Apr
16
Field Trip: Sea Otter
Filed Under Advocacy, Industry News, Interbike, Photos | 3 Comments
Had the opportunity to take a quick two day trip up to Monterey for Sea Otter last Friday with the Interbike Team. Lance, Robert, Andria, Brian, Chip (from our pr firm) and I flew into San Jose and made the hour or so trek down to Monterey. It was bright and sunny on Friday and, well, it was Sea Otter rainy on Saturday. Wouldn’t be the same without the rain and mud, now, would it? Always a great time in Monterey, though.
While Sea Otter has been promoted recently as a “trade show”, for me I realized this time that it’s really a people show. It’s so good being able to get out of the office and see all of our friends and acquaintances from the industry. These trips really make the job worthwhile. Running into to someone you know and chatting for a few minutes or going out to dinner with them is so good. It’s a chance to catch up on how their riding’s been going (or not going), or to retell old stories. Great time.
Here are a few photos of some friends we ran into:
That’s me, Tim Grahl and Guitar Ted, from left to right. Those two are becoming real celebrities at industry events. Great guys and it was a pleasure to see and chat with them again.
These two happy guys are show director Lance Camisasca on the left and Tim Blumenthal of the Bikes Belong Coalition on the right. We had dinner with Tim, BBC’s Scott Bowen and Pedro’s Chris Zigmont on Friday night. What a great time. We spent much time talking advocacy and how bikes can solve all of the world’s problems. Chris made the genius observation that while he always enjoys being at the same table with such great company, we all “get it.” We all already know how important advocacy is and are a part of the fight. He said we should actually being sitting down to dinner with the non-believers - those that aren’t on the advocacy bus yet. There’s no good in all of us talking amongst ourselves about how to get others involved. Same goes for the attendees at many of the industry gatherings throughout the year. Most of those attendees also get it already. Here, here, Chris. He proposed that we all exchange Rolodexes and try to network with others outside of the advocacy club.
At dinner, I also learned that Tim’s got a lot of great stories to tell from his many years writing for tv bike race coverage going back to the 1984 LA Olympics. I didn’t know that he’s been around that long. You don’t look a day over 28, Tim…
Trivia question: where were the road race and time trials held during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics?
The man, the myth, the legend, Steve Boehmke of Chunky Fly Rite Promotions, formerly of Shimano and Rock Shox. Steve’s a Mountain Bike Hall of Famer and is now working with Mountain Cycles, Ergon and Adidas Eyewear.
And last, but not least, the Masiguy. This is one of the last blogs to post a picture of a Tim Jackson sighting. He was kind enough to host us under the Haro/Masi tent when the cats and dogs really started to come down. Chip and I got to meet and chat with Jill Hamilton, the Bike Biz Babe, for a while. Since I live about 2 miles from Haro/Masi World Headquarters, I took the opportunity to ask Jill about some of the local riding she’s been writing about. The Haro guys were digging drainage ditches all around us while we chatted and occasionally had to dump to water that was gathering on the tent.
Living in San Diego, I tend to forget what rain is. Sea Otter is my annual reminder. Makes Bootleg Canyon seem like a pretty inspired choice for a bike demo location…
Apr
10
Sharing The Road
Filed Under Advocacy, Cycling, Interbike | 4 Comments
Here’s a first-time (first of many, I hope) post from Robert Roman, Interbike’s Senior Account Manager:
The Interbike team, myself included, were in San Francisco back on Friday March 30th to attend the IHRSA 2007 trade show. For those who may not be aware, the Interbike team that you know and love also produce a trade show for the fitness industry called Health and Fitness Business. Anyway, after we’d done our business at the convention center Brian, myself, and a couple of friends decided to seek libations and nourishment at some of the city’s finer establishments. One of our stops took us to One Market. En route I had noticed a good number of cyclists on Market Street. This in itself was not unusual as I’d known that there was a robust cycling scene in the city. Once we arrived at One Market I stepped outside to make a call. As I was talking it dawned on me that the area was swarming with cyclists and after I ended my call I realized it was the staging area for Critical Mass. I’m an avid cyclist and I’d heard of Critical Mass but never seen or participated in one. The atmosphere seemed very festive with cyclists running the gamut from lycra clad roadies to costumed jesters on custom rides. As I watched the police escorted procession depart I was filled with envy that I didn’t have my own bike available to participate. I snapped a few pictures on my phone and rejoined my friends at the bar. I geeked out for a few minutes, spouting on about how inspirational it was to see so many cyclists together, then moved on to other topics.
Fast forward to Saturday, April 7th. I’m sitting in a courthouse in Santa Ana attending traffic school for the day as penance to the citizens of Orange County for my speeding infraction. My phone vibrates in my pocket. My friend Brenda has called but hasn’t left a message. After class I call her back and she tells me she’d come upon a car vs. bike scene on Antonio Parkway and it looked really bad. Bloody rider motionless in the street, shoe in the road, police and rescue personnel all over. That evening I’m watching the news and they have a brief report on the accident. According to the news the driver inexplicably swerved into the bike lane hitting the rider. The impact sends the rider over the hood, into the windshield then over the car. The driver then apparently stops the car, grabs his 4 year old son and flees the scene on foot. Police track him down about an hour later a mile or so from the scene and arrest him for felony hit and run. A subsequent news story I read in the newspaper on Sunday says the 31 year old driver’s license was suspended. The 58 year old victim is clinging to life at Mission Hospital.
On Sunday I go to my girlfriend’s house to have Easter brunch. When I arrive she’s on the phone and looks unhappy. She’s scrambling to find coverage for some cases she has scheduled the next day. She’s a neurological tech and Mission Hospital is calling her to cover an emergency case on Monday. It’s probably the rider.
Today Rich comes by my cube to ask if I’d done my blog entry about the Critical Mass ride in San Francisco yet. He said that he’d read that there’d been some trouble that night between some of the participants and some drivers. He sends me a couple of links to the stories. Apparently a limo driver was involved in a rather heated exchange with one group that resulted in damage to the car and an assault. Separately a Redwood City family has their windows broken and are terrorized by another group until San Francisco police swoop in and rescue them. According to the reports, both incidents were the result of cars hitting, nearly hitting, or threatening to hit cyclists. I have no idea whether the Critical Mass participant’s version or the driver’s version of the events is most accurate. My sneaking suspicion is that the truth lies somewhere in between.
As I read the reader’s comments on both stories I was shocked by the polarization. Whenever I attend cycling related events like the Bicycle Leadership Conference, The Bike Summit, Sea Otter, or my own show I’m always filled with optimism about the ability of cycling to help. Help alleviate congestion, help people become healthier, help the environment. When I read the comments from those opposed to cyclists sharing the road I realized the gulf is still huge. Although I love cycling I’m also an auto enthusiast, as anyone in this office can attest. Despite that I can’t help but think that any motorist complaining about a 20 minute delay caused by a Critical Mass ride is missing a major point. They’re not going to be injured or killed because of a cyclist’s impatience or inattention. Just ask that rider clinging to his life at Mission Hospital.