BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
The Cycle Show returns shortly and this year’s edition is, as you may have guessed, bigger than ever before, with floor space having once again sold in record time.
Held from the 26th to 28th of September at the NEC in Birmingham, the show welcomes back a number of big name brands in the world of cycling, as well as celebrating some of the latest and most innovative new brands in the industry. The trade, as usual, are invited exclusively on the opening Thursday to meet with brand managers minus the distraction of consumer crowds.
Dassi and Beacon will join Boardman as the three bike brands set to make their Cycle Show debuts this year, while big guns including Pinarello, Colnago, Trek, Cube, Bianchi, Raleigh and Condor will be all be returning. What’s more, all three of the leading component manufacturers – Shimano, Campagnolo and SRAM – will have a considerable presence and new product previews.
This year’s show is set to have the largest array yet of cycle clothing and accessories, including first-time exhibitors Vulpine who have been in the news lately with collaborations with Sir Chris Hoy and the House of Fraser.
Some of the latest developments in cycling gadgetry and wearable technology will also be showcased, with the appearance of Madison ensuring that GoPro, Recon and Garmin will be two of the many brands demonstrating their latest game changing features at the NEC.
Continental Europe’s labels will be well represented too, with the first appearance in the UK from labels such as Hersh, an Italian bike manufacturer and Sicleri, an Italian cycle clothing brand. Expect to find plenty of brands looking to make ground and link with distributors in the UK market.
A number of UK distributors and suppliers will also be exhibiting for the first time in some years or even debuting in 2014, including Fisher Outdoor Leisure, Extra UK, Paligap, Silverfish UK and Spitfire Distribution, who’ll join the likes of the returning Chicken Cyclekit, Yellow and ATB Sales.
Once the meetings are done, the same cycle tracks that gave consumers the chance to get to grips with the fresh models will be open to all who like to let the product do the talking.
If you’re planning on being amongst the first to see the products on the trade day on Thursday September 25th (and why wouldn’t you?) get yourself registered at over at the official site: www.cycleshow.co.uk/trade
This article originally ran in BikeBiz August 2014, issue 103. Read the full mag here.
