Bike Club NFT has those now-ubiquitous three letters in its name: NFT. That might be enough to scare many readers off, but don’t worry, it’s not all as scary as it seems.
NFTs seem to have swept into the mainstream overnight, yet the vast majority of us are still pretty unclear on what the heck an NFT is.
NFT=non-fungible token. Clear as mud, right?
Fortunately, Bike Club NFT’s founder, Tyler Benedict (also the founder of Bikerumor.com) and primary artist Rich Mitchelson have clearer answers on what NFTs are, why you might want one, and what good they can do for the bike world.
Bike Club NFT: digital assets for cyclists
Rich Mitchelson is probably better known by his nickname (and social media handle) Rich Mitch. His artwork seems to crop up everywhere: in Rouleur Magazine and Bicycling Magazine, on the social media channels for brands like Assos, Ineos-Grenadiers (née Sky), on Strava, and much more.
Mitchelson’s work has a unique aesthetic that makes it instantly recognizable — and highly sought after. He’s the only artist creating work for Bike Club NFT at the moment.
While Mitchelson hasn’t had much trouble bringing his art to the cycling masses, Tyler Benedict thought they could do more with it together. Benedict is the founder of Bikerumor.com, so he knows a thing or two about building a business from scratch in an often conservative industry that can be resistant to change and new voices.
It was Benedict’s interest in entrepreneurship and new technologies that led to the idea for NFTs specific to the cycling world. And while Mitchelson’s art is the primary product, the company itself intends to do much, much more than simply sell you stuff. With advocacy baked into the business plan, Bike Club NFT has its sights set on a company that gives back by default.
Listen to this episode of the Slow Guy on the Fast Ride podcast to hear directly from Rich Mitchelson and Tyler Benedict. They give us the rundown on what an NFT is, why you should invest in a cycling-specific NFT, and how Bike Club NFT intends to benefit the bike industry in ways well beyond simple profits.
