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While at Interbike 2006 I stopped by the Mike and the Bike booth and took this photo with Mike Ward, author of Mike and the Bike. The children’s book is one awesome read. My wife recently gave it to me for my birthday and I read it to my kids. It’s a story about Mike and all the places he goes on his bike…. My kids favorite part is when Mike wears his helmet to bed. My favorite part is how Mike takes such good care of his bike and cleans it after every ride.

Mike Ward was at Interbike promoting his next book, “Lucille the Wheel” due out next year. For anyone that has kids, Mike and the Bike is an excellent choice in reading. Illustrated by Bob Thompson, a foreward by Lance Armstrong and a CD that includes a narration by Phil Ligget, as well as seven original songs by Tennesse and Mike Ward, Mike and the Bike is a book all cyclists, young and old will enjoy.

If that’s not enough, a percentage of the proceeds of the book are donated to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Today on the way to a meeting I ran into Marla Streb in the elevator. I asked her how Interbike was going and she said it was great, and that she’d already almost lost her voice from taking so much. That’s all I got to say to her before she was gone. Cool! I’ve had tons of conversations with Interbikers in the elevators and in the halls on the way to the Sands.

Guitar Ted says it best,

“The cycling passion oozing from their prescence is intoxicating.”

I can totally feel the passion oozing through the Venetian. I have a great time just reading the t-shirts on passerbyers. My favorite so far (before I saw the GC-T) was “Ride it. Clean it.” Interbike from the outside is still sweet. Tomorrow I’ll be looking for a way to sneak a closer look at the action.

After writing my last post I thought I’d head down to the Sands Expo and take a few pictures of the Interbike signs, since that was about as much as I figured I’d see… After a few shots, including the Interbike 2007 sign, I just kept walking… Made it up to the the On-line lounge, then I saw a door, a side door with a pretty view…As I crept up , the smell of bikes and the lure of logos captured me…I couldn’t help myself, so I went for a little stroll…

With security guards all over the place, I rememberd what Tim Grahl of Blue Collar said about taking pictures… so I turned the flash off and snuck a few shots of some new Kona’s (the Stinky Deluxe, Stinky Primo, and the Dawg Supreme –they’re a bit blurry though), the brown 2007 Camelbak Hawg, the Manitou Travis, and a shot of the showroom floor from the Masi bikes area.

Walking the showroom was awesome! All these new bikes and gear just waiting to be touched by the hands of buyers and bloggers.

So really now, how could I ask for more? I got a self-guided tour of the best place on Earth this week. Now it’s time to get back to business. Enjoy the pics.

I’m in Vegas this week…but not for Interbike. I’m here to blog the Six Sigma conference at the Venetian. I keep seeing all these bikers walking around with big smiles on their faces…dirty jerseys, and the look of freedom in their eyes. While I’m carrying my laptop and sitting in business meetings…there’s a whole city of biking going on outside (and inside too).

I’ve been talking to every jersey wearing, cleat clacking, helmet carrying person I see. From bike mechanics, to racers. Everyone looks like they’re having a good time. One rider and I got to talking about why we love to ride. He to told me how riding just clears his head from thinking anything…I totally related. When I’m on the trail, there’s nothing else on my mind but trail.

A couple of riders with red Trek jerseys were telling me how sweet the 2007 Trek line is. I didn’t catch their names. They also told me how great Bootleg canyon is and that I should just go there and rent a bike from the shop nearby, just so I could ride it while I’m here. I told them they should ride in Arizona some time, because AZ has some great trails…namely South Mountain.

I might run into more people worth Interbike blogging about. But if you’re looking for constant coverage — read Blue Collar, Go Clipless, or YourMTB.com. They’re all covering the events. Well, back to business…