I think there’s a big opportunity for co branding races with a running component. Leadville has a bike and run aspect, Overland in Vermont has the same.
There’s even a special podium finish for top finisher that competed in both!
Great ideas. Thank you! Would love to see cycling become more of a mainstream sport. Lance made it happen for far too brief a moment. We Americans (and everybody else) do love our stars and brands love the opportunity to court and use them... for everything.
One area you did not touch on, and it's kind of a sore spot for me, are ebikes. My home backs up to a bevy of trails and increasingly ebikes are populating and some say polluting the experience. My opinion is shifting as some of my older friends are migrating to ebikes for a wattage assist and not for just coasting along. Plus, I think it's great that more people are getting outdoors, enjoying and hopefully becoming advocates for open space and protected cycling paths. How cycling can build off this I have no idea but it is a rapidly growing and not to be ignored market.
My son-in-law had his 7 year old son join a Boulder based mountain bike development program. His son loved it and hopefully he will one day be a cycling advocate and promoter. We could use far more such programs for our kids. They are ultimately the future of cycling and their involvement will have a direct impact on its popularity, cultural acceptance and support.
Thanks again for some wonderful ideas. Hopefully some of the brands you mentioned will take the hint. In the meantime have great fun at Unbound. We need many, many more events like that!
E-bikes is a subject I haven't dove into as much as I should, and it's a really great call out. I think there is a way we grow the sport with them, but it's a touchy topic considering the sporting side is not compatible with e-bike use.
To your last point, I think some brands have already taken notice ;)
I think there’s a big opportunity for co branding races with a running component. Leadville has a bike and run aspect, Overland in Vermont has the same.
There’s even a special podium finish for top finisher that competed in both!
I’d love to see some cyclocross / XC races.
Completely agree! I actually have a story on that topic and have some things cooking that is related to cycling's relationship with running. https://builtonbikes.cc/p/why-trail-running-and-off-road-cycling?r=63qr9u&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Great ideas. Thank you! Would love to see cycling become more of a mainstream sport. Lance made it happen for far too brief a moment. We Americans (and everybody else) do love our stars and brands love the opportunity to court and use them... for everything.
One area you did not touch on, and it's kind of a sore spot for me, are ebikes. My home backs up to a bevy of trails and increasingly ebikes are populating and some say polluting the experience. My opinion is shifting as some of my older friends are migrating to ebikes for a wattage assist and not for just coasting along. Plus, I think it's great that more people are getting outdoors, enjoying and hopefully becoming advocates for open space and protected cycling paths. How cycling can build off this I have no idea but it is a rapidly growing and not to be ignored market.
My son-in-law had his 7 year old son join a Boulder based mountain bike development program. His son loved it and hopefully he will one day be a cycling advocate and promoter. We could use far more such programs for our kids. They are ultimately the future of cycling and their involvement will have a direct impact on its popularity, cultural acceptance and support.
Thanks again for some wonderful ideas. Hopefully some of the brands you mentioned will take the hint. In the meantime have great fun at Unbound. We need many, many more events like that!
E-bikes is a subject I haven't dove into as much as I should, and it's a really great call out. I think there is a way we grow the sport with them, but it's a touchy topic considering the sporting side is not compatible with e-bike use.
To your last point, I think some brands have already taken notice ;)