General Cycling Discussion - Chicago Bike Show, April 1-3, 2005

http://www.chicagobikeshow.com/

Who's going?

Stop by the Rock River Valley Bicycle Club's Old Mill Century booth (#324).

I'm not sure about scheduling yet, but I will probably be there Friday. Say hi!

I'll probably stop in on Friday to say hi. But you need to get me into the after-dinner/no real food party.... ;)

Koffee

I agree with Koffee on that one!! Any extra passes for you bike forum buddies??

What time will you all be by to pick me up? :D

I'll probably stop in on Friday to say hi. But you need to get me into the after-dinner/no real food party.... ;)

Koffee

Not doing a seminar this year?

Nope.

Koffee

All seats on Qantas sold out :mad:

Anyone know if the car lobby is organising a protest rally outside as a tit-for-tat at the Chicago Motor Show?

Anyone know if the car lobby is organising a protest rally outside as a tit-for-tat at the Chicago Motor Show?

Not that I've heard, though I notice that Subaru is no longer a sponsor.

There is a Japanese fishing reel company listed among the sponsor though.

I'll probably stop in on Friday to say hi. But you need to get me into the after-dinner/no real food party.... ;)

Koffee

Just out of curiosity, what is the after-dinner/no real food party like?

Just out of curiosity, what is the after-dinner/no real food party like?

Really, nothing. Water, some of those mini sodas they serve on the plane, and veggie plates. Usually, you leave hungry and find a restaurant in Navy Pier still open you can get some real grub at.

How about us ladies of the forums hooking up on Friday at the show then perhaps crashing the non-party party, then if there's time (and inclination), we can head to one of the restaurants in the neighborhood for some real food?

Koffee

Not that I've heard, though I notice that Subaru is no longer a sponsor.

There is a Japanese fishing reel company listed among the sponsor though.

:roflmao:

http://www.chicagobikeshow.com/

Who's going?

Stop by the Rock River Valley Bicycle Club's Old Mill Century booth (#324).

I'm not sure about scheduling yet, but I will probably be there Friday. Say hi!

I leave tomorrow for a week-long business trip to Chicago. I am planning to attend the bike show at least one day. I will be sure to look you up and say hi, Regularguy. Maybe I'll see Koffee and some of the other good Bikeforum folks around, too. :D

Make sure you download the $2 off coupon off the chicagobikeshow.com website.

Koffee

Make sure you download the $2 off coupon off the chicagobikeshow.com website.

Koffee

Have already done so. Thanks.

Well, the bike show is SMALL. It is like 60% smaller than in the past years, and the close out sale section is like half the size it usually was. Then the seminars are cut down to like next to nothing, when in the past years, they held seminars throughout the day. I have to assume since Subaru isn't sponsoring the event, maybe that is what led to it being reduced by so much. Then the LaSalle folks were there because they're sponsoring it, but they split the room in half, and on the LaSalle side, it was all about the running crap. I wondered why the heck they were calling it the Health and Fitness Expo AND Chicago Bike Show. It made sense as soon as I stumbled into that mess.

In the past, the close out center has been the biz-omb. I was able to find just about anything. The clothes this year were pretty unimpressive, with a very limited selection. The accessories were also very limited. I'm not sure what happened to their usual supply of clothing and accessories, but their suppliers must have dried up or something. I got the nighthawk digital emitter light, an onguard lock, and a light helmet mount. I really needed a rear light, mirror, sunglasses, socks, rain gear, new jerseys, new bike shorts, and desperately... new cycling gloves and a helmet. I will have to head to Performance for the double points sale to get the rest.

The only great thing I snagged were at the register as I was waiting to check out. They had a bunch of VHS tapes, and I started looking and realized how lucky I was to be standing there. They had great tapes, and I picked up as many as I could afford: 2000 Giro d'Italia, 1999 Giro d'Italia (Marco Pantani- From Hero to Zero!), 1999 Amstel Gold, 1999 World Championships, 1999 Giro di Lombardia, 1997 Tour de France, 1998 Tour de France, 1999 Vuelta a Espana, Bicycle Wheelbuilding, by Campagnolo, and my prize: 1995 Tour de France. There was a guy walking around the show later, and he had a bag with about 5 or 6 tapes I didn't get, and I walked up to him and showed him my bag, and he said I had the tapes he wanted. I just told him next time not to snooze, and he wouldn't lose!

I also met up with RegularGuy, who again, was so cool and helped me out with getting in there. We hung at his booth and I helped pass out flyers for his club ride. We talked and laughed and ate miniature hershey chocolates all evening. Those people at his booth are very cool (as usual). Definitely, it was the highlight of the evening.

It will probably be my last time attending the Chicago Bike Show.

Koffee

<snip>
The only great thing I snagged were at the register as I was waiting to check out. They had a bunch of VHS tapes, and I started looking and realized how lucky I was to be standing there. They had great tapes, and I picked up as many as I could afford: 2000 Giro d'Italia, 1999 Giro d'Italia (Marco Pantani- From Hero to Zero!), 1999 Amstel Gold, 1999 World Championships, 1999 Giro di Lombardia, 1997 Tour de France, 1998 Tour de France, 1999 Vuelta a Espana, Bicycle Wheelbuilding, by Campagnolo, and my prize: 1995 Tour de France. There was a guy walking around the show later, and he had a bag with about 5 or 6 tapes I didn't get, and I walked up to him and showed him my bag, and he said I had the tapes he wanted. I just told him next time not to snooze, and he wouldn't lose!

I also met up with RegularGuy, who again, was so cool and helped me out with getting in there. We hung at his booth and I helped pass out flyers for his club ride. We talked and laughed and ate miniature hershey chocolates all evening. Those people at his booth are very cool (as usual). Definitely, it was the highlight of the evening.

It will probably be my last time attending the Chicago Bike Show.

Koffee

The video tapes sound like a find!

Regularguy sounds like a very cool guy. It is a good thing that he could get you in there. And a good thing that he and his friends showed you such a good time. Indeed sounds like Friday's highlight!

The Bike Shows of the past sound much better. What a shame that it has changed so much!!

:roflmao:
Shimano

I was there at 3 on friday .The show was smaller than last year. I found some deals at the closeout center and there were some interesting bikes at closeout as well. I picked up some tandem and recumbent brochures for my father.I may try to get my father to buy(Bike) a cadillac.They have a nice lineup.I also picked up a really neat T shirt. Les Cycles wonder .I did not see anyone from forums. I must be part of the out group as politically unreliable. :(

Must have... because we were there at 3pm in the close outs too. That's how I got my hands on so many great video finds.

Koffee

The show was kind of puny this year.

I had fun test riding some bikes that I'd never consider buying, like the shaft-drive bike and the sociable recumbent tandem.

We did hand out a lot of brochures. (Thanks for the help, Koffee) and talked to a lot of great people. James, did you come by the Old Mill Century booth? You should've said hi. I would've been glad to meet you, even if you are politically unreliable.

:)

Regularguy rode my Bike Friday too, so make sure you count that in the bikes you got to test ride!

I dropped of your coffee to B.J. It's Swiss beans.

Koffeee

Cool beans! Thanks.

I also test road a croozer bike...the something or other baron...bigass tires and a coaster brake...fokker triplane paint job.

It was pretty cool, but needed handlbar mounted machine guns.

Tasty beans... enjoy.

We should have tried the side by side recumbent.

Koffee

I went to the show Sat late AM. The vendor booths were more sparse than last year, but it seemed there were more booths for clubs/organizations promoting rides than last year. State tourism offices (IL, IN, WI, MI) have gotten pretty aggressive.

Wandered into the run area (Shamrock Shuffle)--more active there.

The cycling time trials were going full steam while I was there; to be followed by a police vs. fire dept. contest.

For those who may still attend, instead of walking along the outside of the pier (easier when it's crowded inside), you may enjoy the free stained glass museum. (inside first floor, slightly east of the fun house/ferris wheel locations, before you get to Hall A 2nd floor where the bike show is)

Cool beans! Thanks.

I also test road a croozer bike...the something or other baron...bigass tires and a coaster brake...fokker triplane paint job.

It was pretty cool, but needed handlbar mounted machine guns.Tough commute huh?

Must have... because we were there at 3pm in the close outs too. That's how I got my hands on so many great video finds.

Koffee I was at closeouts later .I was at the show as soon as I could buy a ticket .I had to lock my bike outside.I did not see you at all.Since i met you last year i think i would have recognized you.I looked pretty much the same as last year a bit older of course.It beats the alternative.

Well, I had my bike with me. The BikeFriday stayed with me the entire time I was there. I was only in the room about 30 minutes, tops. It was a pretty small room, so it's not like you could linger there, like in the past shows. :(

Koffee

Cool beans! Thanks.

I also test road a croozer bike...the something or other baron...bigass tires and a coaster brake...fokker triplane paint job.

It was pretty cool, but needed handlbar mounted machine guns.

This: http://www.feltracing.com/05_cruiser/large_photos/2005_baron.html ?

I came soooo close to buying that when it came out, I love it :D

This: http://www.feltracing.com/05_cruiser/large_photos/2005_baron.html ?

I came soooo close to buying that when it came out, I love it :D

That's the one!

It's heavy and slow and rock steady and way too cool and really you need a leather helmet with ear flaps and goggles and a long white silk scarf to look right riding it and isn't that chainring just too fokking cool?

Actually, it's a blast to ride bicycles around indoors threading your way slowly through crowds of people and no one says "Hey! Whaddaya think you're doing, Bozo?" Every once in a while, someone says "cool bike!" though.

RG, thanks for a great time. Tell the others I really enjoyed my weekend there with them all. We nearly gave out every flyer you came with, which I understand is a new record for you guys!

Drop me an email so we can chat sometime this week, ok?

Thanks for the help again!

Koffee

RG, thanks for a great time. Tell the others I really enjoyed my weekend there with them all. We nearly gave out every flyer you came with, which I understand is a new record for you guys!

Drop me an email so we can chat sometime this week, ok?

Thanks for the help again!

Koffee

Koffee, I did not know that you had ridden in the OMC! Did you ride in last August's ride? I heard it was a good one.

Set up a chat for you and RG and invite some of the rest of us along! That would be interesting. I find Bikeforum people so fascinating to chat with.

RG, did you get any good pictures of the Bike Show? Koffee, did you? Share with us?

Koffee, why did you decide not to be a speaker this year at the Bike Shoe?