Interbike: I came, I saw ...

Interbike only lasts a few days but since those days are mostly spent without fresh air or natural light, it's easy to lose count. Especially since it all becomes a blur of shiny bits, objects of desire, and tremendous innovations cyclists didn't even know they needed.

I spent the better part of the week (one day at Outdoor Demo and three at Interbike) covering the show for both Teton Gravity Research and mtbr.com/roadbikereview.com.

And here's what I saw! Below, you'll find all of my articles and "best of" lists in one place - hope you enjoy! I certainly enjoyed chasing them down. BIG thank you to TGR's Jon Grinney who snapped photos for me and kept up with my warp speed charge. And more thank yous to all the gang at MTBR and Road Bike Review for having me along as well.

Without further adieu ...

The first installment of the TGR "Best of" series includes some of my favs from Rocky Mountain, Giant, POC, Smith, Giro, Osprey, and Sony:  http://www.tetongravity.com/photo/bike/the-best-of-interbike-2014-round-1

In Round II, I tried to get a little more "enduro" on the whole thing (and DH too!) and included finds from  Shimano, Five Ten, Camelback, EVOC, SPY, Leatt, and Intense Cycles.
http://www.tetongravity.com/photo/bike/tgrs-best-of-interbike-round-ii

For the MTBR/RBR "Best of Show" round up, I highlight the new lady's version of Norco's Sight, a pack from EVOC, Giro's Halter Bib Shorts, and the first helmet from Leatt (complete with internal routing for your hydration tube!)
http://reviews.mtbr.com/best-in-show-30-cool-new-bike-products-for-2015

Acre's Trail Pack is a good looking, functional pack that'll be here this spring. Fun aside, while in their booth, I got to meet legends Steve Peat and Greg Minnaar -- a highlight! http://reviews.mtbr.com/interbike-acre-hauser-trailpack

Blackburn has got a rack for you if you're of the fat-biking persuasion. And good news: it will also fit your skinny bike. 
http://reviews.mtbr.com/interbike-blackburns-new-expandable-outpost-fat-bike-rack

Marin offers an affordable option in the "adventure bike" category that caught my eye. http://www.roadbikereview.com/reviews/interbike-marin-lombard-elite-adventure-road-bike

Though they didn't have a traditional booth set up on the show floor, Mavic did have a nice, quiet place to retreat to to check out their hoops and other offerings. I took a peak at the Crossmax XL Wheel-Tyre System. http://reviews.mtbr.com/interbike-mavic-crossmax-xl-wheel-tyre-system

Liv, Giant's new women's brand is all grown up in 2015, dropping "Giant" from its extremely light downtubes. I drooled all over the Liv Lust Advanced 0. http://reviews.mtbr.com/interbike-2015-liv-lust-advanced-0

I met Jill Hamilton, the industry veteran behind Petal Power - a new line of "down there" products that work as a system including pre-ride wipes, chamois "creme" and post-ride wash. http://www.roadbikereview.com/reviews/interbike-petal-powers-new-chamois-cream-system-for-women

Simple, affordable and it gets the bikes out of the way! Great new offering from Feedback that would look great in a garage or even in your front hall. http://www.roadbikereview.com/reviews/interbike-feedback-sports-velo-wall-post-storage-solution

Showers Pass had the right idea when they booked a suite at the Mandalay in which to show off their gear. Another welcome retreat from the show floor. Also bacon. Ladies: the Rogue Hoodie. http://www.roadbikereview.com/reviews/interbike-showers-pass-launches-rogue-hoodie-for-women



And if you read this far ... here's a special treat. With MTBR/RoadBikeReview, we put together these entertaining, informative video wrap-ups to share with you the kinds of chats we have at the end of the day, anyway. I think they turned out alright!



Hope you enjoyed the show!!!

Interbike!! Are you going?

Photo credit: Interbike

I'm just putting the finishing touches on all the arrangements to head to Las Vegas for Interbike 2014, the largest bicycle tradeshow in North America.

I’ll be visiting with booths at Outdoor Demo on Tuesday and then retreating to the air-conditioned tradeshow floor of the Mandalay for three days of Interbike. 

I’m on the hunt for the latest and greatest in mountain biking, and will be sharing the results of my detective work via Teton Gravity Research, so stay tuned!

Photo credit: Interbike

I’m also looking forward to catching up with friends, sponsors and clients from the past year and showing off some spiffy new business cards, thanks to LiFT Creative - the team behind this year's Belgian Huis. If you’re planning to be at the show, let’s connect! 

Safe travels to everyone as you start making your way to Vegas! We're leaving on Friday for a "quick detour" to Tahoe to catch the Jeremy Jones: Higher premiere. Stoked! 

Interbike Postmortem

We rolled into Vegas and I couldn't believe my eyes. So much insanity crammed into a completely inhospitable part of the desert. We took a stroll on the strip at 10pm and I felt like I was in a hot yoga studio. Air conditioning mixed with whatever oxygen+ gases they pump into the casinos to camoflauge the cigarette smoke. No discernible dress code. No rules. No curfew.

I rode a rollercoaster, had a taco in a pyramid, saw the fountains, the pirates, the brides and bachelorette parties, the show girls, the costumes, the homeless, the volcano, the cigarette girls; rode in a limo, walked my legs off and took the tram. Shopping malls full of dreams where the Prada salespeople first offer you a glass of champagne. I had a short drink and a very, very tall drink. On the street. A fine meal, and salads made of sad brown lettuce. In Vegas, there's something for everyone.

But during Interbike, "everyone" is a bunch of cyclists, all sorts. You can tell who they are and what discipline they prefer just by looking at them mingling with the rest of 'Merica.

The Show
I did not expect to be so hyped on the show. I was like a kid in a candy store. I can't even fathom how many millions of dollars were on display on the conference floor of the Mandalay. Bikes, accessories, apparel, trips, fitting, helmets, shoes ... and then the booths themselves. Just amazing. This is the first year that Interbike was opened to consumers (Friday only) and I think it would be worth tracking down one of those invitations.

Elite CX Women (My fav Cdn mtb-er, Catharine Pendrel
in blue a couple back!)

CrossVegas 
I have never been to a cyclocross race. I have never really seen the appeal -- I mean, in Ontario, it's all about racing in the mud, snow and cold. It's a 40 minute all-out effort where you actually are expected to get OFF your bike. Does not compute.

But since everyone was off to CrossVegas, I was swept up in it as well and *now* I kind of get it. Even though we didn't have rain/snow/mud/cold to contend with. To my dismay, I found myself wishing I was out there ripping around so I guess I'm eating crow.

The Chris vs Kris Highroller Championship of the World

National Crit Finals HighRoller Crit! 
The night after CrossVegas we had more pro-level racing right outside the conference centre. But I was distracted by fun on Highrollers (BigWheels for adults!) and almost made the finals on these three wheelers. Congratulations to Coach Richard who did go on to the finals and came second to a BMX Olympian, no big deal. I have no idea what happened in the actual crit.


Last Friday Night/Waking Up In Vegas 

After all was said and done, and I'd managed to *not* show up to the Focus Bikes booth hungover on any of the show days, I was sucked into the ashtray/sewer/hole that is Las Vegas. But you know what they say about that ...


Here's some photos I snapped from the trip. Big thanks to Tim and everyone at Focus Bikes for having me along.

Interbike coming together, one day before it all gets started. Taken from atop a union ladder in the Focus booth. 

Starbucks, comfy shoes, name tag -- ready to hit it! 

Team car for Jelly Belly

Ryder Hesjedal stopped by the Cervelo booth (Focus and Cervelo are sister companies) so I got a photo with my favourite Canadian hero -- he won the Giro the same weekend Gerhard proposed so it was pretty much the best weekend ever. 

Ryder's Giro d'Italia trophy. Every winner gets their own. I touched it. 

*THIS* guy and his 36 INCH mountain bike ... when does it stop?! 

Team Jelly Belly/Rapha Focus stopped by our booth and told everyone we had free beer. But really we just had jelly beans. Awesome to meet (from left) Jeremy Powers, Freddie Rodriguez, Nic Hamilton and Brad Huff.

Focus Izalco Max awarded "Best In Show" by Bike Radar .... droooool

My "Best in Show" - A gorgeous offering from Electra I got to see when it was still in production. 

In which I meet Nelson Vails and am informed he's kind of a big deal. That's another story ... 

So many jelly beans ... Stop the madness. 

Always cracks me up when people take photos with iPads. Nothing more to see here. 

The welcome wagon at the Bellagio

Paris in the desert. 

Bumblebee

Waiting for the fountains at the Bellagio, trying to remember the plot of Ocean's 11

A picture of a million picture takers. oh, and a volcano. 

The aftermath. 

On the Eve of Interbike

It's a lovely day when you're packing up your suitcase for your first trip to Vegas! I'm super excited to be helping out the gentlemen at the Focus Bikes booth (number 6010 if you want to stop by) until Saturday at Interbike.

I've been impressed so far with how connected I feel already to the whole spectacle thanks to the numerous apps, emails, "show planner" and "connections" resources the show provides. It's also pretty amazing how many of my new friends here in SoCal are going to be there (or are there already for "Outerbike.")

For those that don't know, Interbike is North America's largest trade show for bike industry folks. Held every year in Las Vegas, it also features a big outdoor demo at Bootleg Canyon and of course Cross Vegas, the famous cyclocross race (if you're into that sort of thing).

Stay tuned for my first impressions of Las Vegas through social media and I'll be sure to post a summary of the whole crazy time. Til then, I'm off to roll the dice. If you're in town, be sure to look me up.