<p>I'm interested in eventually developing a cycling team at my university and am looking for some advice and insight into doing so.</p>
<p>1) Cycling is an expensive sport what with bike maintenance, clothes, equipment, entry fees, etc. As cycling is not as popular a sport as basketball, football or baseball in the states, have any of you found any difficulty in acquiring support for a collegiate cycling team?</p>
<p>2) Training is time consuming especially on when many training rides are at least an hour and 15+ hrs/week or training is regular. Has this ever been difficult for any of you and is there any advice you can offer in this regard? I'm majoring in Mechanical Engineering so I want to maintain as high a GPA as possible. Studies come first.</p>
<p>To anyone wondering, cycling clothes are expensive especially if they are custom in which case a full kit can total to at least $400 for bib shorts, short sleeve jerseys, long sleeve jerseys, arm warmers, leg warmers, caps, gloves, and socks. Even for just short sleeve jerseys and bib shorts, the total for good quality custom ones is at least $100 conservatively. And if you want to ride in colder weather, you’ll need long sleeve jerseys and tights. If one rides frequently, the fabric near rear of the shorts and tights may reveal pale buttocks and you’ll have other racers chuckling behind your back before anyone ever points it out (Way to carry your sponsors’ names with pride).</p>
<p>Because of the cost of competitive cycling, many competitive teams seek sponsors for financial support so if yous sponsors change you’ll need a new kit.</p>
<p>And that concludes today’s lesson on the cost of road cycling.</p>