What began earlier this Summer as a theoretical discussion on our Reader Forum - aren't most internet discussions theoretical? - has become an actual "thing." Today we're announcing the full schedule of the Slowtwitch Road Shows. These will take place in the first half of 2016, commencing February 28 and running through mid-July.
All the Slowtwitch Road Shows will take place in one retail location each, times 34 cities around the U.S. There are 40 participating retail stores, because In 6 locations we have the local bike shop and a specialty run store sharing a common wall (or at least common parking lot), and in these locations it's one big party.
Speaking of party, that's a large part of what will happen at each Slowtwitch Road Show: food, hospitality, raffles, and we're working hard for a local craft brew at every show. There will also be clinics, demos, pro athletes and company big wigs (the engineers and product managers that make these products what they are).
Each Road Show will be different, with its own set of vendors (Trek will be a vendor at stores that sell Trek; Quintana Roo at stores that sell its brand; Cervelo, BMC and so on, depending on what that store sells). Hoka One One and other run shoe brands will appear at locations that sell these brands. As each show gets closer the list of vendors and the program for each Road Show will take form. We'll announce the exact program for each show in advertisements geotargeted to each location where the show takes place.
Further, we'll begin months before each show with Slowtwitch Ambassadors invading the local tri club meetings and insinuating our message into the local Facebook groups. Stakeholders proximate to each Road Show (coaches, race directors, clubs, timing companies) will co-promote with us and with each local Road Show location.
To the point above, Slowtwitch Ambassadors have more fun. Or last longer. Or whatever the bumper sticker should say. If you're located in one of our Road Show areas and you're a wedding planner by skill and temperament, please reach out; it will please us to absorb you into our activation team (the Slowtwitch email is found in the footer of this page).
Sunday, Feb 28 --- Landry's Bicycles, Boston, MA
Saturday, March 5 --- Inside Out Sports, Cary, NC
Sunday, March 6 --- Emery's Cycling & Triathlon, Milwaukee, WI
Sunday, March 6 --- Podium Multisport, Atlanta, GA
Saturday, March 12 --- Landis Cycles & Sole Sports, Tempe, AZ
Saturday, March 12 --- Fraser Bicycle, Canton, MI
Saturday, March 12 --- Outspokin, Tampa, FL
Saturday, March 19 --- Cyclemania & Fleet Feet Sports Maine Running, Portland, ME
Saturday, March 19 --- Nytro Multisports, Encinitas, CA
Sunday, March 20 --- Helens Cycles, Santa Monica, CA
Saturday, March 26 --- Bonzai Sports, Fairfax, VA
Saturday, March 26 --- Richardson Bike Mart & Run On, Richardson, TX
Saturday, April 2 --- Sports Basement, Berkeley, CA
Saturday, April 2 --- Cycling Concepts, Glastonbury, CT
Sunday, April 3 --- Pacific Cycling & Triathlon, Stamford, CT
Saturday, April 9 --- Brickwell Cycling & Runner's Edge, Farmingdale, NY
Sunday, April 10 --- Brielle Cyclery, Brielle, NJ
Saturday, April 16 --- Hazards Cyclesport & Santa Barbara Running Co., Santa Barbara, CA
Saturday, April 16 --- Athlete's Lounge, Portland, OR
Sunday, April 17 --- Speedy Reedy, Seattle, WA
Saturday, April 23 --- Sports Basement, Sunnyvale, CA
Sunday, April 24 --- Rocklin Endurance Sports, Rocklin, CA
Saturday, April 30 --- Mack Cycles, Miami, FL
Saturday, May 7 --- Trek Store Naperville & Naperville Running Co., Naperville, IL
Saturday, May 7 --- Bicycle World, The Woodlands, TX
Sunday, May 8 --- Trek Store Madison, Madison, WI
Saturday, May 14 --- Endurance House, Zionsville, IN
Saturday, May 14 --- Endurance House, Orange, County, CA
Saturday, May 21 --- Bicycle World, Austin, TX
Saturday, May 21 --- Fleet Feet Sports, Rochester, NY
Saturday, May 28 --- Spokesman Pro Bike Works, Mandeville, LA
Saturday, June 4 --- Now Bikes and Fitness, Arden Hills, MN
Saturday, June 4 --- Bicycle World, Waco, TX
July 16/17 --- Schlegel Bicycles, Oklahoma City, OK
No, there are no Canadian stops on the Road Show, nor locations in the UK nor other places where we have a big Slowtwitch following. Yes, we love our non-U.S. brothers and sisters. In year-1 we only wanted to make the "sale" to participating vendors once, to each brand's U.S. decision maker, because inclusion in this initiative is not a trivial decision for any brand. These Road Shows involve a number of decision makers per brand per country (the sales and marketing teams, and those involved in the local activations). Canada and other countries will be our radar in year-2, assuming year-1 proves fruitful.
Finally, some ad campaigns resonate. One is a United Airlines TV commercial, 25 years old, called Speech. The CEO says, "We're going to set out for a little face-to-face chat with every customer we have." He then commences handing out bundles of airline tickets to each of his employees. I was reminded of Speech as I was doling out the trips Slowtwitch editors and contributors will be taking to various Road Show stops around the U.S. Slowtwitch makes its living servicing the virtual needs of a reader base yet swim, bike and run, when best-experienced, are hyper-sensual and not at all virtual. My hope for a Slowtwitch Road Show is to complete the circle, using every virtual community tool we have to produce a very analog experience. See you in the Spring.
