[go-ride.com]

Personally I believe in the long run Sponsorhouse will kill racing. There may be lots of Beg/Sport/Expert riders will trick stuff, but there won't be anyone left to sponsor races. It's shops like Go-ride.com that spends thousands of dollars a year sponsoring the Utah State DH series that are losing out. If every amateur racer gets hooked up there's no benefit for shops to sponsor races. No race sponsors means no races.

I don't blame the individual for trying to get stuff as cheaply as possible, but I do blame the manufactures for essentially selling directly and not doing anything for the actual races. Just look at the demise of the Norba series. They could no longer attract sponsors and are now less than half the series they once were.

 

[FrontRangeDH]

So i got an offer from a company i didnt even apply to for get this....50% off of retail and I am stuck into a two year contract...how bout that...I am signing up to be locked into products for 2 years and paying more than I would through my shop

 

[Transcend]

I don't blame the individual for trying to get stuff as cheaply as possible, but I do blame the manufactures for essentially selling directly and not doing anything for the actual races. Just look at the demise of the Norba series. They could no longer attract sponsors and are now less than half the series they once were.

In the end this is exactly what most are doing. They are selling directly, making more than they would selling to distributors. Essentially they are giving pretty much every kid with a bike access to wholesale pricing. It is absurd as the riders end up paying more than they would with a good shop hookup, and the shops lose out on sales as well.

 

[chriscarleton]

I posted something about this a while ago, I think sponsorhouse and sponsorships for a majority of the riders out there is bs. The last time I posted something on this subject, Rich Housman chimed in.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: everyone does not need to be sponsored. Although it's cool and it gives lots of riders opportunities they may not have had, sponsorship should be reserved for top teir riders who are more marketable.

I understand the arguement for sponsorhouse and sponored amature riders and I do agree to some extent that it can help foster growth in the sport, but it's gone too far now. Almost every single person at the raced I've been to lately has some sort of sponsor whether they are 1st place in the pro class, or last place junior sport.

 

[richhouseman]

Usually i'd get all fired up and post some long rant about why I think SponsorHouse is good. But all I want to make is one point, i've worked here for 4 years and to this day we've never forced a company to go around the dealers/shops. It has been the sole choice of each and every company to bypass their own dealer network. In fact, I've always pushed for the lower level sponsorships to be run through the local shops, but it seems the green was already in some of their eyes. We've always pushed companies to use their current sponsorship programs, and use the efficiency of viewing and responding to athlete requests through our system .

PS. For those who don't know how to spell, it's the first thing TM's look for!

 

[DirtEveryDay]

Well I think it's great, it gave me the push I badly needed to get racing, even if it may just be a form of liquid courage. Everything is extortable, but there's always those that get helped along the way. I'm also sure that something will have to be done, sooner or later, about who gets what.
I'd say, that above ALL else...what is REALLY happening thanks to sponsorhouse, is exposure. From new businesses releasing a new product, to young riders wanting to learn some ins and outs and how to assemble a resume.
As far as what to do about mass sponsorships...? Maybe put a limit on riders per levels? Go back to the "window of opportunity?" I dunno. I love my sponsors so far, and talk to each of them as much as I can "one on one" via personal emails at this point. And I offer a lot of suggestions, whether they want them or not! lol!

 

[tomacdaddy]

I have very little authority on this subject, so take my comment with a grain of salt...

IMO, the evolution of the traditional bicycle manufacturer business model is directly related to the advent of the internet. Direct access to manufacturers in many industries is now not uncommon, although most maintain the relationships found in the traditional distribution channels. While they can squeeze a few more margin points selling direct, most maunfacturers value the relationships of distribution networks that have provided consistent revenue streams over the years.

With the emergence of the world wide web, ecommerce and porn have thrived. We cannot blame the manufacturers for taking advantage of the opportunity as it has presented itself. LBS obviously feel the hit the most, as this is the intermediary that is now taken out of the equation. In a perfect world, the thought is that the "sponsored" rider will help funnel other riders into the LBS to buy gear at MSRP.... DirtyMike's post is a prime example.

Unfortunately, it doesn't always play out like that. The hardworking, LBS owner in it for the love of the sport is sent to the back of the line. The pros who really do the work by influencing the purchases of those new to the sport are foresaken when they don't really reap any benefits of their hard work and it seems that other, less deserving riders do. In all honesty, this sport doesn't pay.

Long story longer... don't hate the player, hate the game.