Sponsorship questions
 

Hi all,

Suddenly I'm realising how hard it is to meet my monthly saving targets for the trip so I am considering all options, including sponsorship. Does anyone here have any experience with being sponsored on adventure rides? I am wondering if it would be possible to obtain a bike or cover the cost of airfare? If at all possible what sort of things would I have to do in return, would it be some sort of advertising such as writing blogs, newspaper interviews or would I be required to attend events etc or maybe even work charity?

Any ideas what sort of company may be interested in sponsoring someone traveling from California to TDF?

I have my TESOL certificate and computer skills I was thinking that they could help somehow...
Anyways it's a long shot but if anyone has any ideas please let me know :innocent:

You can read up on my Tokyo to London ride at Tokyo to London Project ... I have written up a fair bit about getting sponsored on there. It was in 1994 before there was much competition in Adventure biking (now thousands of guys are on the road at any one time, making it much much harder), and the trip was the first legal unescorted trip across China, and ultimately from Tokyo to London. We had media interest from almost 20 motorcycle magazines around the planet lined up and in our hands before we approached the sponsors.

Even then we didnt manage to get the two things I thought would be easiest .... airfares and bikes. Fortunately we got everything else, plus a fair bit of cash sponsorship.

To get more than supplementary bits covered by sponsors, you are going to have to do something particularly newsworthy and groundbreaking ... and have a lot of media involvement.

Realistically, these days, without a big media profile and ideally a proven track record, you arent going to fund your trip that way. You might get a few components, and that may save you a few grand, but even then it would help to know exactly what you have to offer your sponsor before approaching them. Dont just go up to a company and say "Hi I am Joe and i am going to do this ... will you give me a helmet"

I won't bore everyone by posting it all again, but it's a topic that came up fairly recently and I just thought I'd blow my own trumpet.

Hope it helps.

i too am very interested in this topic so ill be watching closely, but as far as i know you can contact companies like gortex and fill out a grant form giving them information as to how your trip will benefit the "sport", your quallifications, and how you will be promoting awareness of a cause. it will also inquire as to what you are requesting by their sponsorship (equipment, financial help ect..). sorry i cant be of more help but thats all i know about it really.

cheers
josh