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Upper Street Events, the organisers behind the Cycle Show, have reported a 2.3 per cent increase in visitors year-on-year.
A nine per cent increase in trade visitors was also been recorded, while the test tracks were heavily used, with over 5,000 people registered to use the four demo tracks.
Chris Garrison from Trek commented on the 2013 exhibition, saying: "The Cycle Show has come to be an event that we at Trek value like an avocado values its pit. The timing of the event, and the central location make it an ideal place to showcase new products from our Trek and Bontrager ranges, at a time of year when our retailers have ample stock in store. It’s a win-win."
New feature content for this year included the Premium Road Test Track featuring over 40 race bikes from the likes of Trek, Bianchi, Condor, Pinarello, Cube, Rose, Fondriest, Moda, Forme and the AirBag which provide young MTBers with a chance to improve their jump skills. The Go Dutch conference also ran alongside the show on the trade day and attracted over 100 delegates to the NEC.
There were several surprise VIP guests too with England rugby pros including Martin Johnson making guest appearances on the Specialized stand. Pinarello fan, Lord Sugar is becoming a show regular, flying in to Birmingham International Airport to see the new bikes on the Yellow stand.
Chris Holman, the event director for Cycle Show commented: "I’ve seen quite a few Cycle Shows and I’m clearly a little biased, but I really think this was the best one by some margin. Naturally there were some doubts that last year’s record attendance could have been due in part to post-Olympic cycling fever, so it’s very pleasing that this year’s results are even better. With so many great brands on board and our two busiest-ever shows both at the NEC I don’t think there is any doubt in the minds of the trade or the public that this is the must-attend show for the cycle industry. It took 18 months to bed in the show at the NEC, but it has clearly shifted from being a London-centric show to a truly national one.”
The founder of Momentum Electric Bikes, Ying-Tsao Tan, came from Shanghai for the show and was impressed how much the market seems to have grown up in a year. He said: "Clearly, e-bikes are gathering momentum in the UK with new brands being present at the show and people queuing to get their leg on one. I am glad that Momentum Electric takes part in it from the very beginning".
The show returns for 2014 from the 25th to 28th of September.
