British Cycling agrees 8-year sponsorship with Shell

Is this story an April Fool's joke?

@rhayter All those follow cars need a fuel supplier

Is this story an April Fool’s joke?

I thought similar. Apparently, in 2005 Shell were the most ethical oil company in the world. And we all know the huge strides they are making towards net-zero because they keep telling us.

I think they should see if Lance is available to lead this marvelous initiative

Does stw not want to make a statement on this one? No?

I mean, yes, Shell are a business and we live in a capitalist society, so there's that. But come on British Cycling, read the room, eh?

And as for being 'the most ethical oil company in the world'... pretty low bar, surely?

Finally, I own and drive a car. I'm aware of my own hypocrisy.

Blimey, desperate or what !

Are we still not allowed to cycle on the same day as funerals for people we've never met?

BC are trying to outdo the Tories for great PR...

I saw this and have requested to cancel my membership, this was the straw that broke the camel's back after the queen's funeral mess..A shame after 10+ years but they seem to making so many missteps, CyclingUk seem to meet my needs.

Do CyclingUk offer accident/legal cover akin to BC (Leigh day)? That's the main reason I have/had BC membership, the CUK website mentions a legal advice line but is a little inconclusive.

Good grief.

Grim.

apply Shell’s world-leading lubricant technology to support the Great Britain Cycling Team in their quest for gold

Well I found this. Maybe they thing British Cycling means motor-bicycling?
https://www.carandbikecare.com/product/shell-chain-lube-bike-care-200-ml/

I think it's quite funny - it's just so completely stupid and inappropriate you couldn't make this up in a David Brent sitcom....

If ever there was a time when they have completely failed to 'read the room' this is it.

Of all the hundreds of companies they could partner with, ones who actually benefit from people cycling, they chose one of the few companies that benefits from people taking the car. The company that is making record profits on fuel while many people are paying through the nose to stay warm.

British cycling - GTFO

I wonder who else they considered as suitable sponsors - GSK?

Do CyclingUk offer accident/legal cover akin to BC (Leigh day)?

Yes: https://www.cycle-sos.co.uk/cycling-uk-incident-line/

They also have a very active campaign team - many full-time and a fully supported local advocacy network (of which I am one).

Oh BC.

Really odd move. I want to read a little before making the decision but strongly suspect I'll be cancelling my membership and joining CyclingUK instead.

And as for being ‘the most ethical oil company in the world’… pretty low bar, surely?

I should have made my tongue-in-cheekness more obvious. 😀

Do CyclingUk offer accident/legal cover akin to BC (Leigh day)? That’s the main reason I have/had BC membership, the CUK website mentions a legal advice line but is a little inconclusive.

Yes - but with a caution. There was a thread about this a while back, and I realised I had got the wrong end of the stick previously about what you got with both BC and CUK - both is effectively a no win no fee injury service. i.e. if you have an accident and it's only your bike that gets squished they are not interested in assisting you. They make their money from their cut of your injury pay out so with no injury there is no fee so they can't help. Both offer you 3rd party liability which is worth it imo.

But yes, I think that seals it for me. Cycling is a funny old thing - part sport, part mode of travel (be that commute or recreational). It gets blurred by people interested in the former also doing or being passionate about the latter. I guess there is no particular reason why cycling the sport should be any more ethically aware than any other sport whilst cycling the mode of transport has a very positive ethical/sustainable angle to its purpose and messaging. And with this sponsorship deal, British Cycling are confirmed as completely in the sport camp with very little interest in the broader context. Which is fine if that's what they think they are for.

But that's not me anymore, and not most people too in reality. They just need to keep their heads down and not pretend in any way they speak for the everyday cyclist. CUK need the support, space and voice to do the real work and being the true voice of the cyclist on the streets and the trails and BC can be a rather elitist niche irrelevance in the bigger picture.

That's the sane response. What I really wanted to type was - you ****ing stupid tossers.

British Cycling are confirmed as completely in the sport camp with very little interest in the broader context

Exactly. This is not a surprise at all based on their previous not-even-half-baked attempts at advocacy related work.

Talk about out of touch..... Talk about just taking the money... Surely STW can comment?

Absolute classic sportswashing. "ooooo, look how green we are. We sponsor cycling."

maybe it was this or loose BC? on the flip side im guessing they will be able to utilise all the BC members as carbon offset so it makes them extra green?

I’d be interested to know where all the people on this thread get the fuel for their cars from.

The multi choice answer really needs
"No. This reinforces why I am a member of CUK instead".

Greenwashing!

I don't own a car.

The multi choice answer really needs
“No. This reinforces why I am a member of CUK instead”.

+1

I’d be interested to know where all the people on this thread get the fuel for their cars from.

Pretty sure mine comes from Grangemouth. Courtesy of Ineos?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60295177

So the BBC report record profits for Shell and BP - in fact its that much they wont disclose the figures, but its ok they support British Cycling so they must be ok.

I’d be interested to know where all the people on this thread get the fuel for their cars from.

I really don't see the relevance...

A cycling organisation taking money from big oil is still just daft and *hopefully* commercial suicide (once the Shell money runs out).

tjagain
Full Member
Greenwashing!

I don’t own a car.

I agree with TJ, in a recently car-free again sanctimonious way.

I’d be interested to know where all the people on this thread get the fuel for their cars from.

Asda its consistently the cheapest.

Im not bothered by this, I dont really see Shell as any better or worse then HSBC. Both parties are only in it for the PR and cash so lets not climb too far up our high horses. There is no such thing as green big business, its all marketing. Im sure HSBC and other banks lend money to a wide range of ecologically unsound businesses so what difference does it really make. It’s not as if cycling is a green sport. All that carbon fibre, all the emissions from travel not to mention the vast number of vehicles that follow any peloton round the country.

Im sure HSBC and other banks lend money to a wide range of ecologically unsound businesses so what difference does it really make.

It is possible to make a stand at some point. To say, hold on, we've had the dubious HSBC but now you're going even further with the frankly appalling Shell. Or should we just shrug and allow them to do whatever they want. Sometimes small actions can develop into bigger things. A lot of people cancelling BC memberships might just make them think about what they are doing.

Cycling is a funny old thing – part sport, part mode of travel (be that commute or recreational). It gets blurred by people interested in the former also doing or being passionate about the latter. I guess there is no particular reason why cycling the sport should be any more ethically aware than any other sport whilst cycling the mode of transport has a very positive ethical/sustainable angle to its purpose and messaging. And with this sponsorship deal, British Cycling are confirmed as completely in the sport camp with very little interest in the broader context. Which is fine if that’s what they think they are for.

Well put. It's why I'm a Cycling UK member, although I do believe that people who discover bikes through sport are likely to become transport cyclists. I didn't start out as a transport cyclist either. I was engaged in the first place by the sport side of it.

And with this sponsorship deal, British Cycling are confirmed as completely in the sport camp with very little interest in the broader context. Which is fine if that’s what they think they are for.

I would disagree that it's fine. Cycling as a sport needs roads to train on without car drivers putting riders' lives at risk 'making progress', clean air to breathe...

If people take a breath for a moment, it might be worth looking at what the deal actually offers BC. If it's significant investment, opportunities to improve cycling in the UK from an Elite and amateur level along with infrastructure etc, then great. Nobody moaned about having a deal with HSBC with all of their suspect money laundering scandals/involvement in people losing their homes during 2008.

Like it or not, we live in a capitalist world where not every company has the budget to invest massive chucks of cash in charities. I'm sure if BC signed a deal with Facebook everyone would be squealing 'data theft etc.' Unfortunately, most 'green' companies won't have the budget or the balance sheet for big sponsorship deals. I'd rather see millions of Shells profits going to British Cycling than fund managers.

As for the lube claims - Shell's tech labs in NL are huge. If they can come up with a synthetic fuel that'll power a Ferrari F1 car, sure they'll be able to make a chain lube that'll save 0.5 watts.

Regardless of your personal circumstances (FYI - fossil fuels are still needed to build both Tesla's and wind turbines, and let's not get started on the mess colbalt and lithium mining makes), fossil fuels are going to be in the energy mix for a while until we find other raw materials and embrace nuclear, is if that's the case, why is it so unacceptable for the companies to try and do some good? I'd add that Shell/BP etc don't set the price of gas or oil, that's traded on the spot markets. Most oil companies are hedged at c. $70 bbl and <100p/therm. The people making the killings are the traders...

Incredible.

Did no one at BC sense check what that would do to their brand?
I think that will kill them off, i dont think it will stand.

A lot of people cancelling BC memberships might just make them think about what they are doing.

I doubt thats a contract they can wriggle out of after the fact.

Did no one at BC sense check what that would do to their brand?

And after the Queenie crap, you'd really think they'd be on the look out for own goals!

I guess the cheque was quite large....

This is going to hit BC sooner than they realise. I have been a race commissaire with them for some years, and at the regional & national level all of BC's commissaires and accredited marshals are unpaid volunteers (other than basic expenses to cover mileage etc.). There is no way I will be giving up my time to wear oil company branding while officiating at races, and I suspect many others will feel the same. They may have just inadvertently killed grassroots racing in the UK.

Well, they've won me round. Maybe it's time to take a fresh look... at Shell.

Everything is shades of green.

I have a copy of our work publications, written by one of our founders a certain Sir David Attenborough, one sponsored by an oil company and another by a plastic packaging company...but this was back in 1980's. EDIT: I also have two forwarded by Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan, both paid for by the plastic packaging company....

However, at some point a line must be drawn and ethical concerns addressed. As an environmental education organisation, my own employer decided to make a stand. We now have a clear policy around this - and have actioned it about 3 years ago.

We ended some sponsorships we had for a few/many years. We could not ethically or morally, and would have been attacked in the press, by continuing working with obviously un-ethical or non-environmentally positive companies who were so opposed to our values. Two were energy/oil & gas companies, one a chemical company (with a strong advertising aimed at 'eco' and 'sustainable' and 'kids outdoors'), one has some dodgy practices in developing nations. We also ended an arrangement from one our founding sponsors and trustees for free meeting room space in central London - because taking people to Shell's(!) office was not appropriate. We are not perfect, and we work in shades of green - but we decided such blatant hypocrisy was not appropriate.

We still work with two gambling organisations. Postcode Lottery and National Lottery. Shades of grey now.

Interestingly, one of our competitors 'stepped in' to work with one of the oil and gas companies, announced it in the press. Cue much protest and the CEO stepping down and the arrangement being cancelled....

I cannot see how BC are able to make this one stick in the current climate. It seems incredible and the most crass of decisions. I am amazed it has got through the management team and trustees.

Isn't the best partnership when you put both names together, but money is required and if (and it is a big if) it is invested to help all (competitive cyclists at all levels across the whole country) then it'll be ok...it will be a huge amount of money though and you don't get that by being a small company. BC have no interest in noncompetitive cycling so for those not involved in that arena then they are unlikely to see any real benefits.

As said, it is needed despite not being overly impressed with it, I'm thinking it hopefully will work for the best.

Can we add to the poll?

5 - I was a member, but have already left disillusioned.
6 - I am a member, but plan on resigning it now.

Team Ineos: Behold our spectacularly unethical and antithetical to cycling sponsor!

BC: Hold my oil barrel.