Jun
30
I just got off the phone with Steve Ready, the now retired founder of Interbike 25 years ago. He currently lives in Washington State enjoying his passion for vintage motorcycles. The other day he read Rich Kelly’s post “Interbike as a Cultural Event”where Rich attributed the the following quote to Steve - “Interbike is a cultural event as well as a business event. At the close of each show, we want people to return home feeling a little better about the business they’ve chosen to be in.” Steve told me that quote was actually Kathy Newkirk’s, Interbike’s sales manager from 1987 to 1999. Steve said Kathy has a knack for boiling things down to what’s important and he was just repeating her vision for the show.
Steve is very flattered that Interbike is still thriving after 25 years. He has lots of fond memories he would like to share. Currently, he writes regularly for vintage motorcycle magazines, and true to his newfound craft, he would like to take some time to gather his thoughts and share some of his Interbike memories on InterbikeTimes. So, in about a week we will post Steve’s Interbike reminisces.
Enjoy the 4th of July!
Jun
30
Wow. Now What Bike Industry?
Filed Under Cycling, Industry News, Racing | 2 Comments
So we’ve all heard the news by now. I haven’t had the time to read too deeply and get all of the facts, but aside from the sense of shock, I feel encouraged that the teams are being bold enough to take action against their big moneymakers and key Tour contenders. Should I be? Is that naive of me?
Should I feel positive that this is a step in the right direction and teams/sponsors are taking a no tolerance attitude? Is it too little too late as they have ignored the illicit activities for so long? After the shock my thoughts turned to: who are the contenders now? Vino? Levi? Floyd? George?!
Then how this would affect my livelihood crept into my thoughts: what effect will this have on the bike industry? If we assume that Armstrong inspired many to get into the sport and others to become bigger enthusiasts through his dedication and perseverance, will the illegal actions of other top riders have the opposite effect? Will people be turned off from the sport? I saw a comment on another blog about how we should support the “clean” riders who are left to compete in the big race around France. I could agree with that. Or I could get even more engaged in the World Cup as that event approaches its climax where the biggest scandal seems to be that there has been too much enforcement of the rules with the record number of yellow and red cards?
Any other thoughts on how the bike industry is affected by this latest disappointing news?
Jun
28
Cycling Celebrities at Interbike
Filed Under Interbike, Interbike's 25th Anniversary, Photos | Leave a Comment
Over the years Interbike occasionally conflicts with some of the race schedules, but when it doesn’t it’s great to have racers there as ambassadors of the sport and the brands they represent. Here’s a post by Graham Tracey of GoClipless.com about meeting his favorite racers at Interbike.
“Interbike 2005 was my first and I have to say it was quite overwhelming (in a good way).
“I have so many favorite memories, but they are a bit of a blur. A bit like trying to remember all of the events of your wedding day if you’ve ever been married. So I culled through the Interbike archives of my blog to try to pick just one. There was the Outdoor Demo and all of the 29ers we rode, the world premier of Unchained, and the after hours Vegas shenanigans.
“But, perhaps the best thing about Interbike is the ability to get up close and personal with your favorite cycling celebrities. So you can imagine what fun it would be to meet and talk with Alison Dunlap, Shonny Vanlandingham, Katerina Hanusova, Kathy Pruitt, and Marla Streb, some of the most famous female mountain bikers. Only at Interbike!
Jun
27
In digging through the archives for classic Interbike photos and stories, I came across a quote from Interbike’s founder, Steve Ready:
“Interbike is a cultural event as well as a business event. At the close of each show, we want people to return home feeling a little better about the business they’ve chosen to be in.”
As an exhibitor from 1999 through 2005, despite all the hard work during setup and tear down, I know I’ve always felt better about the industry while at the show. Usually, this as a result of some great people that I met at the show. At the last show in 2005, I had the pleasure of running into Tim Jackson of Masi Bicycles the morning of the last day.
At every Interbike, I always made a point of arriving super early on the last day of the show before the doors were opened to attendees to walk the floor while it was quiet and mostly empty Read more
Jun
26
Interbike Times blog roundup
Filed Under Industry News, Interbike | 2 Comments
It looks like word of the new Interbike Times is starting to spread across the Internet. Check out what they have to say.
Interbike Announces A Call For Memories As It Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary - PRLeap.com
Interbike Blog - Spinopsys.com
Interbike Times - Blue Collar Mountain Biking
Interbike Starts Blogging - Go Clipless.com
Jun
22
Interbike and Camaraderie
Filed Under Interbike, Interbike's 25th Anniversary | 7 Comments
I have so many memories of attending Interbike while I was in the industry from 1991 to 2000 that it’s hard to pick one. During those years I attended as a Shimano sales person at first, then as their trade show manager and toward the tail end of my bike industry insider career as a marketing communications manager for Specialized. In 2005, I had a chance again to attend Interbike as a marketing agency guy looking to drum up some business and ended up gaining Interbike’s business as its public relations agency of record. I’ve always liked going to Interbike. It can be hectic getting ready for it, but once there I get a feeling of camaraderie. It’s one of the few times the industry has a chance to get together to talk some business, catch up on the latest gossip and have some fun with friends.
Since our agency is helping Interbike with Interbiketimes.com, I felt I should be one of the first to post something and I had a hard time coming up with one specific event to write about. I thought about the time Schwinn staged a big Elvis parade (big Elvises small Elvises and Elvises of all nationalities) down the crowded aisles of the show in the early Interbike Vegas years. I thought about shaking the hand of my childhood hero, Evil Knievel at the show (I was Evil Knievel for Halloween when I was a kid and my mom made me a cool jacket, just like Evil’s, out of that tacky ’60s-era vinyl. After Halloween I wore the jacket when I rode my mini-bike down the horse trails behind our house). And I thought about the many passionate conversations I’ve had with people during the show about cycling, about what products were good and which were not so good.
One of the most significant memories for me was the year Lance was diagnosed with cancer. I was the tradeshow manager for Shimano and was in charge of the Dura-Ace Design Contest display that was traveling to the Anaheim and Philly Interbike shows. One of the Shimano employees suggested making a huge get well card for Lance (it was about 6′ high and 3′ wide) and placing it in the design contest booth for people to sign.
It turned out the card wasn’t big enough. By the time I had a chance to sign the card in Philadelphia, I could barely find a place to put my name. The card looked like a huge scribbling exercise by a bunch of kindergartners. It was covered with signatures. After the show the card was shipped to Lance in Austin and we heard he really appreciated it.
This memory probably comes to my mind the most, because the following year while I was setting up the Shimano booth at Anaheim I got a call from my future wife crying because she was just diagnosed with cervical cancer. Wow, what a way to start a trade show.
Every year during Anaheim Interbike Kozo Shimano put together a company team to play in the hockey tournament. That year he had all the team members sign his hockey jersey and he gave it to Debbie. She still has it hanging in our closet to this day.
I guess my point of sharing these thoughts is that my best memories of the show are the feelings of camaraderie I get when I go to Interbike. The bike industry’s filled with great people and I love being a part of it.
Chip Smith
President
SOAR Communications
Jun
21
Register for InterbikeTimes
Filed Under Interbike | Leave a Comment
If you want to be able to submit stories and such for InterbikeTimes, (which may make it into the show guide), please register.
Jun
21
We want to hear your Interbike stories
Filed Under Industry News, Interbike, Interbike's 25th Anniversary | 5 Comments
Do you have a great story from Interbike past that just needs to be shared?
Please feel free to submit it because we are collecting as many outrageous stories as possible.
Got a great photo of Interbike past that we just need to see? Send your photo to photos@interbiketimes.com, and it could make it into the show directory. Questions? Contact Chip Smith, csmith@soarcomm.com.
photo by ndanger.
Jun
21
Interbike Calls for Memories for 25th Anniversary
Filed Under Industry News, Interbike, Interbike's 25th Anniversary | Leave a Comment
Interbike is inviting attendees and exhibitors to share their most memorable experiences, celebrity sightings or product launches through its blog, http://www.interbiketimes.com/, to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The blog is part of Interbike’s goal to bring some nostalgia to its 25th annual bike show. In addition to memories submitted via the blog, Interbike is also collecting attendees’ and exhibitors’ favorite historical products and swag from the last 25 years of Interbike for use in a special 25th anniversary space at the 2006 Interbike International Expo. [ via Bicycle Retailer ]
Jun
19
Interbike Celebrates 25 Years!
Filed Under Cycling, Gear, Industry News, Interbike, Interbike's 25th Anniversary, Photos | Leave a Comment
Help Interbike celebrate 25 years as the place to be, see, touch and test the latest cycling innovations from more than 1,000 top brands from around the world. Share your favorite memories of the best or infamous products launched at Interbike, an inspiring moment with a pro racer, memorable conversations with a retailer or exhibitor, ground-breaking advocacy moment, most informative seminar or craziest moment - There are many to be sure.