Sponsorship
I hope the following proposal is of interest and that this ride is the start of an exciting, challenging and fulfilling journey we’ll share together.
I’m just getting started.
- Andrew Pratley, Adventurer, Athlete & Ambassador
The Proposal
In November I will be undertaking an epic bike ride across Australia, solo and self-supported. Few people conceive rides of this magnitude. I see it as a prologue – the testing ground for what I have planned later this decade. Rides that, if successful, will redefine what we believe is possible from ourselves and the equipment we have access to.
I choose to do these not to prove the point that I can, but that the limitations we set on ourselves become our defining features. I am drawn to the wide-open spaces, the uncertainty and the chance to explore the fragility of the human mind.
This sponsorship proposal is to invite you to be part of the best team I can build to complete these rides. I learnt on my first multi-week bikepacking trip that the best way to understand the value of a team is to do something by yourself. I want to work with the suppliers of the best equipment and nutrition, not because I want free supplies, but because I want to show the world what we can achieve. I hope this will be a long-term collaboration, using my knowledge and experience of Australia’s harshest conditions to refine and improve what you create.
“Andrew impresses immediately. He possesses a rare and pure pioneering spirit motivated solely by his curiosity to discover the limits of endurance. A simple combination of man and machine, both built as strong and enduring as possible, thrown into the world’s harshest and most gruelling conditions, unsupported, with no backup plan. When others ask ‘why?’ Andrew responds, ‘well why not?’”
This ride is special for the amazing scenery, the rugged beauty of the Australian outback and the unforgiving nature of the desert. Few people drive their 4WDs in this part of Australia. I will be the only cyclist to pass through for six months or more. Riding somewhere rugged and difficult doesn’t, in and of itself, have commercial value to sponsors. The commercial value comes from linking the trip to specific business outcomes – increased sales, wider distribution of products, exclusive events that build brand awareness. I’ve spent the last decade working as an independent statistician delivering commercially valuable work to a wide range of organisations. I understand the difference between activities that would be nice to do, and activities that make commercial sense.
A summary of the sponsorship tiers is below. My interest is working with sponsors to develop bespoke, high-quality experiences that money can’t buy. This might be running an exclusive ride for a distributor or supplier. This could be attending a trade show to speak about the bike and the ride. This might involve me running a live stream during the trip for a small group of people. None of these can be purchased.
The Journey
In November, I will undertake a 4,000km solo, self-supported trip across the heart of Australia, linking up iconic 4WD routes into one continuous journey from Adelaide to Broome. In one sentence:
"It's really long, it's really hot, and it's really hard."
I'll be the first (?) to connect the Mawson Trail, Oodnadatta Track, the Old Ghan Heritage Trail, the Tanami Track and the Gibb River Road in one continuous stretch on a bike. Each of these 4WD tracks is a serious undertaking by bike. These are rarely ridden in summer.
The journey from Adelaide to Broome will take approximately 40 days, riding 10 hours a day traversing rough, corrugated and sandy roads. Each day is a significant undertaking – the days start before dawn packing up camp by head torch to be riding at first light. Throughout the day, I’ll have the flies for company with the heat and humidity, and the threat of rain. Most days I’ll eat close to 10,000 calories, as much as some people in a week. I’ll need to carry this food with me as resupply points are few and far between. As the sunsets late in the evening I’ll be setting up camp, posting photos and videos from the day, and trying to get a few hours of sleep, before starting over again in the dark
“Jeez this is some bonkers stuff. I’m trying to wrap my head around the logistics (of filming). I can only imagine your challenge Andrew!”
This ride is the first in a series conceived to assess the limits of human endurance and performance of gear over the next decade. This ride will be undertaken in partnership with Australian Bossi Bicycles, with whom I have co-designed a custom frame (Nomad in commercial production 2023) to tackle the terrain. Subsequent rides will take me across some of the most iconic deserts in Australia, starting with the Simpson.
Why is this trip unique?
By its nature, adventure is often shared in a reflective capacity. Adventurers write books, deliver lectures, conduct training and draw learning from their travels after the fact. Few, if any, share the experience through the process; the remote locations make sharing content expensive, and actively documenting day-in day-out takes precious time and focus away from what the adventurer initially set out to achieve. Every minute you're not moving forward is a minute you can never get back. The longer one is out there in a harsh environment the greater the risk of bad outcomes.
Ultra-endurance racing offers 'dot watchers' the ability to watch competitors move along the course in real-time. Live tracking allows for seeing when people stop, and wondering what they might be going through. Knowing where someone is relative to other people is exciting for racing, but there is no context (images), no nuance (feelings) and no reflections (words).
Few people, if any, will ever undertake a trip such as Adelaide to Broome 'the hard way'. I plan to offer an immersive experience by sharing daily updates through Facebook and Instagram, and via WhatsApp for a select group of people to access throughout the day. While this level of communication and documentation in addition to pushing my body to its limits only adds to the difficulty of the trip, I believe that sharing the in-the-moment experience is the obvious path forward for modern adventuring. In an era where major sporting events including endurance races are livestreamed, the experience for followers and supporters of a solo endeavour also needs to be live.
I hope to provide those following along with the ultimate armchair experience. On my previous ride, I provided my WhatsApp group with an immersive involvement through text, photos and videos. I was genuinely surprised by how emotionally invested people became. Few people can or indeed desire to offer this level of unique content, insight and reflection for 40 days. In doing so, I will offer an experience like no other, testing the gear and my own mental and physical limits on a daily basis in one of the more remote and tougher environments this country has to offer.
Your products where you want them
All sponsors in Pedal Pal and Cruising Companion tiers will receive a personalised media kit that consists of (at least) two professional photo shoots with at least one on location (on the route) by James Raison (https://www.instagram.com/rideadelaide/).
For each shoot, you'll be provided with:
10+ high-quality images of your products.
These photos will be sized and cropped for Instagram stories/posts (and/or other social media).
Platform-tailored copy that can be easily adapted to your business’s style linking the product to the trip.
'Hero shots', with the option to discuss exclusive use rights. Depending on the level of support, this may include wearing branded clothing.
In addition to the shoots, I will collaborate with you to either:
Develop brand awareness or
Develop stories around your product
Depending on your unique needs, this could be through long-form text-based reviews, long-form video(s) or an interview with someone from your team exploring the features of your product that are going to enhance my trip. For all companies supporting me, I have previously purchased their products at the full retail price, and I believe in their value. I want to share my experience with a wider audience through real and compelling storytelling.
(L-R The Flinders Rangers, Oodnadatta Track & Old Ghan Heritage Trail)
Sample Weekly Content Plan
Engaging content doesn’t happen by chance. With a stunning selection of landscapes, this trip provides diverse opportunities to place your content where it works for you, inviting followers to experience the journey and your part in it. Each week there will be approximately 25 unique pieces of content on Instagram and Facebook, as well as long-form written material via newsletter and the website.
(L-R The ‘Pink’ Oodnadatta Roadhouse & Wolfe Creek crater, 20 kilometres off the Tanami Track)
Tiers of support
(i) Supporter – Up to $5k in-kind and/or cash sponsorship
Brand logo and link featured on the website.
Pre-event engagement – a combination of a series of social posts on why your product is must-have for the trip, unboxing video or in person social media.
Access to the trip WhatsApp feed for key members of your team.
(ii) Pedal Pal – Greater than $5k and up to $10k in-kind and cash sponsorship (minimum of $3k in cash)
All the benefits of being a Supporter, and in addition you receive:
Two sharable content posts during the trip on days or locations of your choice, with at least one professionally captured.
Post-event giveaway of products used during the trip. This could be a competition advertising through social media for followers to write in with how they’ll use the product on their next adventure. For nutrition suppliers this could be the same food I consumed during the trip.
Detailed feedback on how your product performed during the trip, delivered in a format that suits your business.
(iii) Cruising Companion – Greater than $10k in-kind and cash sponsorship (minimum of $7k cash)
All the benefits of being a Pedal Pal, and in addition you receive:
Bespoke, high-quality experience(s) that money can’t buy. Examples include:
Hosting an exclusive ride for a distributor or supplier.
Attending a trade show to speak about the bike and the ride.
Running a live stream during the trip for a small group of people.
A tailored professional speaking engagement after the ride.
A combination of these would be available consummate with the level of financial support.
Budget and commercial terms
I expect the ride to be a significant net loss, at best, break even. The financial support from sponsors will be spent on professional filming and to cover fixed costs (in that order). The commercial value to me is in the professional speaking and training market that I currently sell into as an independent consulting statistician (as Dr Andrew Pratley). I would expect to sell into this market after the ride for the coming decade as a professional adventurer.
My extensive professional speaking experience ensures that sponsors in the Cruising Companion tier will be guaranteed a standout experience, expertly tailored to their business needs.
I will not be running a GoFundMe, or trying to sell products and services before, during or after the trip. I have no plans to run ultra-endurance riding camps or become a race director. This means that my trip focus is on ensuring the companies supporting me get the best value for their investment. I will not only ensure that sponsors are not in competing markets, but that I am also not in a competing market. I am not looking for sponsors to fund my lifestyle, nor financially support me outside of specific events.
A basic budget suggests the trip will cost about $50k. I would estimate I have already invested at least this amount (if not more) over the past two years on equipment, physiotherapy, massage and nutrition products. A detailed budget can be supplied upon request.
About me
I believe we're far more capable than we think. Over the past few years I've set out to see what I'm capable of; I'm only just getting started.
In January 2022, after almost two years of lockdowns, I set out on my first multi-day bikepacking trip, riding over 2,000km in from Melbourne to Sydney via Mildura in 15 days. The route took me on some of Australia’s roughest roads at the hottest time of the year. The trip was solo, unsponsored and unsupported. I saw nothing out of the ordinary with my choice of trip or timing, despite what everyone else was saying to me. I recognise that I spend of my life safe and comfortable and want to experience the full range of conditions and emotions that are only available if you seek these out.
I had identified a 400km section of remote roads from Mildura to Hillston would be the most difficult part of the trip. Water was the key issue. I posted to a Facebook group for advice, hoping for contact details for stations along the way, but the replies mostly involved people telling me with the very best of intent that "you can't do this, you'll die". Ultimately, a friend looked on Google Maps, found what looked like properties and gave me the distances between them. The plan worked; I met some fantastic people who were very surprised to see me and said they'd never seen another cyclist out here. As I was checking out of the motel in Mildura, I looked at a map of Australia and was struck anew by what a vast continent I live on and how little I was seeing on this trip. I was determined to see Australia, the only way I know, the hard way.
25km east of Mossgiel, Christmas display – Day 09 (2022-01-26)
What's been consistent across my rides is the great joy I experience and share with the people I meet. I've (illegally) camped in people’s yards and been invited back when I meet them the next morning. I've knocked on more doors to ask for water than many charity workers, and sometimes been so side-tracked with the conversation I've had to cut my ride short to catch the last train home. I've met people out when riding and gone to visit them months later when I'm in the area. I've sat on a porch and cried when they spoke about their husband dying from cancer, riding away with tears streaming down my face. I've had guys out pig hunting in regional NSW at dawn stop when they see me on the side of the road and drive back to their house to get me a bottle of water. I’ve shared high fives with dirt bike riders out on gravel roads and had people stop and ask to take photos of me when I've been out in torrential rain wearing ski goggles.
These experiences are what makes being an endurance athlete special. As satisfying as it is to cross Bass Strait by kayak or run across the Grand Canyon in the middle of summer (twice), these trips lacked a personal connection. Whilst people looking from the outside see my world as a solitary pursuit, I see the bike as a way to visit people I’d never meet otherwise, for us to share a moment together and for both to take something away from the experience that we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.
