And, stayin’ on topic, as I look at the photos on the Interbike site it seems to me that one of the biggest missed opportunities of the vendors is fashionable/functional gear for women AND men; seems like the only “serious” cyclists they’re marketing to are racer types. I know Ted has posted pictures here on CbB of serious commuter bikes, but looking at other web sites it seems more emphasis is put on carbon rather than steel. As you scan the booths, do you get that impression, too?

Oh, and you were up to 97 followers … with the Ol’ Cat adding himself to the list yer now at 98!

I’m a high fashionista bike lady so I don’t wear bike shorts. I only shave my legs for Sheila Moon bike skirts and dresses.

In all seriousness, most of the product manufacturers I spoke to seemed genuinely interested in talking to me, since I represent that elusive women’s market that has committed to riding a bike most everywhere she goes. Or maybe they are just incredible actors who actually have no interest in my opinion. However, one product rep wouldn’t even tell me about his product (which I really didn’t care about anyway!) until I told him how many followers I have. Clearly he did not know of my near royalty status and totally blew me off when I said 95 (96 since I checked this morning, but hey!, I live in a small city) and didn’t even tell me the first thing about his dumb looking sunglasses. Well, that’s fine because I LOVE my Target sunglasses! They are the best I’ve ever owned and only $16 and I wear them in my blog all the time. So next year, when I surely will have moved up on the list of really awesome bike bloggers, Mr. Lady Bike Blogger Hater, don’t even try to kiss my ring.

Actually, that’s not the first time I’ve made that mistake. Thanks for catching that. It’s been fixed.

Did he whisper that you should meet him around back, in the alleyway, if ya wanted to see some “product”?

(snicker)

I talked recumbents yesterday to one of the manufacturers. It was the end of the day, and we were about to leave anyway. I figured that it was too late to shun me from the conference for using the “r” word.

See, the problem is, Ted, that yer not a member of the real bike media. Ya gotta add the word “magazine” after yer name: Commute by Bike Magazine. See?

Also, I noticed you showed up wearing what look like cargo shorts!?! Really?? I mean, REALLY?!? Run out and git yourself a set of Lycra shorts a half size too small and stuff yerself into ‘em, Ted! Git a pair for Karen, too, only make sure they’re the correct size for her. And, just like Karen, make sure yer legs are shaved.

See? NOW yer a REAL BICYCLIST, Ted!

A couple tips for talking to the exhibitors:
1. Never, EVER, NEVER mention recumbent bikes; the Union Cycliste Internationale doesn’t even consider these rides bicycles, so sneer at any recumbent dealers in the hall.
2. And NEVER, EVER, WHATSOEVER say that you know Ol’ BluesCat; I have a bad rep with some bike manufacturers and with your luck they’ll be the first ones you talk to!

Good luck, Dude!

It is kinda funny, about blogging on a favourite pursuit, and wondering/hoping/sometimes demanding respect for the carefully crafted words one writes on the subject.

In my case, I came to blogging on bikes in particular (amongst other things, such as sailing, kids, cancer, sustainability…etc etc), the other way round.

That is, over the last couple of years I fell into writing a few pieces for “Australian Cyclist” magazine: it doesn’t have an enormous readership (remember Australia only has a population of 21 million), but it is a national magazine with a readership in the 100s of thousands.

I wrote frequently, but it wasn’t overly satisfying.

So now I blog when I want on niche subjects that interest me, and I have a very small readership.

Refering to the point of your post being about ‘royalty’ or clout, is ironic, at least in my case.

If I now write about or refer to my previous magazine-related networked contacts, or have a chat with them to blog something, I don’t need to position myself in a way that craves favours from them.

They don’t know my readership is small, couldn’t care less, really, because trust has been established. We talk and I write, from a basis of mutual respect.

Get this, though: if I needed to establish a new contact to blog on a new topic, I’d probably mention that I’ve written for “Australian Cyclist”, and the new contact would respect that.

The irony is, that as print readership is falling, it is still on the whole streets ahead of online readership, although the latter is catching up fast!

Our contacts in the bike world – at least on the established ‘industry’ side of the fence – don’t seem to get that the power of the blogosphere is growing!

All the best

Richard