bike expo

While perusing the net, I came across Interbike’s website. I cannot believe I forgot about this company. Interbike puts on the largest manufacture bike show in Las Vegas. The show allows for manufacturers to show off their newest products for wholesalers from around the world. It takes place over 5 days; the first two are for outdoor demos of the bikes and then three days of exhibits.
I have been fortunate to attend an expo. There are rows after rows of bike manufacturers, selling everything from complete bikes down to the bike lock. If it has anything to do with a bike, it can be found at this event.
I was a little disheartened to see an area where bike “manufacturers” could buy no name components from foreign manufacturers and then resell them as their own. There were a lot of deals going on with big name companies and the foreign manufacturers. It is not always economically feasible to produce every part of the bike; but when foreign manufacturers are selling frames and rims, I start to question what parts of the finished bike sold at the local bike store are from these foreign manufacturers.
The biking industry appears to be healthy by the size of the Interbike Expo. Interbike is reporting a 12% increase in the amount of attending buyers, manufacturer reps, and media personnel.