Las Vegas Day 2

- Ibis is back in business. Scott Nicol, the high end U.S. builder of mountain and road frames had, in his own words, "taken a break" for the past couple of years, but is showing a collection of carbon bikes. The company will only open approximately 35 dealers across the U.S. for 2006. At this time Nicol is considering the possibility of opening 1-3 Canadian dealers in major centres. The Silk road frame weighs in a less than a kilo and has a U.S. retail of under $1400.

- Dekerf is back. Well, Chris Dekerf never really exited the biz, but he does admit that he pulled back for the last couple of years and has only been doing local custom stuff. Now he has decided to get back into the industry in a bigger way and was displaying some new bikes at Interbike. Two new road bikes are front and centre, a touring bike in steel (which can be used for 'cross also) and a Scandium racing bike (Prodigy ScC) with a carbon wishbone seatstay; suggested retail is in the $2000 range. In addition, Chris has introduced a rigid fork for the hardcore and singlespeed crowd called the Tuning Fork - aftermarket price will be $550. Of course, all feature the exquisite paint jobs that Dekerf is reknown for.

- GT was showing what is reputed to be the world's first internally geared production downhill bike. Note the word "production" ... the Honda team is racing on internal geared bikes but they are not for sale.

- The 'skank' factor is higher on the meter this year, with lots of scantily clad women in the booths. This seems to go along with Las Vegas' new slogan" "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas". The 'winners' for the most tasteless award go to the Ergomo people, who had two young ladies wearing a bunch of body paint and not much else. Retailers were lining up to have their pictures taken with the two women draped across them.