As most of you already know, last week Superb Bicycle sent a small contingent out to Interbike. If you are not familiar with Interbike, it is the largest North American convention for the bicycle industry, and almost every manufacturer of bicycling products is there to show off their new stuff.
Thousands of representatives from bike shops, advocacy groups, and the cycling media from all over North America descend upon the show. There’s lots to do in association with Interbike. You can ride bikes at the Dirt demos, go to bike geek parties, watch the cyclocross races, and race the alleycats.
And then there is Las Vegas. For for the last 12 years Interbike has been held in Las Vegas, but next year the show will move back to Anaheim, where it was held in 1997. I don’t really know that much about Anaheim, other than it’s in the southern-ish part of the concrete jungle that is LA, and that it’s pretty close to the nicest velodrome in the country. Oh, and it’s got Disneyland. But really? Anaheim? Really?
The reaction to the news supposedly has been mixed, but most of the people I asked about it were visibly confused and ultimately dismayed. “But?……..,” they would mutter to themselves, shaking their heads until eventually looking down at their hands as if the answers they were seeking lay somewhere in the lines of their bike grease-encrusted palms.
You see, Vegas has the Strip, which I guess is kind of like a Disneyland, of sorts. The convention center is on the Strip, and most people stay at hotels on the Strip. It’s really easy to never leave the Strip because all your needs can be met on the Strip. You see fascinating things on the Strip. And you meet interesting people on the Strip. I wonder if Anaheim has a Strip?
As showgoers began their journey home the reality of it all started to set in, and many found themselves wondering about the future. “Would Interbike do as well in Anaheim as it has during it’s run in Vegas?” or “Could the struggling Las Vegas economy take another hit from a tradeshow defecting for greener pastures?” And the ever-popular, “When will I ever find a good excuse to go come back to Vegas?”
Interbike was the perfect excuse. Vegas, my Interbike heart will always break for you.
Craig, Ling from Cambridge Bicycle, and I had the opportunity to go to Vegas for interbike this past week and check out all of the new products coming our way for 2011. The first day we were there we went out into the middle of the desert for the Dirt Demo, which is a place mainly for companies to allow dealers to demo their new road and mountain bikes as well as show off some of their other new products. Here are the highlights from Craigs camera.
First up is the FSA Metropolis internally geared 2 speed crankset. If you are familiar with the Hammershimdt crankset made by SRAM for Mountain bikes this is quite similar except for 1 major detail, you don’t need a special frame mount to use it. This crank will literally work on any bike with a 68mm bottom bracket shell and works with most 2 speed shifters. Don’t plan on putting one on your fixed gear however because it has a built in freewheeling mechanism, unless you want to convert it into a singlespeed!
This is a small carry along mini pump made by SKS that stows conveniently into your handlebar where you can forget about it until it is needed. GENIUS!
Blackburn has pushed the envelope of small multi tool design with this mini tool called the Toolmanator. It has all the essential allen wrenches and isn’t much bigger than your thumb, leaving more room in your bag for your 30 rack.
Here is another multitool from blackburn that features a chain tool and a mini pump aside from the regular goodies. The pump is designed for shocks on mountain bikes, but I am wondering how long it would take to get a road tire up to a ridable pressure?
Ling was lucky enough to test ride a nice little Cielo at the Chris King/Cielo Booth. Look at all the bling in the background!
Out at interbike I had the pleasure to meet the fine folks from Mission Workshop. They have designed a really cool backpack style bag (the Vandal) that is definitely outside the box of the designs on the market now. I would explain how the whole things works, but instead I found this video to do it for me, I know most of you are visual learners. The bags are made in Colorado and we should have them in stock in a couple months.
If you are going to be in Vegas this week for Interbike you better not miss this party. I’ll be DJing (Mayhem) and all the bike industry “big wigs” will be in attendance. So bring your newly made business cards and a smile!
