BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Historically, exhibitions in the bicycle business that have moved venues haven’t faired too well in the years following. Yet, with a second exhibition at the NEC now done and dusted, Earl’s Court is seemingly a distant memory for the organisers at Upper Street Events. Moving to the midlands has done wonders for improving the show’s geographic spread and even improved the numbers of trade members making the journey.
Upper Street Events’ spokesperson told BikeBiz on the morning of the first consumer day that this year’s show posted the best advance ticket booking figures to date, beating the record set during the final year in West London.
“Trade bookings are certainly up on last year’s numbers, to the tune of ten per cent," said the spokesperson. "We’ve more bikes on the test tracks, with nearly 100 electric bikes joining the ranks this year. The NEC is working well for us as a venue and the exhibitors approve of the quality of the show we’re able to put on.”
Unaudited figures passed to BikeBiz place the final visitor figure at 25,058 people, a 30 per cent rise year on year.
For those planning ahead, next year’s dates have been confirmed to be September 26th through 29th.
A full gallery of our photos from the show floor can be found here.
Cyclist
You may have seen the first edition of Cyclist from Dennis Publishing by now and perhaps you grabbed your copy at the show. Asked for a summary of the magazine, those behind Cyclist told BikeBiz: “We’re focusing on the story behind the product and the people, as opposed to flat out reviews and opinion. Each issue will carry a ‘Big Ride’ article, which will be easily useable for readers who need a little inspiration on where to ride. We’ve positioned ourselves somewhere between the Cycling Plus and Rouleur demographic. There will be an emphasis on nice photography and product round ups will detail why a product is made the way it is – we feel the consumers are often savvy enough to come to their own conclusions nowadays.”
With a cover price of £5, you’ll find Cyclist in bike shops, on newsstands and eventually online via an app.
Continental
Not a huge amount to report on from Continental, unless you’ve a big cyclocross following, in which case you’ve a few new tyres to book in ahead of the early 2013 delivery date. These are the CX King tubular and Mountain King CX.
Elsewhere, our man on the stand pointed us in the direction of the new Speed King in 26 x 2.2. Designed for dry cross country, the season for selling this has perhaps passed, but assuming next summer is the exact opposite of the err… ‘drought’ of 2012, this looks like a great low rolling resistance solution for ripping up some dusty singletrack. It is tough too, with a 180tpi casing.
Cyclehoop
If you were wondering where all the ‘I bike London’ T-shirts were coming from, then you must have missed a visit to Cyclehoop’s colourful stand.
The Londoners among us will no doubt have seen Cyclehoop’s flagship product, or perhaps a street pump or two already, but the Anthony Lau-run firm had more to show off at the Cycle Show, including some bespoke UK-made bike shelves handmade from solid ash and retailing for £100 to £150 – ideal for those that are keen to keep their ride indoors.
Furthermore, Cyclehoop displayed a ground anchor also designed to sit indoors. Having been commissioned by the Design Council, Cyclehoop has come up with a simple on street-style bike parking bar that bolts via its wooden base to a skirting board inside the home.
If your town needs on street bike parking, tout the Cyclehoop name to your local council and you could soon see on street bike pumps, or perhaps the firm’s vandalism resistant ‘Bike Hugger’ shed, costing between £2,500 to £3,500 on a street near you soon. The latter is ideal for residents in blocks of flats, who are supplied a key to the unit, which fills just one car parking space.
Look out for a fuller profile with Lau to feature on BikeBiz.com soon.
Eurobike
If you were walking the halls first thing Thursday morning you may have spotted something very special, yet unbranded, being wheeled through the crowds.
Some time ago BikeBiz hinted at Eurobike working with a UK carbon fibre specialist to create a Moda road bike and if you looked closely you might have spotted the complete build at the NEC
Cycle Show.
Designed and created alongside Vekta Composites in Stoke on Trent, the bike is not set for a formal launch until the London Bike Show, but we’ve had the guided tour and can confirm, it’s something else.
Paul Stewart of Eurobike told BikeBiz: “We’re proud of the fact we finally have a fully UK-designed and made bike and it’s something quite special too. Price wise, you’d expect it to cost more than it does, but it’s affordable to the roadie who is seeking the best. It’ll weigh in under one kilogramme for the frameset and for those ordering, we can make one fully bespoke, right down to removing layers of carbon to decrease the weight further. What’s more, the lead time is a lot shorter than you’d expect for a custom build. We’re talking days as opposed to weeks or months. We’re glad to be part of the buzz around buying British.”
Working to a two year shelf life, 2013 is a big year for Moda, with the launch of an entirely new catalogue of bikes. We’ve not enough space to document them all, but what we will say is the Moda catalogue is well worth a look this year, with Barelli aftermarket parts custom designed to suit the bikes, colour coding literally wherever possible and some great 953 steel and titanium road bikes joining the catalogue – 23 bikes in all.
Fibrax
Pre-show we’d reported on the 2Face cleat set to be debuted at the show, specifically compatible with Look Keo pedals. Well it’s still in the sample stages, but stock could be available not long after this magazine hits doorsteps, initially just in black, but with a limited edition gold cleat on the way shortly after. The five-degree float cleat is rotational and able to be flipped to work on both shoes, meaning that if one side typically wears quicker than the other, the rider can easily switch the cleat back to full health, essentially doubling the cleat’s lifespan.
