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AllstateGarage.com Helps Bikers Get Out of the Garage and Onto the Road


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NORTHBROOK, Ill.--The Tail of the Dragon has 318 twists and turns in just 11 miles, making it one of the most famous and challenging motorcycle rides in the United States. Straddling the North Carolina/Tennessee state line for more than 30 miles, this route takes riders into the crisp mountain air of the Great Smoky Mountains and onto AllstateGarage.com.

The Tail of the Dragon is just one of the Great American Rides highlighted on Allstate’s largest ever online marketing effort aimed at motorcycle riders.

AllstateGarage.com, which launched today, offers riders the chance to view and map scenic routes, share on-the-road experiences and post favorite rides. Visitors can also watch 30-second cycle know-how vignettes featuring professional mechanics from Indian Larry Legacy, a custom motorcycle shop paying homage to the legendary builder, Indian Larry, and his renowned East Coast chopper-style bikes.

“AllstateGarage.com is designed to make sure riders know that we don’t just help protect bikes – we help protect riders too,” said Lisa Cochrane, vice president of marketing communications for Allstate.

Created by Leo Burnett, Chicago, AllstateGarage.com also houses safety tips from the pros and offers visitors the ability to create their own virtual motorcycle from scratch, which can then be shared with family and friends. The site stores all virtual bikes in the AllstateGarage.com “showroom” and each bike can be downloaded as wallpaper to a user’s desktop.

The new biker-focused Web site features specific elements; including:

  • “Plan a Ride,” which uses the most up-to-date satellite imaging and mapping software from Google. This feature allows riders to create their own routes, chose from a list of scenic rides or check out what fellow riders have posted as their favorites
  • “Build a Bike,” a 12-step process that allows enthusiasts to pick from various parts, accessories and paint colors to create their own bike
  • “Calendar,” featuring upcoming national and local events
  • “Garage TV,” a tool that incorporates professional mechanics giving tutorials on many different safety concerns for motorcycles
  • “Get a Quote” and “Find an Agent” features, which enable site visitors to enter information online for a quote or locate a nearby Allstate agent
  • “Motorcycle Coverage,” which provides the ability to research various coverage options and features
  • “Safety Tips,” which provides checklists and safety reminders

“The ‘Plan a Ride’ tool really grabs riders and allows them to not only share the road but also share their experiences while on the road,” said Dean Akey, an Allstate agent from St. Charles, Ill. “The Great American Rides feature is an awesome experience that lets visitors uncover some of America’s greatest roads and towns.”

AllstateGarage.com is an extension of the brand’s “Biker Agents” print ad campaign, which launched August 2007, and features several of the more than 600 Allstate agents who ride. Portions of the campaign’s ad creative can be seen throughout the Web site, most notably in the “Calendar” section.

The company is also bringing the site to life via its 2008 “Allstate Mobile Garage Tour”. The Tour travels cross-country, making stops at some of the nation’s most popular and historic rallies. The mobile garage provides rally attendees a place to relax, sit in massage chairs, view a collection of custom motorcycles, and enter to win a custom Chopper built for Allstate by Chopper College.

“After seeing the bikes, the rides and the mechanics, I can hardly wait to grab my helmet, hop on my bike and hit the open road,” Akey said. “AllstateGarage.com is really more than an experience - it’s an adventure.”

To find out more, or to locate the nearest agent, visit allstate.com or call 877-BIKE-303.

The Allstate Corporation is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,900 exclusive agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. Encompass® and Deerbrook® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.