Touring - Sponsorship for cycle journey

Does anyone know anything about getting sponsorship for doing a pan american cycling ride.
Thanks to all who replied to my last questions thanks.

Why?

Are you cycling for a reason other than your own? Is your tour going to benefit anyone other than yourself?

Yes it will benefit others, im going to do it for two charities. One is for brain injured children and the other is for an asthma charity, a condition that ny mother died from.
I hope that answers your question amply, also alot of people that do sponsored events take a percentage of the sponsorship money as part of the deal, i on the other hand will be going to do some teaching in Korea to fund it myself.
This is far from a selfish adventure, i just would like to know if anyone has info on companies that would perhaps consider a discount on gear or free as it will cost a alot to get all the neccesaries.
Thanks

In that case, you'd want to go to the charities you'll be riding for and have them document your ride in a way that proves first-their status as a charity and secondly-your commitment toward the ride and donation of funds.

Then with that documentation firmly in hand contact the manufacturers that interest you with regard to your specific needs.

Realize though, many of these companies get thousands of requests for similar things and sifting through the jive from the real not only takes time but has created a climate of general disbelief for most of them. e.g. if, and If is a very long shot, they even entertain your proposal they will at best-sell you gear with a discount(very seldom does anyone get free gear)and at worst-make you REALLY prove your intentions and then sell you gear at discount.

Most will simply not reply to you.

Remember this, in the end it's about profit and if the company is to profit from you the ONLY way that will happen is through exposure(media, print, TV, radio, etc)so be sure to have a well thought out presentation when contacting them.

Lastly, there are many theories on this but...

1. Big companies can afford discounted or free gear BUT also get hit with more requests than small companies as well as having highly paid/highly visible endorsers... so they don't need individuals with little to no "exposure power".

2. Small companies get fewer requests but cannot afford to give free gear away and at best can offer discounts but even then will wonder if the exposure is worthy as touring on a bike is pretty far down the list on the "common" persons interest level.

A double edged sword.

In the end it's all about one hand helping the other... "What can you offer these companies that they aren't already getting?" Ask that question before contacting them.

Good luck to you :)

Go for it. I got a lot of help from some big companies. You can see them on my sponsorship page of www.cyclingtheamericas.org. You can email them and ask for a contact for requesting sponsorship. They will either tell you right off the bat no, or give you an email or address to send your proposal to.

I believe I posted a form letter example on here, you might want to search for it, because I am too lazy to.

Good luck,

Dave

ps. most companies will give you a pro deal, which is about half off. It ain't free but it helps!

Cheers for the advice all, ive been to your website dave and i cant find the sponsors pages, it may be that im useless with this internet thing, i think it is.
If you could provide me with a list of companies that helped id be grateful, or anything else cheers mate.
Good website though vrey informative, i like it nice one, happy travels

As Dave may not check this thread for awhile as I think he is still on the road somewhere the sponsor info is way back on the first(or last according to the index) page of his travelogue in two posts on 5/20/02.Here are the links:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=9131
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=9133
I remembered this because they were posted right before our South Florida tour in June 02.

Yes it will benefit others, im going to do it for two charities. One is for brain injured children and the other is for an asthma charity, a condition that ny mother died from.
I hope that answers your question amply, also alot of people that do sponsored events take a percentage of the sponsorship money as part of the deal, i on the other hand will be going to do some teaching in Korea to fund it myself.
This is far from a selfish adventure, i just would like to know if anyone has info on companies that would perhaps consider a discount on gear or free as it will cost a alot to get all the neccesaries.
Thanks

On my world tour I refusedto accept money from sponsors. Not only did I want it to be my tour, and my tour only, but i also think so many equipment manufacturers make spurious and even incorrect claims about their gear (Gore-tex comes to mind, as does Ortlieb) and i was not going to shill for them.

If I were you i'd approach the charities and see if people will pledge a certain amount of money per mile (or overall)..and maybe you can use a small %age of this to defray your expenses as you suggested.

Good luck teaching in Korea! Where? What? For whom? I taught in Korea for years..and loved it.

roughstuff

Thanks for the advice it just seems that the cost is too great and too be honest id feel bad about taking cash from the charities, i know other do but it doesnt sit right with me. It was something im going to do that they could maybe get something from as well, which higher than thou commments from others arent needed or appreciated.I.T.Anyway rant aside.
Ill prob. be in Daejon ive got some mates there, but with the trip in mind anywhere that pays, as long as it little kids ill be cool with it. If you have aNY advice let me know cheers mate

Thanks for the advice it just seems that the cost is too great and too be honest id feel bad about taking cash from the charities, i know other do but it doesnt sit right with me. It was something im going to do that they could maybe get something from as well, which higher than thou commments from others arent needed or appreciated.I.T.Anyway rant aside.
Ill prob. be in Daejon ive got some mates there, but with the trip in mind anywhere that pays, as long as it little kids ill be cool with it. If you have aNY advice let me know cheers mate

Yeah, perhaps you are right. I always sponsor my trips with my ATM card...just an independent streak here. I think it means I will spend retirement in poverty, but hey man, i'll just learn to knit or something.

I did not live in DAejon/Taejon. I was a country boy lived near Kunsan. You will like Korea...i loved the countryside, though the hills were hell to climb on a bike, much as they were in the Korean War days for US coalition soldiers. Are you going to be an ESL teacher?

roughstuff