Crowdfunding a women's pro cycling team - could it work?

I'll do the Sports Psychiatry bit! And the crowdfunding sounds great too.

Hi All

If you've had any issues sending mails through, firstly, sorry. Not sure what the issue is/was

Try stefan @ initialiseme.com (or stefan @onthedrops.com)

Otherwise I'm in Facebook and Twitter (ds_Stef)

Stefan

Talking of investing some effort, can I sign up as a masseur?! Laura Trott, this way please!

I think its a great concept, be really keen to see it materialise

I was thinking about a fan based team on a ride a few weeks ago but thought it would be too expensive. I do not know how teams are funded exactly, bikes and kit can come from sponsors but what about salaries? Paying a team of 6 the average national salary would be £150k per year for a start. And the sort of riders in the article above deserve a lot more than that in my opinion. With back-up staff, vehicle (hire) and transport the budget would be a lot more. I would suggest commitment should be for 3+ years as well to give continuity to all.

Are not Rapha partly sponsored this way as well, contribution being £1,000? Sure they were a few years ago. To rich for me though.

Willing to contribute £100 and money.

Its sad that team sky dont have a womens team - they have so many great GB riders - Cooke, Armitstead, Pooley and Garner - that they should not have to be fighting for scraps off the table

I thought it was great to see Wiggins support for a team on the cycle show a few weeks ago

When I tried to email to join up I got an email response saying the email address was blocking emails... hope that just means his inbox is full!

Hi

I have posted some information about the idea on the team website at http://www.onthedrops.cc/fanbackedwomensteam/

If anyone is interested (or confirmed they want to 'IN'), please email me on stefan @ onthedrops.com

I will also post updates via twitter on ds_stef

Re monthly amounts, I think thats a great idea. We are very much data gathering right now, and would like to hear all of your ideas, comments, and what you think the potential would be (including potential issues). Please send them all to me by email.

I think its clear from the early support this has legs, and we are nearly at 25% there in terms of initial numbers needed (113 people confirmed in 5 days).

I hope to post another full update this week.

Regards

Stefan

Great idea. But I'm not in. I have a house/family life/ kids/ work/ and find it hard enough financially alreay! As for the "sweat" I spend enough time mowing lawn/painting walls/ sealing the bath/ taking kids to rugby....etc...get the idea? I will watch it on the telly though or if an event rides through my village. Good luck with it!!

I'd do it. Agree that a monthly option would be good and some people would almost certainly put more in if that were the case, but it might be difficult for the team to rely on - a direct debit can get cancelled at any time an with quite a small number of funders, it wouldn't take many mid-season drop outs to cause a problem. But there must be data from charities on the rate of cancelled monthly donations, I guess, so that rate could prob be factored in.

Either way, it's a great idea!

I'd buy that for a dollar!

I'm in.
Would be cool to see one of your riders win a race and be able to say "I helped make that happen".
Sweat equity as well in the form of printed media.

I would be up for a monthly sub and what a fab way to start the ball rolling

Great idea!......if a monthly payment option was available. Like others have already said, it is a bit too much to pay in one go.

I'd definitely be interesting in supporting with money and (small amounts of) sweat.

In principle, I'm in. I'd want to see a business plan to make sure it's not a scam that's just capitalising on the mood of the moment.

I'm also prepared to invest sweat equity as well - photography, copy writing/editing and design

Count me in as well please have been looking for a way to help since hearing of the lack of funding. Would be a waste of talent not too see them racing again. Maybe I could get a Job helping as well Just need details of where to sign up unless I've missed it.

Where do we sign up? cash and sweat (well photography!) ready

I'll add my £100...
The girls should have equal opportunities to the boys...
If crowdfunding is the way forward... lets get started...!

Would be worth looking at a Supporters Trust type organisation. Some football and rugby clubs are owned and run by their supporters and this sounds as though it would be along similar lines.

I'd be in for this, But as said, Don't really have £100 to stump up. If this idea was to take off. We could have others taking on the idea in various other countries.

It wouldn't take long to show the appetite for woman's cycling and getting major sponsors back on board and making a major push to get woman's cycling if not level, up there with men's cycling on terms of sponsors and air time

I would too!
Like the idea to offer a monthly option; those who put the money up front, that could be used for any initial capital items, with a nice steady cashflow from those who go for the monthly option.
I'd suggest a reward of a team jersey with all contributors names on it; that would do me.

We're definitely in. Great fun.

I reckon I'd do it. £100 each. Maybe direct debit, since £8.33 a month would go un-noticed, whereas you might feel the effect of a lump sum.