Cycle Show: New features and big name exhibitors for 2013

Now in its third year at the NEC, Cycle Show seems to have well and truly pulled off the not inconsiderable feat of switching from the capital to Birmingham. If you were in any doubt a few stats back the claim up – according to organisers Upper Street Events, the 2012 event was its biggest yet – bigger even than the Earls Court days. Visitor numbers hit 25,167, while trade numbers climbed to 3,324 – of which1,230 were from bike retailers.

This personal best in 2012 is no mean feat for sure, but Upper Street is looking ahead to September with a full deck of fresh-faced features, tweaks, improved courses and other improvements for 2013.

But it doesn’t take the mind reading skills of Derren Brown to know that much of the industry is most interested in who has signed up to exhibit at Cycle Show 2013. Upper Street told BikeBiz there will be a return for Specialized Concept Stores, Trek and Raleigh. I-ride is new for this year, Cycleurope and Bianchi’s space at the show is currently being finalised and Madison is upgrading its presence – the stand will be approximately four times bigger this year. There’s also the likes of Today’s Cyclist/Moore Large, Chicken Cyclekit, Continental and Cambrian, Hope, Wisper, Freego, Frog, Citrus-Lime – the full list can be found at www.cycleshow.co.uk/exhibitors

Making an exhibition
Among the raft of new features designed to lure consumers back in 2013 is a new elite road bike test circuit. This new criterium style test track will be for mid to high-end racing bikes, taking up 750metres. The track starts and ends in Hall 16, past the show entrance, before looping back indoors. The bikes on the track will be upwards in value of £1,500 and there will be pro riders on hand to offer riding tips. Should initial plans comes to fruition, there will also be a premium ticket whereby riders will get on the track ahead of the pack, though this is still to be confirmed.

Speaking of revamped tracks, the electric bike section will be more technical in ‘13, delivering challenges altogether appropriate for e-bikes – including a bigger ramp and a bigger footprint. Alongside that, the e-bike village will have its own racking area and entrance onto the track, Upper Street told us.

The popular BMX shop battle will be back again too. An Upper Street spokesperson told BikeBiz: “It was incredibly popular last year so this time we’re extending the opening hours until 7pm so that more shops can enter.” Most of the major distributors were in the BMX village last year so the organisers are working towards getting them all back again, we hear.

There hasn’t been one at the NEC for over a decade, but the crowds will be treated to a spot of dirt jumping in 2013, masterminded by DMR’s Olly Wilkins.

On top of that the MTB demo track will be back, as will the commuter demo track, inclusive cycle hub and children test tracks.

Tickets go on sale at the same time as trade registration opens this month. If you haven’t already got it in the diary, Cycle Show 2013 runs from Thursday September 26th to Sunday 29th, with the first day of the event (26th) dedicated to the trade and press. There’s more details available at the official site:
www.cycleshow.co.uk