Interbike 2007 preview

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Interbike 2007 Expo begins next Wednesday and I'll be there to report on product news, trends, and photos on behalf of CommuteByBike. I'll drool over the high dollar race-worthy gear, clothing and training aids, of course, but I'll take a close look at:

• Family cycling accessories like the iBert child seat.
  
• Utilitarian cycling wear.
  
  
• Performance cycling wear such as the new Argento shorts with reflective panels from Black Bottom Cyclewear.
  
• Bags from the myriad bag companies there, like newcomer Rickshaw Bags of San Francisco.
  
• The carbon belt drive used on Spot Bikes.
  
• Coffee with the one and only Bobke at the Kryptonite Booth.
  
• The latest lights from vendors like Light and Motion and others.
  
• The Best Barista contest at the Louis Garneau booth on Thursday, not to mention the free coffee given away during the opening hour of the expo.
  
• Superstars like Saul Raisin, Phil Ligget, Stuart O'Grady and Niki Gudex.
  
• The outlook for independent bike dealers.
  
• Custom frame builders.
  
• New bikes -- especially "urban" or utility bikes -- from the more mainstream bike companies such as Specialized, Raleigh, Masi, and the QBP brands Surly and Civia.

Trek will not be at the Interbike Expo. Specialized employees, including company president Mike Sinyard, are riding their bikes the 600 miles from San Jose to Vegas.

Be sure to watch for a special VIDEO edition of The Spokesman Cycling Podcast in which I will appear with other cycling bloggers and the usual Spokesman gang of Tim, Dave, Carlton, and Tim. I was hoping to meet Elden the Fat Cyclist, but he can't make it. My sources do tell me that I might be able to unveil the identity of BSNYC, though, which would be a treat.

Interbike news.