Rosemont Bike Show= Very Small

[JT1]

My wife and I went to the bike show today in Rosemont. Very disappointed, a total waste of money. There were very few vendors present :mad:

[Kimbercop]

Thanks for saving me the time and $$ then. I was gonna take the family tommorrow. Thanks for the heads up.

[hyunelan2]

Thanks a ton! I was debating driving the 51 miles (according to google maps) to get there today, but this has sold me on not doing that.

[John Wilke]

Very few = ?

1? 3? 5? 7?

[JT1]

Very few = ?

1? 3? 5? 7?

I think there were maybe a half a dozen vendors with bikes. But not much as far as other vendors. Many tables with maps and tourist information

When I was in Tucson last year for The Tour De Tucson, there was a FREE event with exhibitors. It was at least 3 times as big, with many more distributors.

It may be a value for some, however after paying over $30 for parking and admission we were both disappointed.

My LBS was there, and he said the event has dwindled to the point he will not even be there next year.

[Psimet2001]

Yeah...just got back. It was a shadow of even it's former small self. Basically you had Village Cylesport and Kozys there. Some factory areas. Some nice rigs, but about par for a show.

That said the family absolutely loved it this time. My son raced in his first crit. I'll make up a thread about it later - tons of pictures. My wife finally got on a Trek Lime and fell in love with it (because she could listen to a Trek rep give the spiel instead of me). She got us signed up for the bike the drive ride this year, and many other things.

Me, I got to check out some decent rigs (almost all cyclocross and commuter stuff). Niterider was there. Computrainer was there. Some vintage rigs - I'll post pictures....and I got to see Richard Schwinn again.


I did leave there thinking about what to post and the only thing that came to mind was a giant picture of a wheel drawn using only the word "meh". It turly was a pile of meh.

I would be surprised if ANY vendor shows up next year.

FWIW the swap meet earlier this year had more gear stuff going on. This show was like walking into a giant Trek store.

[atomship47]

"This show was like walking into a giant Trek store."

well....make up your mind! was it like a giant store or a trek store?

[duppie]

I guess it all depends on what your looking for.....
The CBF booth was busy all day and we sold a ton of new meberships/event registrations (thanks Psimet!)
I also spend some time looking at the Fietsfabriek bikes. Dutch utility bikes, built like a tank. They reminded me of the bikes I rode in my childhood.
Oh, and I bought a Raleigh One way. I had been eyeing one for months. It was on sale for 30% off and they had it in my size. That was a no brainer...
The one thing I was hoping for, but they didn't have, was a Gary Fisher Simple City. Apparently they are delayed
Duppie

[James H Haury]

I should have realized something was wrong.They had no listing of vendors just a contact person to call or e mail.Apparently they needed vendors, bad! Next year I will try to make it to the Milwaukee bike expo.I will be skipping Rosemont.

[Psimet2001]

I guess it all depends on what your looking for.....
The CBF booth was busy all day and we sold a ton of new meberships/event registrations (thanks Psimet!)
I also spend some time looking at the Fietsfabriek bikes. Dutch utility bikes, built like a tank. They reminded me of the bikes I rode in my childhood.
Oh, and I bought a Raleigh One way. I had been eyeing one for months. It was on sale for 30% off and they had it in my size. That was a no brainer...
The one thing I was hoping for, but they didn't have, was a Gary Fisher Simple City. Apparently they are delayed
Duppie


If you were the one I actually registered with I apologize. I was more than rude, but I assure you it had more to do with the wife and the situation. :o

[Riotgeer]

I rode my bike out there this morning, starting from more or less downtown Chicago. It was my first bike show, so I was at least reasonably entertained.

I am curious if anyone knows of decent routes there? A CTA employee and a pedestrian both recommended I take Higgins Rd. out from the Jefferson Park Blue Line station. It was alright in the AM, since Sunday morning traffic was light. I was pretty intimidated by the roads in the afternoon, and took CTA train and bus to Lawrence Ave- switched back to the bike at the first bike marquee I saw. I was considering Bryn Mawr, but I wasn't in the mood for too much excitement if it turned out to be a bad idea. I actually have other reasons to go to that neck of the woods occasionally, so alternative routes are still useful.

Erick

[laryanshabaz]

While I enjoyed my time, it wasn't what I was looking for.
I don't understand why in a city like Chicago, there can't be a platform for the bicycle industry like a major Auto Show with factory representation. People were nice and I saw some cool bikes I had wanted to see (but so many more I'd like to).

This event is better than the Milwaukee W/S Expo (but costs money, of course)

[duppie]

If you were the one I actually registered with I apologize. I was more than rude, but I assure you it had more to do with the wife and the situation. :o

You're good. Didn't notice anyone being rude. Most people were actually in a good mood and receptive to our message. We even sold a membership to a Schwinn family member. That is the closest thing I will ever come to meeting a bicycle celebrity :D
Duppie

[James H Haury]

I met joe? Breeze a couple of years ago very normal to talk to.

[Psimet2001]

You're good. Didn't notice anyone being rude. Most people were actually in a good mood and receptive to our message. We even sold a membership to a Schwinn family member. That is the closest thing I will ever come to meeting a bicycle celebrity :D
Duppie

I'm assuming it was Richard Schwinn. I saw him there as well. He looks older, but actually a bit fitter than the last couple of times I saw him. He looks pretty good - like he's been riding :D.

[duppie]

I'm assuming it was Richard Schwinn. I saw him there as well. He looks older, but actually a bit fitter than the last couple of times I saw him. He looks pretty good - like he's been riding :D.

That would make it an actual celebrity, wouldn't it? :eek: I believe it was his wife, buying a membership for another family member.
Duppie

[tzracer]

That would make it an actual celebrity, wouldn't it? :eek: I believe it was his wife, buying a membership for another family member.
Duppie

I met his son last week. Then Richard took my picture....standing next to my bike.