We just returned (last night at midnight) from the Giant Bicycle Dealer Sales Event in Keystone Colorado. The event is called THE LINK which is used to describe the relationship between Giant, their dealers and most importantly, you. About 100 select dealers are invited to this event to learn about Giant and their bikes and to ride them in a spectacular setting on challenging trails and roads. Check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/incomp/sets/72157621842208377/ for some cool pic's.
The Link is a awesome event. After 35 years in the bicycle business I had thought I had seen it all but this was really cool. We flew to Denver early Saturday and were greeted by Giant staff and wisked though the airport to a waiting road lunch and the first of hundreds of liters of water. The drive to Keystone as always was spectatular and we arrived by noon and a quick check-in to our lake side condo and off to the first of many great meals. Keystone is located at 9300 feet elevation and you only go up from there. Sunscreen, lip balm and lots of water are mandatory.
Anyone who knows Deb understands that she is not one to sit around so we headed to the gondola for a ride to the top of Keystone around 12,000 feet up and the first of many air sucking moments. Some light hiking and sightseeing later we headed back to the Lodge for dinner and socializing with other dealers. We found the exchange with others arguably the most beneficial part of the trip. There really are a lot of good ideas out there and we heard lots of them. Bike dealers are good folks who do what we do because we like it. The long hours and tough business climate are tolerable because we are doing what we love to do.
The next day started with a pre-breakfast ride from the Demo Site located at the mountain base a quick few minutes by shuttle even higher up the valley. We had our choice of hundreds of 2010 bikes, road or mountain in every size or type you can imagine. After another (great) breakfast we spent the days in seminars learning about everything from alloy frames to global economies with riding to follow and another awesome dinner and conversations about bicycles.
I learned a lot at this trip and am very stoked about next year and Giant bikes in particular. They are so cool; I have my new TCR ordered already! In the weeks that follow I will try to link in some new product info and some really cool videos. Be sure and check out the new Trinity SL at http://www.giantbicycles.com/ . It is the world fastest bike and is so sweet it will make you spit. Enjoy the photos and look for some updates.
The next day started with a pre-breakfast ride from the Demo Site located at the mountain base a quick few minutes by shuttle even higher up the valley. We had our choice of hundreds of 2010 bikes, road or mountain in every size or type you can imagine. After another (great) breakfast we spent the days in seminars learning about everything from alloy frames to global economies with riding to follow and another awesome dinner and conversations about bicycles.
I learned a lot at this trip and am very stoked about next year and Giant bikes in particular. They are so cool; I have my new TCR ordered already! In the weeks that follow I will try to link in some new product info and some really cool videos. Be sure and check out the new Trinity SL at http://www.giantbicycles.com/ . It is the world fastest bike and is so sweet it will make you spit. Enjoy the photos and look for some updates.
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