Interbike show report 2009 - mostly tandem stuff
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Diego
Posts: 39
Bikes: Trek
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Interbike show report 2009 - mostly tandem stuff
Hi friends,
I've attached a show report (rough draft) from the Vegas Interbike show last September; this will eventually show up in Recumbent and Tandem Rider magazine. You can find this blog on our website:
https://www.secondsummertours.com
Cheers,
Rob Templin
Second Summer Tours
This is the fist part:
“Hey Rob”, the voice behind me in the crowd was asking, “how are you doing”? As anyone that has worked a major trade show knows, this would be a greeting asked many, many times over the course of the event as once-a-year friends attempt to reconnect. Business on the run as all of us try our best to catch up on a year’s worth of history in a few minutes of face-to-face conversation.
After shaking hands, my friend warns me to wash my hands as he’s fighting a nasty cold. Thanks a lot. I make a mental note to keep my hands away from my face until I get a chance to use the hand sanitizer that’s now standard pocket gear - especially after the recent flu outbreaks. At least I got a warning this time.
Welcome to Las Vegas and Interbike - one of the world’s largest trade shows covering all things two wheels … and the wrong place to be if you’ve got germ worries. I’ve learned to tone down my Howard Hughes-Howie Mandel germ phobias for a few days as it’s difficult to cover a bike show this size without shaking hands and talking. A lot.
It’s not like I need any extra incentives to be my usual grumpy old man self. Vegas has a way of slapping in you face if you’re not a smoker, heavy drinker, gambler, or think that exercise is getting up from the table for another round at the $9.99 all-you-can-eat buffet.
A few weeks before the show began I started to contemplate the merits of a more sedentary Vegas lifestyle: after some 600,000 miles of cycling during the past 40 years with no major ills, my body’s version of a ‘check the engine’ red light came on in the form of a nagging pain in my right knee. Turns out I had a torn something or another (does it really matter?) that would require simple arthroscopic surgery. I delayed surgery until I would return back from Vegas - just so I could make my annual journey to Sin City to keep all of you informed of the latest industry happenings (well, o.k., that’s not the full story but as we all know, whatever happens in Vegas ….).
While some of the big names in the cycling industry, like Trek, have attempted a bit of a pre-emptive strike with their own 2010 product roll-out months earlier at invitation-only open houses - hoping to give their key dealers a reason not to go to Vegas (and check out the competition of a thousand-plus product brands). Still, over 20,000 industry personnel were in attendance (close to last year’s numbers), representing 4,000 IBD’s.
Another several thousand will weasel their way through the doors of the show even though security is tight to keep out the riff-raff; including a motley crew of bike-shop rug-rats looking for schwag and other deals, consumers that had leaned up their favorite shop for a pass (”I’m one of your best customers, pleeeeeeeeeeease”), and, of course, the omnipresent hordes of free-loading media types like myself. The Interbike show folks have kicked around the idea for years of opening the show for a day or two to consumers but one figures that isn’t going to happen in the near future if the vendors have any say in the matter.
To read the complete story, see:
https://secondsummertours.com/blog/
I've attached a show report (rough draft) from the Vegas Interbike show last September; this will eventually show up in Recumbent and Tandem Rider magazine. You can find this blog on our website:
https://www.secondsummertours.com
Cheers,
Rob Templin
Second Summer Tours
This is the fist part:
“Hey Rob”, the voice behind me in the crowd was asking, “how are you doing”? As anyone that has worked a major trade show knows, this would be a greeting asked many, many times over the course of the event as once-a-year friends attempt to reconnect. Business on the run as all of us try our best to catch up on a year’s worth of history in a few minutes of face-to-face conversation.
After shaking hands, my friend warns me to wash my hands as he’s fighting a nasty cold. Thanks a lot. I make a mental note to keep my hands away from my face until I get a chance to use the hand sanitizer that’s now standard pocket gear - especially after the recent flu outbreaks. At least I got a warning this time.
Welcome to Las Vegas and Interbike - one of the world’s largest trade shows covering all things two wheels … and the wrong place to be if you’ve got germ worries. I’ve learned to tone down my Howard Hughes-Howie Mandel germ phobias for a few days as it’s difficult to cover a bike show this size without shaking hands and talking. A lot.
It’s not like I need any extra incentives to be my usual grumpy old man self. Vegas has a way of slapping in you face if you’re not a smoker, heavy drinker, gambler, or think that exercise is getting up from the table for another round at the $9.99 all-you-can-eat buffet.
A few weeks before the show began I started to contemplate the merits of a more sedentary Vegas lifestyle: after some 600,000 miles of cycling during the past 40 years with no major ills, my body’s version of a ‘check the engine’ red light came on in the form of a nagging pain in my right knee. Turns out I had a torn something or another (does it really matter?) that would require simple arthroscopic surgery. I delayed surgery until I would return back from Vegas - just so I could make my annual journey to Sin City to keep all of you informed of the latest industry happenings (well, o.k., that’s not the full story but as we all know, whatever happens in Vegas ….).
While some of the big names in the cycling industry, like Trek, have attempted a bit of a pre-emptive strike with their own 2010 product roll-out months earlier at invitation-only open houses - hoping to give their key dealers a reason not to go to Vegas (and check out the competition of a thousand-plus product brands). Still, over 20,000 industry personnel were in attendance (close to last year’s numbers), representing 4,000 IBD’s.
Another several thousand will weasel their way through the doors of the show even though security is tight to keep out the riff-raff; including a motley crew of bike-shop rug-rats looking for schwag and other deals, consumers that had leaned up their favorite shop for a pass (”I’m one of your best customers, pleeeeeeeeeeease”), and, of course, the omnipresent hordes of free-loading media types like myself. The Interbike show folks have kicked around the idea for years of opening the show for a day or two to consumers but one figures that isn’t going to happen in the near future if the vendors have any say in the matter.
To read the complete story, see:
https://secondsummertours.com/blog/
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 11,016
Bikes: Custom Zona c/f tandem + Scott Plasma single
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 77 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
11 Posts
Heard that daVinci is now building their carbon fiber model tandems 'in house' instead of having it done by Calfee.
Rumored that Santana is, once again, going to have a cheaper tandem built 'off shore'. Several years ago they actually showed a tandem model that was going to be built in the very Far East.
Their top of the line models will now have an upgrade choice of Exogrid tubing . . . something we saw years ago and it really never took off . . . great visual effect, but a bit too much $$$ for very small weight savings?
Co-Motion will be utilizing a 1.5 inch headset + larger bearings on their '10 Periscope models. Disc brakes will be standard on all Speedster and Roadster models. Also some changes in their very extensive color choices for the new year.
Just what we've heard . . .
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
Rumored that Santana is, once again, going to have a cheaper tandem built 'off shore'. Several years ago they actually showed a tandem model that was going to be built in the very Far East.
Their top of the line models will now have an upgrade choice of Exogrid tubing . . . something we saw years ago and it really never took off . . . great visual effect, but a bit too much $$$ for very small weight savings?
Co-Motion will be utilizing a 1.5 inch headset + larger bearings on their '10 Periscope models. Disc brakes will be standard on all Speedster and Roadster models. Also some changes in their very extensive color choices for the new year.
Just what we've heard . . .
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Hollister, CA
Posts: 3,957
Bikes: Volagi, daVinci Joint Venture
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
daVinci does offer a CF tandem with Aluminum or steel bottom tube (you can still get a Calfee frame for an additional $1000). Quoting the DV website:
"We are now fully equipped to build carbon fiber frames in-house. The main differences between the da Vinci built and Calfee built frame are; our frames have an aluminum or chrome-moly bottom tube and chainstays, and it is $1000 less expensive. The metal bottom tube allows us the flexibility to used much bigger tires than the Calfee and we are able to keep the disc brake mount on the chainstay. This makes it easier to use a rear rack if you like, plus the chainstay makes a much more robust location for a disc brake. We feel the metal bottom tube and chainstays have no negative effect on the ride quality and there is very little weight difference. There is one other difference; the delivery time should also be significantly shorter on the frame we produce in Denver."
Don't have any idea of the relative weights.
"We are now fully equipped to build carbon fiber frames in-house. The main differences between the da Vinci built and Calfee built frame are; our frames have an aluminum or chrome-moly bottom tube and chainstays, and it is $1000 less expensive. The metal bottom tube allows us the flexibility to used much bigger tires than the Calfee and we are able to keep the disc brake mount on the chainstay. This makes it easier to use a rear rack if you like, plus the chainstay makes a much more robust location for a disc brake. We feel the metal bottom tube and chainstays have no negative effect on the ride quality and there is very little weight difference. There is one other difference; the delivery time should also be significantly shorter on the frame we produce in Denver."
Don't have any idea of the relative weights.
#4
Senior Member
Hey Rob,
Rode with you a while back on Pete's Wednesday ride.
I hope your knee surgery goes well, they really can fix things so you can keep riding.
My wife has had shoulder pain for years and it got so bad she had to stop riding.
An MRI revealed a bone spur. They did Arthroscopic surgery and removed the bone spur and now she is pain free. Also my neighbor tore her ACL while skiing and she had surgery and just did her first century ride.
The important thing is to do the physical therapy after the surgery and not push it too soon.
Joel
Rode with you a while back on Pete's Wednesday ride.
I hope your knee surgery goes well, they really can fix things so you can keep riding.
My wife has had shoulder pain for years and it got so bad she had to stop riding.
An MRI revealed a bone spur. They did Arthroscopic surgery and removed the bone spur and now she is pain free. Also my neighbor tore her ACL while skiing and she had surgery and just did her first century ride.
The important thing is to do the physical therapy after the surgery and not push it too soon.
Joel
#5
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Diego
Posts: 39
Bikes: Trek
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks Joel ...
Good to hear from you. Are you still doing the Wed ride? I haven't talked with Pete in ages. Surgery was, like you said, pretty easy deal; and I'll be up and running (er, cycling) soon!
Cheers,
Rob Templin
www.secondsummertours.com
Cheers,
Rob Templin
www.secondsummertours.com
#6
Senior Member
Rob,
I do it when I can and work allows. Last time was in June a few times.
I have been dealing with chronic fatigue for the last year so it is limiting my riding.
Doctors and myself still trying to figure it out. Maybe I will see you out there again sometime.
Good luck on your recovery.
Joel
I do it when I can and work allows. Last time was in June a few times.
I have been dealing with chronic fatigue for the last year so it is limiting my riding.
Doctors and myself still trying to figure it out. Maybe I will see you out there again sometime.
Good luck on your recovery.
Joel
#7
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Diego
Posts: 39
Bikes: Trek
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Deals like chronic fatigue can be very frustrating in terms of trying to find answers to the cause(s) ... good luck on this; hope the medical profession can track down some solutions for you.
Rob,
I do it when I can and work allows. Last time was in June a few times.
I have been dealing with chronic fatigue for the last year so it is limiting my riding.
Doctors and myself still trying to figure it out. Maybe I will see you out there again sometime.
Good luck on your recovery.
Joel
I do it when I can and work allows. Last time was in June a few times.
I have been dealing with chronic fatigue for the last year so it is limiting my riding.
Doctors and myself still trying to figure it out. Maybe I will see you out there again sometime.
Good luck on your recovery.
Joel