easy...

triathletes and cyclists enjoy "gadgets" (not to say PCs are, Frank, you know my position on their effectiveness) more than runners...

unless someone tries to convince runners that aerodynamic shoes with carbon sole, double butted laces, and lense shape shoes are faster, runners will not be as keen as triathletes and riders to try new "stuff"

No Franks probably right on this.

1st American 2.17, 2nd American 2.30, 3rd American was the first woman home.

I somehow dont think that there will be a high demand for the PC's in the rift valley.

The question is where were all the other Americans......oh I remember, training for a marathon that counts, Chicago and Grandma's :)

While I admit I had the only bike in the place and some people gravitated to me (I could have sold that bike to 5 different people right there, a Quintana Roo Zero Gravity), the place was generally so crowded that no one could have seen me from more than 5 feet away most of the time so people I was talking to I thought were pretty random.

Although i agree with your assessment of the relative techiness of the groups. Although i do remember when I was running (before the days of triathlon) how everyone was all smitten with the new Nike waffle sole. I think "techiness" is only a matter of degree (or is that tackyness?)

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Frank,
An original Ironman and the Inventor of PowerCranks

No surprise, really

The expos at all the big marathons, such as Boston, are open to the general public and there is always a good cross-section of active/fiteness people at these affairs.

I did the circut of the big 5( NYC, Boston, Chicago, San Diego, and LA) when I was working at Sugoi a few years ago and we always had a good range of people stopping by our booth. Obviously, we had great numbers of runners because these were running races, but also triathletes and cyclists.

My thoughts on this is that people are grazing more on the fitness options available to them. They are not just runners or triathletes or cyclists or swimmers. They may do a vareity of events throughout the season: An early spring 10K, a triathlon in the summer and century ride in the early fall, a marathon in the late fall, and so on. It also might give an insight into the decline over all in performances at a certain level in various sports. People don't focus on one thing any more.

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

Many years ago when I was running marathons regularly 9and before triathlon) I didn't know a single person who rode a bike for sport. It just didn't seem like part of the culture then (although I was in Hawaii, certainly not a hot bed of cycling). Guess it just goes to show the profound change that triathlon has wrought on this culture.

Frank

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Frank,
An original Ironman and the Inventor of PowerCranks

Frank,

I started running back in the mid 70's. Back then people would stop their cars while I was running out on country roads to see if I was OK and offer me a ride home! Runners were rare. Cyclists even rarer. I recall my next door neighbour in residence in first year at university(1980) - he was a competitive cyclist. Had a fancy Italian bike. Rollers in his room. Shaved his legs!! All very strange, I thought. He would ride home friday afternoons and return on Sunday evening. A ride of about 50 miles each way. Seemed like a long way to me. Two years later after getting hooked on triathlons, I had shaved my legs and was doing the same weekend rides to/from home!!

Now the SUV's roar along the country roads, where I run kicking up dust and spuing exhaust fumes everywhere. They don't stop now. On the contrary, they nearly run you off the road. Oh for the good old days!

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

Both you and Fleck bring up some interesting points. I am a recent convert to endurance sport (4yrs young and a few IMs) dont come from a swim, bike or run background but am a product of the participation boom of the last 10yrs or so. Particularly here in Vancouver where running is a huge activity. On any given weekend you will see hundreds of runners along the sea wall and beaches, training for the marathon or another race. Most are beginners or at least not regarded as elite runners. A percentage of them will find their way to triathlon, I would guess that most of these runners dont have a competitive sporting background, its participation and socialisation that they are after.

Once these runners have done a few marathons they will seek new challenges, and hence will find their way to triathlon. I suspect this pattern is reflected particularly accurately among women. You should see the number of first timers at a local tri race geared for first timers. Something like 3000 participants! This is also a possible reason for the increase in participation at IM distance races.

So its not surprising that you will have interest in gear not specifically for running at major expos.

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Simple Simon
Where's the Fried Chicken??