and so this is just my bitchy opinion since I hate what happened to Durso in that whole mess).
The dough it takes to have a successful D3 team is so large that the moving-billboard-slogan or race wins aren't enough. You gotta have a program. Bike racer's go to the race to win. It's what they do. Nobody would suffer like they do for the heck of it. But without a good program and foundation for the win...it's meaningless and just a cash cow which runs out.
there are at least 3 new US D3 teams for next year as far as I know. But now you've got riders from Seasilver, Webcor, McGuire, etc., chasing down those spots...and if you're over 26...then it's really tough.
"Erik's marketablility has less to do with his results and more to do with his accessibility to folks."
Great point. More people know him than the 8 of the 10 guys that beat him every week.
Robin likes riding in the team car because it's his only lame shot at getting a piece of tail!
I should have added that it's Erik's accessibility to his fans/sponsors/etc. That's what markets him. He also is someone to be reckoned with at the front of any race...
That said, sponsor's love him. He is very available to them. For all intents and purpose, he ought to have a good gig going next year.
The catch all is that he also has a life. It's hard to have a life (relationship) AND committ to racing the bike for quite honestly peanuts. But if you don't have a life too, then when it's all done, you've eaten all your peanuts and have nothing...
I hope he gets on with a team that can offer him some ways to grow his talent---focus on the TT. (Get him a TT bike with fancy dish wheels!) Or a team that can get him to the end of a long hard race and let him finish it off...
Or a team that can get him to the end of a long hard race and let him finish it off.
He does like 'em long and hard.
RB
Jittery Joe's is, as far as I can tall, quite a unique situation... tho' they do have expansion plans in the near future, I can't see that they give a whole lot besides the snappy name & good coffee to dudes who like to sit on picnic table benches. Also speaking of JJs, does anyone here know what the Georgia Lemon Law is? I refer, of course, to U.S. 'cross hero, U.S. road nothing (think Saunier Duval might have been, uh, right to ice him out?), Tim Johnson. anyone wanna guess what he made on JJ & what Health Net is gonna pay? I don't have ANY scoop but it wouldn't be bad to see E-Rok on JJ, add a little North Carolina to the Georgia scene.
Maurice de Meur
He quit SD... and it was probably a good call.
Jittery Joes or Jelly Belly, either way Erok can bring up some good swag for his loyal pals when he hits RVA. Caffeine and sugar, yeah baby!
He's a classic case, a good strong rider who gives it his all, usually alone (see the final lap of the 04 CapTech for proof of his lone ranger status), but doesn't always make the podium. Yet, he's often the one getting the press coverage because first and foremost he is worth talking to, gives a great interview (even though he sometimes does sound like the son of one of the Beach Boys).
-cap
no shit!
http://www.sfexaminer.com/news/20051114_ne01_bikerace.txt
as far as my team last year goes.. mcguire wanted a team because he wanted to be a patron of the sport in the bay area... the idea is to have a competitive team at the top races to give his program credibility locally... its something that can work really well and i think he got somehting good out of it this year... SFChronical runs large storied with color photos of weekend local races.. and they devote time to the sport because its very ppular up there...
although he isnt continueing with the same organization he has upped his commitment to the sport and is doing a broad based regional development team with juniors and under 25 men...
if cycling is only ever a sprt where the pitch is a simple one like "people see the name on the jersey and go buy whatever it says on there" it will never grow...
i think in the end we didnt deliver what he wanted. so he went elsewhere to get it... but i understood what he was looking for from the very begining... and it leads me to think of another thing- knowing what your sponsors want and delivering it to them... too many teams at all levels just take the money and go race their bikes...
this is all a part of my plan for world domination.. i dont really get much of anything from any of this crap i do...
but i am looking years down the line...
E, whats up for next year? team? or rumor is something else?
this is all a part of my plan for world domination...
Great minds think alike...(just read the title)
http://cycleutah.com/cs/blogs/turboryan/
RB
God-damn, good news all around today!
Congrats RB! If you're ever beatified I say we name you Saint Ryan the Fertile.
(and I hope this one's just like you, SUCKER!)
Yes, it good to know that after all the hot biking action my little swimmers still swim.
RB
Thanks for that.
I'm going to go wretch now...
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