Stevens 'sponsorship' and me

Richie,
Just to respond to your comments re me and Steven's bike sponsorship. I use the parenthesis in the title just to make the point that my deal is not maybe what you would expect a pro sponsorship deal to be.
This is not to diss the effort that Gordon is making, but he is a good guy and we've known each other since back in the MAD days, early days!
I'm giving him as much help as I can. An up and coming junior probably wouldn't be able to afford the deal that I have been offered.

I have been sponsored in the uk for the last few years, again a facilitation deal more than a loads of free gear and mega exspenses. Actually it was all about having someone look after the bike in the uk. I paid my own way over there, as without doing this Alex couldn't have afforded to do it. Suited me though, not carrying a bike through the airport is worth anything and everything to me.

You might see where i'm coming from this.

ya, I could go down the route Buggle [for example] has gone, Mark would like me to join his team each year, I decline his kind offer and free bikes because I'm committed to the club, and the development of the riders within that.

Gordon is offering a Stevens deal to the club and hopefully it will create a bit more cohesion in it, Robert our Junior is included in this. It doesn't extend to Matt Adair unfortunately.

It's kind of comical the view held by some that the guys in the elites are mega stars on mega bucks. It kind of creates the wrong attitude in some ways, that sponsorship is the only way forward. You can't compete without it.
One former Team Worc member selling his progress short in the name of a free bike and cutting himself off from the good training and motivation that we strive for in the club.

I rode a 2 year old €1000 trail bike on Sunday, at the NPS Richie, no elites, sponsored or otherwise were anywhere near me in the race, and the juniors were a long way back from that!

It's not about free bikes.

Bob
no, i agree with what you are saying and i think what I was trying to say was lost in translation from my brain to the page.
and you have cleared up a lot of peoples questions..
I know better than anybody that its not about free bikes..its about a whole package of support from the suppliers..
Its not an actual physical thing i'm talking about..its more the prestige that a supplier or shop associates a rider with.
I don't think free bikes make a better rider...I get free or nearly free bikes and I haven't won a race in decades..
My talents lie elsewhere..
We have nothing to give juniors and youth riders...but support from the Industry would make a difference..
and as for you being able to beat Elites and Juniors on a 2 year old trail bike ..well thats a discussion for another day !!
No offence was meant here by the way..i was using my **** stirring powers to get people talking..
Richie
Originally posted by Djouce Trail Challange View Post
Richie,

One former Team Worc member selling his progress short in the name of a free bike and cutting himself off from the good training and motivation that we strive for in the club.

Bob
thats the **** i'm talking about, never a truer word was said !!