Mountain Bike Racing?

7 Comments

1. craigger says:

   July 25, 2009 at 11:25 am

   If I’m reading your question correctly, you’re looking for someone to pay you to race mountain bikes (including salary, equipment, race entry, etc.). There are several companies that have factory teams (Trek/VW, SRAM, Suburu/Gary Fisher, etc.). In order to get invited on to a factory team, you need to rack up quite a race resume, with several wins at the national level.

   See attached link and good luck.
2. Don't Call Me Peanut says:

   July 25, 2009 at 11:25 am

   GT is probably one of the biggest one. and then theres Specialized, Diamondback, Jepp, Cadillac, Kona, and i can’t think of any right now
3. Ickle Firstie says:

   July 25, 2009 at 11:25 am

   I do not believe that any companies will sponsor riders "just to race". You can try getting a sponsor for a marathon – but don’t get your hopes up.
   If you want, try to organize an event yourself – and then ask th e companies to sponsor you.
   Hope this helps!
4. dan the man says:

   July 25, 2009 at 11:25 am

   sorry Dan, don’t no good luck.
5. mirageguitarworks says:

   July 25, 2009 at 11:25 am

   The answer craigger gave is pretty accurate. Among the "biggies" you would likely have the most luck with KHS or Iron Horse.

   Once you sign with them you will do much more than race- including endless interviews, product promotions, and other stuff that will make you wish you’d never come up with the idea. Being a pro racer really doesn’t pay that well either….
6. Fernando Wolter says:

   July 25, 2009 at 11:25 am

   try Sundown bikes, its a brazilian company
   http://www.sundownbikes.com.br
7. sfr1224 says:

   July 25, 2009 at 11:25 am

   Dan,

   Nearly all mountain bike makers sponsor riders. But, they don’t sponsor riders just to race. Sponsoring riders is part of a company’s marketing efforts. When you sign on as a sponsored rider, they expect you to represent them by performing well as a racer, perhaps keeping a blog, answering email, meeting and greeting the public at a variety of events and by being an evangelist for their product. Thus, sponsorship is a business deal that you as a rider and your sponsoring companies join into.

   Sponsorships come in many forms. Some local bicycle shops, for example, sponsor local racers and racing teams. Beyond bicycle companies, many companies making cycling related products sponsor riders.

   I suggest you take a look at a variety of bicycle company websites along with a variety of of related products to see who they already sponsor. This will give you an idea of your "competition." From there you can check out their blogs and profiles to find out what they are all about. It will also give you a great database of people to ask: "how did you get sponsored?"

   You may also want to take a look at Sponsorhouse.com resources:

   http://sponsorhouse.loopd.com/Resources/Default.aspx

   Hope this helps.