SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA (BRAIN)—Interbike will add two consumer days to Outdoor Demo East this year in response to suggestions from exhibitors at last October’s inaugural event.
“We haven’t spoken to everybody, but the major supporters—Pedro’s, Scott, Cannondale—have all said they feel like the public would just be a bonus to an event like Demo East,” said Andy Tompkins, Interbike show director, on Tuesday.
The details are still being hashed out, but Interbike plans to allow consumers into the show on Saturday and Sunday, keeping Thursday and Friday as a trade-only expo, Tompkins said.
Interbike also plans to move back the event’s dates from Oct. 21 to Oct. 8-11 in hopes of getting better weather.
“We’ve spoken to a number of key manufacturers and they’ve said that would be enough turnaround time from Interbike to this event to make sure their crews are on the east coast ready to work,” Tompkins said.
Interbike is also working to schedule a UCI-sanctioned cyclocross race in conjunction with Outdoor Demo.
Interbike started Demo East last year in an attempt to reach retailers in the coveted New England area who don’t attend the Las Vegas show. In its first year, about 60 exhibitors and 700 retailers were in attendance.
For more on this year’s plans for Outdoor Demo East, read the February issue of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.
—Nicole Formosa
