Bike and tri Show boosts floorplan by a third

2013 saw the introduction of the Bike and Triathlon show, organised by newcomers to the cycling business Hamerville Media. With the debut event under its belt, BikeBiz spoke to event director Colin Gale about his goals for 2014…

BikeBiz: Having achieved your first year’s target, what’s the goal for year two over at Manchester Central?
Colin Gale, Hamerville Media: Our goal for year two is 8,000-plus visitors.

How far did visitors travel to be at the show last year? Are the majority relatively local to the show?
Our research shows that the majority of visitors travelled less than two hours to get to Manchester Central.

How many exhibitors are you hoping to have on board by the times doors open? Is there room to expand on last year?
Last year we had 72 exhibitors and we currently have 75 exhibitors, though I would like to get over 100. The hall has expanded by a third to encompass the sold out floor plan last year.

What feedback did exhibitors pass on following the close of the debut show and how have you acted on requests?
Feedback has been generally very positive, but the market has shown us that content to the show has to be very much ‘on brand’.
So, while tricks may be popular, new attractions like the ‘Street Velodrome’ we feel are much more in keeping with the focus of the show and will allow for increased visitor participation.

How’s the floor plan looking to date – who’s already signed up?
Our floor plan for 2013 has expanded by 33 per cent for 2014. Big cycling names confirmed thus far include Cervelo, Rose, KTM, Starley, Matrix, Roux, ADR Carbon, Fi’zi:k, Azione, Anna Nichoola, PowerBar, Provision Cycle clothing, Purple Harry, Schwalbe and Wattbike. Big triathlon names include USN, Zoggs, Huub, 2XU, Ceepo, Rotor, Champion systems, Compress Sport, Z3R0D, BlueSeventy, Zoot, Lezyne, Speedfil, Compex, Orca, Hilly, Torq, High5 and Mailsports International.

Will the focus of the show remain road cycling and triathlon, or are other cycle sectors welcome?
The show will focus on all aspects of road cycling and triathlon, but will include time trial, track and commuter as we aim to fulfil our commitment to Manchester to be the city of cycling by 2017.

Are there any new features, rides or seminars pencilled in for this year?
New for 2014 will be the Street Velodrome, which is the first ever experience of an indoor Velodrome featured at the back of the hall. There’s a New Sports Tours International Destination Café, as well as a New Velodrome Experience being organised so visitors can ride at the main Manchester Velodrome. There’s also the Cyclist Magazine Cycling Theatre, which will have hot new content from everything on two wheels, and a Sportive ranging between 40 and 80 miles to put yourself to the test on the Sunday.

Why should those in the trade make the journey to the show?
A very good reason is the return of the dedicated trade lounge, sponsored by BikeBiz with programme of informative seminars supported by the ACT on all aspects of the trade to help local traders develop their business and increase the profit margins.
Busy trade stands are an indicator for retailers of the products they should be stocking in order to service the demand for certain cycling trends – so where better to get a feel for what they should be stocking?

Any cycling celebrities lined up for an appearance?
Yes, British Cycling has confirmed riders from their elite road and track squads will be in attendance, along with other industry figures.

Why has Manchester proven to be an ideal city to host the show?
Recent research has shown that the urban area of Greater Manchester is now the most vibrant in the UK.
The increase in young professionals moving into the area has meant the sports of cycling and triathlon have seen rapid growth.
Manchester is the home of British Cycling and the region is second only to the South East of England in terms of the percentage of overall membership to the organisation.
Recent financial grants announced by the city to develop networks of cycle routes shows reinforces the city’s commitment to be the ‘City of Cycling’ by 2017.

How can interested exhibitors enquire about space?
The show is all about showcasing the latest product to the market. If there is anything new or set for launch, there are a number of different ways in which this can be maximised at the show. For example, clothing exhibitors can benefit from professionally choreographed fashion show.
Exhibitors wishing to be present at Manchester Central should contact Aaron Dombey on 01923 237799, or email adombey@hamerville.co.uk. Aaron will be more than happy to assist in the tailoring a package to the exhibitor’s needs.

Tickets are now on sale and can be booked here. The bike and tri show runs on the weekend of the 8th/9th of March