Big and Busy Demo Days Have Kicked Off Interbike

BOOTLEG CANYON, USA – Are they getting bigger and more important than the show itself? That’s the question after two busy Demo Days that kicked off the 2009 Interbike Show in Las Vegas which opens its doors today.

With about 3,000 Demo Days visitors of which lots used the cross country mountain bike trails or the downhill-specific courses, BMX track, road course while there was also a cyclo-cross demo course; it goes without saying that the Demo Days are hugely important to Interbike.

Even to such an extent that the big US bike brands which during the last years didn’t present themselves at the show as they should do when looking at their market shares, are having bigger and bigger booths at the Demo Days. Trek for instance is not an exhibitor at the Sands Covention Center where Interbike is taking place this week. However the market leader in the US had this year a bigger than ever before appearance at the Bootleg Canyon where all the testing took place yesterday and Monday.

What was also striking at this year’s Demo Days is that they tend to change in to a regular exhibition. The number of P&A companies that present themselves here is growing. And they do exactly the same as at the show which is presenting and explaining about their latest products. However, with a strong wind blowing on Tuesday and with that creating small sandstorms, their product presentations are more suited to take place at a regular venue.

The 2009 Interbike that opens its doors today gathers about 1,100 cycling-related brands. In previous years the US bike industry & dealer show attracted close to 23,000 attendees. It’s unlikely that this year’s show will end with about the same number of visitors. Of course that has to do with the economic situation in the US which is leaving its scars on the bike business in the country.

Next to that it also has a big impact on Las Vegas where Interbike is taking place. The number of visiting tourists is down 30%. A taxi driver also told that some big and crowded shows that used to take place at the same venue as Interbike (the Sands Convention Center) have been cancelled. Luckily this is not the case with Interbike. This year’s show will undoubtedly present a clear picture on the present and future status of the bike business in the United States. 

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