VeloGear looking for writers

Velogear.com has been a trusted source for quality Retro Cycling Jerseys,apparel,unique gear and gifts since 1999.Founded by the owners of VeloNews, Velogear.com initially offered a small selection of unique gifts to help the magazine’s customers buy hard to find cycling items. In 2009, Velogear.com was purchased by two dedicated cyclists and industry veterans, Kent McNeill and Jay Thomas. Both bring a proven customer-focused perspective and a brick-and-mortar retail sensibility to Velogear.com. With stores in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri, Kent and Jay are making it their mission to provide online shoppers with quality products and exceptional service at Velogear.com.

Citing a lack of quality peer-review in the softgoods channel, Kent McNeill and Jay Thomas decided to start their own. Beginning Friday, May 8th they’ll be accepting applications for the VeloGear Test Team, an online community of writers…who also ride. A lot. The team is open to any and all applicants that log mid-to-high range miles, even if affiliated with other teams or programs. Once accepted into the program riders can expect to receive 4-6 pieces of cycling gear per year. The catch? They have to review them. And make us think. Or laugh. Or better yet, both.

What kind of riders are we looking for? All of ‘em. Every discipline, every climate, every make, model and year. Dunno if you’ve noticed, but we’re not the trinkets and trash guys anymore (OK, fair is fair – you want a sprocket necklace? We’ve got you covered.) Check out the new site – we’re rocking all new gear from the best suppliers on the road and dirt sides; Capo, Jett, Castelli, Sombrio, Swobo, Pearlizumi – this is the gear you’ll be testing.

Here’s what the head muckety-mucks at VeloGear had to say;

“As cyclists we’re often faced with inconsistencies among the global community of cycling apparel manufacturers. Having the latest in Italian cycling super-finery is great – but only if you can translate the ownership experience into the domestic lexicon,” stated McNeill, “It can be really, really hard to get the information that you want from many manufacturers’ websites – and nobody wants to buy something that they’re not sure is going to fit. We wanted to find a core group of riders and bloggers to test and review the brands that we carry so that we could begin to build a qualitative and quantitative database – one that our customers could rely upon as they make their purchasing decisions.”

“This is an opportunity for VeloGear to add something substantial to the cycling dialogue,” stated Jay Thomas. “It allows us to add value to our existing partnerships from a marketing perspective and provides as legitimate benefit to riders looking for more and better information. Plus 30 or so lucky riders in 2010 are going to get some pretty sweet stuff.”

Potential applicants for the test team program are encouraged to visit the VeloGear Facebook community page to find and fill out an application. Once accepted, riders will be sent various articles of merchandise fitting their riding style, discipline or regional climate, the first of which is a VeloGear Test Team kit consisting of Capo bib shorts and jersey. Subsequently, as vendors come online with the program team members will have the opportunity to ride in the very latest gear from the industry’s top suppliers. The team is open to men and women and riders of all disciplines including road, track, cyclocross, XC, DH and all-mountain.