BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
The rebadged, relocated and reinvigorated Bike Expo (previously Bike & Tri Show) is arriving at its new Manchester location in Event City in just a few days time – March 20th to 22nd, to be precise.
Members of the trade can register at the Bike Expo site, while consumers can buy tickets here.
But what kind of product can you expect to find there?
Distributor 2×2 will be taking most of the Roux range to the show, including four new models for 2015, bringing the range to 18 models – double the amount in the original line-up. After many requests for straight bar commuting models to go with all the drops, Roux has designed the all-new Foray range – P15, P17 and P19.
The range starts with the P15 – lightweight butted 705 frame with smooth welding, 24 speed Shimano, discs, puncture resistant tyres…in a nutshell a modestly priced commuting workhorse that looks much more. The P17 then takes it on with hydraulics, carbon fork and 27 speed and the P19 tops things off with a 20 speed Tiagra drivetrain, FSA chain set, Continental tyres and Shimano hydraulics. Being UK-designed, all bikes are mudguard compatible and designed for UK riding.
Scott Hillyard tells BikeBiz: “Also new for this year and going with us to the show is an addition to the Cross range. We have been very successful with the Conquest 2400 and the Conquest 3500 so they now have a big brother – the Conquest Elite. It’s a really great bike for commuters who want a bike that will stand up to the poor condition of the UK roads, give them superb specification and yet fit the Cyclescheme criteria.”
The ride features a double butted lightweight frame, internal cable routing promising that dirty inners (and poor shifting) is a thing of the past, TRP hydraulic disc brakes, Shimano 105 with FSA chain set and Maxxis tyres.
Hillyard adds: “It’s bikes like the Elite that are making Roux such a success – all retailers have road brands but many of them are non UK specific…brands such as Cube, Specialized, Giant and Trek just don’t do Touring bikes, Belt Drive bikes, Cross type product at mid-market prices…all bikes that a UK retailer is asked for on a regular basis. We have a great road offering, but it is the niche, UK unique product that retailers and consumers alike seem to appreciate in our range.”
Also bringing its considerable range to Bike Expo will be Clif Bar. We’re assured that all flavours of Clif Bars, Builders Bars, Shot Bloks and Gels will be on offer for visitors – consumers and trade alike – to get their laughing gear around.
As if proof were needed that Bike Expo is a more inclusive affair than its Bike & Triathlon predecessor, e-bike distributor Juicy Bikes will be at the show at EventCity this time around. The new Lite bikes will be showcased for the first time there and Juicy has shaved about 0.6Kg off the weight compared to the standard bikes, with the new Sport Lite at just under 23kg with a standard 10AH battery, and the Classic Lite at just under 24kg. Prices start at £899 and the Lite bikes have a lot in common with the understated originals. More road-focused, the Lite bikes feature V-brakes to keep maintenance low and stopping-power high. Rigid forks make for even more effective climbing and a lower overall weight allows riders to go further, more easily.
The same powerful motor makes short work of pesky in-the-way hills and there is full compatibility with Juicy’s full range of batteries so they can be tailored to the rider’s lifestyle. Likewise the Lite bikes offer the same intuitive pedal-assistance as previous.
The Essax Shark Saddle continues to baffle and amaze, and thanks to Nrg4 visitors to Bike Expo will get to see it first hand, a performance saddle that lends itself very well to TT and Tri. New signings from Nrg4 will also appear, including Pro-Lite, YBN Chains and Sparse, a lighting brand with a penchant for designing out theft.
Pro-Lite brings to NRG4’s stable its collection of performance road, MTB, track and triathlon wheels,
Sparse lights are fairly new in the market and are said to appeal to anyone who has returned to find their bike lights missing having left their bike unattended. YBN is a familiar name to the trade and NRG4 is stocking the brand’s single, 8, 9, 10 and 11-speed chains.
Bike Expo attendees will also catch sight of Schwalbe’s 2015 models, with highlights including the Jumbo Jim Fat Bike tyre, Durano and Durano Double Defence road tyres, Ironman tyre in an all white version, Procore and Nobby Nic. The Schwalbe stand will also feature its tubeless road technology demonstration for Schwalbe One and Ironman, plus a selection of its road, track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross, BMX and commuting tyres.
Consumers will get a chance to win a pair of Schwalbe One 23-622 clincher in black (SRP £90).
Bike Expo will also star British Cycling, Beacon, Bloomsbury, Biklox, Fat Lad at the Back, Basso, Primal, Meccanica, Specialized Concept Store, USN and more. See the full list at www.bikeexpo.co.uk/exhibitors
Lastly, a quick shout out for the Trade Day, a first for the show this year. Exclusive trade-only deals are promised, as are seminars and workshops, product previews and a welcome chance to hob nob with the rest of the industry at the Bike Expo trade bar.
IN BRIEF
Dates
10am to 4pm – Friday March 20th 2015 (trade day)
10am to 5pm – Saturday March 21st
10am to 5pm – Sunday March 22nd 2015
Location
EventCity, Manchester
Phoenix Way, off Barton Dock Road, Urmston, Manchester M41 7TB
Price
Free to the trade, provided you bring your business card or ID to the show.
Tri-curious?
Tickets to Bike Expo will get you access to the three other sports shows running alongside it, including Tri Expo, Run Expo and Swim Expo.
