CYCLE SUPERSTORE STEPS IN

Following our recent appeal for sponsors, the Cycle Superstore has relieved some of the pressure on Irishcycling.com by generously agreeing to sponsor a section of the site for the foreseeable future. Shane Stokes’ contributions to Irishcycling.com, which include race reports, rider interviews, features and domestic/international news will now be supported by the large Tallaght-based bike store.

The decision of the management of the Cycle Superstore to sponsor this section of the site is a very important one for Irishcycling.com, as without the support of people such as these there was a very real danger that the site would have to wind down. Fortunately through their backing we will now be able to continue bringing you all the news and information about cycling in this country and so keep you, our valued readers, in touch with all the stories out there.

Responding to the news, Shane Stokes thanked the Cycle Superstore for their input. ‘Ever since the retirement of Kelly and Roche, and more recently the troubles of the 1998 Tour de France, it has been difficult for cycling to receive the amount of media coverage which we would like. Space constraints mean that the sport often gets an all-too-brief mention; fortunately the medium of this website means that we can bring you a level of in-depth coverage which would otherwise be impossible. We think that Irishcycling.com is important for the sport, and this sentiment has been echoed by many of you in recent weeks.’

‘Fortunately, the Cycle Superstore’s decision to provide the site with some of the essential backing it requires means that the pressures on Irishcycling.com have eased. That in turn means that we will be able to bring you coverage of events like the FBD Milk Rás and the National Championships, plus all the other news and stories.’ 

Some of the extensive range of frames on display in the Cycle Super Store

Irishcycling.com has also had other responses to our efforts to secure sponsorship. Two more backers have been secured for the main section of the site and these will appear on the title page before the end of the week. We would also like to thank these gratefully for their financial contributions, which are of great value to our sport, and would ask that our readers would support these sponsors in every way possible.

A gracious thank you must also be extended to the Navan Avonmore club and the other individuals who made donations to Irishcycling.com in recent days. This selfless support will be put to good use in offsetting some of the costs of running this site.

All that taken into consideration, there remains some financial pressure on Irishcycling.com and we are therefore appealing for more potential sponsors out there to get in touch. This site offers exposure to a wide, loyal audience for very reasonable rates, and we feel that any backers will get a handsome return for their investment. Sponsors will also benefit from the recognition that they are greatly helping the cause of cycling in this country. Please contact us c/o webmaster@irishcycling.com if you can help.

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to add that in an attempt to make the site bigger and better, there is a possibility that we may introduce a members-only section on the site in 2003. This area will be accessible only by a login subscription, but will feature higher quality pictures, feature reports, rider profiles and member competitions. The subscription rates will be in the region of 20 euro for 400 logins which can be shared out between clubs or individuals.

Once again, an appreciative thank you to those who have provided much needed backing for Irishcycling.com. Please support our sponsors!