dhx42

@Struggleteam: How so? Rocking a syndicate or canyon clctv hoody diminishes the allure? Full kit and bike, I guess could but find me a sport that doesn’t sell team merch.

@bgoldstone: good to know!

I have wondered this for years. For example, why doesn't the Syndicate sell their team t-shirts and hoodies? Feel like people would buy them, especially if they knew proceeds were going to paying some of the riders.

The pressure of elites and the overall are different too... With that amount of pressure, I think it's reasonable that Goldstone is probably going to miss a line or two. Great run from Asa though.

@suspended-flesh: Too late for general DTC in US with the requisite brand awareness... Ahead of the time for bike. Unfortunately, that didn't align with the financial objectives. The problem is that between store fronts and the online retail infrastructure suppliers the cost to distribute is nearly the same for a DTC brand as it is for the traditional distributor... Hear you on the bro-deal direct to the brand where the connected buyer is able to effectively buy "wholesale" as an individual. It's bad business by the brand and should be reserved for people who add selling/marketing value so you don't anger your normal consumers who are 90% of your revenue.

PE being the default bogey man is getting old. 1) there are a ton of PE shops now vs. 15 years ago - some are good and some are shitty owners/managers and 2) we have a lot of capital in the system that is going to get put to use on bad ideas so the "YT stories" are more common - downside of excess capital. PE isn't the problem.. bad management (includes ownership/board) with leverage is. That said, @JeffreyJim, I think hits the nail on the head with the business. YT was too late to the D2C model when online customer acquisition costs or rents were too high. Therefore, YT essentially was paying close to the same amount to acquire customers that the traditional distributer brands were paying to their wholesale partners and having a lower MSRP just didn't work. When you look at brands that have navigated D2C and the distributor model, the costs of D2C is getting really close to the discount from MSRP given to wholesalers...

Why can’t they just keep the same tv program for world champs and the World Cup? It’s ridiculous. They’d make more money with better viewership numbers long term.

@donimo: This has to be the way as it will allow team's to justify having teams with a few riders. As Quali becomes more of an actual event that everyone cares about brands will get more value out of the weekend. I like the excitement of the new setup but wish I could watch it

I agree. I wouldn't mind paying but I hope the riders/teams get a portion of the TV contract money... A good TV deal is a great opportunity for the riders, support staff, etc. to see better pay in the sport. However, I bet 90% of the TV deal ends up in the general UCI budget and never gets to the MTB athletes...

Didn't Loris get his first win on the Syndicate? Was Top 5 guy... It's not like his results are wildly different at Trek.