EventServices

I'll start by stating that I have NO use for bike racing teams that suck money OUT of the sport and give nothing BACK.

It's usually Masters teams that do this. Not always, but usually.

I don't mind if they're able to secure in-kind deals with bike shops. That's OK, as long as they're A. Appreciative, B. Good spokesmen, and C. Loyal.
But when they take real money from sponsors and then give n-o-t-h-i-n-g in return to the sport that they claim to love so much, I come unglued.

Case in point: A team here in Michigan is made up of guys who make more than $100k per year in their white collar jobs, but they have sponsors paying for their hobby: bike racing. They get all the stuff. And they get a lot of money.
I think they only won ONE race all year, so they're not really giving too great of exposure to their sponsors.

And when it comes time to do things for the sport, they're not interested.
And they do NOTHING to help young riders get involved. There is NO effort made to help out a college kid or someone who has interest but limited funds.

This should be against the cycling law.

patentcad

This is right up there with Global Warming and Middle East Peace on my Big Concerns for 2007 List.

Thanks for the reminder.

merlinextraligh

Do these guys also sprint off the front on a lap to honor a departed rider too?

YMCA

If the shop is unhappy with the team, they'll drop 'em. Obviously this squad is doing something right or maybe the owner is just friends. Don't be such a sourpuss. Let's not get on the "masters should be giving back" kick. Plenty of those guys are getting sponsored for the first time in their life and may just be enjoying a bit of pro glory after years in the sport. Besides, I bet most of that team have normal lives of ordinary citizens, volunteering time and money to all kinds of civic advances.

boyze

so where do I sign up

junior in train

Master racers with 100k salaries bring more new riders with deep pockets into the bike shops than than the 20 year old wonderboy. They are also better at marketing themselves to sponsors who view them as more organized and reliable.

Voodoo76

Being a bit more on the outside looking in now, it's humorous the extent to which career Cat 3's and 4's like to play "pro" rider. It's like they live in some sort of fantasy world. The sad thing is they might find working with young riders (possibly helping one of them do things they never could) more rewarding than getting a little more swag. This seems like a generational thing.

At one time USCF required some development work within the cycling community as part of club licensing. Clubs and rides were structured to let older riders pass on information to younger. Being the grass roots of cycling development was the raison d'etre for clubs, not providing free racing for 40 year olds.

El Diablo Rojo

Well said.

This is also why 35+ 4/5 fields are full of $5k bikes. By 35 most of us have careers and are done with college. When I was in college I didn't own a house. I didn't have a great job. I didn't drive a nice car. I didn't have an expensive bike. This by the way is why I went to college, so I could some day get a great job, own my own home, drive a nice car and have nice things.

botto 

names. i want to see names!

cat4ever

No offense, but why would a "Master's" team help out a college kid?

patentcad

It's all those 35+ bike weenies who keep the money flowing into the bike shop for stupid ELS (expensive lightweight ****) like Mavic Kysyrium wheels. Ask my LBS about me. When I drive up I can hear the 'cha ching' sound from a block away.

botto 

hey now pat, watch it. i may be a 35+ but i'm smart enough to find my els stuff online

branman1986

"And when it comes time to do things for the sport, they're not interested.
And they do NOTHING to help young riders get involved. There is NO effort made to help out a college kid or someone who has interest but limited funds."

I'm with you there, I think everybody should be a positive steward to the sport and do what they can to encourage others and help them out along the way. Sort of like this forum I guess.

As for the rest of it, I guess I'm more jealous of those guys than anything. Can't blame them for taking advantage of the sponsorship if the sponsor is willing.

Cromulent

And what about us 35+ guys who went to college and got useless degrees and are now interested in the sport? Where's our our support? Where's our free stuff?

I was an English major for cryin' out loud. You need a sonnet analyzed? I'm your guy. But I can't think of anything more uselesser than a major in English.

Anyway... these guys don't owe anybody anything, and as someone else said, if they don't work out for the sponsor, it's more than likely they'll be dropped. It would be nice if they supported development teams and young cyclists with potential, but they don't have to.

botto 

i see your degree in english, and raise you a BFA and an MFA in Painting.

c4s6

^^ "More uselesser" from an English major?

merlinextraligh

Actually not a bad prep for law school.

botto 

what major is bad prep for law school?










i ask that as the son of a lawyer, as well as the brother of two lawyers, not to mention the brother-in-law of another lawyer

Cromulent

That were a joke.

lotek 

Ethics?

botto 

that would be the answer to 'what major is bad prep for business school?'

sverrefehn

LOL. And politics.

DocRay

Look up the term "fascicious".


Good for those guys, cycling is a long term sport to be enjoyed, but a crap career move. Some people realize this and decide not to enter a career where you peak at 30, and die prematurely from doping.
For the most part bike racing is an amateur sport, that's what makes it good.

BIGPAKO

Crucify them!, crucify them!

pinky

Event, don't you realize that those guys making 100K a year have to work twice as hard to race Masters? Real jobs and bike racing/ How could anyone ever make the sacrifice? These guys are necessary part of the racing scene afterall how else would we see the 5K bikes that we all salivate over??

Its rather sad how few people actually care about the junior/collegiate ranks that aren't in them, but why should people support kids that aren't their own and racers who will most likely beat them?
Cycling isn't a big enough sport in the US to see youth programs simply sprout and recieve support from the community, so it needs the support of those with disposable income. As more former collegiate and junior riders come into the working world I suspect these numbers will grow, but more support is needed. Why shouldn't those who claim to love the sport support those who have a chance at making the sport better? Yes, yes you don't have to, but don't tell how much you you're a cycling hero because you're willing to a grand at a bike shop on a whim. Get real, all that proves is you're as soft in the head as you are in the wallet.