BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
So, you’ve heard about BikeRadar Live, you know where it is, heck you might already have got your tickets. But what exactly will the bike bonanza entail? What retailers and manufacturers will be attending? Which riders will be taking part in the many challenges at the event? Wonder no longer.
Scottish cycling legend Graeme Obree and ‘Triple Crown’ winner Stephen Roche will both be attending the weekend event. Stars from other sports will also attend, including Formula 1 star Mark Webber, who will ride the Cycling Plus Sportive. Ex-England footballer Geoff Thomas will also be riding the Cycling Plus Sportive, while his foundation has been named as the official charity partner for BikeRadar Live.
And not content with gathering some of the world’s finest downhill and dirt jump riders (see below), BikeRadar Live has also cemented a fresh line of new partnerships with key members of the cycling trade.
Event organiser Grant Norris tells BikeBiz: “Everything is pointing to a successful launch of BikeRadar Live. We have a fantastic line-up of races, challenges, festival features and famous faces.
“It’s great to see cycling royalty like Graeme Obree and Stephen Roche taking time out to attend, and with pretty much all of the best downhill mountain bikers in the world competing at BikeRadar Live, we’re looking forward to a cracking weekend.”
Trade appeal
While the event is primarily consumer focused, plenty of the trade will be lending its support to the new bike bash. Some of the key commercial partners lining up to attend include online retailer Chain Reaction, whose staff members will be on hand to provide repair and maintenance for competitors’ bikes throughout the weekend via the Chain Reaction Cycles Bike Clinic. Major retail chain Leisure Lakes will also be at the show with a significant presence in the BikeRadar Live Expo area.
The Cycling Plus Sportive mapping partner will be Memory Map – with the firm providing a GPX file of the route to all entrants. Leading folding bike manufacturer Dahon has come on board to sponsor the Dahon Folding Bike Championship of the Universe – a quirky four-lap race with a challenge between
each lap. Children’s bike company Islabikes has teamed up with leading cycle skills provider Cycle Active to launch the Islabikes Children’s Skills School. Cycle Active will also be running a separate Pump and Jump dirt school.
JD Cycles will be present at BikeRadar Live and tandem brands such as Dawes, Ventana and Santana will be available to try courtesy of the retailer and its Discover the World of Tandeming programme throughout the festival weekend. The Whyte Night 4hr and 12hr Enduro, kicking off at 8pm on Saturday night will be lit by specialist lighting provider Exposure Lights.
The event organisers have told BikeBiz that there are still some trade opportunities available at the spectacular cycling weekend, and interested parties should contact James Warren on 0208 0424 245 or 07590 658163, or email at
jwarren@futurenet.co.uk.
The Riders
One thing’s for sure, BikeRadar Live won’t be short of top names from the world of cycling for its weekend event. Pro riders confirmed for the MBUK Eliminator Dual Slalom include:
Dan Atherton
Gee Atherton
Chris Kovarik
Romain Salidini
Steve Peat
Greg Minnaar
Brian Lopes
Josh Bryceland
Nathan Rennie
Matt Simmonds
Ruaridh
Cunningham
Lewis Lacey
Lucas Mechura
Nigel Page
Scott Beaumont
Dylan Clayton
Sam Dale
Dave Wardell
Marc Beaumont
Neil Donoghue
Martyn Ogden
Steve Taylor
Jordan Gould
Paddy Baker
James Norton
Danny MacAskill
And as if that wasn’t enough, the event has an extensive list of pro riders signed up for the MBUK Eliminator Dirt Jump too:
Jamie Goldman
Sam Pilgrim
Lance McDermott
Chris Smith
Phil Auckland
Dan Coggan
Pat Campbell-
Jenner
Rory Backshell
Jack Gear
Daryl Brown
Chris Mohoney
Amir Kabbani
