It is 11:28 back home as I type this, and another Interbike is in the books.  What a show.  Great products, great vendors, great crowds.  Just an amazing experience.  For those lucky enough to attend the Interbike show.  Here are a few tips.

1) Bring you own food/drink into the show.  The first day, I waited in line for what I thought would be a $7 mini pizza, to find out they had none left.  Ended up settling for a $8 footlong hotdog.  Yuck.  There are plenty of energy food booths (Cliff Bar, Gu, Powerbar) to help with the little bonks, but bring food from outside to help stay out of lines, and save money.

2) Bring your own transportation, or stay close.  Walking is a way of life if you are far from the Sands.  We were at a hotel about 1.7 miles from the show.  A cab ride can cost about $11-12 for that distance, a 24 hour bus pass will cost $4, but you have to wait for the dang thing, walking is free, but took us about 30 min. to get there, and after a day of walking around looking at blow up bike saddles - walking doesn't sound fun.

Bring a bike.  A folding bike is a great idea, and gets you where you want to be fast and free.

3) Stay for the last day, and BRING CASH.  Almost everything is for sale.  It doesn't matter if you work/own a retail shop, or even if you currently carry the items - cash talks.  Most exhibitors don't want to have to take the stuff home, and it is an easy cash deal (no tax man).  Great deals on EVERYTHING.  Got a sweet Showers Pass Jacket.  Good deal on a Salsa Bar/Stem Combo.  Between my traveling partner and I, we have TWO, count 'em TWO Shimano Di2 electronic groupo's (Why two… Long story - and I am sure one of the sets will be sold soon).  My traveling partner also got fitted for some custom orthopedics.  Want a frame or complete bike? FOR SALE!!!   Insane.

4) If you had only two days to go, Go Thursday and Friday.  If you only have one day.  GO FRIDAY.  Wednesday is crazy and full of people, and Friday is the deal day.  Have a plan on going up and down each isle, and stick to it.  You see way more stuff, and don't miss the little unknown products you never knew about.  We found an American company that created their own road brake set.  Very inexpensive, and the pair weight 199 grams - as compared to around 208 for a TRP set (and about half the price).  

5) Open a bike shop, become friends with a shop owner, or get your media pass to cover the event.  'Cause without one of those in your favor - You aint going to get in.  Sorry.

As I work through the many catalogs of companies I grabbed, and see what I really want to keep (or would ever look at again) - I can feel the effects of the week creeping into my bones.  I am wore out, and ready to return to the Underground.

Good news is, though, the management at NIBU.INFO has been so impressed with my coverage of the show, they are sending me to California this coming weekend to cover Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge Grand Fondo.  It is a fundraiser ride for Livestrong and Tour of California in Levi's home town of Santa Rosa.  Check out the link, and stay tuned for that coverage. 

This has been Scoop Ferguson.  Goodnight, and goodluck.