Katie Comptons contract with PlanetBike not renewed

[ridebikeme]

I'm sure that those of you that race "cross" are well aware of Katie Compton losing her contract with Planetbike. I realize that the economy is really tough right now and that everyone is cutting corners and scaling back. But why would a company cut the very best US "cross" racer from their roster and renew someone with less results? There has never been a US racer ( male or female) that has had the results that she does. If she were a poor spokesperson/poor ambassador for this company, again, I could understand their decision. But the reality is that she has brought a LOT of attention to Planet!

I for one, am disappoited with this action both as a female cyclist and a shop owner. When will the women athletes be paid as much as their male counterparts? They won't be unless we start to stand up for them! Considering that women are a huge market in the cycling industry, I would encourage all of you to pay attention and relay your thoughts/imput to your LBS and Planetbike directly. We need a stronger voice and this certainly is a worthwhile cause.

I started this by emailing Planetbike, now I'm reaching out to all of you. As a shop owner, I will no longer stock any Planetbike inventory in the store and will pass along my disgust to local reps and customers alike. I hope that you will join me in standing up for this inequality.

[smilingcat]

Perhaps it may be something as simple as she was too expensive to keep on their roster.

People are cutting corners/reducing cost...

***deleted too much info***

If you cost too much on their bottom line, and never mind what you may bring to the table*, you may be let go.

Politics may also be involved. Someon may have had an axe to grind with Kati. Or she said something not approved by the company... You'll never know what was behind the corporate wall.

And no! I'm not defending Planet at all. just reflecting on today's reality.


*and yes its very shortsighted.

smilingcat

[MartianDestiny]

I'd like to see some FACTS about the WHY before I get my "panties in a wad" so to speak.

For all anybody knows (unless you know something you haven't shared here in your little diatribe) Katie could have initiated the breakup, or asked for more than they can possibly afford. (or, now that I've scanned a few news articles looking (unsuccessfully) for details on this split, they know or suspect something about her health that we aren't aware of). Or, like smilingcat mentioned; they simply cannot afford to support her.

I'm certainly NOT going to jump on the "female athlete discrimination" bandwagon with you until there's some darn good proof of that. They did hire her in the first place, and it's DARN COMMON in other sports for contracts to not be renewed (from both parties) and people to shuffle around (yes, even the star athletes).

I'm more likely, as a customer, to never walk into a shop again after they cut ties with a brand I owned (thus making any warranty or other issues a whole lot bigger pain in my rear) because someone was unhappy about their race team practices (frankly I don't give a rat's behind about race teams) before even getting all the facts.

You first need to SHOW us that there's an ACTUAL inequality. Heck, from your post I'm just ASSUMING that the person they kept is a man?!?!

(not necessarily defending Planet Bike either; I just have no earthly idea what's actually going on. If you want me (or others) to decry this company as scum of the Earth you're going to have to do a better job of telling us/me why we/I should.)

[ridebikeme]

Perhaps some of your thoughts/beliefs are correct. However, if indeed it's a financial decision, then why wouldn't they stick with someone that has the best performances? Katis has 6 US National championships, 6 World Cup wins, and a silver and bronze at the World Championships. Those are stats that no one has...

At any rate, I hope that we'll find out more info later and that she is able to find another sponser.

[SheFly]

Politics may also be involved. Someon may have had an axe to grind with Kati. Or she said something not approved by the company... You'll never know what was behind the corporate wall.

While this may/may not be the case with Katie, it was certainly a well-publicized case with another female cross racer this season. She signed with a sponsor, demanded certain components, and then replaced the decals on said components with another manufacturer!

So, I agree with others - don't get too upset and start crying discrimination on this one, since we don't know what really went on here. It is too bad she is losing her sponsor, but Laura van Gilder lost hers two seasons ago too...

SheFly

[MartianDestiny]

Perhaps some of your thoughts/beliefs are correct. However, if indeed it's a financial decision, then why wouldn't they stick with someone that has the best performances? Katis has 6 US National championships, 6 World Cup wins, and a silver and bronze at the World Championships. Those are stats that no one has...

At any rate, I hope that we'll find out more info later and that she is able to find another sponser.

Easy; those stats command a whole lot more $$$ than some youngster without the record!!!!!

[AllezGirl]

I'm ashamed at how quick you were to jump on Ridebikeme for what is a legitimate concern. I don't personally know Katie Compton, but I know her reputation and palmeres. I'd be quick to back her over a sponsor any day. As a racer, I know how little support there is for women vs. men. It's completely skewed.

Shefly brought up Laura Van Gilder. I do know her, and that's a perfect example. LVG is the best of the best. She's an amazing athlete and person. Racing bikes is her bread and butter, she supports herself by racing bikes, and has worked hard enough and proven herself enough that she has every right to do so. And she gives back, she's an incredible person. But yet, she's been without a sponsor. Yes, she wins races and therefor prize money...but she's without the sponsorship which equals equipment deals that are so vital in this business. Not to mention that Laura wins races alone, without a team to support her! Do you have any idea how difficult that is? Racing...especially crit racing on an elite level is normally a team sport. For her to do it without a team is absolutely a testimony to her ability. Of course out here, the Olympians and ex-pros will be the first to tell you! She regularly schools the boys.

Local Cat1 guys that don't race out of the state of PA get better equipment deals, and better prize money than these women. But yet a sponsor dropped a 6x world champion? And you're ok with that? Katie has not been accused of doping or dishonoring her sponsors (trust me, I'd be the first to know, one of my closest friends is a premier CX writer)...I'm completely taken aback that that would even be assumed on a women's cycling forum.

The negativity in this post amazes me. Women's racing is in a growing place. It's faster and better than it's ever been! At the Liberty Classic (the Philly Pro Women's race) we passed the men! That's never happened...Ina T. called them P***ies as she passed! That was awesome!

I'm just so disappointed that you would be so quick to disqualify a woman that had been dropped by her sponsor. It doesn't happen to men, it shouldn't happen to women. But it does, and way too frequently. And we should be pissed about it.

[OakLeaf]

Ina T. called them P***ies as she passed! That was awesome!

Passing them was awesome. Calling them by that name was anything but.

Okay, I don't know anything about the particular issues in this thread, but insulting men by calling them effeminate does NOT do anything for the cause of women's equality. As long as women ourselves - let alone men - consider being female/feminine/effeminate as an insult, we will never be thought of as equals.

[ridebikeme]

I apologize for upsetting people here, that was NOT my intent! The purpose of this was to open our eyes to the reality of professional womens cycling and the inequality of sponsers/pay. Did you know that most of the pros have to work another job while still riding? And that even the lower throngs of the mens racing have a higher income?

I'm NOT here to make this a male vs female rant; it's simply a fact that we should all pay attention to. Although we are getting closer, the men make more money in all facets of the work world. Shouldn't we be concerned about this? Wouldn't you want your daughter making equal pay of another male for doing the same job?

Perhaps there is an underlying reason why Katie lost her sponser (again), but the fact remains her and Laura have so much talent and struggle to find sponsers. There are no doping allegations with either, and "yet" we'll be ok with men that haver paid their dues and yet are still able to find a team to sponser them?

To make a long story short, I feel very fortunate to have received an athletic scholarship to college. I also know that there were many women that worked hard and struggled to make things like that happen. Personally, I feel an obligation to try and make things better for the women that are coming up in the sport or are involved right now. And it's very likely that the effort I make will go unnoticed, but I hope eventually pay scales and sponsership will be more equal.

[redrhodie]

Women's racing is in a growing place. It's faster and better than it's ever been! At the Liberty Classic (the Philly Pro Women's race) we passed the men! That's never happened...Ina T. called them P***ies as she passed! That was awesome!

Beryl Burton passed all the men, including the one who had just set the world record in the 12 hour.

Read about her here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryl_Burton

Like today's female racers, Beryl also worked full time while racing. She didn't even get paid leave from her job to attend races in which she set world record times. She also had no pro sponsorship, so attending international races, and buying gear, was a huge financial burden on her family. We've come a long way baby--oh wait, no, we haven't.

BTW, my Planetbike mesh gloves were very poorly made, and came apart at the seams in only a few rides. I wouldn't have mentioned that if they hadn't dropped Katie.

[TxDoc]

Ina T. called them P***ies as she passed! That was awesome!

No, that seems rude and immature to me, not awesome. Grow up, Mrs. Ina T.

It doesn't happen to men, it shouldn't happen to women.

Yes, it does happen that men are dropped by their sponsors. Champions are dropped every day.
Sponsors drop athletes all the time for a number of financial/PR/risk management reasons - nothing to do with gender.

[AllezGirl]

Ina called her male teammates on Columbia p*****s. It was tongue and cheek. Grow a sense of humor.

[TxDoc]

Ina called her male teammates on Columbia p*****s. It was tongue and cheek. Grow a sense of humor.

Still unprofessional behavior calling each other names during a race which is a public event. Lawyers do not call each other names in court, nor do physicians in front of their patients. In private we can joke about anything we like and laugh about it - but in public we represent our profession.
If we compete in a sport - during the competition we represent our team, our sport, and athletes in general. Therefore, professional behavior is in order

[ridebikeme]

This whole topic was brought up to bring attention to an area that I thought everyone would have a concern about. I'm definitely concerned about equal pay for EVERYONE!!

However, it seems that we are concentrating on behavior issues, and whether we all approve or disapprove. Some say it's not professional, have you ever watched a professional team sport? They trash talk with opponents and teammates all the time! And I don't see anyone bringing up that subject anywhere online. So, let's just get back to the subject at hand. What can each of us do to encourage sponsers/employers to pay everyone equally? Afterall, that is why this subject was brought up in the first place.

[SadieKate]

BTW, her name is Kate Compton. No. "s".