DOODE. YES!! It’s that time of year again to start thinking about dominating The Great Divide or Pacific Coast with Blackburn as they start looking for folks to participate in the 2016 Ranger program.
Each year this comes up I go to instant daydream land imagining what it would be like to really get out there and experience what most, like me, can only image. Although I’ve been on plenty of exploration sessions in my day… nothing will top traveling across the coast or divide in this fashion.
“SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif, (January 6, 2016) – Continuing in the spirit of adventure, Blackburn announces its fourth installation in its ‘Out There’ Ranger program, opening up applications to all cyclists.
Blackburn will be recruiting 6 new brand ambassadors for 2016. Nicknamed ‘Rangers,’ these ambassadors will be the ultimate testers of Blackburn products, while supporting and promoting the core culture that Blackburn thoroughly believes and embodies. The program will continue to feature two of the most iconic cycling routes, the people who ride them, and the uncommon adventures they have along the way. The Pacific Coast Highway and the Great Divide Route will continue to serve as the pages that the Blackburn ambassadors will write their adventures upon.
‘We know that there is a great story around every corner once you are on your bike, and we want to be a part of that again,’ said Robin Sansom, Blackburn brand manager. ‘Enabling adventure through design and innovation was the reason that Jim Blackburn started the company 40 years ago.'”
Head to Blackburn Design and check out more on how to apply to be a Ranger as well as info on the routes.
This is a really rad program. If you’ve been looking to get out and lose yourself via bicycle this is for you.
BLACKBURN RANGER PROGRAM
Do you believe that the world is best seen by bike? OK, we have something for you …
SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif, (January 6, 2015) – Continuing in the spirit of adventure, Blackburn announces its third installation in its “Out There” adventure cycling program.
Blackburn will be recruiting 6 new brand ambassadors for 2015. Nicknamed “Rangers,” these ambassadors are the ultimate testers of Blackburn products, while supporting and promoting it’s core culture. The program will continue to feature two of the most iconic cycling routes, the people who ride them and the uncommon adventures they have along the way. The Pacific Coast and the Great Divide will continue to serve as the pages that the Blackburn ambassadors, will write their journal of adventures upon.
“We know that there is a great story around every corner once you are on your bike and we want to be a part of that,” said Robin Sansom, Blackburn brand manager. “Enabling adventure through design and innovation was the reason that Jim Blackburn started the company 40 years ago.”
How To Become A Ranger:
In order to become a Ranger, be prepared to inform Blackburn by presenting your best experience on a bike, or why you want to ride from Canada to Mexico. The next step is to create. Show who you are by uploading a short video to YouTube, using the hashtag #beablackburnranger2015, that embodies who you are and showcases what will make you stand apart as a ranger. Lastly, inspire others by sharing your adventure. After submitting your application, get your friends, family, and community members to endorse you via social media.
Routes: Blackburn is proud to be a Titanium Member in support of the Adventure Cycling Association. An organization whose diligence and passion for travel by bike have and continue to make these routes some of the best in the world.
*The Pacific Coast Bicycle Route covers 1,852 miles from Vancouver, British Columbia to Imperial Beach, California. Consisting of beautiful roads lining the Pacific Ocean, Rangers will use touring bicycles and Blackburn racks and panniers to carry necessities along the way.
*The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is an off road route that was originally mapped by the Adventure Cycling Association, from Banff, Alberta to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, a distance of 2,740 miles. Great Divide Rangers will ride mountain bikes, whether rigid or suspended, and use bikepacking bags strapped to their frames, handlebars and saddles. Lights, pumps and computers from Blackburn will keep them rolling and safe.
About Blackburn Design
Since its inception at the hands of Jim Blackburn in 1975, Blackburn has been dedicated to designing stronger, lighter, more innovative and more reliable cycling products and accessories that are essential to the riding experience. The Scotts Valley-based company produces pumps, lights, racks, bags, computers, cages, trainers, tools, saddles, fenders and mirrors. For more information, please visit http://www.blackburndesign.com.
Also, Blackburn very much appreciates the support of the Out There program this year with great partnerships from Niner, Bell, Giro and SRAM.
“Blackburn, designer and developer of innovative cycling products and accessories, announced today the induction of four new adventure cyclists into the 2014 Blackburn Ranger “Out There” program. Created in 2012 to embody the culture of adventure, the Blackburn Ranger program supports cyclists that the brand admires on their journeys along the Pacific Coast and the Great Divide.
To continue the legacy and spirit that Founder Jim Blackburn built in 1975, the Ranger program is created from a simple and effective people-and-product-first approach with everything it touches. This no-nonsense style provides in the field product development feedback that gets fast-tracked for future innovation and also places community first; which has always been a fundamental tenet of the brand.
According to Robin Sansom, Brand and Product Manager, “The Rangers are on the front line with our products on a daily basis for months. Their level of focused feedback is instrumental to our product innovation, validation and testing. We are approaching our third year of the Ranger program and our team is all so proud of the cyclists for stepping up to share their adventures.
Ultimately, the program encourages everyone to ‘get out there.’
Blackburn sent out a smoke signal to cyclists asking for participation into the Ranger program from January– March 2014. There was an overwhelming response as hundreds of applicants created videos and wrote essays explaining why they wanted to embark on the adventure and become a Blackburn Ranger. The end result was the Blackburn team choosing four new Rangers that they felt symbolized the sprit of the brand and would carry the torch of the proceeding Rangers.” – Blackburn
This gets me so. amped! I would absolutely love to be a part of this and am thinking about applying myself! Riding the Great Divide would be life changing. I hope you guys look into this.
BLACKBURN IS LOOKING FOR BRAND AMBASSADORS FOR 2014:
Are you a cyclist with an adventurous soul? Someone who likes to capture your stories along the road? Maybe you’re a seasoned bikepacker, well-versed in traversing back roads and trails. Maybe you’re just getting into adventure cycling – testing out overnight trips and yearning for more. Definitely you’re somebody who passionately believes in the idea that viewing the world can be better by bike.
At Blackburn we design product for those who embody this spirit of adventure, and in support of this community we’re recruiting 4 new brand ambassadors for 2014. Nicknamed “Rangers”, our ambassadors provide the ultimate test of our products and bring them into real world situations as they tackle journeys along the Pacific Coast and Great Divide routes. Blackburn Rangers work directly with our designers and engineers to deliver invaluable product feedback as well as advocate for bicycling touring, share their journeys and adventures along the routes and encourage everyone to get “Out There.”
If you’re interested in traveling the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route or the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and sharing your stories along the way–as well as testing out our latest and greatest gear–you just might be the perfect candidate to be a Blackburn Ranger.
Learn more about what our Rangers did this year by clicking the Out There link in the header above and be sure to watch the video stories below.
CRITERIA OF A GOOD RANGER/WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR: Loves the idea of exploring the world by bike.
Active and knowledgeable on social media, with a good following
Passionate about the Blackburn brand
Someone who likes to “capture” the moments of life.
An excellent storyteller; written, verbal and/or visual
A camper, traveler and adventurer.
AMBASSADOR RESPONSIBILITIES/WHAT YOU’LL BE EXPECTED TO DO: Spread the word about the Blackburn brand and products
Travel the Pacific Coast or Great Divide Cycling Route in summer of 2014
Create and deliver ride inspired content (photos, videos, blogs)
Actively participate in social media
Attend Ranger Camp at the 2014 Whiskey Off-Road Event in Prescott, AZ
Provide product testing feedback to the Blackburn team
WHAT YOU GET/WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU: New & Prototype Blackburn Gear
Travel to and participation in our 2014 Blackburn Ranger Camp at the Whiskey Off-Road in Prescott, AZ
Appearance in Blackburn videos and possible regional ad campaigns, in-store displays or other Blackburn marketing initiatives
Small travel stipend to help you complete the route
HOW TO APPLY: Submit a short essay that details why you’d make a great Blackburn brand ambassador.
Try to hit upon the following points: What sort of history do you have with the Blackburn brand? What kind of bike touring have you done, if any? What are your personal motivations for embarking on the Pacific Coast or Great Divide? Is there anything special you’d like to do along the way? Surf, Kayak, Climb, Skateboard, raise money for a cause, hit every historical site?
Send along several photos (3 to 10) that best illustrate who you are and how you view the world Bonus points: upload a short video to YouTube that showcases the points listed above, #beablackburnranger and send us the YouTube URL with your completed essay
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: You will receive an email confirming we’ve received your application An 8 person panel comprised of Blackburn representatives, media and creative partners and a representative from the Adventure Cycling Association will review each application
Finalists will be notified by February 22nd, 2014
Final selection will be determined by March 7th, 2014. Notification will be posted to www.blackburndesign.com
DOODE. YES!! It’s that time of year again to start thinking about dominating The Great Divide or Pacific Coast with Blackburn as they start looking for folks to participate in the 2016 Ranger program.
