You are hereSocial Rides about to jump the shark with the help of A2W? Say it ain't so!
Social Rides about to jump the shark with the help of A2W? Say it ain't so!
Update: Turns out this doesn't actually involve Social Cycling ATX, though Keith of the organization is involved in Elliot's store plans. I called Keith and spoke with him for a bit and he reassured me that these rides and Elliot's business have nothing to do with Social Cycling ATX, and that all of their events are and will always be FREE and open to EVERYBODY. Thanks Keith, that's a load off my mind.
Hey folks, check out what Elliot from A2W and Keith from Social Cycling have in store for you this spring... the short answer: Social Rides they're charging for! They just debuted a new website explaining the direction they're wanting to take the Social Rides, and watch the hilarious video debuting their concept store idea, as well as the three unique sounding rides that for some reason sound exactly like a bunch of the rides we've already done for free. Not only will they not be free this time around, but they'll be limited capacity with preferential treatment to those of you who have bribed donated to the business already, and will cost you anywhere from $10-25 to participate depending on the ride on top of your original donation.
But the money train doesn't stop there. Typically when a new business is in the development phase they'll write up a business plan and look for a loan from a bank, credit union, or other financial institution. Rather than go about things in the traditional manner they've decided to hawk for donations from cyclists in order to raise the $5,000 of capital they need to go forward with this endeavor.
Like any good fundraiser, they've got levels for the various contribution amounts. $5 or more now gets you preferential treatment on the rides and at their events, $10 gets you a sticker, $25 a spoke card and if you support them at the $100 level you even get a t-shirt! So basically the shit that every other ride or club hooks you up with for free is gonna cost you from these cats. $25 spoke cards?!? Jeebus. They've given themselves a deadline of April 1st to raise the five grand, which has me hoping this whole thing is just a big joke and they're planning on throwing a giant April Fools Day keg party with their loot.
My favorite quote from the video: "We think these events are gonna be great and we'll sell out." I think that about sums it up. Hope the money's worth it y'all!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/355975505/discover-the-city-on-two-w...
Just want to let you all know that I support Keith and his new business venture. Social Cycling ATX is a place to share anything that is positive for cycling. I know if Keith and Elliot are successful it can only be a good thing for Social Cycling ATX and the biking community as a whole.
i have been on hiatus and just saw this... barrage.
i have watched keith throughout the growth of the social ride, and all personal motives aside, he spends ALOT OF TIME organizing the rides, working w the city, and coaxing our 'sponsors'. I think it would be fair to say that he spends more time on Social Cycling ATX than on his paying job. I love advocacy work and i agree that cycling is free and independent, but people have to pay bills. if someone can turn what they love doing into what they can make a (modest) living doing w/o compromising themselves, it is not a bad thing. it's what most people spend their life doing.
Elliot and Keith are NOT the types to compromise themselves.
You don't like the concept they are catering to? Don't go. Believe it or not, there are a ton of different types of people out there and after working to get bikes in their hands, guess what happens? A ton of different types of cyclists show up. That's a lot of niches to be filled. Find one to fill yourself if this one appalls you so much. what do you care if suburban mom and her friends pay 2 good looking 30+ men to show them around the city and eat some fancy grub? Don't support it, don't like it? DON'T GO. We have plenty of our own resources to continue on w the free stuff we do.
And yeah, Keith is reactionary sometimes. But you guys are pushing buttons.
Sara Deshong-Baker
It's the methods being used to promote the venture that bother me. Social Cycling ATX is now tangled up in this mess.
-Heather
Jason, your rant may have been valid. An invite was sent out about the business venture through Social Cycling, and that was officially the jumping shark moment for me.
If you don't want to throw some money at Keith's business, don't.
If you don't like TNSR, don't come.
If you're too badass for Social Cycling ATX, join another group or do whatever you want on your own.
People are acting like because Keith is starting a business that suddenly he's going to throw random u-locks on everyone's bike and make us pay him to unlock them, or set up tolls on the road, or pay a surcharge for every beer we drink. If you don't want to get involved, don't. I would likely never go any of the rides he's planning for this venture, but I don't care if he wants to take a bunch of socialites on pastel pink colored bikes to the spa.
Cripes. Why would anyone criticize this idea? If Keith wants to start a fucking sushi making class for $50, we don't need to hear a bunch of fucking whiners raining on him because they can go buy a hunk of tuna, a bag of rice and some seaweed for a few bucks. There are people out there that will want and enjoy this kind of ride and it's going to have no impact on Thursday rides. He's fed you cheap (and sometimes premium) beer for dozens of rides, and you belittle him for crawling into some satin sheets on his own time.
When the streets are overrun with cyclists, maybe we can take some fun potshots at these rides...a la my opinions of BMWs, Escalades and the likes. But for now, just be happy that they are getting more people on bikes...or just ignore them.
As for Jason, I'm all for him posting misinformation as quickly as possible, because he's always good with a mea culpa later if need be. His site gets the word out first and I'd prefer to keep it that way...even if it is slanderous!
It used to be you could park on city streets for free, now some of those spaces are reserved for "Valet" parking. Pay to play! It used to be you could ride your bike for free, but now we can enjoy quality events by $Paying$ - again pay to play. I'm sure the dilettantes will be out, dressed to the nines in their designer lycra. Me - I'll just ride my bike somewhere else, wouldn't want to corrupt the cool people who pay to play. mj
Who pays for bike lanes? Commuter rails? etc... People who pay their taxes I guess. How are we going to make Austin a more bike friendly place? How are the other million people in Austin going to find out that it's cool to bike to work and you can actually have a bike set-up to go grocery shopping with and you don't have to wear spandex? I have a vision of Austin going super bike friendly. At least it's a dream. Hmmm... making your dreams a reality seems like a good thing. So hard sometimes to make effective change without finances and community support. I need people to vote for these things that I want.
So I see these guys helping my dream. They are bringing biking to more people. These rides are not for your already in the know social rider. DUH GUYS! These rides are for people who don't ride or only ride on occasion. These rides are to get more people out there riding, which equals more people wanting to vote for positive improvements like bike blvds., lanes, 3ft. laws. Or hey, maybe next time they're driving they won't just hit you cause they'll relate to your experience riding a bike. Think bigger than your own myopic little perspective.
The majority of Austin has never even heard of a social ride.
Peace~RR
Love+Peace+Light
Well I would like to start off by saying, weak, really weak. You are obviously not catering to the people that built this community because we KNOW you don't need to pay money to someone to organize a good time for you. It's simple buy some beer, ride your bike around with your friends then get a taco. This is not the place for this type of shit. We use to enjoy a random ride to enjoy some random fucking holiday or a ride for shits and giggles now its all about this BS thursday ride where you get yelled at to stop ever fucking minute by a some bike nazi with "authority" because someone told them they are a "ride leader." Seriously no one likes getting yelled at and whenever i'm low on cash or trying to get laid on a thursday I do. But everyone loves beer (even if it involves waiting in a huge ass line for one) so once a week people will continue to pump up their tires and drive to the scoot inn.
JASON, KEEP ON ROCKIN IN A FREE WORLD.
Some people actually want to pay for stuff, it's a strange phenomenon I know, but sometimes people feel like when they pay for something they will get something in return.
If a handful of cycling noobs feel they have to pay for a guided cycling 'experience' I say let them. There was the 'Urban Farm Bicycle Tour' recently and it was pretty popular, I'm not the type to pay to do something like that but Austin is full of people who will jump at the opportunity.
Think of the folks who haven't been on a bike in 10+ years, the tourists who rent bikes not knowing our streets but want to see some cool stuff and feel somewhat safe while doing it, the people with a bunch of money on the westside w/ a $6K bike never ride, the suburbanite who wants to drive into downtown to ride their bikes around. Nothing is stopping these people from riding around on their own accord but paying for something motivates them enough to follow through and do it.
I don't see these types of boutique cycling events to have much if any impact on the other rides. All that really matters is that people are getting out on their bike and enjoying themselves whether they pay for the experience or not.
I might actually go on one of these things if I deemed the idea cool enough. My payment would be a way of showing support and respect for the time it took to organize something awesome.
Nothing is stopping anybody from organizing an AWESOME + FREE event, get out there and DO IT and we'll be there.
Social Cycling ATX will always cater to the needs of the community and do fun and FREE rides. So please, if you don't like the style of stopping every so often for lights and massing up, then find another ride that suits your needs. There are plenty of them out there and very good ones. It's kind of ironic that you gripe about that in the paragraph as you do our complimentary beer. Most of the feedback we get is that people like our style of keeping the ride orderly, together and for the most part legal and as safe as possible.
If you like riding around getting tacos and drinking beer with your friends, that sounds great. That's my favorite thing to do. Just go do that then. I don't criticize you for that in the slightest.
My other project is catering to a completely different crowd. What is so weak about that? Some people like chocolate and some like strawberry. Some people like to ride around and get tacos and drink beer. Some like to have a chef prepare a meal for them or to tour an urban farm. Those events take lots of planning and upfront investment to make them happen. The TNSR doesn't. There is room for all sorts of rides/tours.
The bike scene is exploding here folks. There are many types of riders that want many types of rides. Why the hate? Ride the rides that suit you and like it that you have all sorts of options.
I buy Keith's apples and oranges argument, but calling them 'social rides' is misleading.
It sounds like the rides Keith and Elliot are trying to do are more akin to the wine country bike tours popular in Northern California, or other for profit 'tour' type rides that offer value added services (good food, drinks, vehicle support). I think that when people hear, 'Social Rides' they think TNSR and Social Cycling ATX, and when you listen to the video these rides sound nothing like a TNSR or any of the other free rides in town.
I'm at polo on Thursdays so it has been a while since I've done a social ride, but I've made a few of the after-parties lately. The free beer is great and all, but with 400 people drinking off one free keg it's not like you're getting more than one beer any way. I could see dropping a few bones on a good ride, a nice meal, and not having to claw my way through a throng of sweaty bikesters to tip $1 for an 8oz cup of lonestar.
If I've got friends visiting from out of town, I'm going to take them on the Thursday Night Social Ride. If it's family, maybe I'd look at one of these new 'tours.' I can't hate on ya'll for trying to serve a Niche, and I really hope there is a market for you guys.
As for the taking donations to get it going? I doubt you'll get five grand in a week, but maybe you'll get $500, and when you start a business ever bit helps, I know. Maybe you should offer a ticket on any one of the inaugural rides in addition to whatever item you get for a donation of $10 or more.
Calling them "social rides" is misleading a bit I agree, especially here in town where social ride has a pretty established definition. We want to get the word "social" out of the title to avoid further confusion or 50 comment atxbs posts.
The rides are more like Urban Cycling Tours. You are right on. It's nothing that hasn't been done before. In the end, we will call them something very similar. We are still working on that as we are a couple of months away from opening shop.
Thanks for the well wishes, my man.
are usually spot-on. Jason, you rock! ...even when you're rolling over.
Oh yeah, smells like the beach.
If you want to invest in something, use your own money.
I believe we can get to a point where the majority of our city embraces bikes as legitimate everyday transportation. This project and the shop we are trying to get funded is part of that vision. The people who can make that happen want proof of that vision with these test events, and we are asking our friends and the cycling community to help us make this happen. Rest assure we are putting in our own money and sweat to make this happen but we can't do it alone. If you share this vision and can spare $5, help us out. If you don't, I respect that.
One other thing I'd mention is that the beer and giveaways at the Thursday Night rides are not free. Companies are paying money to provide you with the schwag in hopes that you will but their product in the future. That's commerce too. Just keep that in mind.
Elliott from Austin On Two Wheels
"I believe we can get to a point where the majority of our city embraces bikes as legitimate everyday transportation. This project and the shop we are trying to get funded is part of that vision. The people who can make that happen want proof of that vision with these test events"
I guess I don't understand how we get from "boutique rides" to "bikes are legitimate everyday transportation" or "a majority on bikes". How do for profit boutique rides help attain this goal?
There's sort of an implied promise here -- if people donate $5k by 04/01, these mysterious investors will do something vague (open a bike shop?) that will magically make bikes legitimate? Have I misinterpreted this? If so, could you clarify things? And if I do understand it correctly, can you remove some of the vagueness here?
And if the $5k goal isn't reached by 04/01, these boutique rides will not happen, right? ("This project will only be funded if at least $5,000 is pledged by Apr 1, 1:00pm EDT.") What will become of the donated money? I assume the project will be scrapped? How much of it? The rides/events, the bike shop, more?
That's what we're doing. People who want to invest in this are using their own money.
... this was really an asshole move, and I think you owe it to Keith and Elliott to not just amend your original post but apologize.
I mean, you clearly launched into this rant before talking to either one of them and having everything straight and insulted them in a very public forum. And these are two guys who have done nothing but good things for the local cycling community. They deserve nothing but the benefit of the doubt and you totally jumped on them for no good reason.
I mean, you've done a lot of awesome stuff for the scene too, of course, and I don't mean to be unduly harsh on you or anything. But this was rude and short-sighted. Not cool, man.
Everything on my website is personal opinion, and in this case I think charging people $25 for a spoke card is fucking crazy. I almost ALWAYS jump the gun. Want safe, sane, consensual, fact checked reporting? Check Elliot's site out, it's pretty decent.
I love good things done for the cycling community. I don't love $25 "social rides", $100 t-shirts that get your preferential treatment, or passing a hat to fund a business venture. Again this is my personal opinion, and if 50 people disagree with me and love expensive shirts and propping up a for-profit business then this thing will get off the ground no sweat.
Yes i can be rude and short-sighted on my website. Thankfully I don't have financial sponsors I'm obligated to appease or a company line to tow so I can afford to act in such a manner. I can't write worth a damn, my time to do so is in exceedingly short supply so when I do it's rushed and abbreviated, and like you said, I'm rude, I say fuck and shit a lot, and I don't typically think my posts through before spewing them onto the keyboard and pressing "Post". Hell, I typically don't even edit for grammar or spelling. Honestly it's surprising to me anyone even reads this shit anymore with the wealth of other sources of topical information.
Thanks for making your views known Patrick. I probably do owe apologies (one of which I delivered via phone), but I'm still leaving what I posted on the site. I hate self-censoring and I said what I said, I'll take the heat for it.
I actually agree with you (for once). I've watched this whole social cycling come out of nowhere and now to this.
NOTE TO ALL YOU RADICAL BIKING TYPES: cycling is free.
I still can't believe ANYONE is thinking of turning the events into a business venture. What a freakin' joke.
I would like to reiterate that this venture has nothing to do with Social Cycling ATX. Really wish the two hadn't been linked together.
turtle.
they already have, in many places around the world. social cycling atx will not change, i promise you that.
this venture is all about getting more people on bikes. what is so wrong about that?
a short time ago Keith was looking for a local job so he could stay in Austin and continue to guide the Social Rides (and all the free drinking that comes along with those rides). Most of us find the time to drink free beer every Thursday, so I'm sure most of us can find at least $5 to pledge to helping keep Keith in town.
I'm more than happy to throw money, resources, time or free beers Keith's way. That's different than funding a business' start-up costs through donations. These guys aren't Yellow Bike. It's a real bike shop that'll probably be charging real prices and putting real money in peoples' pockets.
Jason, I'm surprised that you wouldn't applaud a grassroots effort. It sounds as though you'd be fine with a business getting started with capital from a corporate bank, but when friends try to help friends start something they believe in, you say it's unorthodox and not the way things should be. Seems unlike the Jason I know.
we already have investors. they wanted to see a pilot run of events that they wanted us to put up cash for... we decided to do a fundraiser online like many other businesses have done for similar ventures.
we are not asking you to fund a bike shop, just a few parties that you can attend to show our investors how our business will operate.
i hope we make cash, hell, lots of cash selling bikes. and when i do, i'll throw you all a big ass party.
valid point.
Agreed. At the very least, if you've partaken of the rides, charity events, prizes, free beer, etc, then don't piss on their parade.
we have investors in place, we just need to throw a few fancy bike parties to make them feel better about our plan.
if you want to, donate, if not, cool too and please keep coming out on the Social Rides.
I want to personally apologize to everyone including Keith for any misunderstanding here. Keith and I are working on a project to add another layer of cycling events to the Austin community, not replace Social Cycling ATX. I think what Keith and the other people who have organized the Thursday night rides are wonderful, and I would not want to jeopardize that in any way. We just want to do additional events that maybe aren't possible in the Social Cycling ATX format but would still be fun and something people want to do.
Elliott from Austin On Two Wheels
I'll gladly pay $200 to see the two of these "cyclist" shoot themselves in the face! That's more than they've raised so far...
and read before commenting.
love,
keith byrd
awww come on big guy, you know I love you. Of course I read before commenting. Why don't you use you're own money to throw these rides? (lust like the skellies, midnight ridazz & CycliDactyls do?) Don't you have a job? If it's your investors that you are trying to impress, what are your investors plans for giving back to the community once the money starts rolling in? The same community that gave you your reputation. Full circle right? Next you're going to start charging people to take photos of you. If that's the case, I'll take 20 wallet prints so I can sell them to my friends, since that seems to be the trend, making money off your "friends."
like that is YOUR beer you give away to make people come on your rides? no it's your fucking bosses and he does it because it is good business.
the skellies, ridazz and cyclidactyls (or even social cycling atx) don't have even close to the type of events that we are throwing next month. all you guys throw good events, but it's apples and oranges. so that is one truely idiotic statement.
also, i guarantee you any endeavor I am involved in WILL give back to the community. How many charity rides/advocacy events and food drives have the cyclidactyls done!? talk to me when you do even ONE. Not to mention the hundred and fifty or so kegs of beer my organization has gotten donated to give everyone a good time out on their bikes. Big talk from a guy who has thrown 3 or 4 cycling events with around 20 people on each one. So shut the fuck up about me giving back to your community. I have always and always will continue to do so because I truely do care about the community...yeah that community that "gave me my reputation." I can tell you that any reputation that i have (good or bad) was earned and not "given." Full circle? WTF are you even talking about?
If you don't want to help out, then fine. Don't. Just keep on with your dumb ass statements on an internet comment board coming and keep making yourself look like a jackass.
for profit enterprises are funded like this all of the time. you act like i'm asking for everyone's bikes and girlfriends.
don't lecture me, fowler. stick with your dance parties.
I'll give you a photo of my nuts for free. Just ask.
kisses,
keith byrd
ps. thanks for your donation, sucker.
Didn't know it was a pissing contest. But I guess you're the winner. I WOULD like a picture of your nuts. (And this is me asking) please email it to me asap. I love getting you old guys riled up! I donated $10 to your bike shop, so be nice or I won't put your sticker in my locker. hahaha "sucker?" you're too cute. Don't be so cocky, don't you know we all look up to you? We all want to steal some other dude's ride & take all the credit. didn't you know???
...then try and whip it back in because you have no real point. that's weak.
i'm just defending myself against some pretty damn harsh PERSONAL attacks on my character. why don't you just chill out and tend to the business of your own "bike club?" you know... instead of being a asshole.
i didn't steal any ride. How would one steal a bike ride? That's an odd concept. And as for the credit, i have not made one dime or have received anything for organizing the TNSR other than having a great time and feeling pretty ok about what the ride became as far as being able to be a positive force in the bike community we have here.
brooks did a great thing by starting social cycling atx. the ride grew and so did the needs of the organization. i offered my help. he prefers smaller rides and i was glad to take over the reigns of the social ride.
so i ask you chris fowler of Uncle Billy's Bar fame, why such the hate for the social ride and me in particular? what is that all about? really, what is that all about?
I like you, have no problem with you & have no hate towards you or your rides. It all started with a joke, Shooting yourself in the face. If you can't understand that joke, it's ok. I just wanted to get you riled up to see if you would handle the negative feedback in a professional manner, or if you would flip shit & start getting all rowdy. I wanted to donate to your fundraiser, but I wanted to know the character of the person I was giving my money to. "Is he really this cool or is he a phoney baloney prick eater?" I do like how you avoided answering my questions & immediately attack my character & my club (which is only 2 months old). Remember, we're cyclist too man, same team. I didn't know you had to throw "x" amount of rides before your opinion counted. But whatever, it's ok. Being charitable is a noble thing. Telling people about it, is not. As far as the ride stealing, I don't care. Not a concern to me, I ride regardless. I know there we people pedaling this city way before I was put on this earth. I do enjoy a good interwebz spat from time to time, so thank you for that. And as for the fame? I did not know I was in possession of such a thing. Funny how a little guy know one knows can get you worked up into a frenzy. Notice how I do go on your rides & do donate to your future business endeavour, as I wish you the best of luck. You are one of the voices for the austin cycling scene, and do great things. I just wanted to see what you were really about. A test, if you will. If you are fighting for my rights, I would like to know who's speaking for me. My comments were not personal opinion, So get it straight. It's bullshit, and funny, to me. see you soon.
Chris Fowler
CDBC
i have absolutely no problem with you and have a good time drinking beer with you on occasion, but maybe i just don't get your sense of humor or your test of "goodness" or "not". i actually like your group a ton and like i have said in the past, will help you guys in anyway that I can. Yes, I have been doing this a bit longer, but am willing to share ANY resources I have towards ANY bike group in town, from the ridazz, to the skellies, to y'all, the regulators or to whoever wants to ride their bikes and have fun.
I don't make it a habit of going around telling people how charitable "I" am. I always give credit to the group I have, without whom, I would be only one guy riding around on a bike and drinking (and i have done that plenty). I was more defending my organization, then I did a little offense by going after your new group, which is not cool but it being in a comment section on the webs... hey, guess that's where those things happen.
If I misunderstood you to be attacking my character, then let me apologize. It seemed like you were just another person piling on after Jason kinda whiffed a story... then like the great guy he was, admitted he didn't have the facts straight. My original comment to you to stfu was also just a joke as were the nutz comments cause i know how you are, but your response seemed a bit personal. Maybe I don't know you well enough, or maybe your keen sense of humor doesn't translate over the interwebs to well. i dunno, you always seem hilarious on facebook.
I'm a pretty level headed person... unless the fightin' side in me comes out. And like you, sure... i enjoy a web brawl every once in a while... so thanks for letting me get that out of my system too.
As for you and your group. I wish you the best. I actually have reserved a table for all of the cycling groups on April 30th for the kick off of bike month and y'all come down and sit in an introduce yourselves to the biking public if you like. I'll save a seat for you.
You're a good dude. You're test of character is kinda bullshit, but nobody is perfect.
See you on the next ride we are on together.
shortly... check your "in box". and thanks for your donation. seriously.
and please, please don't look up to me... unless you're looking at my nuts.
"Big talk from a guy who has thrown 3 or 4 cycling events with around 20 people on each one. So shut the fuck up about me giving back to your community. I have always and always will continue to do so because I truely do care about the community...yeah that community that "gave me my reputation.""
wow buddy way to respect humble roots.
i've been on a bike for 13 years driven for 5. so this is my community too. resources like YBP can ask for money without looking needy. you have to admit opening up a for profit shop with donations will take potential donations from YBP, right?
you didn't start the social ride, you hijacked it. at least we started a ride club on our own.
as for your reputation you sound like a dick, getting all fired up on the internet.
then you threaten people with your nuts!?!?! WTF?
dont steal rides, and dont steal themes dude.
you're like the walmart of bike rides
CDBC.
Is that IT!!?? ... let's start with all of your accusations and blah blah blah...
Sure, i'll get fired up when people question my motives and personal character. You wouldn't? Really? Think what you want about my ideas about cycling, but keep the personal attacks out of it.
i never claimed to start TNSR. I've said that myself many times over. And it's SUCH a hard thing to start a bike club here in town. Kudos on your being able to make a facebook page. My point was that just that we give something to the community and I have no problem defending that or stating that as fact when directly questioned about it, no matter where.
I have no "roots". I ride bikes. Inane statement.
who is taking away from YBP? I'm throwing them a benefit soon.
as for my nuts, i know fowler and knows he likes pictures of nuts, so it was more of a joke (for the record i have never "threatened anyone with my nuts") so understand a bit of sarcasm, even on the internet. stop being so uptight.
and as for you starting your own club? awesome. the more the merrier. grow it larger, do good things for the community. i'll support that all day long.
the walmart of bike rides? we do have pretty good specials and some nice greeters and definitely large amounts of happy customers. so thanks.
stealing themes... yeah, you guys definitely founded the whole "dance ride" concept. congrats. i'm not too big on themes of parties being proprietary, but to each his own...
again, for profits are funded like this often and it is a super small amount. give if you want or not. It's cool. But if you question my motives, you had better have a better argument than most on this thread.
and as for calling me a dick... it's cool. you're not the first and won't be the last.
so with all of that out of the way, where actually IS all this hate coming from? you should use some of that energy and make your bike club stronger, not tear down other's.
you miss the point almost entirely. sad, real sad.
... worth about what you paid for them (i.e. nothing.)
A for-profit business asking for donations is a bit ... odd. For a non-profit or a charity, it makes perfect sense. For a business, that's unusual, and it likely rubs people the wrong way.
Offering "boutique rides" -- might just work. Lots of people (not the Social Cycling crew, but the "weekend warrior" types) are very used to paying money to ride. They'll pay their registration fee for their big fully supported ride, pick up their T-shirt or jersey and ride. Or they'll find sponsors for their charity ride against cancer or whatever. It may very well be a successful business strategy.
(I've seen a few of these "boutique rides" show up on atxbs and other sites, run by other groups. How have they worked out? I haven't been to any of them.)
Opening a bike shop -- great! I've heard that the way to make a small fortune in the bike industry is to start with a large fortune -- but obviously it has to work for somebody, and hopefully that will be y'all. I'm no businessman, but it seems to me the way to succeed in Austin's crowded bicycle market is to find a niche that is poorly covered and concentrate on that -- and from what I've read, y'all are going after the transportation cyclist niche. That sounds like a winning strategy, though I'm not sure how it would mesh with "boutique rides".
Yes, bike shops do offer rides, and they do build loyalty, but the rides are usually free. That's not really here nor there, but it does seem odd.
And last, being that you want to be a successful businessman and woo your investors and such -- I'm not sure that arguing on the interweb is a winning strategy there. (Ballsack pictures, however ... that's another matter entirely!)
thanks for the comments and you will not be seeing my nuts... until the next denim ride.
i will say this. I doubt any of our investors read this site. it too scary. ha!
I'm helping start a bike shop with Elliott from Austin On Two Wheels. I will be running what I call Boutique rides that are a ton fancier than the TNSR rides or any of our other rides. We will charge, it will be for profit, like any other business. But they are not Social Cycling ATX rides... they will be run out of Elliot's bike shop just like any other bike shop does, they hold rides to create a customer loyalty. The will not be for everyone. But most I have talked to about our planned events says they sounded great and have planned to participate.
The funding (and really aweful video) are for getting a pilot program funded to give some hard facts to our investors, which are that people do like to ride their bikes to do fun stuff and not just to race criterions.
I hope some of you check out some of our events. They will be priced very economically and will include dinner rides with a private chef cooking for us, downtown food and booze tastings, private events that include music, yoga, spas and a whole bunch of other stuff that the TNSR just wouldn't work with.
All of that being said SOCIAL CYCLING ATX WILL NEVER EVER CHARGE FOR A RIDE. AGAIN... SOCIAL CYCLING ATX WILL NEVER EVER CHARGE YOU ONE PENNY FOR ALL OF THAT FREE BEER YOU DRINK EVERY WEEK.
Love,
Keith (one of the really stupid looking guys in the video that Jason just posted)
Thanks for keeping me in check Keith. I've updated the posting to summarize the above, and to confirm that Social Cycling ATX will NEVER charge for their events. That's really good to hear, I appreciate the fast response.