Honest opinions from ST - Team GU 2007

Triathlon Forum
1

Ok, so I got selected for Team GU 2007. It’s probably the first 500 people that apply so I know it’s nothing special. The cheapest package is $99 for the tri clothing and $159 for the next package up.

If you wear their stuff in races, you get 100 points for an IM, 1/2 IM, or xterra race and 50 points for a Oly or sprint distance. With a maximum of 300 points for the 2007 season.

Then you can redeem these points for free stuff, like 50 points will give you a case of 48 gels. Or 20 points will get you a canister of GU20 Sports drink, or 16 points for a GU gel bot, 10 points for a GU flask pak, etc. etc. etc. But keep in mind, it’s 300 max.

So my questions are, is it worth it, and am I going to look like a dork wearing this in races?

http://www.gusports.com/html/teamGU/index.html

2

Is a maximum of $150-200 worth of “free” product worth wearing their gear for a season? Will you race enough to maximize your benefit? Do you *want *to wear the gear?

I suppose if the gear and the idea of wearing it in a race is attractive to you, then it’s probably worth it. If you’re going to be embarrased to wear it, it ain’t. The “free” product is only “free” if you race enough to max our your points. And even then you’re still paying for it by advertising for them.

I like Gu (the gel) - but I don’t know if I’d pay to wear their banner - even if I did have a shot at “making something” in the way of “free” product.

3

I see your point. Half of me is excited as a BOPER (not like you guys), I’d never really get a chance to be “sponsored.”

But half of me is like, I might just look like an idiot out there.

Thanks for your response though. It got me thinking about it from more angles that I didn’t see before.

4

I’m a whore - I’d do it.

Seriously, though, if you get $250 worth of gear for $99, that’s sounds like a good deal to me. You never have to wear the stuff in a race or in public. Wear it on your trainer at home. That’s just me though. I am always buying more stuff so I don’t have to wash current stuff as often.

5

If it’s stuff that you like and would use/promote anyway, why not? Otherwise, I don’t understand why you’d apply for the program in the first place.

6

LOL! I guess you’ll be applying too :wink:

7

To be honest, I’ve never tried their product. At the onset, I was just excited that a company would have such a program. Maybe there are many that do this but just for the fact that they don’t care where you place appealed to me.

After I sent in my app, I didn’t think anything of it. I forgot about it because I didn’t think I would get chosen.

But now that I did, I started thinking about it and wanted to make sure I saw it from every angle before I made my final decision, and what better way to do that but through ST.

8

Gu’s good stuff* (*as a Hammer Nutrition sponsored athlete, GU is still crap compared to Hammer Gel:) and the deals are pretty good for what you get with either the $99 or $189 program are sweet even without the points. I’d say if you’re in need of a new race kit, bike jersey, some bottles and a bunch of GU go for it. Key is that you like their product and have fun with the program. It looks like a winning deal to me.