Last week we had our Official Team Launch. We invited 60 sponsors, riders, friends and family to dinner Willy's Pub. We had the entire second floor to ourselves, which was good because we had about 100 people to the After Party.Things went very well. I was told the food was good and plentiful. The beer, wine and vodka seemed to flow and the tunes were spot on.
Our sponsors were quite pleased with the event we put together and we generated some decent media interest including requests for follow on articles and one to embed a reporter in our training camp in February.
We were able to display out sponsors products which now includes hand-built wheels I am selling through dealers here in Taiwan. This made me feel pretty good as it's been a long road (over a short time) to get here.
"And how does one go about making a cycling team, you ask?"
"Why, that's a good question. It usually goes something like this:"
SEPT: Find and identify potential sponsors.
OCT: Submit proposals to current or potential new sponsors.
Follow up.
Bug them some more.
NOV: Bug them some more.
Design uniforms and coordinate the 'look' of the team.
Tell sponsors they need to get on board soon so that you can have uniforms ready in time for the Team launch.
Late NOV: Don't Panic.
DEC: Panic.
Bug the sponsors some more until they finally relent just so you will go away (or so they think).
Repeatedly stress to the company making your uniform exactly when you really need them.
Late DEC:Money arrives.
Uniforms arrive.
Bikes arrive.
Wheels arrive.
Other stuff arrives.
JAN: Hold team launch and after party.
Later that night, after everyone has gone home, try not to look too much like this:
That is pretty much how to make a cycling team.Now I actually have to go ride my bike.
