It’s that time of year again where the season winds down and the brands wind up, unveiling their new lines for 2005. A whole raft of trade shows take place across Europe but at Cycle 2004 everyone can get preview of what they can expect to find in stores in 2005.
Some 200 brands will be at the show next week, in all it’s a compelling mix of products and services, brands, bikes and accessories. It’s all targeted at the competitive road and off-roaders as well as leisure cyclists, commuters and youngsters who just ride for fun. Established global brands such as Mongoose, GT, Scott, Specialized and Trek stand side by side with new entrants to the UK market like Fuji, Koga Miyata and Guru. The specialist market is well catered for with the leading road race brands present at Cycle 2004 including Aegis, Airborne, Airnimal, Argon 18, Boreas, Boteccia, Decathlon, Guess, Hed, Kinesis, Klein, Lemond, Look, Moulton, Omega, Quest, Rondelli, Schwinn, Terry Dolan, Tifosi and Time.
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Aside from all the shiny gear there’ll be plenty of opportunity for the energetically inclined to participate. You can start with the Tacx I Magic Interactive Challenge and then move onto the more demanding Tri UK Duathlon Challenge. You then might want to test ride the very latest 2005 bikes in the ‘Try Out Area’.
For those inclined towards campaigning, the Bike Hub wil be home to all the leading cycling campaign groups and government agencies with plenty of people on hand to pump for information.
If you didn’t win our “Images of a Champion” competition a couple of months ago, there’s an opportunity to see Graham Watson’s images ‘writ large’ in the ‘world exclusive preview’ of the book, though as the books’ already on sale it’s more a chance to see big version of the images than to preview them. Also on the big screen there’ll be various bits of pro cycling footage.
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The Eurosport Café will be serving up race action live from the Tour of Spain and classic road action and mountain bike clips from the Eurosport archives along with its cappucini.
All that, and you might even snatch a glimpse of GB cyclists fresh from competing in the Olympics in Athens.
You can get to the Business Design Centre via bus or tube to the Angel and if you’re planning on cycling there’ll be a secure bike park where you can leave your bike free of charge. And, while you enjoy the show your bike will get a free check-up and lube courtesy of Motorex Oils. How very thoughtful.
Cycle 2004 takes place from September 24 – 26 at the Business Design Centre in Islington and opens each day from 10 am. Full-price tickets on the door are £12, but to RCUK readers tickets are £9 (and you’ll get a complimentary show guide when you arrive) if you book in advance: Just call the hotline on 01905 743 722 or book on-line at www.cycleshow.co.uk and quote code ‘BTA’.
See you there!
