NAHBS
09-30-2006, 03:56 PM
Howdy Folks,
My Interbike experience this year was a great one, to say the least. Not just because I heard or "saw" the "buzz" about NAHBS all around the show, but because I met some great folks I hadn't met before. However, when I went to use my camera to document the meetings, I found out my batteries were dead! I was not really happy about missing those all too important "kodak moments".
The trip there was a nervous one for us as our pilot informed us 30 minutes into the flight we were turning around to DFW because an "indicator light said we had no electrical power", so the pilot dropped the landing gear at 27k feet. It made a lot of us very nervous and he came on later to explain that it was "precautionary to do so under the circumstances" which made us even more nervous.
We landed without incident and de-planed and waited for another plane so we could get to Vegas. That plane really did seem like there was something wrong with it...engines didn't seem like they were firing right or something.
We got there late, but better than not at all.
Now, onto my report.
I got to shake hands with legendary rider Felice Giomondi and had our (Lesley and I) picture taken with Greg Lemond, thanks to Brad from Dirt Rag!
It seems that everyone now has a track or fixie model frame. Trying to capitalize on a trend...
Most of the carbon bikes looked almost the same from the big boys. Very few of them actually made any differentiation between them. Not really impressed.
However, Parlee, Crumpton and Calfee all had nice stuff. (Nick had some crazy lightweight fixie there in the True Temper booth, that's worth a highlight note!) It seems everyone is playing the carbon "card" as their strength, but I wasn't impressed.
Again, without sounding repetitive, nothing that I saw from the big boys was impressive.
Oh yeah, Calfee did have some actual cowhorns for handlebars...that was pretty damn cool!
Don Ferris was there showing his brilliant fixtures, as usual, his booth seemed bustling.
Hank and Monika were there and they seemed busy every time I stopped by, so I didn't get a chance to really chat. Hank always seemed to be showing his jigs as well. I got to wave a couple times though. Busy is a good thing!
UBI and DeSalvo were always busy and it took us quite a few stops to actually catch Ron when he wasn't swamped. Mike was just as busy!
Independent Fab seemed to have a good sized crowd and I had to wait a while to chat with Matt. As usual, Matt hooked us up with some cool schwag, thanks!
Waterford had a polished stainless bike...lugs and tubes. Pretty *****en.
Reynolds was showing a Bertoletti 953 bike. looked pretty nice. Always nice to see Keith Noronha.
Columbus is introducing their Stainless set, the XCR, iirc. Those chainstays were totally cool. I want a pair!
Phil Wood's booth was constantly flooded with people...didn't get much time there, but we saw a PW private label bottle of Wine...Lesley's eyes opened a bit wider! I think she wants one or more....
Sycip seemed busy as well, thanks for the shirt! Cool chopper frame!
Lets see, what else?. Campi's new gruppo's were pretty impressive. New technology stuff, if you hadnt seen, was cool to say the least.
Shimano had the framebuilder challenge. I am happy to say that the three bikes there were all gorgeous and all from NAHBS exhibitors.
ANT took third, Rock Lobster second and Old Man Mountain won the challenge.
Congrats to those companies!
I met the head of Shimano Bicycle Division and asked if they could PLEASE make an outboard bearing Track Crank and BB. He raised an eyebrow as if to say, "hmmm, why arent we?" I hope my request gets remembered Monday morning! I took his biz card just so I can stay on top of it! ;)
Anyhoo, theres my report, with the exception of Interbike from a NAHBS persepctive....
BIG NAHBS NEWS!
It seems that Dario Pegoretti wants to come to our little shin-dig in March. So does Campi, and iirc, Lynskey Performance. There really seemed to be a buzz about NAHBS happening at Interbike and I kept on hearing about it. No matter who said something, it always made me feel like what I am doing is worthwhile and more folks are taking note. Gave me the "warm fuzzies".
Have a great weekend!
DW
My Interbike experience this year was a great one, to say the least. Not just because I heard or "saw" the "buzz" about NAHBS all around the show, but because I met some great folks I hadn't met before. However, when I went to use my camera to document the meetings, I found out my batteries were dead! I was not really happy about missing those all too important "kodak moments".
The trip there was a nervous one for us as our pilot informed us 30 minutes into the flight we were turning around to DFW because an "indicator light said we had no electrical power", so the pilot dropped the landing gear at 27k feet. It made a lot of us very nervous and he came on later to explain that it was "precautionary to do so under the circumstances" which made us even more nervous.
We landed without incident and de-planed and waited for another plane so we could get to Vegas. That plane really did seem like there was something wrong with it...engines didn't seem like they were firing right or something.
We got there late, but better than not at all.
Now, onto my report.
I got to shake hands with legendary rider Felice Giomondi and had our (Lesley and I) picture taken with Greg Lemond, thanks to Brad from Dirt Rag!
It seems that everyone now has a track or fixie model frame. Trying to capitalize on a trend...
Most of the carbon bikes looked almost the same from the big boys. Very few of them actually made any differentiation between them. Not really impressed.
However, Parlee, Crumpton and Calfee all had nice stuff. (Nick had some crazy lightweight fixie there in the True Temper booth, that's worth a highlight note!) It seems everyone is playing the carbon "card" as their strength, but I wasn't impressed.
Again, without sounding repetitive, nothing that I saw from the big boys was impressive.
Oh yeah, Calfee did have some actual cowhorns for handlebars...that was pretty damn cool!
Don Ferris was there showing his brilliant fixtures, as usual, his booth seemed bustling.
Hank and Monika were there and they seemed busy every time I stopped by, so I didn't get a chance to really chat. Hank always seemed to be showing his jigs as well. I got to wave a couple times though. Busy is a good thing!
UBI and DeSalvo were always busy and it took us quite a few stops to actually catch Ron when he wasn't swamped. Mike was just as busy!
Independent Fab seemed to have a good sized crowd and I had to wait a while to chat with Matt. As usual, Matt hooked us up with some cool schwag, thanks!
Waterford had a polished stainless bike...lugs and tubes. Pretty *****en.
Reynolds was showing a Bertoletti 953 bike. looked pretty nice. Always nice to see Keith Noronha.
Columbus is introducing their Stainless set, the XCR, iirc. Those chainstays were totally cool. I want a pair!
Phil Wood's booth was constantly flooded with people...didn't get much time there, but we saw a PW private label bottle of Wine...Lesley's eyes opened a bit wider! I think she wants one or more....
Sycip seemed busy as well, thanks for the shirt! Cool chopper frame!
Lets see, what else?. Campi's new gruppo's were pretty impressive. New technology stuff, if you hadnt seen, was cool to say the least.
Shimano had the framebuilder challenge. I am happy to say that the three bikes there were all gorgeous and all from NAHBS exhibitors.
ANT took third, Rock Lobster second and Old Man Mountain won the challenge.
Congrats to those companies!
I met the head of Shimano Bicycle Division and asked if they could PLEASE make an outboard bearing Track Crank and BB. He raised an eyebrow as if to say, "hmmm, why arent we?" I hope my request gets remembered Monday morning! I took his biz card just so I can stay on top of it! ;)
Anyhoo, theres my report, with the exception of Interbike from a NAHBS persepctive....
BIG NAHBS NEWS!
It seems that Dario Pegoretti wants to come to our little shin-dig in March. So does Campi, and iirc, Lynskey Performance. There really seemed to be a buzz about NAHBS happening at Interbike and I kept on hearing about it. No matter who said something, it always made me feel like what I am doing is worthwhile and more folks are taking note. Gave me the "warm fuzzies".
Have a great weekend!
DW