January 2027

CABDA EAST

Taking a Break Until January 2027

CABDA EAST

After much consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision that CABDA East will not take place in 2026. 

We will be taking a short hiatus and plan to return in January 2027 with a fresh location, a reimagined floor plan, and an expanded format that will now include a dedicated pre-show conference. 

We tried our absolute hardest to make this move happen in time for the 2026 show cycle, but simply couldn’t pull it off in a way that met our standards for quality, and would be worthy of your time.

If you’re looking for someone to blame...blame me.
 
I didn’t want to put on a show that wasn’t up to the standard our attendees and exhibitors deserve. Hosting an event that felt rushed, cramped, or second-rate would have been an insult to the amazing people who support us year after year. That’s simply not who we are.

Since our very first East Coast event in March of 2020, I’ve been honored to meet so many incredible retailers, suppliers, and industry friends. We’ve shared countless conversations in the aisles, forged partnerships over coffee, and celebrated the spirit of our industry together.

Those memories—and the friendships I’ve built with all of you—are what make this decision so difficult.  

While we’ll all miss seeing our East Coast friends this year, we are hard at work creating something truly special for our 2027 return. I promise it will be well worth the wait! 

In the meantime, I warmly invite all of our East Coast attendees to join us at our other shows:

CABDA Midwest – Chicago, IL - FEBRUARY 4 & 5, 2026
CABDA West – Las Vegas, NV - MARCH 18 & 19, 2026

We look forward to making new memories with you there, and to welcoming you back to a bigger, better CABDA East in 2027!


Cordially,

Jim Kersten
Show Director, CABDA Expo
[email protected]

Past CABDA East Pictures

CABDA Midwest 2026 – Education Schedule

All times local. Show floor opens at 10:00 AM each day.

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

9:45–9:55 AM Main Stage Kickoff
WELCOME TO CABDA Midwest
Presented by: Heather Mason (NBDA) & Jim Kersten (CABDA)

Kick off CABDA Midwest with a welcome from NBDA and CABDA leadership, plus a preview of the day ahead. — 10 min

10:00 AM | Show Floor Opens
10:30–11:15 AM The Alley Education
Pedaling Forward: Growing Ridership, Workforce, and the Industry
Presented by: Jeff Donaldson (Project Bike Tech)

How youth engagement, education, and community partnerships can expand ridership while strengthening the pipeline for future mechanics and shop leaders. — 45 min

10:30–11:30 AM The Fit Zone Fitting
Technique Over Technology: An Analog Approach to Better Bike Fitting
Presented by: Matthew Schieferstein (Gear Up Velo)

Why observation, technique, and experience often outperform expensive sensors—and how to deliver world-class fits without heavy capital investment. — 60 min

11:00–11:45 AM NBDA Retailer Zone WIBI
WIBI SWOT Analysis: State of Women in the Industry
Presented by: Heather Mason (NBDA)

An interactive SWOT exercise examining strengths, challenges, opportunities, and threats facing women in the bicycle industry today. — 45 min

11:00–11:45 AM The Backyard Operations
HPS Survive & Thrive Playbook: Today & Tomorrow
Presented by: Mike Fritz (Human Powered Solutions)

A big-picture look at the evolution of Ebikes and what it means for retailers—covering safety, compliance, and opportunity. — 45 min

11:00–11:45 AM The Lab Tech
DOL Apprenticeship & National Bicycle Service Technician Program
Presented by: Mike Shapiola (Spin Zone Cycling)

How standardized training and apprenticeship pathways can strengthen the technician workforce and career progression. — 45 min

11:30 AM–12:15 PM The Alley Service
Ebikes: The Hidden Cost of Saying “We Don’t Service That”
Presented by: Michael Pasquali (Micromobility Connect)

Why service hesitation costs trust and revenue—and how clear processes can turn Ebike service into a profit center. — 45 min

12:00–12:45 PM NBDA Retailer Zone Retail
Margin Matters: Protecting the Healthy Margins Retailers Need
Presented by: NBDA Staff

A candid discussion on “margin rot,” true dealer costs, and collaborative strategies to restore profitability. — 45 min

12:00–1:00 PM The Fit Zone Fitting
The Psychology of Bike Fitting
Presented by: Dr. Christopher Biggs

A rider-centered approach to fit that emphasizes comfort, adaptation, pacing, and long-term outcomes. — 60 min

12:30–1:15 PM The Backyard Operations
HPS Survive & Thrive: Business Operations & Profitability
Presented by: Jay Townley (Human Powered Solutions)

A rapid-fire playbook covering tariffs, sourcing, efficiency, service optimization, and planning. — 45 min

12:30–1:15 PM The Lab Tech
Converting Opportunity: Ebike Conversions as a Profit Center
Presented by: Mark Ostlund (Electrify Bike Company)

How conversions can create Ebike revenue without deep inventory, including safety and compliance considerations. — 45 min

1:00–1:30 PM The Alley Sales
Mastering Premium Ebike Sales
Presented by: Rob Kaplan (BULLS Bikes USA)

Proven tactics for positioning premium Ebikes, engaging customers, and increasing average ticket value. — 30 min

1:30–2:00 PM NBDA Retailer Zone Data
Data-Driven Success: NBDA Market Intelligence (TrackFly)
Presented by: Stephen Baird & Brad Duncan (TrackFly)

How aggregated, real-time data can guide inventory, purchasing, and profitability decisions. — 30 min

1:30–2:30 PM The Fit Zone Fitting
Increase Revenue Without Increasing Inventory
Presented by: Craig Watson (Bikes Bikes Bikes)

A practical roadmap for building profitable fit services without heavy equipment investment. — 60 min

2:00–2:30 PM The Backyard Sales Ops
Unlock 5–15% More Profit: Sales Strategies That Work Today
Presented by: John Robinson (Johnny Velo Bikes)

Simple, actionable sales tactics that protect margin and improve profitability per transaction. — 30 min

2:00–2:45 PM The Lab Tech
TRP Tech Clinic
Presented by: Jumpin’ Jerry Vanderpool

Hands-on insights and best practices for servicing Tektro/TRP components. — 45 min

2:30–3:15 PM Tech Room One Tech
Diagnosing Ebikes 2.0
Presented by: Michael Pasquali (Micromobility Connect)

Advanced diagnostics and workflows to improve consistency and service revenue. — 45 min

2:30–3:00 PM The Alley Sales
Dealing Trikes: A Risk-Free Business Opportunity
Presented by: Thomas Wilkens & Paul Hollants (HP Velotechnik)

How adult trikes can expand your customer base with strong margins and low risk. — 30 min

3:00–3:45 PM NBDA Retailer Zone Retail
Building Bridges: Retailers & Suppliers in the D2C Era
Presented by: NBDA Staff

Turning D2C friction into collaboration through service, warranty, and assembly partnerships. — 45 min

3:00–4:00 PM The Fit Zone Fitting
The Untapped Revenue Engine: Professional Bike Fitting
Presented by: Dr. Jeanne Williams (Quest Health)

How fitting drives loyalty, service revenue, and long-term cycling participation. — 60 min

3:00–3:30 PM The Backyard Panel
Hug the Porcupine: Making D2C Brands Work for Retail
Presented by: Rob Kaplan, Richard Wittenberg & Tim Akers

A candid panel on profiting alongside D2C brands in a hybrid retail world. — 30 min

3:30–4:00 PM Hollywood Racks Booth Sales
Retirees, RVs & Ebikes
Presented by: Sean Kneale (Hollywood Racks)

How to properly transport Ebikes on RVs and keep traveling customers happy. — 30 min

3:30–4:00 PM The Alley Retail
How Used Bicycles Can Boost Shop Profits
Presented by: Jonathan Minks (Johnny Rock Bikes)

From sourcing to refurbishment, learn how used bikes deliver some of the strongest margins. — 30 min

3:30–4:00 PM The Lab Retail
Unlocking the Folding Bike Market
Presented by: Dahon Team Members

Strategies for selling, merchandising, and growing confidence in folding bikes. — 30 min

4:00–4:30 PM The Backyard Retail
Measuring What Matters: Building a Supplier Scorecard
Presented by: Anthony Mikrut (PGW)

A practical framework for evaluating suppliers to improve buying decisions and profitability. — 30 min

4:00–4:30 PM NBDA Retailer Zone Networking
Women in the Cycling Industry Mingle
Presented by: Heather Mason (NBDA)

An open networking session celebrating women across retail, brands, and service. — 30 min

5:00 PM | Show Close
5:30 PM | CABDA Afterparty

Thursday, February 5, 2026

9:45–9:55 AM Main Stage Kickoff
Welcome to CABDA Midwest – Day 2
Presented by: Heather Mason (NBDA) & Jim Kersten (CABDA)

Day-two welcome and overview of the day’s programming. — 10 min

10:00 AM | Show Floor Opens
10:30–11:30 AM The Fit Zone Fitting
Difficult Anatomical Presentations in Bike Fit
Presented by: Anne Barnes

A roundtable on challenging fit cases, assessment strategies, and rider outcomes. — 60 min

10:45–11:30 AM NBDA Retailer Zone Retail
The Drive to Thrive: Top Tips for Retailers in 2026
Presented by: Heather Mason (NBDA)

A fast, interactive masterclass sharing peer-tested strategies for margins, inventory, and service excellence. — 45 min

11:00–11:45 AM The Alley Service
Ebikes: The Hidden Cost of Saying “We Don’t Service That”
Presented by: Michael Pasquali (Micromobility Connect)

Why service avoidance quietly erodes trust—and how to fix it. — 45 min

11:00–11:45 AM The Lab Tech
Demystifying Tech for Modern Bike Shops
Presented by: Brett Lang (Ikeono)

Using POS, inventory, communication tools, and AI to simplify operations and improve customer experience. — 45 min

12:00–12:30 PM The Backyard Operations
HPS Survive & Thrive Playbook: Today – Tomorrow
Presented by: Jay Townley (Human Powered Solutions)

A concise operations and profitability roadmap for today’s retail environment. — 30 min

12:00–1:00 PM The Fit Zone Fitting
Bike Fitting: The Foot/Shoe Interface
Presented by: John Higgins (BikeFitR) & Chris Dimmick (Lake Cycling)

How proper footwear fit supports comfort, performance, and smarter footwear sales. — 60 min

12:30–1:00 PM The Alley Sales
Dealing Trikes in a Risk-Free Business Opportunity
Presented by: Mathieu Aubel & Paul Hollants (HP Velotechnik)

How to add trikes with minimal risk and serve stability-focused customers. — 30 min

12:30–1:00 PM The Lab Ops
Stop Guessing and Start Tracking
Presented by: Patrick Clapp & Jim Vincent (Citrus Lime)

Using data and KPIs to improve decision-making and shop profitability. — 30 min

1:00–1:45 PM NBDA Retailer Zone WIBI
WIBI Case Scenario Workshop
Presented by: Heather Mason (NBDA)

Work through real-world scenarios involving equity, workplace dynamics, and supplier relationships. — 45 min

1:30–2:00 PM The Backyard Operations
HPS Survive & Thrive: Ebike Evolution & Retail Impact
Presented by: Mike Fritz (Human Powered Solutions)

What the evolution of Ebikes means for safety, liability, and retail opportunity. — 30 min

2:00–2:30 PM The Alley Marketing
The Bike Shop Marketing Blueprint: From First Click to Door Swing
Presented by: Brandon Morphew (Miso Partners)

A proven system to convert online intent into booked service and in-store revenue. — 30 min

2:00–2:45 PM The Lab Tech
TRP Tech Clinic
Presented by: Jumpin’ Jerry Vanderpool

Hands-on service insights from Tektro/TRP. — 45 min

2:30–3:15 PM Tech Room One Tech
Diagnosing Ebikes 2.0
Presented by: Michael Pasquali (Micromobility Connect)

Advanced diagnostic techniques to reduce comebacks and boost service revenue. — 45 min

3:00–3:30 PM The Alley Trends
The New Customer Reality: AI Makes Expertise More Valuable
Presented by: Workstand

How AI reshapes customer expectations—and what shops must do to stay relevant. — 30 min

3:00–3:45 PM The Lab Workforce
DOL Apprenticeship & National Bicycle Service Technician Program
Presented by: Mike Shapiola (Spin Zone Cycling)

Building the next generation of professional bike technicians. — 45 min