|
[PCT] Lululemon/Bulgaria Blackfish
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 26-03-2015 22:59
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
 Lululemon/Bulgaria Blackfish 
Main Sponsors
Lululemon Athletica
Lululemon Athletica, more commonly Lululemon, is yoga-inspired athletic apparel company. Founded in 1998 it's relatively unique, and certainly very modern company. The first Lululemon store was located in Kitsilano, Vancouver. The company HQ is still based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Lululemon now has approximately 201 stores worldwide.
So why are they sponsoring a cycling team? For Lululemon this is no new move. In 2012, 2013 and 2014 Lululemon was a title sponsor of a top level Womens Cycling team and is still a sponsor today of the Boels-Dolmans team. As the company moves to expand and attract more male customers they are branching across the sport to pick up the gap here.
They know the team is popular and look to capitalise upon that popularity alongside the growing success of the team. Having riders from the Pacific-North West of the Americas is a big bonus and focus for them. Lululemon is providing us with good funding and are the manufacturers of our NC jerseys. Hopefully we can turn this into a long-term relationship and grow together
Bulgaria
Bulgaria is the manifestation of the Bulgarian Governments support of the project. In our debut 2013 season this was via telecommunications company Vivacom. Last season and again this season it is a more direct appraoch under the Tourism banner. This supplies us with good funds and a stable European base for operations.
Our relationship with Bulgaria as a sponsor has been working very well. Bulgarian cyclists are becoming more and more visible with the pinnacle being a recent appearance of the National Team at the B-Worlds Road Race in Hamilton, Canada.
As part of our sponsorship we have three long term goals. 1) Promote and Develop Bulgarian Cycling. 2) Take a core of Bulgarian cyclists to the WT by 2017. 3) Get a Bulgarian squad to the World Championships by 2017. We've hit #3 but will press on to reach the main race by 2017.
Sponsors
| Title Sponsors | | | | Lululemon Athletica | Sports Apparel | Vancouver, BC | | Bulgaria | Tourism | Bulgaria | | | | | | Clothing | | |  | Nike | Sports Apparel | Beaverton, OR | | Lululemon Athletica | Sports Apparel | Vancouver, BC | | | | | | Bike & Equipment | | | | Specialized | Bicycles | Morgan Hill, CA | | Zipp | Components | Indianapolis, IN | | | | | | Minor Sponsors | | | | Canucks | Sports & Entertainment | Vancouver, BC | | Starbucks | Food & Beverages | Seattle, WA | | Dogecoin | Cryptocurrency | Portland, OR | | IMAX | Entertainment | Montreal, QC | | NC Sponsor | | | | Whooshh Innovations | Salmon Cannon | Bellevue, WA | | Partners | | |  | Breast Cancer Awareness | Charity | Global | | | EMP Museum | Museum | Seattle, WA |
Future Outlook
We've had quite a large shake up of sponsorship from 2014 to 2015. We hope to build strong ties with our current partners for many future seasons. The economics of cycling are often fickle and we are working hard to secure a stable future for the team. To do this we are working towards creating cyclings first Franchise team, in association with Canucks Sports & Entertainment. This move is planned to take full effect between the 2016 and 2017 seasons. More steps will be taken at the end of this season with a slight changing of the way we work our sponsors.
This ultimately means very little to the fans for the time being. Nothing will change in the outside and we will continue in much the same way we have for the past two seasons. The work will be behind the scenes but you will see it leaking through in various partnership and sponsor announcements later in the season.
Edited by TheManxMissile on 11-05-2015 13:43
|
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 26-03-2015 23:00
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
Jersey
(Credits to Jakstar22)
(Credits to Bikex)
(Credits to Bikex)
Wheels - Zipp 808 Firecrest Carbon
TT Frame - Specialized S-Works Shiv TT
Road Frame - Specialized Vengre Pro Race
Edited by TheManxMissile on 25-05-2015 08:17
|
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 26-03-2015 23:02
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
Goals + Results + Calendar
Goals
1) Win Tour of Bulgaria
2) Win Tour of Vancouver
3) Win Rheden GP
4) Win Tour of America
5) Top5 PCT Team Standings
Results
TBC
Calendar
Edited by TheManxMissile on 25-05-2015 08:15
|
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 26-03-2015 23:05
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
Team History
2013 Team HQ - 3 Wins - 14(?) CT with Promotion
2014 Team HQ - 10 Wins - 26th PCT with Survivial
The Sound
Edited by TheManxMissile on 27-03-2015 17:27
|
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 19:10
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| valverde321 |
Posted on 26-03-2015 23:19
|
World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
|
I like one of your sponsors a lot 
|
| |
|
|
| cio93 |
Posted on 26-03-2015 23:22
|
World Champion
Posts: 10845
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 500.00
|
valverde321 wrote:
I like one of your sponsors a lot
Such star. Very bucks. Wow.
|
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 27-03-2015 17:19
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
@valv - Who doens't ejoy a good IMAX movie 
Much Round. So Light. Many Wheel. Wow.
It's our first real 2015 post, huzzah! We will kick off by presenting our new wheels for the 2015 season. In the past we've just used standard factory wheels but our second season in the PCT requires something a bit new. Zipp have been teamed up with Specialized and both are providing us with custom equipment, rather than the initial plan to use factory gear. So we at BLK are proud so show off our new wheels!
(Credits to Felix_29)
We've gone for the 808 Firecrest. A large 82mm rim depth helps to reduce drag and smooth out the overall airflow. Light weight at just 1840g for two wheels the carbon structure maintains rigidity needed to apply big power. The Pink detailing will match up with out team accessories and other equipment, and comes with a new partnership deal to be confirmed in the next week or so.
Our Road frame will be presented tomorrow, the TT frame the day after and culminating with the partnership announcement on Monday. Thanks again to designer Felix_29, nice to have you back!
|
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 28-03-2015 23:33
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
Much Aero. Such Dyanmic. Many Seconds. Wow
Following on from yesterdays announcement of our new Zipp 808 Firecrest wheels, today we present our new Time Trial frames! With Boeing departing the market we joined up with Specialized who've been making top quality bikes for decades. They also have prior ties with Lululemon through their womens team ventures, making the process that much smoother and better.
(Credits to Felix_29)
The S-Works Shiv TT is a staple frame of the time trial world. Carbon is the name of the game on this bike and it's everywhere on the gear. The deep design of the frame minimises bike drag off the bulk of the frame. The integrated cockpit makes for a stiffer front end with more responsive sterring, as well as reducing drag. Each bike will be tailored specifically to our riders sizing and position to make them more efficient on the road. Yet again the Pink is everywhere for the new partnership we'll announce soon.
Road frame presentation tomorrow will round out our equipment announcements for the season. Partnership confirmtion the day after that. Hopefully by then we'll have the Luxembourg NC to show off as well. Keep checking back for all this and more! And again big thanks to Felix_29 for designing our bikes.
Edited by TheManxMissile on 28-03-2015 23:34
|
| |
|
|
| Smowz |
Posted on 29-03-2015 13:18
|
Team Leader
Posts: 6479
Joined: 09-04-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Hmm that frame is certainly distinctive (by that I mean disgusting  ) then again with a team like yours anything to get noticed eh!
Seriously the jerseys look really interesting actually.
|
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 29-03-2015 18:53
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
@Smowz - The pink is nothing new, same color we've been using on accessories for two seasons now. Plus for team like ours which doesn't win often we need to use as many tricks as possible to be seen
Much Bike. Such Design. Many Cool. Wow
To complete the trio of equipment announcements time for the Road Frame. Going along with the S-Works Shiv TT and Zipp 808 Firecrest parts Specialzied are again giving us the Road Frame, and again it comes in pink! The overall compatibility of parts from Zipp and Specialized will make our jobs that much easier on the road. We look forwards to working with both companies in the future.
(Credits to Felix_29)
The Venge Pro Race is one of the fastest road bikes in the world. Like the TT bike it's all Carbon all the time for the construction. Aero focused design to save watts whilst the carbon structure maintains the rigidity needed for good control and power application. It's the ultimate racing machine and every part is built to go faster than other bikes. The bike, combined with out Zipp wheels, can save over 20 seconds per 40km on more tradtitional bikes. Over a 200km race that adds up to a 1-minute saving!
That's all our equipment presented to you the public. Distinctive color scheme will help us stand out in the peloton as well as matching up with the special partnership to be announced tomorrow. Great work from Felix_29 on it all!
|
| |
|
|
| sutty68 |
Posted on 29-03-2015 19:11
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
The Bright pink equipment will certainly stand out in the peleton |
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 30-03-2015 20:30
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
Much Support. Such Charity. Many Help. Wow
As we've been saying the pink coloring of the equipment had more than one meaning. It matches up with the accesories coloring we've been using for two seasons, and will do so again this year, but it now also tallys up with a new partnership scheme. The paperwork has just been finalised today to bring it to reality. We are partnering up with:
Yes we are joining forces with Breast Cancer Awareness! Specialized, Zipp, BCA and BLK have all agreed on this. Specialized and Zipp will sell special pink colored models of their gear and a percentage of the sale (exact figure tbc) goes to BCA. Us at BLK ride the pink bikes, spread the message and aid run some charity bike rides through the season.
We are very proud to help bring this scheme together and to the public. We hope it really works out well for BCA and will put in the effort on ourside the spread the message and publicise the scheme. BCA is not a sponsor of the team, more like an affiliate partner, and if more teams chose to join the idea at a later date they are more than welcome.
|
| |
|
|
| the_hoyle |
Posted on 30-03-2015 22:15
|
Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Nice touch with the Charity!
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
 |
| |
|
|
| sutty68 |
Posted on 31-03-2015 00:34
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Great cause  |
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 23-04-2015 09:00
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
Many Ambition. Such Targets. Very Goal. Wow.
Yep it's time to present our Goals for 2015. We'd like to think at this point most teams have either submitted their goals or are at the stage where other teams arn't going to influence their decisions. Certainly we doubt that our goals will have an impact considering we are a team that barely survived in the PCT.
There is not much change from the previous season in our goals selection in terms of races. These are still the races that are key to our sponsors and current team focus. We might have gone 0-5 for the second year in a row but there isn't much room to change without taking big risks and a big shake up of the team composition. So what have we picked?
| . | Race/Rankings | Level | Goal | Points | | Tour of Bulgaria | C1 | Win | 4 | | Tour of Vancouver | HC | Win | 5 |  | Rheden GP | HC | Win | 5 | | Tour of America | C1 | Win | 4 | | PCT Team Standings | -- | Top 5 | 5 |
4 Win's and a Top 5, perhaps even ambitious isn't strong enough to describe the selection. It totals up to the maximum allowed 23 points which will give us maximum available budget after an 0-5 season. This was the big factor in our selection, taking the short term gain because we have to make moves to climb away from a relegation battle again. It's all good picking 'easy' goals but if we relegate what is the point of the extra budget?
Tour of Bulgaria - This didn't exactly go well last year as a Win. But Bulgaria is a big sponsor and focus region for us. Perhaps we won't go with the all-Bulgarian team this time around though. We also understand we don't currently have a rider capable of winning this race without a big breakaway.
Tour of Vancouver - Now we are officially Canadian we can come back to this goal, plus the race route litteraly goes past our front door! It's been a good race for us for two years now so perhaps we can get some luck and get within range of the top position.
Rheden GP - This is our cobbles target for Thomas. Battenkill would be closer to the sponsors but the hills make it trickier for him. Rheden is nice and flat and hopefully after Wanze we can bag another classics win. Certainly this is out most obtainable goal with current riders.
Tour of America - Third time lucky? The GC in the ToA has so far been horrible for us so lets subject outselves to it for a third time, now with a goal riding on it. We never said we were a sensible team. Certainly it requires a new signing to even contemplate winning this race, but as it comes to WA we had to go for it.
PCT Standings - A team only saved from relegation at the death by MGUCI intervention going to the Top5, sounds almost like CSC-Orbea. That said we arn't having quite the big clearout they had. Honestly we don't see us getting much into the Top20 so we said f*ck it, might as well hit the 23.
With our current squad those goals are so far out of our league they might as well be PT. But the budget from 23/23 should give us that bit extra boost to snag the one or two riders to take us from relegators to safety, and that is all we want this season while we continue to grow our clutch of talents. At the least we won't be surprised or dissapointed by going 0-15 in our career come October.
|
| |
|
|
| roturn |
Posted on 23-04-2015 09:07
|
Team Manager
Posts: 22246
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
|
As if... |
| |
|
|
| Heine |
Posted on 23-04-2015 09:14
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4116
Joined: 08-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
If you go 5 for 5 on these goals you deserve to get double the amount for it next year  You're mad
|
| |
|
|
| Selwink |
Posted on 23-04-2015 09:22
|
Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8856
Joined: 17-05-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
|
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 23-04-2015 10:33
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
@roturn - Well the expectation is 0-5
@heine - I'd more than happily take 1-4, but as said it's not about completion but about immediate budget gain
@selwink - I should probably hit it with a hammer
|
| |
|
|
| ggDonovan |
Posted on 23-04-2015 10:41
|
Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 897
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Wow... I don't know what happens if you fail hard with this goals... Maybe you get a negative budget next year 
Good luck
|
| |
|
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
