Halfords sponsoring of Nicole

beegee
beegee Posts: 160
edited June 2008 in Pro race
I know nothing about cycle racing so please forgive me this question. There was a recent report about Halford's sponsorship of Nicole Cook. From what I could understand she has to race in the Olympics on a Halford's own brand bicycle that is available for sale to the public. I am very pleased that Halfords are sponsoring Nicole. That's excellent and I haven't any problems with the sight of Halfords decals all over the bike and her clothes (actually it does cause me a little bit of a problem but that's because when I was younger the Halfords cycles were cheap poor quality bikes and it takes a lot to shift that mental assocation from my head). But to insist that she races on one of their available-over-the-counter bikes, isn't that just forcing their sponsorship deal too far ? From the report it appears that the bike retails for about £1400 which I thought was middle to top end club rider price - not Olympic hopeful. Obviously the deal was acceptable to Nicole so it must be okay. As I say, I don't know anything about racing so please forgive me if I annoy you with the silly question.

Comments

  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    beegee wrote:
    I know nothing about cycle racing so please forgive me this question. There was a recent report about Halford's sponsorship of Nicole Cook. From what I could understand she has to race in the Olympics on a Halford's own brand bicycle that is available for sale to the public. I am very pleased that Halfords are sponsoring Nicole. That's excellent and I haven't any problems with the sight of Halfords decals all over the bike and her clothes (actually it does cause me a little bit of a problem but that's because when I was younger the Halfords cycles were cheap poor quality bikes and it takes a lot to shift that mental assocation from my head). But to insist that she races on one of their available-over-the-counter bikes, isn't that just forcing their sponsorship deal too far ? From the report it appears that the bike retails for about £1400 which I thought was middle to top end club rider price - not Olympic hopeful. Obviously the deal was acceptable to Nicole so it must be okay. As I say, I don't know anything about racing so please forgive me if I annoy you with the silly question.

    Would think that the bike would be built to her own specifications, but with Halfords stickers all over it, probably...
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    Says it has a lower head tube than the standard bikes so it might have one or two other tweaks. Think it says she using Shimano Ultegra too. You can bet she's not using the wheels that come as standard though.
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • Jez mon
    Jez mon Posts: 3,809
    In pictures i've seen she's been using the wheels supplied. But i think when it comes to Beijing she'll have a pair of Carbon Sports Lightweight Wheels, or other such wheels. Maybe they'll develop a fully carbon bike for her by the Olympics, which will have Boardman stickers on it and be sold in selected numbers.
    You live and learn. At any rate, you live
  • scwxx77
    scwxx77 Posts: 1,469
    There was an article on her bike at cyclingnews last week.

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2008/pr ... dman_pro08
    Winner: PTP Vuelta 2007 :wink:
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    Many male ProContinental teams would ride this type of bike and within the past 5(?) years, the Decathlon bikes used in the TdF by AG2R were fairly mundane by the top standards of the day.

    Also bear in mind that womens racing, even at the top level, is a very low-budget sport. Many of the riders that have high-quality components - Lightweights, SRM Power meters etc - have them as the result of personal sponsorship deals or have simply borrowed them. Most riders will simply have to ride what their sponsor gives them, regardless of perceived sophistication or lack thereof.
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • JC.152
    JC.152 Posts: 645
    She used to use a custom steel Rourke a few years ago to win the junior worlds because its up on the wall in the shop.
  • beegee
    beegee Posts: 160
    Okay, thanks for the replies. I feel more reassured now.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/arti ... -pro-16713

    new frame on the way..
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I really dont believe that the bikes make a big a difference as the makers would like you to believe.

    You never get a race dominated by one make of bike do you ?
  • jimycooper
    jimycooper Posts: 740
    it's a chris boardman bike wich halfords sell and are not own brand
    boardman bikes are well known for being very cheap for what they are
    if it had colnago written on the side it would be £2,000.
  • emadden
    emadden Posts: 2,431
    Nicole's TT bike didnt have decals at the recent womens TT at the Tour de Romandie
    th_08597_nc01_122_168lo.jpg [
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  • rdaviesb
    rdaviesb Posts: 566
    Might have been an early version of a Boardman Elite TT frame

    http://www.boardmanelite.com/
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    It's not about the bike :)

    Seriously, there is absolutely nothing wrong with alloy/carbon frames. Just because a bike is cheaper than some does not disqualify it from being ridden by an Olympic hopeful. Below the top tier of Pro teams, equipment costs decrease quickly. The Pro team near here (Richmond Pro Cycling) has some 105 parts on their bikes....

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