Yesterday we spent the day the The London Bike Show, which is in its first year and runs alongside The London Boat Show and The Outdoors Show.January isn't a great time for new kit, with most manufacturers and distributors unveiling their shiny new gear at shows back in the autumn.
Sales director Frazer Clifford told BikeBiz that the show, which runs alongside the London Bike Show and the Outdoors Show, is just the start, and that major players from the industry not exhibiting had been scouting the show out and were likely to sign up to the 2012 London Bike Show.
"The London Bike Show is here to stay," confirmed Clifford. The Outdoors show gets from 30,000 to 40,000 and the boat show historically gets 100,000 visitors, so the footfall through the Bike Show is going to be about 50,000.
The" London Bike Show" opened its doors today and there was plenty of drool-worthy tech on show, including Cervelo's superlight R5ca and World Cup champion Gee Atherton's Commencal Supreme DH downhill bike.
Walking into the ExCeL centre, it was impossible not be impressed by the huge, glistening yachts on show in the next-door Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show (tickets for the bike show include access to the boat show and The Outdoors Show too).
After checking out a stunt show by Scotland's The Clan and watching people whizz round the mountain bike test loop, pump track and commuter circuit next door in the Skoda Bike Arena, not to mention listening in on a wheel truing session hosted by Cytech, it was time to see what bike bling was on display.