Controversy at cairnsmtb.com

[Yowie]

It seems that having Torpedo7 as a title sponsor is putting a few noses out of joint, so I was wondering what rank and file mountain bikers think about having a overseas on-line bike store sponsoring an event on our shores.

http://s7.invisionfree.com/cairnsmtb/index.php?
Here is a link to the discussion, its under sponsorship.

[road warrior]

overseas sponsors are the best thing ever. There is $0 in the industry over here. This year it's Torpedo7 next year it could be someone bigger.
Imagine if we got the same sort of sponsorship as the norba rounds did?
think about it...

[notb4dinner]

I can't see what the problem is. One of the most common arguments against buying online is that the shops supposedly don't support 'the local scene' but here we have an online seller making what I assume is a significant contribution to a national event and people are still complaining.

[Grip]

Poorly worded, no-win question. Do they support it enough? No. Can they really afford to support it more? Probably not?

I think most people would be suprised at just how little money there is out there in the MTB sporting world... and despite that just how much support clubs actually DO get from small companies, distributors/importers and individual shops.

As far as I'm concerned ANY promotion is good for the sport, because while Torp7 might pick up SOME business through their support (and so they should if they're puting the dollars up), the reality is that extra exposure will result in more sales OVERALL... and lots of those will stay here in OZ.

And if people are bitching about an OS sponsor I'd ask "why?" Are their businesses suffering? If so then THEY need to get out there and promote themselves more... either by getting in on the event sponsorship bandwaggon too OR, if they can't afford that, by other means such as a "presence" at race meeting etc.

[road warrior]

thats pretty much on the ball grip.