Leaving Las Vegas

19 09 2017

For the first time in I don’t know how many years (five? six?) I’m not heading to the bright lights of Las Vegas for Interbike.

It’s for a few reasons…the main ho-hum reason is some competing obligations at my day job.

The others?

I’m a little burned out on the aforementioned bright lights and incessant sounds of go-go Vegas that accompany the show. I think it has a little to do with my Vegas trip last year that was preceded by a few chill days in Austin…hitting Las Vegas immediately after was a bit of a shock to the system.

And, It just feels like a good time to take a break from the show.

The good news is that the majority of companies have already shared their 2018 offerings ahead of the show. So chances are, I (and by extension, y’all reading this) won’t be missing too much.

I’ll be keeping my eyes on the Interwebs though over the next few days to see if there’s any big reveals…and sharing what I come across (probably on the Facebook page first).

Frankly, what I would like to see is Tracer Finn recreate this iconic Bob Osborn shot of him jumping his dad, Mickey Finn, back in the day. That’s the kind of radness Interbike needs!

Word on the street is that Interbike is moving to Reno next year.

Perhaps, this change of venue will see me back, cruising the aisles of Interbike. If only so I could use the headline, “I did some shots from a bottle in Reno, just to watch it die.”

P.S. I am going to miss rolling with the Sin City Crew

 

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Huge indoor park opening in Vegas

12 11 2014

While there have been rumblings about an indoor park opening in Las Vegas before, it now looks likes it’s finally happening.

SK8XTC, what the new park is called, will cater to skateboarders, BMX riders and inline types. The features and amenities include dirt riding areas, concrete bowls, a BMX SX track and a whole lot more. There’s even a sushi restaurant planned!

Seems pretty over the top…but then again, where else but Vegas could something like this fly?

SK8XTC

 





Viva Las Vegas

9 09 2014

If all goes to plan,  I should be touching down in Las Vegas just as you read this just ahead of this year’s Interbike tradeshow.

Looking forward to seeing all the new stuff in store for 2015 (and catching up with some good peeps along the way).

Keep your eyes on the Facebook page and Twitter for updates during the show.

Full recap the following week.

las vegas





Trailer tease: 4130 Subway Series doc

3 04 2014

From humble beginnings, the 4130 Subway Series Ride has grown to become the largest BMX ride in North America (and probably the world).

Hitting streets of Hollywood, LA, Beverly Hills and points beyond, this ride draws hundreds of riders every month.

Now, for those folks that haven’t made it out to a ride yet, PSi films has teamed up with the 4130 crew to put together a documentary on the ride.  The release date has been pushed out a bit (no confirmation at press time) but if this trailer is any indication, it looks like it’s gonna be a good one!

And in related news, as was mentioned back in the Spring Brake Ride Las Vegas post back in February, the 4130 Subway Series crew is meeting up with Sin City Series crew this month for an epic ride through Vegas.

4130 LA to Vegas

I joined these guys (both the LA and Vegas crews) back in 2011 for the first ride they did together (I’m actually in the pic above, under the Vegas sign) and it was an awesome time. Not to be missed if you can make your way out there.





Countdown to Interbike

5 09 2013

It’s September and that means,  in addition to the classic Earth, Wind & Fire song, “September” constantly playing in my head, the bicycle industry’s annual show ‘n’ tell called Interbike is just mere weeks away.

Like in years past, I’ll be cruising the aisles of Interbike checking out what’s new and happening in cruisers and bigger-wheeled BMX bikes.

Last year, some new complete bikes debuted that really caught my attention.

Bikes like the Stolen Saint XLT

and the DK Elite Series Cruiser really stood out.

But walking the tradeshow floor is only part of the comprehensive investigation this hard-working BMX journalist will be providing.

In 2012, I went out and pounded the pavement to see if I could find the information that you just couldn’t find in the kiosks at the show.

That desire to get the inside story took me to one of the pools on the Strip where Maxim magazine’s Hometown Hotties were holding court.

It was there that I heard that the 2013 models would be bigger in the front and have tighter back ends.

Who knew you would learn about chain-stay length at a Vegas Pool?

Hometown Hotties and Cruiser Revolution

Of course, it’s  important to get the local perspective on things.

And there is no better place to do that than at the annual 4130 Sin Series ride (scheduled to go down on the Friday of Interbike Week this year).

Rolling with good peeps, like Vegas locals Mike Leonard and Chris Fox (pictured below with me (Ed) after the ride…thanks again for lending me a bike Chris!)

Chris Fox and Ed 4130 Sin Series

…and catching up with out-of-town visitors like Randy Franklin, this is the event that brings it all home.

Even though I’m excited to see what the bike industry has cooked up for 2014, it’s important to remember that bike riding is still all about getting together with your friends and having fun…and that’s what the 4130 Sin Series ride is all about.

Looking forward to some good times in Vegas.





Is Vegas getting an indoor bike park?

8 02 2013

It’s looks like Sin City might just be getting itself it’s very own indoor bike park.

According to the Hub Bike Park Facebook page, the indoor park will open in Fall 2013 and feature:

100,000 square feet of dirt pump track, dirt jump lines and foam pit. All inside a climate-controlled building.

Here’s artist’s rendering/promotional illustration of what it might look like.

The Hub Bike ParkThis is pretty interesting development in a certain sense…while most bike parks have sprung up as a rider’s response to dealing with the cold (and snow, ice, etc.)…I’m guessing a certain part of the appeal to this park in Las Vegas will be beating the heat (hence the climate-controlled angle), especially in the summer.





Sin City…4130 style

23 09 2011

After a week in Vegas, checking out the latest and greatest  at interbike, celebrating the top riders in the sport at the Nora Cup Awards and just taking in the spectacle of the Strip…it felt there was something missing from my interbike experience.

Sure flashy new bikes and parts are cool but BMX is so much more than that. It’s that feeling you get when you get a group of riders together and have a good ride or session.

Thankfully the 4130 crew, together with Vegas local Micheal Leonard, brought the L.A.-based 4130 Subway Series ride to Las Vegas to coincide with interbike.  Renamed the 4130 Sin City Series ride, 200 plus riders made it out to take part in what would become an epic ride.   Everyone was smiling and having a good time…old school, new school, race or street rider…it didn’t matter. It was a celebration of BMX in it’s purest form.

That good feeling you get when a good group of riders gets together to ride?

The 4130 rides have that in spades.

I’m still hyped on the ride a week later.

So much fun.

Vodpod videos no longer available.




It would be a sin to miss it

14 09 2011

By the time you read this, I’ll be in Sin City (Las Vegas) checking out all the new 2012 stuff on display at Interbike. It’s going to be a busy week.  Tons of stuff to check out and people to meet. And while I’d love to say that I’ll be “reporting live”, I’ll probably just put it all together in a recap next week.

I’m also planning on hitting the the Nora Cup Awards. Drew Bezanson (who rides at Joyride, my local bike park) is up for another award so I’ll be cheering him on.

On Friday, the Vegas edition of the 4130 Subway Series goes down. It’s going be nuts. (Now I just have to borrow a bike so I can participate!)

More details next week.





4130 Subway Series set to hit Vegas

20 07 2011

This September, the 4130 Subway Series is going on the road and hitting Las Vegas. The ride is happening the same week Interbike is in town, on September 17.

With a who’s who of BMX and bicycle industry types in town, you never know who might show up.

And it’s Vegas.

This might get rowdy (in a good way).

The 4130 Subway Series is pure BMX. Believe it.





Hellcat loose in Las Vegas

4 02 2011

Thousands of tourists flock to Las Vegas every day in search of  fun and good times.

What many of them miss seeing, however, is the cool bike-friendly terrain ready to be sessioned just beyond the bright lights of the strip.

From skateparks, to dirt, to just cruising the strip…Vegas has something for any rider.

Vegas local, Mike Leonard is making the most of what Vegas has to offer on his Free Agent Hellcat 24.

Because sometimes you just have to be a local to know where the real fun is.

Mike Leonard rolls the dice on a rail hop in Vegas