beer and shmoozing in Las Vegas

message to the dude in the blue polo shirt: stop it.

that's right.  the annual international bicycle trade show called InterBike took place last week in Las Vegas and per usual it was completely over run with business minded, get-rich-quick, hop on a trend importers who've spend more money on marketing and displays than research and developement.  there were a few show highlights, though, that had even someone as jaded and cynical as myself thinking, "that's kida cool"...

first, the new Primo headset.  its an integrated bearing that fits into their bearing cup.  with a conventional frame you'll use the cup then if you switch to an integrated frame you won't need to get a new headset.  fantastic idea.  the new Odyssey 2 piece crank is good for reasons other than what they were bragging about.  they were stoked about how light it is but they don't know how many orders we get every week from people that have lost spindle bolts...now that's one less to worry about (and it's really light).  and the Fly Bikes inner tube is top notch.  yep, someone re-invented the tube.  if that thing works like they claim it does then it's red hot.  can't wait to not have to take off my wheel to fix a flat. too bad it won't be out 'til April. the rest of the show was a lot of new parts that, in some cases, featured slight improvements on existing products but most was just more of the same in different colors and/or different names.  let's go to the photo essay, shall we?

the Eastern frame not only had the head tube cut out but the sides of the seat tube and the bottom of the bottom bracket as well.

the Shadow Conspiracy want's to make sure you've got plenty of seat choices

and so does MacNeil, but they want you to stop doing rails

nothing more innovative than FBM's square headtube

rumor had it that this is where Redline put up Rooftop while he was in town.    the rest of the industry (including myself) stayed at a place affectionately referred to as the "Ghetto Pods"

i also stuck around for the Vans/Hard Rock contest.  Friday night was dirt and all day Saturday was park.  i saw huge no handed front flips, 360 hand plants over a hitching post, ice pick grinds on a fifteen foot tall vert wall and of course a bunch of whip variations.  the sport is at a new level. 

this is one of a couple crappy pictures i took before the battery on the camera died.  i then got completely shitfaced and forgot to recharge it to get photos of the park comp.  sorry.

i met these two local riders at a bar then proceeded to help them get action from the opposite sex.  at some point one of them yelled "Dan's would never help me score!"  very cool guys in deed.

i saw Catfish from DK dressed in a kangaroo suit drinking a $200.oo bottle of champaigne while getting a lap dance

"where's the party at?  right here under my shoes!"  there's something in the Vegas air that makes the ladies love me.  all catch and release, though...honest

that's enough from my point of view.  if you haven't had you fill check out FBM, Esaych, Shitluck and/or Bikeguide