#!markdown
Thanks for a good comment, Ryan -- although I wasn't speaking specifically
about how it effects women, I do agree. However, this is a much larger
conversation about the dilution of a skilled labor force by promoting free
labor. Whether it's pro photography, pro writing, pro athletes, pro
videographers, this issue exists inside of the bike industry to no end. As I
am, however, only a meager pro athlete who has been told "why would we pay a
pro when some girl on Instagram will do it for free?", I can only speak from a
limited perspective and how I feel that it hurts the wider athlete and
promotional market, especially when we have serious, solid pros retiring at an
unprecedented rate.
Yes, we live in space that promotes cult of personality and few old-school
pros have the time or patience to create that in a new medium (social media),
I feel that most brands are failing pro athletes. There are brands who have
specifically hired lackluster 'pros' who are good at social media instead of
hiring and promoting actual pros who can win competitions AND who are good for
business. Is there space for everyone? Absolutely. But is everyone getting
accurately compensated at this point commensurate to their level of risk? Not
even close. Do I believe that there are still pros who 'have it all'? Yes.
Perhaps that's my weakness here. I still believe in well-rounded athletes who
can act as athletes and ambassadors, who use their athleticism and personality
to promote the brands that support them. I believe in them because I know too
many of them… who are leaving the sport because they can't make ends meet.
Sept. 22, 2016, 11:18 a.m. - Amanda
#!markdown Thanks for a good comment, Ryan -- although I wasn't speaking specifically about how it effects women, I do agree. However, this is a much larger conversation about the dilution of a skilled labor force by promoting free labor. Whether it's pro photography, pro writing, pro athletes, pro videographers, this issue exists inside of the bike industry to no end. As I am, however, only a meager pro athlete who has been told "why would we pay a pro when some girl on Instagram will do it for free?", I can only speak from a limited perspective and how I feel that it hurts the wider athlete and promotional market, especially when we have serious, solid pros retiring at an unprecedented rate. Yes, we live in space that promotes cult of personality and few old-school pros have the time or patience to create that in a new medium (social media), I feel that most brands are failing pro athletes. There are brands who have specifically hired lackluster 'pros' who are good at social media instead of hiring and promoting actual pros who can win competitions AND who are good for business. Is there space for everyone? Absolutely. But is everyone getting accurately compensated at this point commensurate to their level of risk? Not even close. Do I believe that there are still pros who 'have it all'? Yes. Perhaps that's my weakness here. I still believe in well-rounded athletes who can act as athletes and ambassadors, who use their athleticism and personality to promote the brands that support them. I believe in them because I know too many of them… who are leaving the sport because they can't make ends meet.