If you’ll be at the show, you should really come down to see this. It’s before the show floor opens and we’ll be serving coffee. Think of this as bringing a small slice of the National Bike Summit to you.

Here’s the full press release:

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – Interbike today announced that it will open its 2010 International Bicycle Expo in Las Vegas with a special press conference featuring keynote speaker U.S. Representative and Congressional Bike Caucus founder Earl Blumenauer of Oregon. Interbike Show Director Andy Tompkins and Bikes Belong Coalition (BBC) President Tim Blumenthal will introduce the congressman and make a few brief remarks.

The purpose of the press conference is to welcome the industry to Interbike 2010, share information about the industry’s show and its future direction, and hear from Blumenauer and Blumenthal on the state of cycling legislation and future government activity on behalf of bicycling.

Blumenauer’s visit comes at a critical time as the U.S. government continues to work on the next transportation bill, which will set the tone for cycling infrastructure investments during the next six years. The Congressman will outline where bicycling stands, and where it’s going. He will pinpoint what the industry can do to support the cause. Following the press conference, Blumenauer will spend the day at Interbike visiting with the industry.

The press conference will be held Wednesday, September 22, 8:00 a.m. in Casanova Room 603, which is on Level One of the Venetian Las Vegas. All show attendees are invited to attend.

Blumenauer will also be the guest of honor at the BikesPAC fundraising reception hosted by Bikes Belong on Tuesday, September 21, the night before the press conference.

Blumenauer was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996, where he quickly established a unique role as a leading proponent of Livable Communities–places where people are safe, healthy, active and economically secure. He continues to lead the Congressional Bike Caucus and he makes most of his daily trips in Washington by bicycle.

Before moving to Washington, Blumenauer was the Commissioner of Public Works in Portland, Ore., and helped the city earn an international reputation as one of America’s most livable and cycling-friendly cities.

Well, the sponsors of the rail jam at Interbike (S&M Bikes, DC Shoes and the Shadow Conspiracy) just announced the final rider list for the event. It’s by invite only, so you can expect to see some top riders at the show.

Check it out:

The wireless unlocking part – or how you access the bikes themselves – is interesting and, allegedly, cheaper and easier to manage than other existing systems.

Watch founder Ryan Rzepecki explain the system in the video below and read more about the program in the original article here. SoBi themselves can be found at www.socialbicycles.com

If you like what you see, you can vote for them in the Pepsi Refresh Competition.

The Social Bicycle System from Ryan Rzepecki on Vimeo.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – June 28, 2010 – With just under three months until Interbike’s International Bicycle Expo 2010, Interbike today announced net-sold, square-feet exhibit space at the Sands Convention and Expo Center has surpassed the 2009 show, with only limited amount of exhibit space still available.

Exhibitors from Europe, China and Taiwan have shown increased interest in Interbike’s marketplace necessitating the expansion of all of the show’s international pavilions for 2010. In addition, the show is welcoming the return of several significant domestic brands to the expo.

“As with any trade event, Interbike has been part of the normal ebb and flow of the bike industry’s business needs, marketing plans and the economy,” said Andy Tompkins, Interbike show director. “As this year’s floorplan suggests, Interbike continues to be an important business destination on the industry calendar, and has only become a stronger venue for domestic and international brands and retailers to gather.”

All of the International Pavilions have increased their booths for Interbike 2010. The China, Italy, Japan and Taiwan areas will each have a larger presence on the show floor, featuring more international manufacturers from their respective countries.

Additionally, the rapidly diminishing available booth space at Interbike 2010 is in part due to key manufacturers, including Advanced Sports, Shimano, Specialized and SRAM, upsizing their displays.

Several brands such as Santa Cruz, Swobo, and Castelli are returning to Interbike in 2010 following time away from the show to propel their marketing and sales objectives into 2011.

“While we are still huge fans of the OutDoor Demo, indoors is really the best venue for the social part of the business,” said Scott Turner of Santa Cruz Bicycles. “What we missed while being away from the indoor Interbike for the last few years is the ability to see all our dealers, industry partners and media friends in one place at one time. We’re excited to have the three extra days in a more relaxed atmosphere to talk about bikes. We are also bringing Swobo brand along with us this year, so there’s a lot to talk about!”

In addition to its comprehensive exhibitor list, Interbike continues to meet the needs of the industry by providing open lounges, fashion shows, indoor electric bike demo track, a variety of seminars and a highly effective venue for conducting business in the bike industry.

“The convenience of convening the industry at one time and in one place is unbeatable,” Tompkins said. “Interbike will always be a cost effective and straightforward business solution for the industry.”

For more information on procuring a booth at Interbike 2010, please contact sales manager Andria Klinger at 949.226.5745 or andria.klinger@nielsen.com.

About Interbike
Interbike (a business unit of Nielsen Expositions, the parent company of the Outdoor Retailer (OR), Action Sports Retailer (ASR), Health+Fitness Business, and Fly Fishing Retailer trade shows) is a full-service trade show company that creates, markets and produces high-quality expos and educational conferences. Producers of the OutDoor Demo and Interbike International Bicycle Expo, Interbike is the leading bicycle industry business-to-business event management company, bringing together top manufacturers, retailers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of cycling. Interbike (www.interbike.com) gathers more than 1,100 cycling-related brands and close to 23,000 total attendees annually.

The Interbike 2010 trade-only events begin with OutDoor Demo (September 20-21, 2010 in Boulder City), followed by the Interbike Expo, September 22-24 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.

The Taiwan Bicycle Exporters Association (TBEA) has committed $50,000 per year for three years to the Bikes Belong Foundation. The investment will go toward Bikes Belong’s Bicycling Design Best Practices Project, which works to increase bicycle use in America by adapting and implementing state-of-the art international best practices in infrastructure and urban design to make bicycling safer, more comfortable and more appealing. The SRAM Cycling Fund has matched this $50,000 contribution for 2010.

Read the rest of the news release here.

While the concept of models dancing on a stage in bike wear seems to work in Europe, we didn’t believe that the format was ideal for the US market and the style of apparel we were looking to feature. In search of the right format to showcase this apparel at the show, I came across a video of Momentum Magazine’s small fashion show that they had put on in an art gallery in Vancouver the previous year. The concept of the models actually showing the outfits while riding bikes on a small bike path throughout the audience was genius. A quick phone call to Mia at Momentum got the ball rolling and we’ve had two great fashion shows so far that have really struck a cord with the industry and cycling community.

But while the dancing-models-on-a-stage concept might not have worked for Urban Legend in the late 2000’s (aughts? ’00’s?), it obviously has worked at Interbikes past. Take a look at this scan that I took from the 1984 Interbike event guide.

In 1984, Interbike was in Las Vegas and the Rams were still based in Los Angeles. For those not in North America, the Rams – now based in St. Louis – are a professional gridiron football team. I can’t think of a choice of models more diametrically opposed in both appearance and spirit to those we’ve used in Urban Legend than pro football cheerleaders. Though judging by the number of ads in the magazine for super shiny bright skin-tight Lycra jerseys and shorts, I suppose they were an appropriate choice for the styles popular at the time.

There are some choice quotes from the text to enjoy along with the mental image that the thought of mid ’80’s cheerleaders conjures, too:

Star attractions of the show will be the L.A. Rams Cheerleaders, fresh from an appearance on the George Burns television special.

I’d bet that they’d also been featured in an episode of the Love Boat.

While she wouldn’t reveal specifics prior to curtain time, she hinted at some truly memorable moments–including a slow-motion triathlon…

Now that’s a coincidence. I performed a slow-motion triathlon once, too. But unfortunately, it was at the Cape Cod Sprint Triathlon back in ‘93.

Not surprisingly, it was my one and only tri.

I’m clearly having some fun at the expense of my predecessors here at Interbike who worked hard to bring you this show. But lest you think that I have something against cheerleaders, here’s a photo of me at the Tour of Palm Springs a few years back with the Xavier Prep School Saints cheerleaders who were enthusiastically welcoming all riders into one of the rest stops.

It’s (the official) Bike to Work Week! I know a few cities and areas have already held their own BTW days, but according to the League of American Bicyclists, this week is the real deal. As long as we’re talking official, Bike to Work Day is this Friday the 21st of May.

For most Americans, it’s time to break out the 10-speed or the old mountain bike for their annual bike commute effort. For most readers of this blog, though, I would assume either an existing regular or occasional bike commute or, as is the case with me, the kick-off event to “bike commute season.” My bike commuting is not so much weather influenced (San Diego/Orange County weather anyone?) as it is by the distance and kids’ schedules. School summer vacation schedules typically make my 44.8 mile (according to Google’s biking directions) each way commute possible. I throw in a Metrolink train between Oceanside and San Juan Capistrano to trim some time off Google’s estimated 4 hour and 8 minute ride to work (and actually enjoy the ride up the coast with views of the Pacific and the surfers and dolphins playing in it).

Speaking of Google biking directions, below is Google’s widget that you’re able to embed on your website. In the spirit of Bike To Work Week, I have it pre-populated with our office’s address in case you happen to be coming down to visit us and can use a bike. The widget’s also there to motivate/assist my co-workers planning to ride to work this week who don’t normally do so and help us do well in the Specialized Commuter Cup challenge. You can do it team!

It’s a decent show of the common sense aspect of using a bike to get to work. They even have an “expert” on who highlighted some important stats such as how most Americans live within 5 miles of work. The focus is more on the health benefits, but I’ll take whatever positive mention of cycling the mainstream media give us.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Self Magazine, featured in the video, has a “Biking Guide” up on their site with tips and product suggestions for new cyclists.

Also interesting to note that near the beginning, Roker says it’s time to “break out the Schwinn” when referring to bikes. I wonder if “break out the Trek (or Specialized) would mean more to people under 40?

BUT, the content more than makes up for it. I’d heard going into the this morning session at the annual spring gathering of the bike industry’s leaders that there was going to be an announcement made by one of the advocacy groups. When I saw Tim Blumenthal of Bikes Belong, Jenn Dice of IMBA and then the CEO’s of the two largest US bike companies, Mike Sinyard of Specialized and John Burke of Trek, walk up onto the stage, I had a feeling it would be something big. I reached for my little Sony point-and-click digital camera that also shoots video and captured the proceedings. Who knew it would be so compelling?

If you didn’t read the coverage or were not fortunate enough to be present, here’s the background. The BLC this year hosted about 200 “heads of state” of most of the major bike manufacturers and suppliers in the United States. Pretty much a who’s who of the industry including the presidents, CEO’s, general managers, owners and/or marketing directors of companies like the two listed already, plus Shimano, SRAM, Campagnolo, Raleigh, Dorel, Performance, Scott USA, Ritchey, Giant, Haro, Crank Brothers, SIDI… you get the idea. They all gather to network, improve the business climate, discuss the state of the industry and work on areas to improve conditions for cyclists and ultimately grow sales of bikes. It’s really an amazing event and, as is the case with many conferences, the time during the meals and breaks in between sessions are some of the most beneficial and gratifying. I make it a point to find a table during the meals with no one I know to force myself to make new acquaintances and contacts. With essentially everyone in the room being a client of ours in some way, you can understand the value in attending for us.

So, apparently, in the weeks leading up the BLC, Jenn Dice from IMBA had been discussing with John Burke about some serious new challenges that they were facing on access issues. John asked what IMBA needed to mount an effective defense and he in turn committed to supporting it. He also told her to reach out to “Mike over at Specialized.” With that base of initial support from the two big guns in the industry, they decided to formally announce the new Public Lands Initiative at the BLC and to take advantage of all the assembled people with enough authority to write big checks on behalf of their corporations to try to reach the funding goals for the program.

Following the introductions and speeches by Dice, Burke and Sinyard, was an amazing sign of industry solidarity, belief in the role of advocacy in growing the industry and more than a little peer pressure. While many companies committed right there on the spot, many more joined in throughout the rest of the day and the conference (after a quick call to their CFO back home, perhaps?), and the $300,000 first year goal was surpassed and approached the two-year $600,000 goal finishing up at $587,000. Pretty amazing.

The quality of the video is not great as a result of the device and the indoor lighting and sound, but the spirit is inspiring. I caught a number of companies making their on-the-spot pledges of support and tried to note them all during the video. I added the complete list of 38 companies (including us, of course!) at the end. And remember, it’s not too late to email Jenn and make a pledge if your company hasn’t already. Retailers: note in the video that your peers at Wheel & Sprocket and Performance join in with support in the video so don’t feel like this is only a supplier issue!

Here’s a link to IMBA’s official news release about the initiative.

The Salt Lake Tribune’s business section contains a story today about Specialized’s decision to remain–and expand their facility–in SLC when their original 10 year lease expired not too long ago.

Specialized first located their western distribution center on the west side of SLC back in 1999 and have been very pleased with what the state has offered them and their employees. This seems to be in line with what we’ve seen from many other cycling and outdoor recreation companies over the last ten years that have chosen to relocate or open DC’s in the SLC-Ogden area of Utah. Quality Bike Products (QBP) is a recent notable example from the bike industry, having chosen Ogden as the location for the new warehouse they plan to build.

In addition to the logistical benefits of SLC, Kim Petersen, Specialized’s corporate distribution manager is quoted in the article as saying:

“The icing on the cake is that Utah is a fantastic place to live and raise a family, with unlimited outdoor recreation possibilities. There’s also a great population of cyclists here. Specialized believes in cycling and the future of the sport and believes things will recover here. So we decided to make the investment and set up a new lease for a building with expansion capabilities.”

The photo above shows Specialized-SLC employees’ bikes racked in the warehouse. Just like their counterparts in Morgan Hill, California, lunch time rides seem to be a regular part of the workday. That’s great to hear, but I’m guessing that the weather in Morgan Hill is a tad more pleasant this time of year for those rides…

“The icing on the cake is that Utah is a fantastic place to live and raise a family, with unlimited outdoor recreation possibilities,” Peterson said.

“There’s also a great population

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of cyclists here,” he added. “Specialized believes in cycling and the future of the sport and believes things will recover here. So we decided to make the investment and set up a new lease for a building with expansion capabilities.”