As the doors to the 2001 Interbike International Bicycle Expo closed on Wednesday, October 3rd, the bicycle industry returned to daily business on an exceptionally positive note.

Interbike was the first trade event of significant size to be held in Las Vegas since the attacks in New York and Washington and attendance by both trade exhibitors and retail buyers was considerably higher than expected and virtually on par with last year. Preliminary figures show approximately 20,300 industry personnel converged on the Sands Expo and Convention Center, representing nearly 1000 exhibiting companies and 3600 retail storefronts. The trade-only show attracted over 9,300 domestic and international buyers, reaffirming Interbike as the meeting place for the bicycle industry.

Prior to the terrorist attacks, pre-registration figures were at an all-time high and show organizers anticipated breaking the overall attendance record, reported during Interbike 2000 with 21,220 industry affiliates attending.

The five-day show kicked off with the Outdoor Demo, held in the nearby town of Blue Diamond, Nevada. This hands-on event continues to attract cycling enthusiasts and a record of 2800 people spent the day testing the latest bike designs on Blue Diamond's network of trails and fresh pavement. This positive beginning to the show provided show organizers a good indication of what to expect over the course of the next four days.

"Obviously, many people had expressed concern about traveling in the wake of the recent terrorists attacks," said Lance Camisasca, Interbike Trade Show Director. "But when the mood at Blue Diamond was so extraordinarily upbeat and everyone was excited to be together, we realized that our industry was prepared to move forward," Camisasca added.

On Sunday, the show moved inside Las Vegas' Sands Expo and Convention Center, where exhibitors displayed their latest cycling-related wares for the first time ever, covering over 660,000 square feet of floor space. And while attending retailers eagerly waited in the lobby entrance for the 9a.m. opening, exhibitors were poised for business.

For the next four days, Interbike was in traditional trade show mode and business was as usual; a frenzy of product clinics, apparel line presentations, technical seminars, cycling celebrity appearances, film premieres, and camaraderie. All attendees took note of the exceptional attendance levels and remarked on the show's importance to the overall economic stability of the industry.

"Attendance was good, especially considering we expected less with the world tragedy and it shows how committed people are to the business," commented Mike Sinyard, founder and President of Specialized.

Matt Bracken, VP of Sales and Marketing for specialty frame manufacturer Independent Fabrication, shared a similar sentiment. "It has been a great show for us with some incredible traffic at the booth. This year's show gave us the chance to do some great business with all of the right people," Bracken said.

Frank Hermansen, Co-Owner of Crank Brothers, also commented on the positive energy at the show. "We've been so pleasantly surprised with the attendance and we were originally very concerned that people we going to be afraid to attend," Hermansen said.

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Greg Shapleigh of Bell Sports was also surprised by the overall attendance. "We polled our dealers prior to the show and we were prepared for a 25-30% decrease in attendance. We are thrilled with the attendance, particularly at the retail level. It has been a very useful show and we wrote more business at this show than in the past," Shapleigh said.

"Traffic-wise I've been shocked. It has been so busy that I'm definitely going to sign up for the same booth again next year," said Carl Schlemowitz of Vicious Cycles.

"It has been a very reassuring show for RLX Polo Sport," stated Steve Rogerson, Senior Director of Marketing for RLX Polo Sport. "We have a very large booth and have been jamming since day one. Best of all, we've had a lot of walk-in dealers that we didn't have appointments with, many of them leaving with an order," Rogerson added.

Beyond focusing heavily on the business at hand, Interbike also took time to recognize the constant work of the industry's advocates, the achievements of its athletes, and the dedication of its retailers.

To honor the efforts of those who have made major contributions to the bicycle industry, Interbike and Bicycle Retailer and Industry News hosted the First Annual Industry Awards ceremony on Monday, October 1. Held in the Blue Note Jazz Club, the industry presented awards for a wide range of categories, honoring people, companies, and products in 15 categories. Among the 15 awards given during the festivities were the Lifetime Achievement award to Harry Manko; Man of the Year to Steve Flagg; Woman of the Year to Mary Henrickson; Supplier of the Year awards went to Trek Bicycle, Quality Bicycle Parts and the Hawley Company; the Award for Advocacy went to Trek Bicycles, retailer Hill Abel and the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation's, Randy Neufeld.

The Annual Industry Awards event also proved that bicycle advocacy continues to gain momentum, as Interbike raised $20,000 for the national Safe Routes to School campaign.

"As an industry, we realize its time to work together to achieve a common goal," said Sinyard of Specialized. "Interbike is doing a lot for the industry and advocacy. The unity between the two has never been stronger," he added.

Fred Clements, Director of the National Bicycle Dealers Association, agreed with Sinyard. "I'm proud that Interbike stepped up during the tough time for the country and our industry," Clements stated.

Nearly every attendee had something positive to say about this year's Interbike Expo and reiterated its importance to the industry.

"As a journalist, Interbike is where I come to gauge the pulse of the industry and its trends. From a product stand point, it is the most valuable resource for obtaining the latest information from the manufacturers," said Ron Ige, Editor of BIKE Magazine.

The 2001 Interbike International Bicycle Expo ran from September 29 to October 3 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Held once a year, Interbike is North America's largest cycling trade show, attracting attendees from around the world. Prior to the show, Interbike hosts a one-day Outdoor Demo allowing buyers and media a chance to test the latest in bikes and cycling equipment. Interbike is produced by VNU Expositions, a full service event management company. This year's trade show marks Interbike's 20th anniversary.

The next chance to see the future of the bicycle industry will be at Interbike in Las Vegas, Nevada October 5-9, 2002. Complete 2001 demographic show statistics will be available in November. For more information, please contact Chris Denny at Stanwood and Partners (307) 733-1514, cd@wyoming.com

Highlights from Interbike Expo 2001

Outdoor Demo Day

A sneak preview of the Interbike Expo took place on Saturday, September 30th, at the 6th Annual Outdoor Demo located at Blue Diamond Village, tucked in a remote canyon high above Las Vegas. A record crowd of more than 2800 Outdoor Demo attendees got the chance to try the latest products from the worlds of road and trail riding. With over 100 exhibiting companies, a beautiful sunny afternoon, and plenty of water and sun block, Interbike retailers took advantage of this unique opportunity to experience the latest and greatest in cycling products in their intended environment.

Interbike Opening Night Industry Reception

Thousands of bicycle industry revelers gathered for the annual industry party. Sponsored by Shimano, this year's reception was held in the Sands Convention Center lobby, which was transformed with the sound of the Small Town Heroes as expo-goers consumed plenty of beer and soft drinks.

Interbike / Bicycle Retailer & Industry News Awards Party

In celebration of its 20th Anniversary and in recognition of accomplishment across the industry, Interbike and Bicycle Retailer & Industry News hosted the first-ever Industry Awards Party. Fifteen of the industry's shining stars were recognized for their leadership, advocacy, and athletic achievements as the 2001 winners of the Industry Awards received the coveted BRAINy Awards.

For information on Interbike contact:

Chris Denny
Stanwood & Partners PR
P.O. Box 3465
125 North Cache, 2nd Floor
Jackson Hole, Wyoming 83001
307.733.1514 T
307.739.8664 F
cd@wyoming.com