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Interbike 2011:
What's New in the World of Cycling
Each year in mid-September, the bicycle industry meets in Las Vegas
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The sheer number of new and innovative products on display at Interbike will make your head spin! |
for our annual trade show - Interbike. Interbike is a "big deal" in the bicycle industry since, being a relatively small industry, it is the one chance each year that manufacturers have to showcase new products. Also, it's the primary opportunity that we, as your local bike shop, have to get a sneak peek at new and exciting products.
This year, Scott attended Interbike and saw what was hot and what he thinks you'll be seeing more of over the coming year and perhaps, several years.
While many of the more well-known brands had fancy booths to attract dealers, the real action was at the smaller booths. Many of these businesses are just starting and may be the next Camelback, or Oakley, or who knows what. That's part of the excitement. Scott's focus was to see everything, noting the new trends and products for the future.
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Look and Polar have teamed up to bring to market a pedal that accurately measures wattage. It's perhaps the most accurage wattage meter out there and projected to retail for around $2300. |
Clothing: As a consumer, you'd have to really try to find an inferior line of clothing out there. Never before has their been
such a wealth of nice, highly-technical fabrics available at such affordable prices. Sure, you can still drop $300 on a jersey, but for $80 you'll get something almost as nice.
Most clothing lines that he previewed at Interbike offer the most bang for the buck around $80 for shorts and around $60-90 for jerseys. Spend less than that and you may end up with lower quality (but not always). Double or triple that price and you'll get a slight upgrade in quality.
29'r Mountain Bikes: It looks like 29'rs are here to stay. While our friends in Europe haven't fully embraced the larger wheel mountain bikes like us in the States, most manufacturers have put forth impressive lines of 29'r mountain bikes, both hardtail and full suspension.
If you're in the market for a mountain bike, give a 29'r some consideration. The larger wheel - basically a 700c wheel like that found on a road bike - makes for a shallower angle of attack allowing you to roll over obstacles easier than with a 26" wheel. Having ridden both on the trail, Scott can attest to the 29" wheel's advantage.
E-Bikes: Electric bikes, or E-bikes are huge in Europe, but haven't caught on yet in the U.S. This is predicted to change, but the timing is anyone's guess. E-bikes and E-bike vendors comprised a large percentage of exhibitors at Interbike this year.
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E-bikes were all the rage. Question is, will they ever catch on in the US like they have in Europe and China? |
We've dealt with electric bicycles in the past and we can honestly say they are getting more powerful, more streamlined and, most importantly, cheaper and more reliable. Look for them to be more prevalent in the coming years.
Components and Accessories: There is no shortage of innovation in the bicycle industry. As a consumer, you win. Most new products that Scott previewed are designed to make cycling easier, more user-friendly and less intimidating. The industry is extremely entrepreneurial and, as such, there are hundreds of products out there designed to make the cycling experience better.
Look for a lot of new and exciting gear in our store over the next year. Our goal is to make sure you get maximum enjoyment from your cycling with the least amount of frustration and downtime.
Want to see more pictures from Interbike?
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triathlons and bike races, the season is coming to a close and you're planning for the spring.
