Fly Fishing and cycling? It's precisely that strange juxtaposition that makes you wonder if Shimano was secretly sponsoring the Fly Fishing and Bicycle Show at Carlisle Pennsylvania. As exhibitors and reporters we had the opportunity to genuinely appreciate the wide variety of cyclists and interests present at the show and even more interestingly we were also treated to a revealing look at the seedy underbelly of the fly fishing world. Who knew? Now it is unclear if the two shows being combined under one roof did anything to cross pollinate the disparate fields of interest, but it did make for an interesting people watching mix.
In its first year, the buzz about the show on Saturday was, "What can we expect in terms of attendees? Was the weather too nice? Would the nice weather help or hurt attendance? Would there be any attendance at all for this show in its maiden voyage?" Our speculations were given broader reach when day two's skies opened and the rain poured down in buckets. "Would the weather be too bad? Would the rain keep attendees home, or would it send them out to fantasize over seductively sleek Italian bike frames and dream of the open road/trail?"
The exhibitors needn't have worried, the folks came out in respectable numbers and they were ready to look, listen and make purchases. Approximately 1500 cyclists cruised the aisles looking at bicycling clothes, gear, accessories, parts, and complete bikes. There were touring companies showing their routes and accommodations, with charity rides doing the same for their causes. The Tour de Cure for diabetes and Braking the Cycle for AIDS were both on hand to encourage charity ride participation. Then there was the gear! What would a bike show be without gear? Collections of cruisers and unique collectible bikes were on deck. Can one expect to survive without the latest high tech carbon cranks, light weight cassettes or external bearing bottom brackets?
Retro designs and Bamboo Calfee bikes were all seen. Masi Italian Imports with their panel paint jobs were the high point of the event at the Schwalbe booth. Controversy raged over the which was the "Real Masi" between the Alberta Masi and the American owned Masi booths. Once that debate cooled off, every one buzzed about the one of a kind Tret Madone?
Carlisle had and you can get, your opportunity to lust over this one-of-a-kind, rare collector's item Trek Madone 5.2 at the Bike Show in Edison, New Jersey 3/18-19/06. Come on out and ogle it!
The show even catered to the art collector in us all, Mark Cottman was displaying his original oils and Palm Pilot drawings, Judy & Jerry Lambert presented their vast selection of Lithographs, obje d' cycling art and collectors items - all harkening to past and present champions of the peloton.
Nutrition and hydration, the constant concern of aggressive and casual cyclists alike were addressed by free Cliff bars, samples of Elete Hydration, Purefit Bars, Hammer Gel and Herbal life, not to mention the concession franks and sausages.
By far the most interesting and valuable presentation was the "Stranding is Not an Option" clinic presented by the Peloton Bike shop from Woonsocket Rhode Island, professional race support wrenches, Dave FIke and Matt Lacroix explained how to make it home even after that breakdown that would normally have you calling home for a lift. Their hints and techniques will get you home with your multi-tool and some ingenuity.
Although it was a bit odd to have a combined fly fishing and bike show, neither group seemed to mind perusing the exhibits set up to tout bike gear or fishing paraphernalia. There was even some intermingling evident as bicycles could be seen rolling off the floor adorned with the occasion "fly" decoration or the avid fisherman could be seen dashing out to hit a local stream, wearing a Cabela's hat and some Rudy Project sunglasses...
Fly Fishing and cycling? It's precisely that strange juxtaposition that makes you wonder if Shimano was secretly sponsoring the Fly Fishing and Bicycle Show at Carlisle Pennsylvania. As exhibitors and reporters we had the opportunity to genuinely appreciate the wide variety of cyclists and interests present at the show and even more interestingly we were also treated to a revealing look at the seedy underbelly of the fly fishing world. Who knew? Now it is unclear if the two shows being combined under one roof did anything to cross pollinate the disparate fields of interest, but it did make for an interesting people watching mix.
In its first year, the buzz about the show on Saturday was, "What can we expect in terms of attendees? Was the weather too nice? Would the nice weather help or hurt attendance? Would there be any attendance at all for this show in its maiden voyage?" Our speculations were given broader reach when day two's skies opened and the rain poured down in buckets. "Would the weather be too bad? Would the rain keep attendees home, or would it send them out to fantasize over seductively sleek Italian bike frames and dream of the open road/trail?"
The exhibitors needn't have worried, the folks came out in respectable numbers and they were ready to look, listen and make purchases. Approximately 1500 cyclists cruised the aisles looking at bicycling clothes, gear, accessories, parts, and complete bikes. There were touring companies showing their routes and accommodations, with charity rides doing the same for their causes. The Tour de Cure for diabetes and Braking the Cycle for AIDS were both on hand to encourage charity ride participation. Then there was the gear! What would a bike show be without gear? Collections of cruisers and unique collectible bikes were on deck. Can one expect to survive without the latest high tech carbon cranks, light weight cassettes or external bearing bottom brackets?
Retro designs and Bamboo Calfee bikes were all seen. Masi Italian Imports with their panel paint jobs were the high point of the event at the Schwalbe booth. Controversy raged over the which was the "Real Masi" between the Alberta Masi and the American owned Masi booths. Once that debate cooled off, every one buzzed about the one of a kind Tret Madone?
Carlisle had and you can get, your opportunity to lust over this one-of-a-kind, rare collector's item Trek Madone 5.2 at the Bike Show in Edison, New Jersey 3/18-19/06. Come on out and ogle it!
The show even catered to the art collector in us all, Mark Cottman was displaying his original oils and Palm Pilot drawings, Judy & Jerry Lambert presented their vast selection of Lithographs, obje d' cycling art and collectors items - all harkening to past and present champions of the peloton.
Nutrition and hydration, the constant concern of aggressive and casual cyclists alike were addressed by free Cliff bars, samples of Elete Hydration, Purefit Bars, Hammer Gel and Herbal life, not to mention the concession franks and sausages.
By far the most interesting and valuable presentation was the "Stranding is Not an Option" clinic presented by the Peloton Bike shop from Woonsocket Rhode Island, professional race support wrenches, Dave FIke and Matt Lacroix explained how to make it home even after that breakdown that would normally have you calling home for a lift. Their hints and techniques will get you home with your multi-tool and some ingenuity.
Although it was a bit odd to have a combined fly fishing and bike show, neither group seemed to mind perusing the exhibits set up to tout bike gear or fishing paraphernalia. There was even some intermingling evident as bicycles could be seen rolling off the floor adorned with the occasion "fly" decoration or the avid fisherman could be seen dashing out to hit a local stream, wearing a Cabela's hat and some Rudy Project sunglasses...
