Jan
10
So I guess a few people have been paying attention to this blog. There have been a bunch of memes posted over the last month or so related to the end of the year – some retrospective commentaries on the year that passed and some great lists of blogs that the particular writer has enjoyed following. More than a few were kind enough to list this blog as one that they look forward to reading on a regular basis. I’m really honored that they feel that way about IB Times, but I feel that I haven’t held up my end of the bargain.
Things really started to fall apart in the few weeks leading up to Interbike. I was really hoping to bring some behind-the-scenes coverage about what we do to setup the Expo and OutDoor Demo before the bike industry arrives. It was my first time experiencing that and I was hoping to share that perspective. We were just so busy, though, that by the end of each day when I was finally back in my hotel room and troubleshooted the Venetian’s internet connections, I was just too drained to write. That and you other industry bloggers really kept me busy keeping up with all your great show-related posts. I should really be tipping my hat off to you for all the great show coverage you provided. I also feel like I should apologize for the spotty internet service that was available at the new Media Center at the show. We really underestimated the needs of live streaming video that we were sending out from the studio and net access was sluggish at times. Lesson learned.
Wow. While writing this I have been catching up on listening to a few bike podcasts. Right now I have Tim Grahl’s Crooked Cog Podcast on from Dec 21 on and I just heard him mention my name! His main topic for the episode was “The Top Ten People of 2006″ – his favorite people in the industry that he met during the last year. When I saw the topic before clicking on”play” I was thinking Gary Fisher, Tom Ritchey, Marla Streb… but guess who’s number 1 on the list? (“In no particular order” Tim says) “Rich Kelly of Interbike,” he says. Now, I’m still getting used to being in such a visible position in the industry and seeing my name and quotes printed in trade mags (Bicycle Retailer, Tradeshow Week) and blogs, but something altogether different to hear your name mentioned like this in audio format. Tim, thanks for the very kind words and it was a great pleasure to meet you too last year. Tim is someone with such enthusiasm and passion for the sport. Keep up the great work and spreading the love of the bikes. And I love the Euro-Pro racing commentary – good stuff! Maybe you should add the “Crooked Cobble Blog” to the network in time for the Spring Classics…
That was truly a surprise to be singled out like that, but I had two other mentions that I can recall – both on The-Spokesmen podcast. On the Dec 15th episode, the roundtable discussed the (now-postponed?) Eurobike-USA-Portland issue of a couple of months ago.
So what’s going on here at Interbike? Just before the holidays, we sent out our Interbike renewal kits. 735 companies exhibited last year at the show, so our account executives have been making a lot of calls. Apparently, many of you people in the bike industry take time off in December – go figure. They still have plenty of calls to make, but if you’re a company planning to come back to Interbike in 2007, we begin the floor-planning process in a few days – get your contracts in! I know it’s tough to think about the next show already, but it really does take a lot of time and planning to make it all come together by September. The first round of floor-planning – the process of taking all the contracts we’ve received by the renewal deadline and assigning them to booths on a big map of the show floor – is really where it all begins in earnest. Floor-planning is long and arduous. Our three account reps, Robert, Andria and Brian, pretty much lock themselves in the conference room for a week and try to accommodate all requests for upsizes, downsizes, moves and company mergers.
In the marketing department, I’m now working on the Sales Kits for the Interbike and the Health+Fitness Business Expo & Conference, IB’s sister show in Denver for the retail fitness industry. HFB is in early August and we get a fairly large contingent of bicycle retailers in attendance as home fitness equipment is an important category for many bike shops – especially those with very seasonal bike sales. We see a bunch of familiar faces at the show. Maybe you saw our ad in the last issue of Bicycle Retailer. It’s a great show with a strong educational conference aspect to it. Sell fitness equipment or want to add it to your product offerings? HFB is a the place to be. And it’s produced by your friends here at Interbike.
Enough with the sales pitch. On a personal note, I just started back on my lunch time rides this week. I had taken some time off during Thanksgiving and Christmas and in between had thrown my back out from tossing my kids around on our bed. I was hanging them upside down and dropping them on the bed. Lots of fun and laughs until Daddy couldn’t stand up straight anymore. It took me 10 minutes to put on my shoes the next morning. Is this what getting old is like? There’s still a twinge left, but I’m mostly back to normal.
It’s been warm here in San Juan Capistrano so the rides have been nice in just short sleeves and shorts – though I am anxious to try out my new Hincapie arm and knee warmers that I got for Christmas. They’re made in Italy and seem really nicely made. Rich and the guys in South Carolina also make our official Interbike jerseys that we’re wearing in the holiday photo from the previous post and BRAIN ad.
We have a bike path literally across the street from the office that goes down to the beach in Dana Point. This is our easy ride loop and once we get to the beach, we turn south on the Pacific Coast Highway for a ways then wind back through some neighborhoods to the path again. Not an epic ride, but is lunch and to gets us back in less than an hour. Scenery’s not too shabby either. We have another harder loop with good climbs that I’ll start once I’m back in a little better shape. I was hoping to get back into racing this year, but I’m back at square one now and the season starts much earlier here in SoCal than back in New England where I’m from originally…
Robert and Alicia (form our operations dept.) usually join me for the rides. Lance started commuting by bike during the last Bike to Work Week and the guy never stopped. That’s great and all for the environment and his wallet, but we lost a riding partner at lunch – I miss the bike and music talk that we used to have.
I have to admit that I feel blessed to have a job where lunch time rides are pretty much encouraged and one that is located in such a great location for riding year-round. If you’re ever in the south Orange County area and would like to join us, drop a comment here and I’ll get an email and we’ll try to set something up.
Enough rambling for now. Upcoming topics: the Bicycle Leadership Conference and the National Bike Summit.
