Well, not the kind of sponsorship you would think of.  I would like to refer to it as Reverse Sponsorship.  If you scroll a bit down, and read the WTF posting, you will understand what our fledgling organization is all about.  We don't want your money.  Sure we will take it if you force it down our neck, but that is not our goal.

After a lengthy negation with the principal members of each origination, an agreement has been achieved.  

Lakeside Cyclery of Clear Lake, Iowa has been named first corporate sponsor of the North Iowa Bicycle Underground.

"What is a Reverse Sponsorship", you may be asking yourself right now.  Well, we have not, and will not receive any funds from Lakeside for their sponsorship, actually, we will be sponsoring them.  We are going to advertise their name, their contact info, and their products - for free.

This is a payback.  A payback for everything the staff at Lakeside has ever done for anyone who has ever ridden a bike.  Unicycles, two wheelers, trikes, crazy recumbants, wacky tandems, and even the North Iowa farmers who get help in the fall.

This is our chance to show our appreciation, and pass the word along about their amazing service and products. 

Almost everyone you run into on a bike of any shape has a great Lakeside story.  One of my favorites is a story from my dad.  Maybe ten years ago my dad was on a ride around the lake on his mountain bike.  He was having problems with a shifter, and stopped in and talked to Russ about it.  Russ checked it out, and found that the part in question was a faulty design to begin with, and switched it out with another shifter that he had laying around.  My dad just wanted him to look at the shifting, he didn't expect for any repair to be done right then and there, and didn't have any cash with him.

Russ just told him to ride the bike home with the new shifter, and if it worked fine, put 5 bucks in the mail to him, and if it didn't work to come back and they could find a different solution.  Now what bike shop - OR ANY SHOP works in that fashion?  Money Money Money.  That usually is the rule of the game - but not at Lakeside

That is one story and I know that each of you knows about 10 other stories just like that.  Actually, if you like, put your favorite "Lakeside" story in the comments on this entry.

Back to the sponsorship…  As I stated we are happy to announce Lakeside as our first sponsor, and will wear their name proudly.  We are working on a new jersey, and will have information posted here when something is ready.

Happy riding.

Lakeside Cyclery Sales and Service

5435 S. Shore Drive

Clear Lake, IA 50428

641-357-4660

(Repair work during the spring and summer months can require lengthy amounts of time due to the numbers of repairs being done.  Get your bike in during the fall and winter months - but regardless, it is always worth having it checked over there - even with the wait)