LAS VEGAS, NV (BRAIN)—Interbike expects about 4,000 retailers to demo the latest bicycles and accessories over the next two days on Bootleg Canyon's trails outside of Las Vegas.
The Outdoor Demo portion of the annual Interbike industry gathering kicks off this morning at Bootleg Canyon and runs through Tuesday. The indoor show starts Wednesday.
Show director Andy Tompkins said 130 exhibitors are set up at Demo, about the same as last year.
New this year at Demo is a hospitality tent, where retailers can chat with buyers out of the sun.
On Tuesday, Interbike has organized a Brent Thomson Memorial Ride in honor of the man who built many of the trails at Bootleg Canyon. Thomson passed away earlier this year. The annual road ride to Lake Mead will also be back this year on Tuesday.
Attendees can utilize free shuttle service from the Sands Expo Center since parking is very limited out at the Demo venue. Shuttle service begins at 8 a.m., leaving every half hour.
Retailer pre-registration numbers for the entire show are up over last year, which Tompkins believes is a product of low hotel rates and other travel deals as Las Vegas tries to attract tourists during a down economy.
"Vegas at least in the last 10 years I would say has never had these types of rates. They are really aggressively trying to get people to the city," Tompkins said.
—Nicole Formosa
