As many of you know one of the key ways that we’re raising money to support trails around the country is through selling stuff such as our Trail Fund NZ t-shirts. As well as helping put clothes on the mountain bike community it’s working out to be a very good deal for trails with $20 from each adult t-shirt (and $15 from each kids) going to supporting trails all around New Zealand.
So far we’ve given out $3000 to 5 projects and we’re doing a second funding round right now that will close off in July. For more information on how to apply for funds look here:
http://trailfund.org.nz/grant-applications/
It’s worked pretty well too in terms of raising the profile of the project in a relatively short period of time. It’s also been a way to get other parties engaged as supporters because it provides our partners a way to get behind the project by putting their logo on a shirt with ours and then helping us sell the shirts. Burkes Cycles, Bicycle.co.nz and Floyd’s Cafe are all early examples of great companies helping Trail Fund by co-branding our t-shirts and hoodies.
With some initial success under our belt, in particular with a strong response in the Wellington Region (where about half the shirts sold have gone!) we thought it was about time we extended the t-shirt experiment to see if we could do a ‘local’ shirt with a local Club. The idea would be to split the money raised between a regional and the national fund, giving locals something to get behind for trails across their region while also still supporting the development of that next bit of sweet single track that they can ride on their next road trip somewhere else.
With all that in mind Trail Fund NZ reached out to Revolve Cycling who are one of the most civic minded and progressive Clubs that we know of. Based in Wellington, Revolve are a women’s cycling club with a particular focus on mountain biking and road cycling. Formed with the goal of getting more women out having fun on bikes they’re known for great events, a very stylish annual general meeting and importantly, for getting behind trail building with funding and by doing their own grubber time.
So the Trail Fund NZ / Revolve Cycling t-shirt has been born and each one sold will contribute $10 to the Wellington Region fund that only projects in the Wellington Region can apply for. Another $10 from each shirt sold will go to the national fund, which projects around the country (including Wellington-based projects) can contest for in our funding rounds. So it’s local + awesome.
At this stage we are only planning on doing one run of these shirts and we’ll close off orders on May 15th. Two options, Fuschia or Oyster, are available from the online store. Women’s only shirts at the moment but if the boys protest enough I am sure Ashley and the ladies will sign off on a blokes colour option.
A big thanks from everyone at Trail Fund NZ to the ladies of Revolve Cycling, you’re awesome.