Apr
16
Field Trip: Sea Otter
Filed Under Advocacy, Industry News, Interbike, Photos
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…
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3 Responses to “Field Trip: Sea Otter”
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Geeze Rich, I was happy at the time of that photo too!
I’ve never been called a celebrity before! Maybe if you and I work together we can get other people to believe it as well!
It was great to see you as well and I’m looking forward to Interbike.
Was great to see all of you as well! You are absolutely right; it was a people event, more than a tradeshow- as far as I am concerned.
If it was a “tradeshow”, then where were the folks running the show? Neither Jill nor I ever heard a word from anybody from the show/event organizer. Complain all we want about costs at Interbike, at least somebody from Interbike comes to our booth every single year and greets us and adds a human touch to the show. I don’t expect anybody from Eurobike to come to Otter and beg me for an autograph or anything (though I AM the Masiguy), but a simple “hello”, “thanks” or “hope to see you next year” would have been nice. Especially on the first year of this new partnership.
I think I feel a rant (post) coming about this soon on the Kool-Aid site… stay tuned.