Bike Diva

Above: my husband and I at a local 5k race. I am wearing my Team Odwalla race kit.

I started racing a few time trial bike races back in 2008. In 2009 and 2010 I added running into my workout routine and started competing in 5k, half marathons and a lot of duathlons. 2011 became the year of the triathlon as I finally bit the bullet and got over my fear of the water.

Above: Bike Diva booth at the 2010 South Florida Bike Expo. The banner includes logos of all the companies that sponsored me for the 2010 race season.

Bike Diva's Sponsors

Since 2008 I have had a few companies that sponsor my race efforts by sending me free and deeply discounted athletic gear, clothing and nutritional products. On February 24 of last year, I wrote a comprehensive article on how to go about finding sponsorship opportunities: How-to Find Sponsorship Opportunities.

2012 Sponsorship Opportunities

It's that time of year again. I have just started filling out sponsorship applications for the 2012 race season. The majority of companies that offer sponsorship opportunities accept applications in the fall for sponsorship the following year. Here are a few sponsorship opportunities you may want to apply to for the 2012 race season.

If you can get onto one of the triathlon teams, you have it made. Instead of having to apply for individual sponsorship for bikes, wheels, clothing, sunglasses, helmets, nutritional items, shoes, etc... you have access to all the gear from the companies that sponsor the triathlon teams. I don't think I'll ever make it onto Team TriSports or the Timex Multisport Team, but it doesn't hurt to try.

2012 Team Trisports Application - looking for 30 top age group athletes to join their triathlon team.

Timex Multisport Team - a team of around 50 top age group athletes, both amateur and professional, ranging in age from 18 to 57.

Smith Optics -Interested in becoming sponsored by a company that makes sunglasses and goggles? Here is the link to the sponsorship information page for Smith Optics. They accept applications in the following disciplines; bike, wakeboard, skateboard, ski, surf, snowboard, kayak and motorsports.

Hammer Nutrition - Hammer Nutrition makes a complete line of nutritional products such as gels, recovery drinks, supplements, etc... They sponsor a wide variety of athletes.

Clif Bar - another company that makes a complete line of nutritional products. Clif Bar sponsors competitive cyclists, mountain bikers, triathletes, runners, climbers, surfer, skiers and snowboarders.

Brooks ID - sponsored runners accepted into this program receive discounts on Brooks running shoes and clothing.

KSwiss - read my post detailing KSwiss sponsorship opportunities: KSwiss Sponsorship.

ProBar - theprobar.com/community/sponsorship

Token - high performance bicycle products.

Reynolds Cycling - www.reynoldscycling.com/index.php?p_resource=company_teams

First Endurance - sports nutrition products: http://www.firstendurance.com/sponsor-application/

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva