POST RIDE Information: The Middle Kingdom Ride

[euphonius]

Nicely produced clip, Ryan. Kudos to you and Colin for keeping the momentum going.

cheers

[Fred]

Ryan, I do have a question regarding the preparation of your trip and the "marketing" of it afterwards. I don't know if you'll reply to me on this thread or by PM, I'll ask the question here because many others would be interested too.

How did you guys do to get some sponsors involved, did you have prior relations with the sponsors listed on your website, or did you do it the hard way (trying to meet people and introducing your project, waiting for hours in waiting rooms for nothing, etc.) ?
About the post-ride "marketing" of it : was it planned from the get-go, was it just because people seemed interested in what you did ? I do not mean it in a derogatory way in case you're wondering, just an honest question about your experience and everything that happened to you since.

Cheers,

Fred

[ryanjpyle]

Fred,

Thanks for writing. The corporate sponsorship came together the very very very hard way. We didn't have any special relationships with any of them prior to our journey. It was a lot of cold calling and a lot of un-returned emails. It helps to be professional, have a professional website and have your marketing channels already set up. No one wants to give a bunch of riders anything unless those riders can draw attention to the gear they are using. Facebook and Twitter are becoming increasingly important as well.

As for the television show and the book, we had the plan to do all of this from the very beginning; but it feels like forever bringing it all together. Once you do a trip like this it's a least a year getting everything out to people in a format that folks will actually enjoy. For us the MKRIDE stuff will all be available around May 2012, fingers crossed.

Also, Colin and I are currently planning another production for late 2012. It'll be another long motorcycle journey followed by another television show and book. Should be an exciting year next year. We'll be sure to keep the MCM community updated with our plans.

Thanks again for everyone's interest.

Ryan

[bigdamo]

Just wondering are you going to promote The Middle Kingdom Ride in China and if yes what would you use to replace Facebook and Twitter if you would?

[ryanjpyle]

BigDamo,
Our MKRIDE will be heavily promoted in China. And our book will be out in China, and in Chinese. We are using Kaixin, Weibo, Sina Blog and Youku; but they are updated much less often at the moment.

Ryan

[bigdamo]

When will you start heavily promoting in China.Can you let us know what media will be used and when.I'd like to follow.

[ryanjpyle]

Monday, December 3, 2012. HONG KONG — G219 Productions Limited announces that the new adventure travel book by adventures and television presenters Colin Pyle and Ryan Pyle is entitled The MIDDLE KINGDOM RIDE. The book will be published worldwide in the English language on Thursday, December 6th 2012.

THE MIDDLE KINGDOM RIDE
When Canadian brothers Colin and Ryan Pyle set out from Shanghai on a motorcycle journey that had never previously been attempted, they thought they had some idea of what lay ahead of them. It was a misconception that had become evident by the end of Day 1. But, despite the many challenges they faced, 65 days and 18,000 km later they’d succeeded in circumnavigating China.

In an expedition of extremes, Colin and Ryan visited the third lowest point on Earth and slept at Everest Base Camp beside its highest mountain. They traveled off-road through deep desert sands in suffocating heat, traversed mountain passes in freezing temperatures that turned the moisture in their clothes to ice, and rode in torrential rain through mudslides beside rapidly rising flood waters.

At the end of their remarkable journey, the brothers had strengthened the bond between them, gained a Guinness World Record, tested their endurance to its limits, and shared an adventure that most of us will only ever dream of having.
In their book The Middle Kingdom Ride, Colin and Ryan take us with them as they travel through the diverse and extraordinary landscapes of China, from its border with North Korea, to the ancient Muslim city of Kashgar, across the vast empty spaces of the Mongolian grasslands, over the mountains and into the monasteries of Tibet.

KEY PUBLISHING INFORMATION
293 pages (approximately) Amazon Link: CLICK HERE
ISBN 9781468159813 Price US$19.99

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

RYAN PYLE. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in Political Science, Ryan Pyle made his home in Shanghai, China, where he still lives today. Over the last 10 years, he has gained an international reputation as an award-winning documentary photographer and is regularly invited to give talks about his work and about China at universities and institutes around the world.

COLIN PYLE. After graduating from Ryerson University, Toronto, with a degree in Finance, Colin Pyle established what was to become a very successful currency trading company, two years after he sold the company, he resigned in order to “see the world” and have experiences that will enable him to make informed choices about what he does with the rest of his life.
For further information about Colin Pyle, please visit his website: www.colinpyle.com. For further information about Ryan Pyle, please visit his website: www.ryanpyle.com.
Learn more about The Middle Kingdom Ride book and television production at: www.mkride.com.

TELEVISION
The Middle Kingdom Ride, an HD 6x30min television production, is available for broadcast via our distributors: Off The Fence. Link: http://www.offthefence.com/detail/mi...-ride/1326834/.

COMING SOON - 2013
The story of Colin and Ryan Pyle’s next exciting challenge – the circumnavigation of India – as told in The India Ride. Another Book and Television project by Colin Pyle and Ryan Pyle. Website: www.TheIndiaRide.com.

ABOUT G219 PRODUCTIONS
G219 Productions is headquartered in Hong Kong, and we are an award-winning content production company for some of the worlds leading broadcasters. We specialize in HD, high quality, non-fiction programming. Our focus is integrity, quality, entertainment, adventure and innovation. Our catalogue is growing quickly and our factual programming AND publishing continues to inspire and capture audience imaginations worldwide. Our production arm develops, finances, produces and co-produces non-fictional programming worldwide. Visit our website at www.G219productions.com

[lobotomous]

Modesty no doubt prevents Ryan from further promotion of his exploits, so allow me to assist:
Ryan will present his China trip at the M on the Bund Literary Festival on Sunday March 3rd and again in Beijing at the Capital M Literary Festival on Saturday March 16th at 5pm.
http://www.m-restaurantgroup.com/cap...-festival.html
I am going to the Beijing one and offer a free ticket to the first three Beijing MCM'ers who PM me!

[Lao Jia Hou]

I am going to the Beijing one and offer a free ticket to the first three Beijing MCM'ers who PM me!

PM'd ya!!!!!

[lobotomous]

Thanks everyone who got in touch.
Congratulations LJH, Fahni and Filipu - see you on 16th!
Anyone else wants to go along either in Shanghai or Beijing, please see M website:
http://www.m-restaurantgroup.com/
Tickets from MyPiao or pick up in person.
Please check out the other talks, too. Some good stuff.