America’s Bicycle Woodstock Attracts 1,100 Exhibitors As 80,000 Bike Lovers Expected To Descend On Four-Day Sea Otter Classic Event In Hills Of Monterey
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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
MONTERREY, California — Long gone are the days when bicycle parts distributors came to the bicycle industry’s annual trade show in Las Vegas called Interbike and cut deals with local bike shops scattered around the country.
These days, in lieu of Interbike’s demise in 2018, the Sea Otter Classic bike festival at the Laguna Seca car race track in the scenic hills overlooking Monterey, California has become a primary venue for exhibitors to showcase products for both consumers and retail store owners.
Sea Otter had 1,100 brands on site on the first day of the four-day Woodstock of Bicycling, with exhibitors like Colorado-based Pearl Izumi rolling out 13-mile bicycle rides for the media to showcase its variety of bike clothing and gear to Muc-Off bike cleaning products giving baths to mountain bikes.
More than 50 brands gave bicyclists and media a chance to see their latest product releases for the first time Thursday; including new items from companies like Parlee Cycles, POC, Peaty’s Products, ION, and Abbey Bike Tools.
“Not only in North America, but globally, the Sea Otter Classic is the only show where brands have the opportunity to have both B2B and B2C opportunities,” said Kimo Seymour, Life Time senior VP and president of media and events.
One brand is the sunglass brand Tifosi, which uses the festival to pass along the message that its sunglasses have high quality at an affordable price.
Sea Otter expects 80,000 bicyclists to visit the scenic bike festival, exhibitor and race setting during the four days.
