Eddie O

OK, in an effort to get caught up on my postings before the get caught up in all the wedding happenings next week (yes, the big day for Namrita & I is almost here!) I’ll go short on the Interbike happenings and then get right into the big sponsor news.

So on day two I wandered some more to seek out more cool products. ESI Grips is a product I think I’ll really be able to use:

The ESI grips are made of silicone which should last for ever and do not seem to be effected by compression like most “foam” grips I’ve used in the past. I’ve tried every kind of grip you can think of except the Ergons (which I’m hoping to get my hands on soon…pun intented)…various foam grips: OK but compress over time; road bar tape: unravels at inopportune times; lock-ons: no cushion…the list goes on over the years. I have a set of these I have been testing and so far I really like them.

The Tifosi booth was just down the aile from Paceline Products, so I passed by numerous times…but they were always busy! I guess when you have a great product at an amazing price that’s what happens. I’m assuming I’ll still be sponsored next year, but I seriously could not get 2 minutes with the sponsorship person Shannon.

Luckily I had a good look at there 07 products at the OR show. I do think Tifosi Optics will be a 55nine Performance product in the near future.

Again I spent the afternoon at the Paceline Products booth. Besides the Pressure Pak I was demo’ing they distribute a wide variety of products:

…and many more. If you are a shop owner you have to check out Paceline‘s line up, it’s huge and full of money makers. Paceline Products was started by Steve Mathews as a way to distribute his creation, Chamios Butt’r I used to be a huge fan of Bag Balm, I have found it destroy my shorts & saddles. I think the petroleum base in Bag Balm eats away the glue that holds the chamios to the lycra and the synthetic leather to the carbon shell, so I have religated the Bag Balm 6 hour applications only and started using Chamios BUTT’r for everything shorter. It’s easier on the skin and the equipment and I’ve never had to explain to a guy named Bubba Joe why I need utter cream inside my shorts (true story).

So after my stint at Paceline, I headed back the Light & Motion booth for another hour of speaking with Nat Ross and Rebecca Rusch…except by this point all the talking, dry air and late nights were starting to catch up to me and my voice. I tried to let Nat do most of the talking, which was not too difficult, but whenever I opened my mouth to speak I had know idea what pitch my voice may come out at….that made things very interesting. Luckily I only sounded like I was 13 once.

Throughout the show I spoke to most of the major parts distributors about 55nine Performance and my need to have access to highend parts for my clients. Since 55nine Performance is not a traditional bike shop they were a little reluctant, but I think I made my case clear enough to open some doors when they are needed.

American Classic will be on board as a personal sponsor of 07. Not a lot has changed in the wheels department, which is fine with me because their wheels rocked! They do have this cool new seat post though:

Eddie O

This entry was posted on Friday, October 13th, 2006 at 6:53 pm and is filed under Announcements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.