Cruisin' The Strip

 In celebration of the twentieth year of this blog, I have a few tales to tell. This post is one of them. This series will occur off and on throughout this anniversary year, I hope to illuminate some behind-the-scenes stories and highlights from the blog during this time. Enjoy!

The 2008 "Urban Social" ride put on by Bikehugger on the Las Vegas Strip

 I hadn't been blogging for 3.5 years and I was at a point where I was going to Interbike, the former trade show held in Las Vegas, Nevada, back then, and was covering the burgeoning 29"er scene for "Twentynine Inches", the site I was "working for", at the time. 

It was a crazy year at Interbike. This would be the last time I would be there working for someone else. The scene was pretty nuts with a house rented to put us up in and all sorts of craziness in regard to activities outside of the show and within it. 

2008 was a weird time for many reasons. The country was experiencing The Great Recession of 2008, social media was juuuust getting going, but hadn't really changed how we did things quite yet. And we were at the last strands of what I call "The Analog Age", or in layman's terms "how we used to do things". 

This extended to the trade show, and was exemplified by the activities surrounding it. Interbike, for years, was known as the trade show where bike industry people went to "blow off some steam". or in other words, "do stupid stuff they would never get away with back at home". Things like having drunken all-nighters, going to strip clubs, or just being stupid socially. Things that would end up on Facebook, Tik-Tok, and X and get you fired, cancelled, and more these days. Nuff said.....

I was there and heard all about some of this nonsense. I did not partake unless it was for the ever-flowing free beer at the end of each day on the show floor. That was my vice back then. Then there was the fun stuff, like the time I rode on The Strip with about 50 other folks from The Sands Convention Center to Mandalay Bay resort and back on bicycles! 

There was a guy with a cargo bike who had rigged a thumping stereo onboard and was pumping out the jams all the way out. Each stop light was a portrait of how bicycles and vehicles were somewhat at odds with each other. and how one was "fun" and the other was not fun at all. We got friendly honks, great comments, and thumbs up from many going out. However, on the way back? 

There were three of us that wanted to get back to our beds and we raced down the Strip on bicycles, avoiding taxis and traffic as though our very lives were at stake, which they probably were. Unfriendliness was shown in the form of angry honks and cars cutting in front of us. I was on a 26' wheeled Dahon folding bike with a single speed rear gearing set up and I was tapped out and spinning like a mad man trying to keep up with my two companions. I'll never forget that ride until I cannot remember anything. That was terrifying! 

But I got to ride The Strip in Las Vegas on a bicycle. Not too many folks can probably say that!

On The Death Of The Trade Show

 NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

Dave Pryor @ CrossVegas in '13

Back in the early part of the last decade I was probably in Las Vegas, or in the surrounding environs, for this thing called "Interbike". It was THE industry trade show for cycling for many years. But as with many things in Life, there were changes creeping in back then. 

One of the major changes was the dawning of social media. The instantaneous broadcasting of - literally - anything was bringing a new threat to the stability of the trade show. It was making what was once an anticipated event irrelevant. 

Gone were the times of waiting, the 'breaking of news' on one page in a magazine, or even on a website. No, now anyone with a smart phone and a connection could Tweet, Facebook, or post onto a site immediately, often, and with impunity. There were no "embargos" or editors. No filters and no managing of story lines. People walked down show aisles and posted willy-nilly on every bobble and bit they saw until, well, you could sit on your bum at home and see everything. Why bother with soiling yourself with the unwashed masses at Interbike? There was no longer any point in any of it. 

Brands and marketers figured this pivot out very quickly and took control of the loose reins. Suddenly there were less and less 'big brands' at the shows and messages now were 'managed' through controlled releases to the press via embargos. There were the brand specific 'press junkets' where brands could fly out hand picked media and groom them on their messages. Then there was the dawn of the dealer only events for specific brands where new product was released, shown, and orders written up. The very things Interbike was founded upon were now commodities controlled by the brands and marketers themselves. Interbike, as a vehicle for these things, was bypassed and no longer necessary. 

I saw that and my partner in "Twentynine Inches", Grannygear, saw that. We decided in 2013 that it would be our last Interbike show.  By this point we were able to get what we needed in a day. Hardly worth it from the standpoint of travel, lodging, food, and transportation costs to the site. (Well, in reality- that was my expense) The show had tried a last gasp attempt at life when it moved to Reno in 2018, but that was a failure, and plans for another show were shuttered afterward. There has been no Interbike since that time. 

Some folks miss the Vegas atmosphere. Not this guy!

So there ya go. A brief summary of the death of a trade show from my perspective. I would have been there around this time back in the day. So, do I miss it? 

No.

Overall, the answer would be a definitive "no". On one hand, I miss meeting people. I miss getting to know a few folks that are in the industry. But really, most of that, probably 90% of it, was superficial interfacing with a person for what? Five minutes? Maybe, if you were lucky. Then it was time to shuffle onward to the next "Hey! How ya doin? Yeah, the show is great. Goin home tomorrow. Have a good one!", and so on and on....

What people maybe choose to forget is the insufferable McCarren International Airport experiences, the sights of the downtrodden who live in the shadows of Vegas' Strip, or maybe the constant reminders that, on the Las Vegas Strip anyway, humans and their sexuality were nothing more than a way to make a quick buck and were meaningless otherwise. Some lament the 'getting together of folks', but you cannot ignore the rest of what Vegas stands for. And sure, there were multiple loud calls to pull Interbike into places like Reno, Denver, Anaheim, or the PNW, but when nobody could commit or seemingly make up their mind, Vegas became the default option. I think this was another key to Interbike's demise.

Some aspects of trade shows popped up at cycling events. The DK200 2015 here.

But the trade show, as a vehicle for information dispersal and business transactions, is dead. There is no real good reason to resurrect that idea, and 'getting together' is not good enough anymore. Not in large masses in centralized locations, at any rate. Business cannot afford to be a vehicle for superficial social gatherings. 

But other events do offer the opportunity for the gathering aspect that trade shows were once known for. Now, it would seem, the expo at a bicycle event serves as that social opportunity which fills a vacuum which was once served by Interbike, and to lesser extents, other smaller bicycle trade shows. In a way, the vestiges of the trade show are now carted around to various cycling events and one can see the old ways practiced, like they used to be, when Interbike was king. It's kind of like going to see the pioneer farming exhibit at the county fair. Quaint, but still irrelevant to modern times.

Probably the ultimate example of this is Sea Otter. A bicycle festival first, but a trade show as well. Sea Otter came to prominence in the late 00's as the place to introduce new product and get it into people's hands for impressions. Media jumped onboard with Sea Otter and it quickly became a much more efficient place to do business than Interbike ever was. A much more wholesome atmosphere didn't hurt either, as well as the beauty of the Monterrey area in terms of nature. 

But even Sea Otter has become somewhat lackluster in terms of marketing and newsy items since marketing and brand managers have sought out 'influencers', 'stories', and You Tube edits which they can control and measure metrics on better for their clients. Pinpointed marketing to specific media is also a big thing now and Sea Otter paints a broad stroke which doesn't always work for that. Add in COVID, and now one has to wonder how things will look moving forward in regard to 'expos' at events. 

Whatever happens, indoor trade show events are dead. What the future holds is not completely clear to me, but one thing is for sure- I don't miss flying out to Vegas. Not even one little bit!

On The Death Of The Trade Show

 NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

Dave Pryor @ CrossVegas in '13

Back in the early part of the last decade I was probably in Las Vegas, or in the surrounding environs, for this thing called "Interbike". It was THE industry trade show for cycling for many years. But as with many things in Life, there were changes creeping in back then. 

One of the major changes was the dawning of social media. The instantaneous broadcasting of - literally - anything was bringing a new threat to the stability of the trade show. It was making what was once an anticipated event irrelevant. 

Gone were the times of waiting, the 'breaking of news' on one page in a magazine, or even on a website. No, now anyone with a smart phone and a connection could Tweet, Facebook, or post onto a site immediately, often, and with impunity. There were no "embargos" or editors. No filters and no managing of story lines. People walked down show aisles and posted willy-nilly on every bobble and bit they saw until, well, you could sit on your bum at home and see everything. Why bother with soiling yourself with the unwashed masses at Interbike? There was no longer any point in any of it. 

Brands and marketers figured this pivot out very quickly and took control of the loose reins. Suddenly there were less and less 'big brands' at the shows and messages now were 'managed' through controlled releases to the press via embargos. There were the brand specific 'press junkets' where brands could fly out hand picked media and groom them on their messages. Then there was the dawn of the dealer only events for specific brands where new product was released, shown, and orders written up. The very things Interbike was founded upon were now commodities controlled by the brands and marketers themselves. Interbike, as a vehicle for these things, was bypassed and no longer necessary. 

I saw that and my partner in "Twentynine Inches", Grannygear, saw that. We decided in 2013 that it would be our last Interbike show.  By this point we were able to get what we needed in a day. Hardly worth it from the standpoint of travel, lodging, food, and transportation costs to the site. (Well, in reality- that was my expense) The show had tried a last gasp attempt at life when it moved to Reno in 2018, but that was a failure, and plans for another show were shuttered afterward. There has been no Interbike since that time. 

Some folks miss the Vegas atmosphere. Not this guy!

So there ya go. A brief summary of the death of a trade show from my perspective. I would have been there around this time back in the day. So, do I miss it? 

No.

Overall, the answer would be a definitive "no". On one hand, I miss meeting people. I miss getting to know a few folks that are in the industry. But really, most of that, probably 90% of it, was superficial interfacing with a person for what? Five minutes? Maybe, if you were lucky. Then it was time to shuffle onward to the next "Hey! How ya doin? Yeah, the show is great. Goin home tomorrow. Have a good one!", and so on and on....

What people maybe choose to forget is the insufferable McCarren International Airport experiences, the sights of the downtrodden who live in the shadows of Vegas' Strip, or maybe the constant reminders that, on the Las Vegas Strip anyway, humans and their sexuality were nothing more than a way to make a quick buck and were meaningless otherwise. Some lament the 'getting together of folks', but you cannot ignore the rest of what Vegas stands for. And sure, there were multiple loud calls to pull Interbike into places like Reno, Denver, Anaheim, or the PNW, but when nobody could commit or seemingly make up their mind, Vegas became the default option. I think this was another key to Interbike's demise.

Some aspects of trade shows popped up at cycling events. The DK200 2015 here.

But the trade show, as a vehicle for information dispersal and business transactions, is dead. There is no real good reason to resurrect that idea, and 'getting together' is not good enough anymore. Not in large masses in centralized locations, at any rate. Business cannot afford to be a vehicle for superficial social gatherings. 

But other events do offer the opportunity for the gathering aspect that trade shows were once known for. Now, it would seem, the expo at a bicycle event serves as that social opportunity which fills a vacuum which was once served by Interbike, and to lesser extents, other smaller bicycle trade shows. In a way, the vestiges of the trade show are now carted around to various cycling events and one can see the old ways practiced, like they used to be, when Interbike was king. It's kind of like going to see the pioneer farming exhibit at the county fair. Quaint, but still irrelevant to modern times.

Probably the ultimate example of this is Sea Otter. A bicycle festival first, but a trade show as well. Sea Otter came to prominence in the late 00's as the place to introduce new product and get it into people's hands for impressions. Media jumped onboard with Sea Otter and it quickly became a much more efficient place to do business than Interbike ever was. A much more wholesome atmosphere didn't hurt either, as well as the beauty of the Monterrey area in terms of nature. 

But even Sea Otter has become somewhat lackluster in terms of marketing and newsy items since marketing and brand managers have sought out 'influencers', 'stories', and You Tube edits which they can control and measure metrics on better for their clients. Pinpointed marketing to specific media is also a big thing now and Sea Otter paints a broad stroke which doesn't always work for that. Add in COVID, and now one has to wonder how things will look moving forward in regard to 'expos' at events. 

Whatever happens, indoor trade show events are dead. What the future holds is not completely clear to me, but one thing is for sure- I don't miss flying out to Vegas. Not even one little bit!

Minus Ten Review 2009-38

Dusty kicks in Circus-Circus. I-bike 2009 trip memories.

Ten years ago this week I attended the Interbike trade show again for the fourth year in a row. This time in the company of Grannygear, not with the old "Crooked Cog Network" gang leader. That ship had sailed. Now it was me and Granny, against all odds we were putting out content about 29"ers while the "big league guys" were finally starting to come around to the whole big wheeled way of thinking.

We had some contributions from Germany in the form of articles by "CG", but when I think back on how we were able to carve out the little niche in the media that we did, well..... It's pretty amazing we could even get one reader! I mean, there are so many more popular, more well known, and far better funded sites and publications from those times that for us to even be heard was just unreal to me. I still cannot believe we pulled off the things we did, and trust me, we busted our butts for no monetary gain. It was pretty dumb, financially, but we maximized our resources and did a LOT with a little bit. Take for instance the '09 Interbike show.

I flew out to meet Grannygear on Sunday night. Monday we hit the Outdoor Demo, same thing Tuesday. We went from morning till evening, only taking time to eat before the demo and afterward. Then it was decompress, talk over things, maybe make a few posts, and to bed we went. Wednesday we hit the indoor show hard. That was it. We skipped out on the last two days of the indoor show deeming it all wasted time. We got all the content, no social hanging out, and WAY less spending on room and board. The savings were significant, and I was home by Thursday evening.

Afterward we reflected on our mission. Grannygear and I determined that we didn't miss much by skipping two days of the show. By '09 Interbike already was showing signs of dying, and we could see it. Less vendors, less "new" stuff to report on. Of course, this all was during the Big Recession, so go figure, but socially and media-wise things were on a fast track of change. Interbike never got its feet under itself to keep up.

Eventually brands just took their messages and their goods direct to consumer, bypassing the show, which had lost its relevance as a place to do business for the same reasons. Businesses took their deal making direct to the shops, not waiting for some "show" to sell their wares. Eventually, it became increasingly clear that even by using a meager budget to go to Las Vegas every year, it just wasn't worth it from the standpoint of content generation. By 2013 I was begrudgingly going to the show and after that dismal experience, Grannygear and I decided not to attend it again. I was out of "Twenty Nine Inches" by the end of 2014 and Interbike died in 2018. Now there is no North American trade show, and I doubt those days will ever come back again.

Maybe I'll be proven wrong......

Minus Ten Review 2009-38

Dusty kicks in Circus-Circus. I-bike 2009 trip memories.

Ten years ago this week I attended the Interbike trade show again for the fourth year in a row. This time in the company of Grannygear, not with the old "Crooked Cog Network" gang leader. That ship had sailed. Now it was me and Granny, against all odds we were putting out content about 29"ers while the "big league guys" were finally starting to come around to the whole big wheeled way of thinking.

We had some contributions from Germany in the form of articles by "CG", but when I think back on how we were able to carve out the little niche in the media that we did, well..... It's pretty amazing we could even get one reader! I mean, there are so many more popular, more well known, and far better funded sites and publications from those times that for us to even be heard was just unreal to me. I still cannot believe we pulled off the things we did, and trust me, we busted our butts for no monetary gain. It was pretty dumb, financially, but we maximized our resources and did a LOT with a little bit. Take for instance the '09 Interbike show.

I flew out to meet Grannygear on Sunday night. Monday we hit the Outdoor Demo, same thing Tuesday. We went from morning till evening, only taking time to eat before the demo and afterward. Then it was decompress, talk over things, maybe make a few posts, and to bed we went. Wednesday we hit the indoor show hard. That was it. We skipped out on the last two days of the indoor show deeming it all wasted time. We got all the content, no social hanging out, and WAY less spending on room and board. The savings were significant, and I was home by Thursday evening.

Afterward we reflected on our mission. Grannygear and I determined that we didn't miss much by skipping two days of the show. By '09 Interbike already was showing signs of dying, and we could see it. Less vendors, less "new" stuff to report on. Of course, this all was during the Big Recession, so go figure, but socially and media-wise things were on a fast track of change. Interbike never got its feet under itself to keep up.

Eventually brands just took their messages and their goods direct to consumer, bypassing the show, which had lost its relevance as a place to do business for the same reasons. Businesses took their deal making direct to the shops, not waiting for some "show" to sell their wares. Eventually, it became increasingly clear that even by using a meager budget to go to Las Vegas every year, it just wasn't worth it from the standpoint of content generation. By 2013 I was begrudgingly going to the show and after that dismal experience, Grannygear and I decided not to attend it again. I was out of "Twenty Nine Inches" by the end of 2014 and Interbike died in 2018. Now there is no North American trade show, and I doubt those days will ever come back again.

Maybe I'll be proven wrong......

Minus Ten Review -35

More review tires and things were coming in for "Twenty Nine Inches".

Ten years ago this week on the blog I was yapping a lot about the upcoming Interbike trade show I was scheduled to attend for "Twenty Nine Inches", which was the website I worked for back then that covered all things 29"er. There were a lot of things up in the air that year, and we were supposed to all meet up in a rented Vegas house that year.

Then I was yapping about the Green Belt. 2008 was the first year the City of Waterloo decided to do clean up in the Green Belt using an end loader, the size you would use to fill a dump truck with. Before this they went through twice a year with a Brush Hog type mower which kind of retained the natural single track tread, for the most part, which had been established for......maybe decades. But then....

The damn end loader obliterated a lot of that old tread. The fact that the thing was ginormous made the City take it around bigger trees we used to go in between.  Of course, this radically changed the Green Belt and ever since, this sort of "trail maintenance" has been the rule more so than not.

Fortunately they left "Marky-Mark" alone, which was the trail connector I put in along Ridgeway Avenue in 1997-98. I've only seen that trail become "publicly" acknowledged once, on a trail map published by the City recently. They named it some dorky, obvious name, but whatever. At least it is seen as an "official trail" in some aspect, instead of a bandit trail, which it was for many, many years.

Minus Ten Review -35

More review tires and things were coming in for "Twenty Nine Inches".

Ten years ago this week on the blog I was yapping a lot about the upcoming Interbike trade show I was scheduled to attend for "Twenty Nine Inches", which was the website I worked for back then that covered all things 29"er. There were a lot of things up in the air that year, and we were supposed to all meet up in a rented Vegas house that year.

Then I was yapping about the Green Belt. 2008 was the first year the City of Waterloo decided to do clean up in the Green Belt using an end loader, the size you would use to fill a dump truck with. Before this they went through twice a year with a Brush Hog type mower which kind of retained the natural single track tread, for the most part, which had been established for......maybe decades. But then....

The damn end loader obliterated a lot of that old tread. The fact that the thing was ginormous made the City take it around bigger trees we used to go in between.  Of course, this radically changed the Green Belt and ever since, this sort of "trail maintenance" has been the rule more so than not.

Fortunately they left "Marky-Mark" alone, which was the trail connector I put in along Ridgeway Avenue in 1997-98. I've only seen that trail become "publicly" acknowledged once, on a trail map published by the City recently. They named it some dorky, obvious name, but whatever. At least it is seen as an "official trail" in some aspect, instead of a bandit trail, which it was for many, many years.

Minus Ten Review- 39

A "mix and match" Chris King headset from '07 that I still run in one of my bikes here .

Ten years ago on the blog I had no pictures!!! Epic fail since this was the week ten years ago I was at Interbike working for Tim Grahl and Twenty Nine Inches.

You can go back to last week's series and read much of what it was like. I won't rehash my posts from ten years ago as many of the memories were covered here last week. But I will delve a little deeper in to what it was like working Vegas back then.

Grahl had us in the same time share "apartment", for lack of a better term, that we had used the year before. It was very conveniently located about two blocks from the Sands Convention center which was where Interbike was held. Obviously, we could walk wherever we had to go. Every morning it was a trek across a sandy lot, walking by a "station" where immigrants from Mexico were usually found in the evenings hawking escort service cards. The cards would be strewn all across the sidewalk and especially in front of the newspaper dispensers which were lined up at certain intervals along the Strip. These did not hold traditional newspapers, but they dispensed papers with several pages flaunting ads for escort services and pictured scantily clad women with "come hither" looks on their faces.

It was a walk of shame, for everyone, myself included. It was just a rotten, soulless place to wander through. Of course, then you had to negotiate the casino to get to the show floor. Smoking indoors is still allowed in Vegas so you were immediately aware of that stench and the noise, of course, of gambling. It was so surreal to see all these semi-fit, and fit cycling folk walking briskly by haggard folks with yellow tipped fingers blithely pulling one armed bandits and slumping over roulette games. It was just soooo wrong. 

Then we'd bust our butts from 9:00am until 5:00pm, posting as many images as we could, and then hitting up the food court in the nearby "fashion mall" for some slices of pizza before retiring back to the "apartment" and its rather close quarters. If I recall correctly, this was also the year that journalist Brad Quartuccio, then of "Dirt Rag", but soon to split off and be doing his own gig, was working with us. In fact, he may have just left "Dirt Rag" at that point, come to think of it. Anyway....... I recall Brad being very thin and very intense. He was doing some work for Grahl at that time. Just a favor or two.

The week ended with me getting back to Iowa and being very happy about that. Here's a quote I pulled which gives you the basic feeling I had post-I-Bike in the form of a bit of advice to those who had never been to the show:

".....but any self respecting cyclist owes it to themselves at least to stay far away from that black hole of waste called Las Vegas. I still find it ironic that the industry thinks this is a good idea to go there. Wow!"

Obviously, it wasn't the best place and now it won't be happening there in Vegas again. About ten years too late on that one, in my opinion!

Minus Ten Review- 39

A "mix and match" Chris King headset from '07 that I still run in one of my bikes here .

Ten years ago on the blog I had no pictures!!! Epic fail since this was the week ten years ago I was at Interbike working for Tim Grahl and Twenty Nine Inches.

You can go back to last week's series and read much of what it was like. I won't rehash my posts from ten years ago as many of the memories were covered here last week. But I will delve a little deeper in to what it was like working Vegas back then.

Grahl had us in the same time share "apartment", for lack of a better term, that we had used the year before. It was very conveniently located about two blocks from the Sands Convention center which was where Interbike was held. Obviously, we could walk wherever we had to go. Every morning it was a trek across a sandy lot, walking by a "station" where immigrants from Mexico were usually found in the evenings hawking escort service cards. The cards would be strewn all across the sidewalk and especially in front of the newspaper dispensers which were lined up at certain intervals along the Strip. These did not hold traditional newspapers, but they dispensed papers with several pages flaunting ads for escort services and pictured scantily clad women with "come hither" looks on their faces.

It was a walk of shame, for everyone, myself included. It was just a rotten, soulless place to wander through. Of course, then you had to negotiate the casino to get to the show floor. Smoking indoors is still allowed in Vegas so you were immediately aware of that stench and the noise, of course, of gambling. It was so surreal to see all these semi-fit, and fit cycling folk walking briskly by haggard folks with yellow tipped fingers blithely pulling one armed bandits and slumping over roulette games. It was just soooo wrong. 

Then we'd bust our butts from 9:00am until 5:00pm, posting as many images as we could, and then hitting up the food court in the nearby "fashion mall" for some slices of pizza before retiring back to the "apartment" and its rather close quarters. If I recall correctly, this was also the year that journalist Brad Quartuccio, then of "Dirt Rag", but soon to split off and be doing his own gig, was working with us. In fact, he may have just left "Dirt Rag" at that point, come to think of it. Anyway....... I recall Brad being very thin and very intense. He was doing some work for Grahl at that time. Just a favor or two.

The week ended with me getting back to Iowa and being very happy about that. Here's a quote I pulled which gives you the basic feeling I had post-I-Bike in the form of a bit of advice to those who had never been to the show:

".....but any self respecting cyclist owes it to themselves at least to stay far away from that black hole of waste called Las Vegas. I still find it ironic that the industry thinks this is a good idea to go there. Wow!"

Obviously, it wasn't the best place and now it won't be happening there in Vegas again. About ten years too late on that one, in my opinion!

Show Time Or Yawn Time?

Eurobike starts today or tomorrow, but whenever it really starts, it doesn't matter. The physical show has been transcended by pre-show releases in the digital realm and the slew of dealer only shows that have taken place over the Summer months. It used to be that "day one" of a trade show was a frenzied mess of news being spewed forth which, I suppose, made some brands sad. They got lot in a blast of marketing hoohah. Thus the situation we have here now where the actual show is kind of an afterthought. Well.......if you even care to think of it at all. 

Shimano's new S-Phyre shoes "official debut is at Eurobike, but they splashed it all over media well before hand. 

 Products like Shimano's newset shoes for road and mtb racing were launched via Shimano's own website and all over cycling media yesterday, despite Shimano saying that the shoes "official debut" was to be at Eurobike. So what? Who cares anymore where your "official debut" is at physically? The news is stone cold by the time Eurobike's doors swing open.

The Bell Zephyr Ghost helmet is reflective at night, had MIPS built in, and features a two way adjustable cradle.

Shimano isn't the only one doing this. It is almost any company with a new marketing angle or product to sell. Bell Helmets has redone their entire line and have a new Zephyr model which is pretty cool. Yep.....officially launched at Eurobike, but is all over social media already. As is FSA's electronic gruppo, which was almost entirely develpoed via online sneak peeks for the past several months, but is "officially" being launched at Eurobike.

Ho hum or showtime? I guess when it comes right down to it, why go to the show? Save yourself the money and hassle of traveling, sit back, crack a cold one and watch it all unfold on-line. It has been doing so for a couple of months now anyway. Furthermore; much of what has been revealed has already been touched, ridden, and in some cases bought and sold through retailers. It isn't good enough anymore to get your press release off to "Bike Rumor" first so your news hits the digital airwaves first. Nope. Now you have to actually get the stuff into the hands of special media folks, and even better, certain consumers, to get a more "authentic" take on products out to the masses. To wit: QBP's Saddledrive and subsequent demos of bikes already taking place across the nation. Think about that. Those Woodsmokes and Timberjacks were not even known or whispered about just two months ago. Now you can get rider reviews and go ride one yourself, if you are lucky enough to have had a demo truck go through your area already. Several other bike companies are doing the same as well, by the way.  By the time Interbike happens those bikes will have been old hat for many consumers and bike shop employees. Why even bother going to that show unless you want to demo a ride on one of those sleds. Oh.....and Outerbike. There's that too.

PRO, a Shimano component brand, has a new dropper post coming out soon.

 Now I should say a few things to bring some perspective to my rant here. First off, I've been to Interbike several times. So, I know the song and dance routine, but I also have had that privilege of attending. Maybe some folks have wished they could go sometime. I get that. It is kind of like Las Vegas for cyclists: Everyone should go at least once.

Which leads me to my second point. I really, really don't like going to Interbike in Las Vegas. It's slimy, and it is just a soul-sucking area to be in. I personally do not wish to ever go back for any reason. I'm not the only one. An industry rep, who shall remain nameless, wrote the following about Interbike/Las Vegas to me recently:

"Every year, I wish for a non-fatal injury accident that prevents my attending Interbike. I hate Las Vegas and I hate trade shows generally."

So, yeah.... Of course I am going to say negative things about the cycling trade shows, right? Well, I also feel strongly, even if I did like the whole deal, that the trade show format is sorely outdated. Look, it use to be an integral part of commerce for the cycling industry, and in some cases/ways, it still serves that function, but it is a way of doing things that is akin to manual typewriters and wired telephones. Yes....you can still get things done that way, but why? It's time to smell the coffee and get on with 21st Century technology and more efficient means of doing all this. I think the landscape today shows us the traditional trade show format is definitely a yawn.

Show Time Or Yawn Time?

Eurobike starts today or tomorrow, but whenever it really starts, it doesn't matter. The physical show has been transcended by pre-show releases in the digital realm and the slew of dealer only shows that have taken place over the Summer months. It used to be that "day one" of a trade show was a frenzied mess of news being spewed forth which, I suppose, made some brands sad. They got lot in a blast of marketing hoohah. Thus the situation we have here now where the actual show is kind of an afterthought. Well.......if you even care to think of it at all. 

Shimano's new S-Phyre shoes "official debut is at Eurobike, but they splashed it all over media well before hand. 

 Products like Shimano's newset shoes for road and mtb racing were launched via Shimano's own website and all over cycling media yesterday, despite Shimano saying that the shoes "official debut" was to be at Eurobike. So what? Who cares anymore where your "official debut" is at physically? The news is stone cold by the time Eurobike's doors swing open.

The Bell Zephyr Ghost helmet is reflective at night, had MIPS built in, and features a two way adjustable cradle.

Shimano isn't the only one doing this. It is almost any company with a new marketing angle or product to sell. Bell Helmets has redone their entire line and have a new Zephyr model which is pretty cool. Yep.....officially launched at Eurobike, but is all over social media already. As is FSA's electronic gruppo, which was almost entirely develpoed via online sneak peeks for the past several months, but is "officially" being launched at Eurobike.

Ho hum or showtime? I guess when it comes right down to it, why go to the show? Save yourself the money and hassle of traveling, sit back, crack a cold one and watch it all unfold on-line. It has been doing so for a couple of months now anyway. Furthermore; much of what has been revealed has already been touched, ridden, and in some cases bought and sold through retailers. It isn't good enough anymore to get your press release off to "Bike Rumor" first so your news hits the digital airwaves first. Nope. Now you have to actually get the stuff into the hands of special media folks, and even better, certain consumers, to get a more "authentic" take on products out to the masses. To wit: QBP's Saddledrive and subsequent demos of bikes already taking place across the nation. Think about that. Those Woodsmokes and Timberjacks were not even known or whispered about just two months ago. Now you can get rider reviews and go ride one yourself, if you are lucky enough to have had a demo truck go through your area already. Several other bike companies are doing the same as well, by the way.  By the time Interbike happens those bikes will have been old hat for many consumers and bike shop employees. Why even bother going to that show unless you want to demo a ride on one of those sleds. Oh.....and Outerbike. There's that too.

PRO, a Shimano component brand, has a new dropper post coming out soon.

 Now I should say a few things to bring some perspective to my rant here. First off, I've been to Interbike several times. So, I know the song and dance routine, but I also have had that privilege of attending. Maybe some folks have wished they could go sometime. I get that. It is kind of like Las Vegas for cyclists: Everyone should go at least once.

Which leads me to my second point. I really, really don't like going to Interbike in Las Vegas. It's slimy, and it is just a soul-sucking area to be in. I personally do not wish to ever go back for any reason. I'm not the only one. An industry rep, who shall remain nameless, wrote the following about Interbike/Las Vegas to me recently:

"Every year, I wish for a non-fatal injury accident that prevents my attending Interbike. I hate Las Vegas and I hate trade shows generally."

So, yeah.... Of course I am going to say negative things about the cycling trade shows, right? Well, I also feel strongly, even if I did like the whole deal, that the trade show format is sorely outdated. Look, it use to be an integral part of commerce for the cycling industry, and in some cases/ways, it still serves that function, but it is a way of doing things that is akin to manual typewriters and wired telephones. Yes....you can still get things done that way, but why? It's time to smell the coffee and get on with 21st Century technology and more efficient means of doing all this. I think the landscape today shows us the traditional trade show format is definitely a yawn.

Not Vegas: Part 2

Nope! Not even close to Vegas!

I suppose I should feel weird about not being in Vegas this week. It was a major part of my life for almost a decade. Thing is, I am really relaxed about this decision. I don't feel like I am missing much of anything, besides the people, of course. That part I cannot replace here.

Like I said though, I don't think I am missing anything. After eight straight years of going to the show, you get pretty used to the grind. The dog and pony show hasn't really changed much, it's just gotten less and less relevant. The trip itself is wash, rinse, repeat. It's the same nonsense every time with little variation. It also was the least enjoyable portion of Interbike every year. So, is there anything I do miss, besides the people? Yes........actually there is. 

• The Bicycles: You do get to ride some bicycles which is always a good time. Actually- it's the only good reason to go, besides the people. If Interbike could be five straight days of Outdoor Demo, I'd go every year just to ride. The heck with the indoor nonsense! 
• Great Buns Bakery: Pro Tip: On the way to Outdoor Demo, go down Tropicana Boulevard and stop at Great Buns Bakery. You will not be disappointed. I don't think there is a single thing they make that I wouldn't eat and that isn't totally delish! Heck- go out of your way every morning from the Mandaly and get a bag full of goodness. The prices are insanely cheap as well. Trust me on this.....go there!
• Free beer: Hey! I like a free beer just as much as the next guy or gal. 
• Looky-looing: Whether it is people watching, (always stellar when in Vegas), or checking out the outlandish Strip, or seeing the oddest products in the aisles and corners of the show, just checking out stuff is kinda of fun, truth be told. It only goes so far though, and by day two and a half you are ready to get outta there! 

So, it isn't a total bummer to go to Interbike, but after a few of these shows you could almost close your eyes and predict what will happen next. After awhile- there really isn't anything new about it.  That said, if you've never been to it, you should go, if you can. Every bike geek should see it at least once, you know, like RAGBRAI. You may even get hooked. Most don't that I know. But you might.....

I cannot leave this post without mentioning one person in particular though. My partner Grannygear. It is the only time we get to see each other all year, even though we talk pretty regularly. Now that part I will miss.

Not Vegas: Part 2

Nope! Not even close to Vegas!

I suppose I should feel weird about not being in Vegas this week. It was a major part of my life for almost a decade. Thing is, I am really relaxed about this decision. I don't feel like I am missing much of anything, besides the people, of course. That part I cannot replace here.

Like I said though, I don't think I am missing anything. After eight straight years of going to the show, you get pretty used to the grind. The dog and pony show hasn't really changed much, it's just gotten less and less relevant. The trip itself is wash, rinse, repeat. It's the same nonsense every time with little variation. It also was the least enjoyable portion of Interbike every year. So, is there anything I do miss, besides the people? Yes........actually there is. 

• The Bicycles: You do get to ride some bicycles which is always a good time. Actually- it's the only good reason to go, besides the people. If Interbike could be five straight days of Outdoor Demo, I'd go every year just to ride. The heck with the indoor nonsense! 
• Great Buns Bakery: Pro Tip: On the way to Outdoor Demo, go down Tropicana Boulevard and stop at Great Buns Bakery. You will not be disappointed. I don't think there is a single thing they make that I wouldn't eat and that isn't totally delish! Heck- go out of your way every morning from the Mandaly and get a bag full of goodness. The prices are insanely cheap as well. Trust me on this.....go there!
• Free beer: Hey! I like a free beer just as much as the next guy or gal. 
• Looky-looing: Whether it is people watching, (always stellar when in Vegas), or checking out the outlandish Strip, or seeing the oddest products in the aisles and corners of the show, just checking out stuff is kinda of fun, truth be told. It only goes so far though, and by day two and a half you are ready to get outta there! 

So, it isn't a total bummer to go to Interbike, but after a few of these shows you could almost close your eyes and predict what will happen next. After awhile- there really isn't anything new about it.  That said, if you've never been to it, you should go, if you can. Every bike geek should see it at least once, you know, like RAGBRAI. You may even get hooked. Most don't that I know. But you might.....

I cannot leave this post without mentioning one person in particular though. My partner Grannygear. It is the only time we get to see each other all year, even though we talk pretty regularly. Now that part I will miss.

Not Vegas

On a different agenda for 2014

I mentioned it last week, but it struck me just yesterday while I was out riding my bicycle. "I am not on a plane to Las Vegas!"

I'll tell ya, it was awesome to think that and have it be reality.  

Eight straight years of trips to "the show" and I know that isn't anything to some grizzled show vets, but hey- eight was enough. Las Vegas is not my favorite place, I'll admit that right up front, and so when the show started to decline in importance, the fact of where the show is located really weighed heavily on my decision not to go back again this year.

The other thing that I am super stoked about is that I have hit the jackpot on weather here. It couldn't possibly get much better than it has been here the past couple of days. Add in the fact that I am feeling even better and stronger on the bike, and well, I am doubly glad I didn't go to Las Vegas this year for the show. I know- I'll miss seeing a bunch of folks that I only ever get to see once a year. It is a shame it takes Vegas to bring us all into one place. Reminds me of how you never see your extended family until there is a funeral. Fun times with people you should see more often for all the wrong reasons.

So, if you are reading this from the show in Vegas, (doubtful- you're probably too busy setting up a booth or cleaning muck off stuff at the Outdoor Demo from last night's rain storms), I don't mean to gloat, and I truly will miss all of you. But I am glad I am staying home this time. I'm going to try to make the most of it.

Not Vegas

On a different agenda for 2014

I mentioned it last week, but it struck me just yesterday while I was out riding my bicycle. "I am not on a plane to Las Vegas!"

I'll tell ya, it was awesome to think that and have it be reality.  

Eight straight years of trips to "the show" and I know that isn't anything to some grizzled show vets, but hey- eight was enough. Las Vegas is not my favorite place, I'll admit that right up front, and so when the show started to decline in importance, the fact of where the show is located really weighed heavily on my decision not to go back again this year.

The other thing that I am super stoked about is that I have hit the jackpot on weather here. It couldn't possibly get much better than it has been here the past couple of days. Add in the fact that I am feeling even better and stronger on the bike, and well, I am doubly glad I didn't go to Las Vegas this year for the show. I know- I'll miss seeing a bunch of folks that I only ever get to see once a year. It is a shame it takes Vegas to bring us all into one place. Reminds me of how you never see your extended family until there is a funeral. Fun times with people you should see more often for all the wrong reasons.

So, if you are reading this from the show in Vegas, (doubtful- you're probably too busy setting up a booth or cleaning muck off stuff at the Outdoor Demo from last night's rain storms), I don't mean to gloat, and I truly will miss all of you. But I am glad I am staying home this time. I'm going to try to make the most of it.

That Annual Slimy Feeling

The Strip

Well, I did it again last evening. I booked everything to make the annual trek to Interbike. Gah.....why do I already feel slimed? 

I know people that think Vegas is awesome. Good for you, not so good for me. I am not a gambler, for one thing, and glitz and glamor are definitely not me. Not at all. I'm more like a simple man, really.

Anyhow, the deed is done, and back I go again in mid-September. There has been a change in venue there though, so I won't have to see as much of the Strip as we used to. Now we're to congregate at the Mandalay. That's not far from McCarran International either, so when I walk to the airport after all this is done, I won't have near as far to go!

So, there are a few silver linings in that stinking cloud, and added to that, I get to see many friends and acquaintances that  I only get to see once a year, usually. Plus maybe I'll make a few more friends. Hope so.

What do I think will be the "big deal" this year? Well, I bet something having to do with fat bikes, for sure, will be one of those things. Suspension forks, yes, and maybe something else as well. Maybe a 29+ thing.

Enjoying the best part

27.5"ers will be a big thing too. All the "enduro bikes", (read: this decades "free ride bike"), will be a rage. To me it is just another redressing of long travel, lift assisted bikes that have been around since the 90's. So, the wheels are incrementally a bit bigger. And.......?

Same-ol', same ol'. Just a new marketing plan and a ready made event system to go play with these things. I'm not saying it isn't cool, I am saying it has been cool for years. In other words, there is nothing really new here. Not really.

Then there will be the odd bikes. The "gravel bikes", and some other oddities that a lot of folks won't get, nor want to understand, but these are some of the most interesting bikes at any given Interbike. Things that make sense or really are innovative, or as in most cases, so bizarre that you can't believe they exist at all.

Eurobike will crank up first, we'll all see what is new from that show, and Interbike? Maybe it will be another yawner like last year in terms of "wow factor", or maybe this will be the rare show that will have something really news worthy. Stay tuned.....

That Annual Slimy Feeling

The Strip

Well, I did it again last evening. I booked everything to make the annual trek to Interbike. Gah.....why do I already feel slimed? 

I know people that think Vegas is awesome. Good for you, not so good for me. I am not a gambler, for one thing, and glitz and glamor are definitely not me. Not at all. I'm more like a simple man, really.

Anyhow, the deed is done, and back I go again in mid-September. There has been a change in venue there though, so I won't have to see as much of the Strip as we used to. Now we're to congregate at the Mandalay. That's not far from McCarran International either, so when I walk to the airport after all this is done, I won't have near as far to go!

So, there are a few silver linings in that stinking cloud, and added to that, I get to see many friends and acquaintances that  I only get to see once a year, usually. Plus maybe I'll make a few more friends. Hope so.

What do I think will be the "big deal" this year? Well, I bet something having to do with fat bikes, for sure, will be one of those things. Suspension forks, yes, and maybe something else as well. Maybe a 29+ thing.

Enjoying the best part

27.5"ers will be a big thing too. All the "enduro bikes", (read: this decades "free ride bike"), will be a rage. To me it is just another redressing of long travel, lift assisted bikes that have been around since the 90's. So, the wheels are incrementally a bit bigger. And.......?

Same-ol', same ol'. Just a new marketing plan and a ready made event system to go play with these things. I'm not saying it isn't cool, I am saying it has been cool for years. In other words, there is nothing really new here. Not really.

Then there will be the odd bikes. The "gravel bikes", and some other oddities that a lot of folks won't get, nor want to understand, but these are some of the most interesting bikes at any given Interbike. Things that make sense or really are innovative, or as in most cases, so bizarre that you can't believe they exist at all.

Eurobike will crank up first, we'll all see what is new from that show, and Interbike? Maybe it will be another yawner like last year in terms of "wow factor", or maybe this will be the rare show that will have something really news worthy. Stay tuned.....

The "Interbike Golden Ticket": An Opinion Part II

Notice: The following is this author's opinion and may or may not reflect the opinions of anyone else. I base my opinions today on published material from the Internet and my own personal observations and experiences from my Interbike attendance over the past several years. In the end, I suggest you make up your own mind based on your own research. Now, on with the story.....

At the end of November I posted an opinion on the initiative that Interbike has proposed to include bike shop's "better customers" at the annual trade show in Las Vegas.  The point I made was that consumers were already coming to the show- in significant numbers- and that coming on the last day "legally" was not going to appease their desire to actually ride product at the outdoor demo. I stated also that Interbike's last day was typically a poorly attended affair with little to offer consumers.

Interbike should let consumers do this...

Now a new "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" edition has come out, and in each issue, "BRAIN" asks a selected set of retailers a question, and the answers get published in each new issue. This edition's question was, "What do you think about Interbike's move to allow retailers to bring consumers to the show as VIP guests?"

Well, if you read my earlier post, you would have the majority opinion of the matter as espoused by the 10 selected dealers. There were some other interesting comments doled out that were not like my opinion. One of the more interesting ones was how a dealer felt that the industry needed to rub shoulders more with consumers and experience "firsthand the same things that the average shop sees and hears everyday". 

That is a noble idea, however, this dealer has it all backwards. Do not bring consumers to Las Vegas, Neveda to a boring convention of bike geeks if you want to truly get the industry wheelers and dealers to see what is going down with consumers on the front lines. No- you send the "generals" to the battle lines and have them observe the action first hand. In other words, Interbike is the wrong venue for getting true and honest feedback to the industry. The industry needs to visit the shops, stay awhile, observe the action on the sales floor and rub shoulders with consumers there, not the other way around.

Besides, Interbike is kind of a distraction, don't you think? And if the show isn't, then the city would be. I mean heck- where's the party? Right? Isn't that why people go to Vegas?

Party Town? Right?

Which brings me to where I see this whole initiative going. Interbike wants these consumers to come on the final day of the show. There are a lot of vendors at Interbike. How do they attract these folks to look at their stuff, and not the other guys stuff? Well, the same way they get dealers to come by at the end of the day.

That's right- Beer and babes. (I didn't say it was right, but it is what it is) So, this can't be far off the mark: Company X marketing guy says to himself, "How do I make it attractive for these special VIP consumers to see us? Hmm.... I know! I'll bring in a couple of kegs of specialty beer. maybe a Belgian, or an IPA, and we'll get some pretty gals hired to pour the brewskis while consumers line up and hear our guys talk about the 2014 line. It's a can't miss!" 

Am I right or am I right? The thing is, the consumers that are already getting into I-Bike are doing this at the end of everyday already, plus they ride at the Outdoor Demo. You know- if I were a VIP consumer, I know what part of Interbike I'd want to attend. 

Here's an idea, Interbike. Check out Sea Otter, and Outerbike. What do they do that you do not do? They allow consumers to ride bikes. I mean, that's the whole idea, no? You want to put more butts on bikes? Then let the consumers come and actually ride bicycles. Vendors are already doing demo tours, and they do that for a reason- to get folks to actually feel and experience product. You want jacked up, excited consumers to come out of Interbike and energize the marketplace, (as you stated in your press release), then this is how you do that.

Oh....and don't forget the free beers!

The "Interbike Golden Ticket": An Opinion Part II

Notice: The following is this author's opinion and may or may not reflect the opinions of anyone else. I base my opinions today on published material from the Internet and my own personal observations and experiences from my Interbike attendance over the past several years. In the end, I suggest you make up your own mind based on your own research. Now, on with the story.....

At the end of November I posted an opinion on the initiative that Interbike has proposed to include bike shop's "better customers" at the annual trade show in Las Vegas.  The point I made was that consumers were already coming to the show- in significant numbers- and that coming on the last day "legally" was not going to appease their desire to actually ride product at the outdoor demo. I stated also that Interbike's last day was typically a poorly attended affair with little to offer consumers.

Interbike should let consumers do this...

Now a new "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" edition has come out, and in each issue, "BRAIN" asks a selected set of retailers a question, and the answers get published in each new issue. This edition's question was, "What do you think about Interbike's move to allow retailers to bring consumers to the show as VIP guests?"

Well, if you read my earlier post, you would have the majority opinion of the matter as espoused by the 10 selected dealers. There were some other interesting comments doled out that were not like my opinion. One of the more interesting ones was how a dealer felt that the industry needed to rub shoulders more with consumers and experience "firsthand the same things that the average shop sees and hears everyday". 

That is a noble idea, however, this dealer has it all backwards. Do not bring consumers to Las Vegas, Neveda to a boring convention of bike geeks if you want to truly get the industry wheelers and dealers to see what is going down with consumers on the front lines. No- you send the "generals" to the battle lines and have them observe the action first hand. In other words, Interbike is the wrong venue for getting true and honest feedback to the industry. The industry needs to visit the shops, stay awhile, observe the action on the sales floor and rub shoulders with consumers there, not the other way around.

Besides, Interbike is kind of a distraction, don't you think? And if the show isn't, then the city would be. I mean heck- where's the party? Right? Isn't that why people go to Vegas?

Party Town? Right?

Which brings me to where I see this whole initiative going. Interbike wants these consumers to come on the final day of the show. There are a lot of vendors at Interbike. How do they attract these folks to look at their stuff, and not the other guys stuff? Well, the same way they get dealers to come by at the end of the day.

That's right- Beer and babes. (I didn't say it was right, but it is what it is) So, this can't be far off the mark: Company X marketing guy says to himself, "How do I make it attractive for these special VIP consumers to see us? Hmm.... I know! I'll bring in a couple of kegs of specialty beer. maybe a Belgian, or an IPA, and we'll get some pretty gals hired to pour the brewskis while consumers line up and hear our guys talk about the 2014 line. It's a can't miss!" 

Am I right or am I right? The thing is, the consumers that are already getting into I-Bike are doing this at the end of everyday already, plus they ride at the Outdoor Demo. You know- if I were a VIP consumer, I know what part of Interbike I'd want to attend. 

Here's an idea, Interbike. Check out Sea Otter, and Outerbike. What do they do that you do not do? They allow consumers to ride bikes. I mean, that's the whole idea, no? You want to put more butts on bikes? Then let the consumers come and actually ride bicycles. Vendors are already doing demo tours, and they do that for a reason- to get folks to actually feel and experience product. You want jacked up, excited consumers to come out of Interbike and energize the marketplace, (as you stated in your press release), then this is how you do that.

Oh....and don't forget the free beers!

Some Cool Things I Saw At Interbike

I realized I hadn't posted anything I saw that was somewhat impressive to me from Interbike. Here's some eye candy from the show then (and a few other things from Vegas)......

Super-Suit: This was right out of the "Incredibles" as far as I was concerned. But let me back up just a bit...

Alpinestars is an Italian company heavily into NASCAR, F-1, and Moto GP, amongst other motorsports, and cycling as well. We got to go to a fancy suite in the Venetian to look at some cycling duds, but this Moto GP suit is what got my jaw to drop.

It has micro-processors, accelerometers, armor, and air bags built into it. Riders are protected when the electronics discern a crash is occurring and it then sets the air bags off to protect the rider. The suit self arms when it detects motion from acceleration on the motorcycle. It can even re-arm itself after an initial crash in case the racer gets back going again after a first crash.

We asked if this sort of thing might make its way to down hill cycling, and the answer was it is being looked at, but no specifics were available as to how, when, or what the product might look like.

What we did get to see was maybe less "wow", but Alpinestars does have some pretty cool cycling gear for mountain bikers. In the future, there may be some tests on Twenty Nine Inches of Alpinestars clothing.

So, after that I saw some cool shorts, jerseys, gloves, and even some urban/commuter gear that was pretty high tech. Definitely things I was impressed by. Okay, now for some trivia: Anyone remember what Alpinestars was famous for in the cycling world in the 90's? (I'm thinking of two things. Let's see if anyone guesses both.)

Rolling Ad for "babes".

Sex Sells: I've told folks about this before, but I finally caught this on camera. Rolling trucks with billboard ads for female "escorts".  (Click image to make it bigger- and it is safe for work, by the way.)

This happens 24-7 on the Strip and at night, the trucks have their own spotlight systems to light up these things so you can't miss them. Of course, the rolling ads are not the only way women are reduced to less than dirt in Vegas. (Well, all humanity, really, is degraded by this.) There also are the people hawking escort service cards on the sidewalk that they want you to take. These generally have pretty racy pictures on them. They flip the cards, making a "snap" noise to get your attention and then they shove them at you when you look. Other ads are in newspaper dispensers and of course, there are the traditional billboards on the street.

Great place to take the kids, apparently. It never ceases to amaze me every time I go to the Strip. I always see mothers pushing babies in strollers, holding toddlers, and walking their kids down here. Weird.

Pinarello Dogma XC 29"er

Italian Carbon Wonder-bike: This  thing was outrageous. The Italians are said to be all about style, and this bike certainly did nothing to dispel that notion.

Crossed seat stays, a unique seat post binder, a steering stop integrated into the down tube, and "Onda-like" chain stays were just a few of the things I noticed when I looked closer at this black and white themed rig.

But it was obvious that this wasn't all just show-boating either. The down tube was shaped to get the maximum width at the bottom bracket for stiffness. The tire clearances were huge, and the geometry looked dialed in.

I could be wrong about the price, but I remember it being somewhere well north of 3G for the frame alone. What price style? I guess it's pretty high! Still, I wonder how it rides with all these out of the box ideas. You also have to hand it to Pinarello. They are not known for their mountain bikes these days, but this sure got my attention!

TommiSea Fat Bike tire

Fat Bikes For The Beach: I saw the TommiSea booth at Interbike, and they have been making fat tired beach cruisers for quite a while now. They introduced a new tire last year, but it was pretty rare, by all accounts, so when I saw it at Interbike it caught my eye.

It reminds me a bunch of a Big Fat Larry, and on the 100mm rim it was shown on, it looked pretty close to a BFL in width too . Not only that, but the tire probably acts a lot like a BFL as well.

The continuous center  strip obviously is similar to a BFL, and instead of "darts" along each side, it has rounded knobs, but they are similar in height. Unlike a BFL this tire has those goofy skulls in the tread though. Ah well.......a bit of fun thrown in for extra measure, I suppose.

This was mounted to a titanium frame, by the way, so apparently there are some fairly serious beach cruisin' folk out there. TommiSea also displayed a pretty rad camouflaged beach cruiser fat bike with rims to match.  This one even had a handle bar mounted gun rack. (Is there an option for a rebel flag sticker too?) The bike also features dual front disc brake caliper mounts on the fork, cause, you know.....you may have to stop real quick like from 90 mph, or something.

That one was dubbed the "Beast Stalker" and comes with a Shimano Alfine drive train for about $1349.00. Not too bad, really, when you consider that it weighs about 36lbs, (claimed), which is reasonable for undrilled rims and an internally geared hub set up.

I think the only thing that rivaled this was the whitewall tired fat bike cruiser in the J&B booth which sported the new Vee Rubber tires.

Velo Orange's "Campeur" frame/fork

Retro-Gravel Grinder: Of course, way back when, gravel roads, dirt roads, and stone paved paths were the norm, rather than the exception, and the bikes used then reflected the nature of these rougher paths.

Velo Orange has a frame and fork they dubbed the Campeur which harkens back to such times. This particular one I found interesting in that the tires were similar to something a lot of gravel grinder guys are using.

The handle bar mounted water cages only make the theme work even more for me, as one could easily mount a frame bag on this and go run the Dirty Kanza 200 or some other self supported long haul gravel event just as it is set up.

I'm not real big on non-aero levers, nor do I like the traditional deep drop, Belgian style handle bar, but this bike is pretty classy and it probably would still get someone down the road quite nicely despite the retro take on the set up here.

Well, I could go on, but this post is getting a bit into "epic-length" already, so I'll shut it down right here.