Cycling can be an expensive sport, especially for someone who is just starting out. The upfront costs can creep into the thousands as the cyclist has to purchase not only a bike but also gear to keep themselves warm in the tumultuous Eugene weather. For many prospective cyclists the price of beginning prevents them from ever joining a team.
Luckily for the Oregon club cycling team, their sponsorship with local Eugene bike shop Life Cycle provides a way to cut the costs of the sport.
Life Cycle specializes in all bikes, from $300 commuters to $25,000 racing bikes. The staff is comprised of current and former racers who bring with them a wealth of knowledge about cycling. The shop also provides maintenance and service for all types of bikes.
Life Cycle first began sponsoring the club team seven years ago. Owner Gilad Gozlan was approached by one of the members of the club to see if he would be interested in coaching the team. Gozlan, who is a former professional cyclist, agreed to coach the team. Six months later the construction of Life Cycle was completed and for Gozlan it only made sense to begin sponsoring the team as well.
“If you don’t support the local riders, what is the point of having a business,” Gozlan said when asked why he first sponsored the team. “They come in and fill up the shop. When someone walks in and sees all these young, excited, enthusiastic people, it puts really good energy into the store.”
Life Cycle has turned into a social hub for many riders on the team; a place where they can go to hang out and talk about bikes. The store also serves as the meeting place for the club before they leave to go to races.
“Walking into the store, I want people to have that unique experience,” Gozlan said. “If you come in here on a Saturday morning there are 20-something cyclists dressed up in their kits with their bikes.”
Another benefit for the club team is the help the store can provide when making decisions on what type of gear to buy.
“The store gives really good advice about buying your first road bike,” team president Blake Elliott said. “They have people working there who are really knowledgeable about the sport.”
This knowledge helps guide new members who may not know what exactly they are looking for.
Life Cycle also has a policy that they will service a club member right away, no matter how busy they are. The store will fix their bikes, no questions asked.
“We will just drop everything and help the UO guys,” Gozlan said.
Often a member of the team will end up working at the store. John Morehouse, a rider for the cycling team, has worked at Life Cycle since last January. Morehouse works mainly in sales, though at times he will help with repairs.
“It is a great time, great experience,” Morehouse said of working at Life Cycle. “Everyone is really cool. I call them my friends instead of my bosses.”
Despite all the perks that come from the sponsorship, at the end of the day it is the financial support Life Cycle provides that really helps the team. Discounts on gear and services are crucial to athletes who at the end of the day are still college students. Better service for less money is the formula that keeps the customers happy.
For a club team that has thrived in a pro-cycling city like Eugene, Life Cycle has served as the perfect sponsor.
“The store is like home for them,” Gozlan said. “They can come in whenever they want.”