Interbike Announces Move To Reno Next Year

Casinos? Check. Bikes? Check. It's not Vegas anymore for Interbike, though. Wikimedia Commons photo.

The bike industry’s biggest tradeshow, Interbike, has announced it is leaving Las Vegas, and is heading to Reno.

This comes a few months after Outdoor Retailer, its sister show, announced a move to Denver from Salt Lake City, for reasons that include environmental concerns with Utah’s state government.

Interbike has been held in Las Vegas since the mid 1990’s, giving brands an opportunity showcasing the latest and greatest the industry had to offer and connect with retailers and media. With the multiday indoor event, an outdoor event was held in nearby Boulder City to allow for product testing.

Show organizers say that Reno is simply better suited to hold the event, possessing everything a show of its magnitude needs: climate, plenty of lodging, and good riding nearby. The outdoor test will be held at nearby Northstar’s bike park, giving riders a lift-access option to test bikes. The indoor show will be held at the Reno Sparks Convention Center. The show has always been closed to non-industry folk, but next year’s show will include a consumer-oriented bike festival beforehand, in an effort to reinvigorate excitement over the whole shebang.

The move was announced this morning, and comes alongside rising costs in Vegas, decreased attendance by both buyers and brands, and the changing nature of the bicycle industry. More and more brands are moving to a direct-sale model, with brands like YT, Canyon, and Trek offering sales directly through their own online stores. This allows companies to offer lower prices to the consumer by bypassing dealers. Good for the consumer? Yes. Good for your LBS? Not so much. Large companies like Specialized and Giant skipped the show altogether last year, instead opting to court potential shop buyers directly at other trade shows like Sea Otter or through private product releases.

This year’s show will still be held in Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center September 18 through 22.