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Rider chooses Shimano on Campy-sponsored team?
Last Post 02/04/2016 11:47 AM by Jerry Russell. 9 Replies.
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Red Tornado
Posts:159
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| 02/03/2016 11:57 AM |
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http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/02/news/swedish-rider-chooses-shimano-on-campy-sponsored-team_394482
Thoughts?
I can see doing this with personal accessories. Also they do it with frames sometimes of a certain frame geo isn't available or if the supplier doesn't make that kind of frame (i.e. TT frame), and they'll slap the sponsors decals on the brand-x frame.
This is different. Can't put a Campy sticker on a Shimano part. Accessories are one thing, but a group set is pretty major.
Realize they're different groups, but professionals can usually adapt to changes - after all they're "professionals". Seems like a slap-in-the-face to Campy.
This team has other heavy hitters on their roster that I suppose (based on what I've read) haven't made demands like this. What about their preferences? If left un-checked, this could turn into a slippery slope.
I have always liked the racer in question; still do. She's has an excellent palmares and seems like a nice person. This move, to me though, comes off as a bit of an ego trip.
All that aside, I still hope she has a great season. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 02/03/2016 12:45 PM |
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That rider made it part of her contract that she was riding Shimano from the beginning. The team had a choice. Hire one of the best in the world, let her ride Shimano, tell the mechanic and car crews to get used to it, consult with Campy to make sure they can live with it or just let her ride for someone else.
I wouldn't call this a "demand". To me, that suggests someone on a team saying "now I want this". Very different from saying as a rider exploring different teams to ride for "I ride Shimano. You are free to not hire me if that is a problem".
I would NOT ride (and especially nor race!) a bike equipped with Shimano-style brifters where an inward push on the brake levers changes gears. I've been riding the drops pushing inward on the levers for too many decades to steady the bars, especially when riding one handed and especially on rough roads. A sudden, unplanned one handed chainring shift on a rough road when I finally get a chance to grab my waterbottle? You wouldn't want to be on my wheel!
Ben |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 02/03/2016 01:44 PM |
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| Just say "no" to mouse ears. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 02/03/2016 01:57 PM |
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Well, I think it was a "demand" since she said it was "non-negotiable" re: her riding Shimano.....but a demand to which the team acquiesced.
Personally, I think it is ridiculous....the idea that she could not quickly and easily adapt to Campag is absurd. But whatever....the team agreed so she can ride what she wishes. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Red Tornado
Posts:159
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| 02/03/2016 02:03 PM |
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Posted By 79 pmooney on 02/03/2016 12:45 PM
That rider made it part of her contract that she was riding Shimano from the beginning. The team had a choice. Hire one of the best in the world, let her ride Shimano, tell the mechanic and car crews to get used to it, consult with Campy to make sure they can live with it or just let her ride for someone else.
I wouldn't call this a "demand". To me, that suggests someone on a team saying "now I want this". Very different from saying as a rider exploring different teams to ride for "I ride Shimano. You are free to not hire me if that is a problem".
I would NOT ride (and especially nor race!) a bike equipped with Shimano-style brifters where an inward push on the brake levers changes gears. I've been riding the drops pushing inward on the levers for too many decades to steady the bars, especially when riding one handed and especially on rough roads. A sudden, unplanned one handed chainring shift on a rough road when I finally get a chance to grab my waterbottle? You wouldn't want to be on my wheel!
Ben
I see your point, it was negotiated up front and the team had the right of refusal. Perfectly legit.
However, there is a rider on that same team who finished 2015 ranked above her (OK only 1 spot, but still..). What if she decides she wants SRAM when contract talks come around? Yes, it's negotiated between her & the team, but now a Campy sponsored team could have a Shimano and a SRAM bike (lets pretend Emma doesn't retire). How would the people at Campy feel about that? What's the good in sponsoring a team if the top riders don't use your product, not because it's inferior but just because they're not used to it?
Of course I guess it's also Campy's right to walk away from the deal if they're not happy with it.
Understand it can all be negotiated and it probably won't go down the slippery slope I have described - and this is relatively minor in the grand scheme of the cycling world.
But sorry, this just doesn't sit quite right with me. Leans slightly towards the possibility of setting a precedent that sponsors don't want set.
Anyhoo, like I said before, really admire Emma and hope both her and the team accomplish their goals for 2016.
Think that's all I have to say. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 02/04/2016 02:38 AM |
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Red, the team was under no pressure at all to sponsor her.
CK, there was a rider a few years ago who threw away the big prize in a bad moment that could have been a familiarity issue with the equipment. (Andy Schleck's famous chain throw.)
On sponsorship - the big money is not in the bike world. UCI and other governing authorities need to get the sport to appeal to those who can write checks that matter. And bike manufacturers could then focus on getting their rides under riders who will show them off best. Although I also see the headache of wheel vans and mechanics and several different systems. (Maybe, just maybe, that would lead to manufacturers standardizing more interfaces so mechanics could throw on a different make derailleur (say) in a pinch. Standardized cable pulls? Or am I smoking something?)
Ben |
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Red Tornado
Posts:159
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| 02/04/2016 08:36 AM |
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Understand the team was not pressured. The deal was negotiated and agreed to all around. Everyone had the chance to walk, but no one did, and they worked it out. Like I said previously, it's all legit and everyone is OK with the deal.
On one hand, I can understand wanting my athletes to use product they feel good about, regardless of whose it is. On the other hand, sponsors are providing free product (in most cases) and are expecting to see the riders use, and hopefully win, with their product. IMHO, that is the whole point of being a sponsor.
Also, these athletes are professionals; they ride bikes for a living. Spend enough time on a new group set and you will get it. Heck, I used to have road bikes with group sets from both mfr's (wanted to keep the older bike with the stuff it was sold with) and I went back-and-forth with no problems, commuting and club riding with a fair share of "panic situations" thrown in. If an enthusiast like me (and other riders I know of) can do it, surely a pro should be able to.
I just can't get past the feeling I get that this makes steps toward a slippery slope of other top riders eschewing their teams equipment for what they want or feel comfortable with. Doubt this would happen on a really large scale, but then again you never know.
I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. The whole thing stinks a little bit to me, but they worked a deal and life goes on. I'm sure the team believes the inconveniences/other negatives of this will be more than made up for with Emma's good results; and I hope they're right. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 02/04/2016 09:18 AM |
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CK, there was a rider a few years ago who threw away the big prize in a bad moment that could have been a familiarity issue with the equipment. (Andy Schleck's famous chain throw.)
Not likely....Saxo Bank had been riding SRAM since 2009. They 18 months to adjust to SRAM from Shimano. So what....a minimum of maybe 30K km's, likely more? The reality is AS was a bonehead and fluffed a shift (and tried it at the worst possible time).
Like RT said, I go back and forth between components on my bikes...I can think of maybe a handful of times over more than a decade where I mishsifted due to component confusion.
Ironically, I had the most issues with my Di2 for some reason.... |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 02/04/2016 11:26 AM |
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It strikes me as a bit narrow minded for an experienced rider like Emma that she considers herself an old lady who can't adjust to new equipment. As others have said, people switch between bikes and equipment all the time. Give it a few minutes (really it doesn't take longer than that) and you're good to go. But perhaps there are some unspoken frustrations with Campagnolo...I know when I got my first road bike, there were some issues with the Record friction shifters that I had to retrofit to get them to work properly (kept loosening up and self-shifting when sprinting up hills; very annoying).
Beyond that this is a non-story. I am sure the team checked with their sponsor and got the OK. I am also sure everyone figured or at least had their fingers crossed this would stay under wraps. With only VN reporting on it so far it still has a big who the hell cares factor. |
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KootnaMoots
Posts:47
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| 02/04/2016 11:47 AM |
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Back in the early 70's I rode a Bultaco 125 and a Honda Elsinore in Motocross. Bultaco right shift left brake. Honda right brake left shift. Different classes same day. I was not a professional, just a mid pack rider, and I didn't have any problems changing between bikes and at that period of time was quite common. I don't buy her story.
Jer |
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