Schwag-laden ‘Tweetup’ set to rock Interbike

A ‘tweetup’ is the colloquial term for a real-world get-together co-ordinated via the 140-character social media website, Twitter.

Twitter is very popular in the bike trade, especially in America. BikeBiz.com has this page listing 700+ execs, racers and companies with Twitter accounts but the numbers keep rising and it’s hard to keep up with the latest recruits to the world’s fastest growing social media phenomenon.

On the evening of Tuesday 22nd September the biggest ever bike trade tweetup will take place on the patio of the LAVO Restaurant at The Palazzo, adjoining the Venetian hotel. This is one of the very top night-spots in Vegas (a city with no shortage of noctural entertainment); a regular hang-out of Hollywood stars.

Bike trade companies have provided a bunch of prizes for a charity raffle, with all the proceeds going to the National MS Society and AIDS/LifeCycle. There’s a listing of all the schwag below. Martha VanInwegen, one of the BikeTweetup organisers, said offers of more prizes would be welcome and would help raise more money. To donate, send an @ message to @bike_tweetup

VanInwegen, creator of Action Wipes, said:

"The collaboration in putting this together speaks of the power of Twitter in bringing the cycling community together for a fun event. It blows me away how a global community has bonded and turned Twitter into their voice.

"If a motorist hits a cyclist in Nebraska, you can bet everyone from the farthest regions of the world will know about it by the end of the day. And it’s not just powerful for cyclists, it’s powerful for suppliers, too. As a small product manufacturer I’ve been fortunate to meet with industry leaders via Twitter. These folks no longer see everyone as their competition."

On Thursday night, many of those at the Tweetup will get on their bikes for Bikehugger’s Mobile Social, or MoSo, another event laden with schwag.

The Tweetup has been organised by the following (click on the links for their Twitter pages):

David Bernstein – The Fredcast
Jeff Helfand – Veloreviews.com
Brian Hodes – VeloImages
Carlton Reid – BikeBiz.Com
Markus Neuert – Cyclefilm
Martha VanInwegen – Action Wipes

Tweet-up Twitter account
–
Facebook page
–
Blog
–
Auto updates

SCHWAG
Power Packs from Action Wipes
Subscription and Complete bicycling kit: jersey, shorts, hat and socks from Bicycling Magazine
Women’s Jersey from Bike World News
Cool jerseys from BlockBottoms Cyclewear
Insulated Stainless Steel Bike Bottle from CycleAware
"The Italian Job" DVDs from Cyclefilm
Organic cotton tshirt from Cyclelogical
CycloClimb DVDs from CycloClub
Cycling Journal from Embrocation
Set of epinRides DVDs and a cycling jersey from epicPlanet
Team Garmin Musette full of #TdF goodies from Garmin
Box of Grease Monkey Wipes
Box set of virtual cycling DVDs from Global Ride
Hutchinson Tires from Hutchinson Tires
iSport Power Meter – iBike
Java Juice Liquid Concentrate from Java Juice
Coffee Mugs – from Kinetic Koffee
Hats and Tshirts from Kona World
Pale Ale and Jersey from Kuat Racks
Land Rover-ORBEA Team Kit and Arm Warmers from Land Rover-ORBEA
Lazer O2 Helmets from Lazer Helmets
Sports shirts and iTunes promo codes for product from MotionX
Fluid Replacement tablets from MotorTabs
iPod Touch and iTunes Promo Card from MYBIKEINFO
Chamois Ointment from Okole Stuff
V-MODA headphones from Pedego
Two Road Id’s from Road ID
T-shirts, Pint Glasses and Hats from Rolf Prima
Rouleur Magazine and a Musette from Rouleur Magazine
Set of arm, leg and kneewarmers from Schlamm
Scribble Tshirt from Scribble Shirts
Riders’ club jersey signed by Ned Overend from Specialized
Hats from SoCalCycling.com
Signed jersey from Team Tibco
Baseball caps from Tesla Motors
Bike hangers from Urbane Innovations
Pro photo session (individual, team or product) to be shot in So Cal from VeloImages
Cycling caps from Walzcaps
Framed 16×20 print of Lance Armstrong as used on Sept cover of ROAD from Wil Matthews Photo
$1000 full-page ad for the forthcoming Bike to Work Book

Land Rover Orbea giving products from Hammer, Yakina, Giro and a Sammy Sanchez signed jersey

Hat, t-shirt and socks from Bicycle.net

Liberty Sports Magazine, full page ad in Dec/Jan issue

More will flow in.