Shrunken NEC cycle show

Just back from a very depressing visit to the national cycle show at the NEC. First time there since before the pandemic and it’s a sad shadow of its former self. I know times are tough for the bike industry, but if this shrunken exhibition was a fair reflection of the extent of the problems things are much worse than I had appreciated.

Are my concerns appropriate, or are there other factors at play with the bike show?

It’s been shit for years.

Very outdated concept for marketing, is it not? Surprised to hear it’s still going at all to be honest.

@airvent do you mean that you’d be surprised if any bike company saw it as worth attending?

If so I take your point, but when I last went along with my son in 2018 loads of them did as it was packed and buzzy, and there were big stands with all kinds of bikes and gear on display. There was barely any of that this year – it just felt really small and pointless.

My son is now in his 20s and looking to buy a bike. He had assumed he’d be able to check out a decent variety of trail bikes, but he’ll probably find a better selection at a decent bike shop!

We went today and it was poor. I guess most exhibitors who would bother were up at tweedlove. It was nice to see the new geometron in real life and the atherton bikes. They both look much better in real life than in pictures.

It’s pretty much always been pointless since the days you could actually buy stuff from the stands.

Said by me who lives 20 minutes away and could get concessionary tickets

I’ve fond memories of the bike show when it was a massive MBUK affair around the turn of the millenium, with a big dirt jumping demo and stuff.

Best one was when it was at the nac stoneleigh. Sick dirty jumps and riders all over the place!

Tempted to agree. The beginning of the end was when it switched from people looking to punters buying.

Tweedlove is not as big as it has been this year by maybe 10-20% but it’s still mounting a decent show. We’re here with cotic, Atherton, deviate, orbea, propain, YT… probably others too (sorry others). A proper demo loop, well organised booking system, entertainment and a beautiful outdoor venue, or the corner of a souless hall in the NEC?

Big issue is that you used to have to come to the shows to see the latest kit and grab a bargain on last year’s as the only other option was to wait for articles and adverts in the print mags.

Now the Internet is here those bargains are a click away and you are bombarded with high res, shiny images and in many cases professional video content the moment new stuff launches.

Now Expos need to have another ‘hook’ to bring people in, such as a race (Fort Bill, Ard Rock) a festival with lots of demo options (Malverns), or the chance to schmooze around with the pros (Rouleur Live).

The basic ‘big hall’ show format doesn’t have any of those and they tend to be toe-curlingly expensive to attend, hence why brands are  now staying away.

Outside is good. Riding bikes outside is great.

Pointless IMO. Plenty of videos online of anything you might want to buy , you can’t test ride a bike

I used to do demos at ski shows in the early 90’s, great fun to do but even then everything was a waste of time to look at imo. Never bothered going to one as a punter

i can still see a place for trade shows as people can network etc