#!markdown
Re: dominic
I see your point, and cutting out the core of the sport, the folks who work
their asses off to be elite in favor of someone who just shows up and
wears/rides what their given is really crappy. I totally agree, it does dilute
the value of top level sponsorship. If you ride at an elite level then you
should get paid commensurate with your ability.
Sadly, even the bike industry employs corporate assholes who think of bikes as
widgets and sponsored riders as expendable labor. These are the same folks who
probably made a living outsourcing jobs overseas too.
Re: Tehllama: Very well said, and that makes a lot of sense. Much like every
other industry who outsources and screws their most experienced employees, the
bike industry has another thing in common with corporate America: Women
getting the shaft in the workplace. The disparities in income, sponsorship,
and representation among women in the outdoor/cycling scene are really sad,
and you would think that a sport that is generally full of fundamentally
decent people would be more serious about fixing that disparity.
Re:seen it all
I'm not an ambassador or anything. I pay to ride my bike. The only thing I do
to push a company to do anything is to spend my money….I'm undeserving, sure,
but is it ok with you if my LBS gives me a discount on a bike and a jersey
because I'm halfway likeable and wear their jersey at the trailhead, their
shirt at the trail workdays, and try to be a decent person when I ride? At
what point am I allowed to get something I don't deserve? Chill.
Sept. 19, 2016, 4:46 p.m. - Ryan M.
#!markdown Re: dominic I see your point, and cutting out the core of the sport, the folks who work their asses off to be elite in favor of someone who just shows up and wears/rides what their given is really crappy. I totally agree, it does dilute the value of top level sponsorship. If you ride at an elite level then you should get paid commensurate with your ability. Sadly, even the bike industry employs corporate assholes who think of bikes as widgets and sponsored riders as expendable labor. These are the same folks who probably made a living outsourcing jobs overseas too. Re: Tehllama: Very well said, and that makes a lot of sense. Much like every other industry who outsources and screws their most experienced employees, the bike industry has another thing in common with corporate America: Women getting the shaft in the workplace. The disparities in income, sponsorship, and representation among women in the outdoor/cycling scene are really sad, and you would think that a sport that is generally full of fundamentally decent people would be more serious about fixing that disparity. Re:seen it all I'm not an ambassador or anything. I pay to ride my bike. The only thing I do to push a company to do anything is to spend my money….I'm undeserving, sure, but is it ok with you if my LBS gives me a discount on a bike and a jersey because I'm halfway likeable and wear their jersey at the trailhead, their shirt at the trail workdays, and try to be a decent person when I ride? At what point am I allowed to get something I don't deserve? Chill.