echappe representatives:
What do our reps do?
Seems we've had some confusion about this recently. Our guys are not just sales people. They are also our mechanics and products specialists. Our reps are responsible for
- Gluing tubulars
- Replacing flat tubes
- Swapping cassettes
- Shipping wheels
- Maintaining wheels (truing, relubing, etc)
- Cleaning wheels
- Filling orders
- Inventory
- Race Day Support for select events
Its not just sales.
Who we are
Burlington: Adam St.Germain. Category 2 Road racer, Category 2 Cyclocross racer, Pro Mountain Bike racer. Current team: Targetraining Elite Team
Adam is our head mechanic and with his years as a service manager in bike shops, he knows his way around some wheels. A great asset for bike races, Adam can get you going so that all you have to worry about is racing your bike.
Gabe Lloyd: Category 2 Road racer, Category 1 Cyclocross Racer. Current Team: Targetraining Elite Team
I grew up swimming competitively for 12 years starting at the age of 4. When I was 16 I needed a change of pace and turned to cross-country running for the rest of my high school years. In those two years I was part of the regional and state championship teams in Pennsylvania - twice. After graduating high school, I went to Rhode Island School of Design. While in college, my passion for cycling slowly grew as I spent my summers in Boulder racing mountain bikes. After graduating from RISD, I picked up road riding for the first time. I was an entry-level racer at 23 years old, but I loved it and three years later I'm still riding and racing my bike. I'm now a category 2 racer. I've spent a summer racing in Belgium, raced several NRC and UCI events and am looking to continue to race at the highest possible level.
David Wiswell: Category 1 Road Racer, Category 1 Track Racer. Current Team: GS Mengoni
As a junior, I spent the majority of my time racing and training on the track in Trexlertown. I was a track sprinter and ended up my final year as a junior with a handful of second places at Junior Track Nationals and a ninth place at Junior Track Worlds. The transition to the elite world of track sprinting was a huge jump and I quickly realized I was best suited to the demands of endurance racing. Since making the switch to endurance track and road racing I have spent a couple of seasons racing over in Europe. One season I raced for a Belgian squad while my second season was spent with an amateur team out of Brittany in France. Last year I returned to the States and resumed school at Columbia University while racing for the CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25 Team. The guys at Sakonnet provided me with the opportunity to further my cycling career and this year I signed my first professional contract with the Nerac Professional Cycling Team.
Philadelphia: Andrew Shanks.
Shanks likes to keep himself busy with about 4 jobs and 20 hour training weeks! Shanks is Echappe's resident Triathlon Expert (so listen when he talks) who tries to blend with the cyclists. Andrew got hooked on Triathlon's back in 2005 and has since competed in 3 Ironman's and over 40 other triathlons. Goals for this season are to make it to DU Worlds and to actually upgrade out of his CAT 5 status. You can find Andrew on a Podium near you.
Kansas City: Kyle Bush. Category 2 road racer, Category 2 Cyclocross racer
Kyle is well tapped into the Kansas City scene and covers most of the middle of the country territory. Always down for new ideas and rides, Kyle is super motivated to bring Echappe Equipment out to Missouri and the surrounding areas.
Los Angeles: Bruce Weyman.
You might have seen Bruce on the cover of a few Bicycling Magazines. A professional actor and model, he moonlights as a really nice guy that knows a thing or two about bikes. In 2007 Bruce won the 30+ California State Cyclocross Championship!
How do you know if we need you?
If you think there is a market for Echappe Equipment in your area and you think you meet the above criteria, then we can start talking. Please send a resume, cover letter and athletic experience or trade experience to:
Echappe Equipment, LLC
c/o Gabe Lloyd
1781 Riverside Dr
Unit 3E
New York, NY
10034
or email PDF formatted documents to:
Thanks!
-Gabe Lloyd and David Wiswell
Founders and Partners of Echappe Equipment, LLC
FAQ about being an Echappe Representative:
How much can I make?
That depends on how much you rent. Payments are commission based only and are different between a Basic and Comprehensive rep. For specifics, please download the Echappe Equipment Affiliate Representative Program PDF.
Do I work for you?
Technically, no. You're an independent contractor that we give a 1099 to at the end of the year. That also means that we only provide you with Echappe specific items and "generic" items like a pop-up tent and folding table are your responsibility (because you can use them for other freelance jobs you might also have.)
Do I get a specific territory?
Yes. This territory is determined by the events you travel to and the affilaite shops you work with.
Are Affiliate Shops my own account or does Echappe directly deal with them once I get them signed up?
Its a case by case scenario, though we prefer to have you continuing to deal with any shops that you bring into our program. If we need to talk with a shop directly we can, though.
Am I responsible for maintaining the equipment?
Yes. We send anything you rent from us ready to race. If a tire flats or a wheel needs to be trued during the month you have the wheel, its your responsibity to get it back into a race ready condition. Echappe will reimburse you for supplies purchased.
Do I have to ship wheels?
Yes. Should conditions change, we can discuss an ammendment to your contract.
What is the minimum commitment?
Three months. We need three months to get the word out in your area that you have wheels and that you are available for shops to talk to.
Can I bargain with shops?
Sure, but commission is a percentage of your sales, so bargain wisely.