Everyone loves Free.

Ok, I'll admit it. I'm jealous of people who can wear earbud's and they stay in their ear. The God above thought it be so that earbud headphones don't stay in. I've tried multiple types and spent way too much money experimenting. I recently had a friend, Peter Beels of Leadout Racing, post this up on Facebook and I couldn't help but get a little intrigued.

Now, I've gone off on a rant or two with friends about wearing earbuds when riding, especially in traffic and partially out of jealousy. Losing one your senses while riding I don't believe is a good thing, since I assume everyone who has them in has their music maxed out. But this One Good Earbud intrigues me, they take the stereo output of your iPod or mp3 player and channel it to just one ear.

Brillant.

Sure, I don't know if it works, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Maybe you would too if the price was right? How does free sound? Yeah, good to me too. Below are the instructions on how to win a free set.

Facebook Giveaway - Monday June 20th

Only one entry per person, please. Multiple tags will likely result in you getting blocked from the Facebook page.

Entry Instructions:

1. Visit http://www.facebook.com/OneGoodEarbud
2. Click 'Like' (if you don't already).
3. Find the Monday June 20th Giveaway Photo post.
4. Click on the image that looks like this:

5. Click on Tag This Photo.
6. Tag yourself on the model of earbud that you want to win.
7. Click Done Tagging.

If you heard about the giveaway from a blog or website, please comment on the photo with the site name or address.

So be a pal and tell them No Drive sent you over!

What is Bike Polo?

It was recently asked by the one and only Captain Bob after the last post on a lesson on marketing - 'what is bike polo? is it a poly blended bike jersey with three buttons and a collar?'

And the answer is... if only. Actually poly blend might be a great way to explain bike polo: one part traditional polo, one part street hockey/lacrosse, add a little mountain bike/bmx bike control, a sprinkle of punk and heckling and you start to get a sport that looks and feels a lot like bike polo.

But in all seriousness since repeatedly watching the video below, which is from a tournament down in Lafayette a few months back, I think it sums up bike polo in a way very few polo videos have. Plus... there's some of the GR Polo/Velocity crew in it and you can't beat that!

Interested in seeing Bike Polo first hand? Check out Leagueofbike.com and the clubs section to find your local bike polo club.

Lafayette Riverside Bike Polo Tournament from Kevin Daly on Vimeo.

A lesson in marketing.

Here is a lesson in marketing. One of things anyone designing ads or promotion hopes for is the head turn or that lasting thought. Simply causing the person interacting with advertisement to want to know more, to explore, to find a website.

I recently added a pin to my backpack, that seems to do just that. I received it from one of my co-workers after they went to a bike polo tournament down in Louisville. The Louisville crew unashamedly claim to be 'the most sinful polo club in America' - which I believe no one dares object or compete with.

The club simply loves to have a good time on and off the court. They also are intentionally or unintentionally brillant marketers of the sport.

The pin on my bag states:

God Hates Bike Polo

I love this pin. Some might be surprised by this being that I serve at a church and am full-time at seminary. Sure, I could go on about on if there was was a sport God loves, it would be bike polo-since I believe in a God who is always with the underdog, the marginalized, and the oppressed. Heck, I even firmly believe that if there is a reason for God, it's the Chicago Cubs or at least for the sake of myself and fellow Cub fans but that's another tangent for another day.

The brillance of this pin lays in the fact that all of us have unfortunately have encountered 'protesters' sporting huge signs and often yelling at bystanders saying things like 'God hates...

this... that... and the other'. These people always leave a bad taste in our mouths, some thing deep inside of all of us knows that there is some thing wrong with what they are saying and we can help but feel as if they have a distorted view of who God is.

These signs and protesters do challenge us to engage. To ask why? Or what?

When I sport this pin at my school, at the church I serve, or simply around... people respond. Often with laughter, but more of the question of what is bike polo?

And that my friend, is brillant marketing.

Water Biking.

Yep.... great way to promote the event.