Asking for a sponsorship for racing

[limewave]

No. You just really need to make sure you point out what's in it for them, not just for you.

Yes, I was thinking the exact same thing just after I posted this.

[Irulan]

I don't know how you'd find it, but a friend of mine did a really neat article on how to ask for sponsorship and how to represent/behave as a sponsored rider, for Dirt Rag (??) a few years ago. He's a Masters World Champ DH racer. His name is Doug Minor... maybe a good google might bring the article up? Needless to say he's got a lot of good sponsors.

[Kiwi Stoker]

As a former maketing manager in the industry I have to second the what's in it for the sponsor.
Think outside the square as well.
Can you take a women's MTB skills class for free for the store?
Make sure you provide race reports and photos (which are taken by yourself or a friend so won't have copyright issues).
Write an article or two for their website/newsletter or something?
Advertise their brand anwhere you can- putting a sign in your parked car at races, wearing a polo with their logo off the bike, referring as many people as possible to them?

Basically what advertising can YOU get for the store that you can access as being a sponsored rider- local paper article, weblog or anything like that.

I turned people down as soon as I saw "I need a bike and clothing and will ride for your store", umm hello? Any old chump can do that for me, so what makes you special/different and value for my money? Cas often I don't have a lot marketing money and so many people come with their cap in hand.