So guys, what’s the truth? We have people buying bikes just for looks even when they don’t fit, people who want the same sunglasses as (insert name) and people who don;t want any logos on their stuff at all.
What do you prefer? Do sports sponsorships of athletes like Peter Reid, Norman Stadler and others affect your buying decisions? Does it establish credibility?
When I bought my first real bike in 1980 it was a blue Raleigh Pro. Why, because I saw that Dave Scott won the Ironman on it . Shortly after that I was given bikes for the reat of my career, so I guess I was the one influencing others in their buying process. Sponsorship absolutley works in selling products. It makes the consumer aware of something that they might not otherwise see, and you just figure if so and so can use it, then it must be ok. I still can’t believe that we thought that those old Oakley factory pilot glasses were cool. They looked like a ski goggle, but you get the right people to wear them, and presto, they are cool. I just hope that all the old photos with me in them have disappeared…
I think sponsorships are wonderful. Especially the fact that they change frequently with all the neo-pros selling their old stuff on E-bay. That’s where a good chunk of my bike upgrades and associated toys came from. I thought for 15 seconds about whether I had bought anything in the past several years because of an athlete using it, and I couldn’t come up with anything.
Dan
I think Monty was right. It makes you more aware. I don’t care that Peter Reid wore a powerbar visor last year on the IM run, but I wouldn’t have wanted one if I had never seen it.
I purchase Degree anti prespirant, because of the IM logo
I try to support other sponsors, Diamond Almonds and the such. I would never buy an Izuzu though (unless they come out with a car that has two turbos in it).
I may be a dogmatic little fool, but I always try to support major sponsors…and ALWAYS support my LBS.
When I bought my bike, I bought what the fitter said I should buy even though I thought the Quintanna Roo’s looked cooler. Turns out that the Felt your shop sold me is perfect.
The running shoes I have bought turn out to be the ugliest shoes in the store but I went with what was recommended cuz I didn’t have the experience to know what to buy on my own.
Right now I will only buy Sidi shoes cuz I think they look cool, fortunatly they fit me well too. I wish I could afford more expensive clothing but the desoto stuff will have to do.
My first wetsuit purchase was a poor choice cuz I bought what everyone else was wearing (ironman). The second one (Aquaman) was on the recommendation of the local shop and I love the suit.
I know that the pro’s can win on or with anything that is given to them. If a pro is using a product It says to me that it is good enough quality for him and it would probably be good enough for me if it fits.
Just my 2 cents
jaretj
Delivered by Electronic Sled-Dogs…Woof!
I have to admit, I know I am influenced by what top pros are riding. I am a little more in tune with what they are “really” riding (like Peter Reid’s bike, a customer can’t buy that and I can’t sell it so it is an exercise in futility for Specialized to me) but I am very impressed when I see top pros on a stock Cervelo P3 or Felt DA that I can actually sell. To me, that does establish credibility to a degree- especially with Cervelo where some pros had to actually buy the bikes.
Tom, I am influenced, but rarely have the cash to buy a new bike :-). I ride a 5 year Kestrel 200SC that was a warranty replacement for my first 10 year Kestrel 200 SC (one of the orignals). I really wanted a Kestrel 4000 (the bike that “started it all”), when I saw Mark Allen win Nice on that bike, but all I could get from my local bike shop was a 200 SC which looked pretty hot anyway ! So yes, I was influenced. This year, I passed up buying a P2K for a trip to the TdF. Was I influenced by who Cervelo sponsors ? Yes ! I’ll eventually get that P2K or P3, but I prefer to be at Alpe d’Huez for the TT to see if anyone can beat Pantani’s 37 min clocking !
Well, I’m shooting myself in the foot since I sell bikes for a living but, you made the right decision.
Like Record10, I try to support the major tri sponsors. I go out of my way to buy Degree deodorant. I’ll shop at Ralph’s instead of Von’s or Albertson’s(strike nonwithstanding).
Personally, I learned a long time ago, (and in a totally different activity) that what the pro’s are riding or wearing may work for them but not for you. Face it if we put Lance on a Huffy that even close to fit him, he would kick 90% of our butts. I am one of those people who hate to be marketed to. I will never buy anything that someone calls to sell me, or respond to any unsolicited email, even if I really want the product. I just refuse to be marketed to on that “in your face level”. So truthfully, I had no idea what Peter Reid rode for Ironman this year because I don’t pay attention to stuff like that. I just bought a new tribike, I did my research, made a expensive mistake anyway, corrected said mistake via ebay, and am know the proud owner of a Cervelo that fits me. I started out wanting a Felt but my research said go to the fitter and let them tell you your options, Felt was not one. Thanks to Tom’s staff I have the right bike and the only reason to by a bike is because it is the right one.
When I read about what Oakley did for Lance, I decided to become an Oakley customer for life.
I mostly support sponsors of events, especially local races, versus athletes. I have even gone so far as to speak to the owner of a local restaurant and tell him that I really appreciate his support of such and such race and that is why I chose to dine there. I figure this let’s him know that his dollars are giving him some return.
Brett
I am at the mercy of my bike shop. I generally purchase what they recommend.
----->Trent
I’m afraid I buy the products that work best for me regardless of sponsorship. Although I appreciate the support certain companies provide the sport, the product has to perform for me and be better than the alternatives for me to pay for it. Maybe I’m cynical, but the fact that a pro uses a product indicates to me the quality of the deal he/she got from the manufacturer rather than the quality of the product.
I actually did start using Degree deodorant because of the sponsorship.
I think Tom hit it on the head. Sponsorship gives credibility to a product. Many times I am asked all kinds of technical questions about our wheels. When the person seems satisfied with the technical aspects the final question is invariably, Who rides them? It’s as if they want the assurance that some name athlete or team uses that product and even if it doesnt provide an improvement, it, at least doesnt hinder the athletes performance. I know I am the same way. When I have a bad race I start looking at my equipment and trying to figure out where the culprit is. I t couldnt possibly be the motor;) but just when I think I have identified the “slow” part or component, some pro goes out and wins a race with that same setup.
One of these days, I will buy a light road bike. If I did it today, it would be the Trek 5900. I probably wouldn’t buy this bike if it weren’t fot the Lance/USPS connection. I wouldn’t trust such a light bike if the big boys weren’t beating up on it.
This may be a little off-topic of the original post but…I didn’t buy a Cervelo P3 because I saw Steve Larsen riding one. I knew it fit me but I could have bought one from anyone. But I did buy one from you because of your involvement (which in a sense = advertising) on this board. Now Inside Out (where I bought my P2k over two years ago) didn’t even enter the equasion because I never heard from them again. I mail ordered a $2000 bike and never received a thank you, a catalog…nothing. As a retail business owner I shudder at this lack of follow up. Consequently, your store moved to the top of the list. Now…once I pick up my bike and I’m the proud new owner of a Bikesport P3…what do you to keep me as a customer (sorry to put you on the spot!)?
Hey campbell53,
FYI: I e-mailed you before I went to Curacao with some info and follow-up about your bike but one of the MIkes here mentioned you never got the e-mail. Is that true?
What the pros are using has little effect on me consiously. I don’t notice or care what shoes, helmets, clothes, etc. that they are using so it doesn’t factor into the purchase equation.
I will qualify the above statement by saying that I am influenced by what wheels Armstrong is using in the Tour since the guys spends so much time testing stuff in the windtunnel. That is to say I want a front Hed3 not because I want to be cool and look like like Armstrong, but I want a Hed3 because I know it works since Armstong chooses it. I hope that makes sense.