Davetrials Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Many moons ago, every body wanted to be sponsored and people would make promo videos for companies or send letters to them, but this was before the mass of trials manufactures came on to the sceane, nowadays no body gives a f**k about being sponsored, i dont know why, is it cos most companies just seem to offer shitty offers like 10% off or somthing and in the olden days offerd freebikes and kit?mmmmmm, thats what grinds my gears... over to you tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_travis Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Many moons ago, every body wanted to be sponsored and people would make promo videos for companies or send letters to them, but this was before the mass of trials manufactures came on to the sceane, nowadays no body gives a f**k about being sponsored, i dont know why, is it cos most companies just seem to offer shitty offers like 10% off or somthing and in the olden days offerd freebikes and kit?mmmmmm, thats what grinds my gears... over to you tomI agree dave, some riders seem to expect a sponsorship to come to them. Ali C mentioned in a recent post that he was sponsored ages before he started making vids, but he rode alot of comps and knew/knows all the major players in the UK trials industry so has a benefit there. Maybe people DONT care about it anymore, but there have been a few topics recently about getting sponsored in NMC. My advice would be to make vids and ride how YOUwant to ride, whether this be street / UCI street / natural etc etc and people who comment on vids have got to stop saying oh its just trying to be CLS or DAMO or Tunni, if thats how the person rides, that how he /she rides. this puts that person off and then negative thoughts on whether he/she are good enough to be sponsored and thus wont approach anyone.if you are lucky a shop / compnaywwill approach that person then your obviously a good rider and have been noticed, however keep making vids etc and then people will get sponsored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Staples Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 I agree dave, some riders seem to expect a sponsorship to come to them. Ali C mentioned in a recent post that he was sponsored ages before he started making vids, but he rode alot of comps and knew/knows all the major players in the UK trials industry so has a benefit there. Maybe people DONT care about it anymore, but there have been a few topics recently about getting sponsored in NMC. My advice would be to make vids and ride how YOUwant to ride, whether this be street / UCI street / natural etc etc and people who comment on vids have got to stop saying oh its just trying to be CLS or DAMO or Tunni, if thats how the person rides, that how he /she rides. this puts that person off and then negative thoughts on whether he/she are good enough to be sponsored and thus wont approach anyone.if you are lucky a shop / compnaywwill approach that person then your obviously a good rider and have been noticed, however keep making vids etc and then people will get sponsored.agreed chappy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bessell Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 I agree dave, some riders seem to expect a sponsorship to come to them. Ali C mentioned in a recent post that he was sponsored ages before he started making vids, but he rode alot of comps and knew/knows all the major players in the UK trials industry so has a benefit there. Maybe people DONT care about it anymore, but there have been a few topics recently about getting sponsored in NMC. My advice would be to make vids and ride how YOUwant to ride, whether this be street / UCI street / natural etc etc and people who comment on vids have got to stop saying oh its just trying to be CLS or DAMO or Tunni, if thats how the person rides, that how he /she rides. this puts that person off and then negative thoughts on whether he/she are good enough to be sponsored and thus wont approach anyone.if you are lucky a shop / compnaywwill approach that person then your obviously a good rider and have been noticed, however keep making vids etc and then people will get sponsored.Spot on ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squince Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 I think its because you used too get sponsored when you were really good, these days everyone gets sponsored and its defeated the object so me for one doesent care anymore, Simple.Its like there not doing it so that they can promote there company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Porter Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 there are still only a handful of riders that have actual PROPPER sponsorship deals though. i bet 90% of riders that say they are sponsored just get money off, whether its 5% or 95%... this isnt sponsorship imo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_travis Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 there are still only a handful of riders that have actual PROPPER sponsorship deals though. i bet 90% of riders that say they are sponsored just get money off, whether its 5% or 95%... this isnt sponsorship imo...this is true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigjames Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 getting money off is real sponsorship, but its definately not the same as getting a pro contract. i mean how many people who say they are sponsored can actually make a living from trials, i mean how people earn a living from trials and not just a bike/parts/entry to comps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omgnoseat Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Its like there not doing it so that they can promote there company.yea i noticed this too, the riders just want to get sponsored to get a discounts, not to promote the company they are riding fori hope i can get sponsored by monty one day (wont be for a LONG time though) not to get a discount, but to promote the company since i like it so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Pitbull Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Its not only about publicising the company, its about publicising yourself. If your sponsored your going to get publicity through that company (which is good) . But sponsorship is so last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoyoyo Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Might have something to do with the competitiveness in competitions. It might just have become more stressful to compete and people would prefer to ride bikes in enjoyment instead of stressing over the one dab they got in the last worlds round.Think of all the pressure on you. A couple of bad results and the company might drop you.Thats the reason i wouldn't want to be sponsered, it has nothing to do with the fact i suck at trials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Porter Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 (edited) there is only one uk rider who rides for a living now... ashton. does that make him the uks best at the moment... no, true he used to be and he deserves what he has now, dont get me wrong im not slagging mart in ANY way, hes one of the soundest people i know and still is a very VERY good rider.BUT......we all know ben savage IS the uk's best at the moment, now i dont know what sort of deal he has got, its obvious he gets bikes, and i dont wanna go into what else i THINK he might get cause it might cause trouble. but the last i heard he wasnt able to live off riding, but who can? as we all know trials isnt big enough for companies to bother with, yes its growing, but it is still going to be years and years before it is any where near the size of dh or xc and this is where the big sponsorship is. what im saying is, real sponsorship in trials can only be free bikes, cause there isnt really a wage we can get out of it... yes there are a handful of riders that get given a small amount of money but it still isnt enough to live on. this is why im saying proper sponsorship is where you get a full bike, the company wants to help you as much as they can, aswell as you promoting them by making internet videos or what ever. im not trying to say people who "ride" for who ever are crap just cause they only get 35% off AT ALL. its just you arent sponsored (in my opinion) if you have to pay and advertise a companies name. thats why i said in my other post there are still only a hand full of riders who actually have propper sponsorship deals. Edited September 25, 2006 by James_Porter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 (edited) It has changed alot...Alot more people are sponsored by various part / frame / shop companies - because there are more of them ...therefore the small companies have to sponsor smaller named riders ( )but i still care about being sponsored - I love riding my bike, and its bloody great to get some recognition for riding - It drives me on to keep doing more (for me and said sponsor). thats come out abit wrong but basically its a pride thing yeah im no pro and im never going to make a living out of it - but i try hard and have fun - thats all that counts to me.I was lucky enough to be approached by ridden and the association with the tart just sort of fell in (gotta love msn)... but if someone advertises a need for someone to ride for them, I dont see why anyone shouldnt have a go for it - as long as they genuinely think that they could benifit the company and themselves ...And I still really look up to most of the sponsored riders out there - as they are all better than me at pretty much every type of hop there is. I cant seem to make my point so ill give up. Its changed alot because it has had to - but i still care about it.Porterthis is why im saying proper sponsorship is where you get a full bike, the company wants to help you as much as they can, aswell as you promoting them by making internet videos or what ever. I dont quite agree - because trials is so small - money off may be all the company can offer ? not many manufacturers are into sponsorship in the uk ? can only think of afew Koxx, Ashton, Monty and i guess Zoo ? and most are through comp stuff ? so all thats left is trials companies for the non comp scene (unless youre berridge and you bagged your long term deal many moons ago ..) which is less likely to offer full shizzwack for many many reasons ...oh and I would class people who had full free kit as pro pretty much - as thats as far as we can go at the moment Edited September 25, 2006 by manuel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaRtZ Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 (edited) The bit about martynAnd even still, the only way hes paid is because he's got off his arse to make his own bikes and by riding hes advertising.Its not fair, the HUGE amount of talent out there and I mean younger generation (no offence to you golden oldies ) who are riding and recieving no credit for their efforts. Just police warnings....Me personally I'd like to practice my skills up to and beyond sponsorship level. But Im not pushing myself harder FOR a sponsor, they can come to me (if you get me ) Its not my ambition in life to advertise a company through a sport I love. Im not slating for one second those who do this by the way, those that do advertise selectbikes tarty mjcycles etc. do a very good job of it, its just not my cup of teaAlso as you said dave, the "crap" deals of 10% of components although useful, is just not enough for most people to devote themselves......*This reply contains no malicious intentions or content. Please dont twist my words. b*st*rds. Edited September 25, 2006 by PaRtZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE-0 Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 getting money off is real sponsorship, but its definately not the same as getting a pro contract. i mean how many people who say they are sponsored can actually make a living from trials, i mean how people earn a living from trials and not just a bike/parts/entry to comps?there is only one uk rider who rides for a living now... ashton. Sorry James but your wrong... Andrei Burton earns a full wage from riding trials because he is sponsered by Devon County Concil to ride around the schools and promote cycling by doing shows etc ...check the pic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoyoyo Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 And even still, the only way hes paid is because he's got off his arse to make his own bikes and by riding hes advertising.Don't forget the whole animal thing he had going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greetings Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Popularity must be the key. Over here the sport isn't that popular and it's much easier to find a sponsor. These aren't people who sell trials gear but companies like RedBull, Volkswagen etc. But then, they want you to be popular and open towards people, not as much to be a top rider. Obviously comps are a good way of promoting a company, but as you ride mainly on the street, they want you to attract peoples attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Porter Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 (edited) Sorry James but your wrong... Andrei Burton earns a full wage from riding trials because he is sponsered by Devon County Concil to ride around the schools and promote cycling by doing shows etc ...check the pic!i did know about andrei, i ride with him pretty much all the time now i live down the road, thus my..."yes there are a handful of riders that get given a small amount of money but it still isnt enough to live on" Edited September 25, 2006 by James_Porter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe b Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 More companies, more riders being sponsored, more people think less and less of sponsorship (unlike the old days, where people would cut there self to get one). But that's what i don't get. These new companies are trying to help promote their brand, so, because people don't think sponsorship is all that great any more, they should be offering a lot more discount than they do. However, this is not the case .For anyone that actually understood the above passage, please discuss...Cheers,Joe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoo Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 I think people feel it is too hard to get sponsored,so they don't even try.....Normally it's noobs who are mad about getting sponsored 'i haz lernt to trials hop in an hour,will i gt sponserd in the future??' And things of that matter....People probably feel the rewards aren't worth the effort either,like somebody has mentioned about free bikes,i think that's what noobs think they will get and when they find out they wont the idea begins to lose the fancy appearance,Meh im probably talking out of my arse.zoo baby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todge Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 I think theres quite a difference in sponsorship deals between what an "online trials shop" can offer compared to one of the smaller "trials specific" manufactures of products can do. I can only speak of the experience I have had with the FP setup, not sure how the other smaller manufacturers go about about things. I'm reguarly sending bits of to certain riders who have a lot of experience with trials, to assist in the testing and development of new ideas with products. Its not a case of "you can have it for 90% rrp" nonsense, but more of a process of ironing out problems before bringing a new product onto the market. With the rider more involved with the whole setup, they should naturally help to promote that brand. This is much more valuable in my eyes then having a broader range of sponsored riders purchasing products for a discounted price and riding about with stickers and tee's etc. Ill shutup, I've just confused myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rav Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 there is only one uk rider who rides for a living now... ashton. does that make him the uks best at the moment... no, true he used to be and he deserves what he has now, dont get me wrong im not slagging mart in ANY way, hes one of the soundest people i know and still is a very VERY good rider.i bet 90% of riders that say they are sponsored just get money off, whether its 5% or 95%..100% TrueWanted to be sponsored...change trial to another sport, or ride trial for funn.The best polish rider Kumorowski isn't sponsored so....don't be under the illusion that you can live from trial because you are good.Martin has BIG name, own brand, own show trailer...other sponsors gives him more publicyty... he makes profit on his hard work only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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