Haymarket gets 35 000+ public visitors at its NEC-based Bike show. The Islington trade-and-public show got 18 000+ visitors in its first year. But mass-market shows can get 500 000 visitors, if the bike trade had a presence at those expos would it not reach more cycle-aware consumers than at any cycle-specific show? And what about all those members of the public at these huge shows who could be converted to cycling?

Should the bike trade ‘go public’?

This is a topic that will be aired at a meeting at the Bicycle Association’s HQ in Coventry next Wednesday.

The bike trade has had stands at all sorts of mass-participation shows in the past. And, of course, there’s Ian Beasant’s view of taking a bikes-are-wonderful trailer to county shows.

There’s also the possibility of having a corporate stand at the Outdoors Show in March.

So, what’s more important: talking to the converted, or trying to reach out to the unconverted?

There’s a poll on this topic, and feel free to add comments on the bulletin board.

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