LowCel 

Shoot, just found out that I have to turn down Maxxis. Our team is sponsored by Kenda so I have to use those. I really like the Kenda tires so this should still end up working out pretty well for me.

dminor 

Hey, congrats on getting it, though. Maxxis is a tough nut to crack.

I tried last year and got shot down. Then I must have got my e-mail the same day you did that I been accepted this year. Now I'm in a similar dilemma, though. Turns out Syncros has their own line of tires and tubes; so I have to wait and see what they are actually going to offer to find out if there's going to be a 'competing product' conflict.

Really want a set of Mobsters

koine2002

I don't race, but KHS has a race sponsorship program for the new and upcoming racers. You'll probably need a season under your belt as it requires a racing resume, among other things. You'll get over 40% off of a bike and free uniforms, as well as other incentives/discounts. Check it out at their website. If I were 10 years younger and not having to travel the globe, I'd go for it, it's a great program.

LowCel 

Thanks for the information, probably beneficial to quite a few people. Most companies offer the same type of grass roots sponsorship. Just send the companies an e-mail or talk to your local shop. The only problem is that most companies have already quit accepting applications for the 2006 season. Most of them have a cut off around mid November.

LowCel 

I was looking forward to trying out the new CrossMark eXC-fold 26x2.10 tires. They look like they have a nice tread pattern. Most of their tires are really nice however they are generally on the heavy side as well. Hopefully I will have better luck with my next set of Kenda tires. I am using the Karma DTC's and I am having trouble getting the rear tire to get a 100% seal using Stan's. The front tire is fine though. I really hope I can get them to work because they are awesome tires.

dminor - What all sponsor's do you have for 2006?

dminor 

Well, here's the tally now:
Bicycle Butler (my LBS) out of Spokane, WA; RST; SixSixOne;
Dirty Dog Eyewear ; Silver Mountain Resort (Ski/Mtn. bike resort in Kellogg, ID); Syncros; and Maxxis.

I did not apply to Yeti this year, as I'm planning to squeeze one more season out of my ASX. The 303 is very cool; but even at pro pricing; I can't swing it (why I went with the ASX to begin with). For anyone out there, though, Yeti has a great Grassroots program and Yeti is 100% committed to racing as a marketing tool, so they get it. I highly recommend them.

LowCel 

Very cool. I have quite a few through my race team, all of the details will be released within the next couple of weeks. Only ones I know for sure are Kenda, Crank Brothers, and Rudy Project.

As of right now I have Dive Tech & Sports (my LBS), https://www.ducksproducts.com/ (small family business), and Optic Nerve as personal sponsors. I get cost or employee purchase thru the bike shop and Duck's pays all of my entry fees. Optic Nerve will be providing me with glasses.

I have applied for a couple of others but haven't heard anything. I would love to get Clif Bar or Cytomax but probably won't happen. I also would have had Maxxis but ya know how that goes.

I don't really have much of a reason to apply to any bike manufacturers. I can get most of them at employee purchase pricing anyway so I would rather someone else received the opportunity for those. Plus I bought two new Ellsworth's last year, a hardtail and a full suspension so I doubt I will have the need to buy a new frame this coming season.

Now I am hoping to move up to expert for the 2007 season, I may seek out some more sponsorship when that happens.

dminor 

Yeah, I'm hoping for Clif too. Could use a supply of ClifShots and such. Hey, don't give up on them yet. I checked back in my e-mail archives and I didn't get last year's rejection until well into April, so there's always hope.


I was throwing that out mostly for the other folks reading. BTW, I followed the KHS link that koine2002 posted too, and it's a most-interesting program.

That's cool that you have someone covering your entry fees. That's the big one that has still eluded me - - that and the travel-and-lodging thing. I keep working on that hoping to be able afford to hit more Nationals.

LowCel 

Well it helps that the small business is owned by my family. That is all the money I hit the business up for though, nothing for the bikes or anything like that. We also donate a few prizes to some of the local races.

dminor 

Just got my "thanks-but-no-thanks" rejection e-mail from PowerBar late yesterday. Oh well . . .

Hey LowCel, have you heard anything out of ClifBar yet?

LowCel 

Nope, not yet. I am hoping to hear something though. I just ordered another box of clifshots a few days ago. They discontinued one of my favoite products, the 16 serving clif shot that I use to fill up my flask. Now I have to squeeze a bunch of the individual clif shots into the flask, it's sort of a pain in the butt, still easier than trying to grab a shot, open it up, then put the wrapper in my pocket though.

I forgot to tell you that I picked up a personal sponsorship from Kenda as well. I will definately be using this one. I hated to have to turn down Maxxis.

BTW, have two road races this weekend. Looks like my season is starting a bit early.

dminor 

I'd never thought about the used-packet issue before I'd read some other forum posts on the topic. Not to mention goopy spent packs in the pocket. I put my fertile (and way-too-idle) mind to your conundrum and came up with THIS (<click) little gem on the web. Maybe that little gizmo would speed the process.


Very cool. I'm probably not supposed to say this now, but I've always liked Kendas. First pair I ever bought were Kinetics. I'm going to turn in my Maxxis order next week for my Minion DHs and some High Rollers. While I'm at it, I want to oufit my XC hardtail. Which Maxxis tire do you recommend that would be equivalent to the IRC Mythos XCs that I put on my son's bike last year for racing? Those worked really well for me.

And good luck to you on your races !

LowCel 

That's a pretty cool little gismo. I may have to try it out. As for the tires I
really don't have any experience with them. I was looking forward to trying them out though. There is a new tire coming out for 2006 called the CrossMark eXC-fold 26x2.10 tires. I would like to try it out sometime. It looks like a great cross country tire. I'm not sure about the durability though since it is pretty light.