Cycle Show - don't go!

Lukej
Lukej Posts: 3
edited October 2007 in MTB general
Went to the Cycle Show on Friday 12th October. If you are planning to go and manage to read this first - don't bother.
OK, lots of new shiny stuff to look at... but look at the photos in the next months magazine, it's cheaper and easier.

There is nothing to buy at the show, unless you want to purchase from a very small range of stuff in the Condor retail zone that is full price anyway.

No bargains, no deals, nothing amazing to look at, over-priced food.

A complete waste of time.

Lukej

Comments

  • paulf2007
    paulf2007 Posts: 341
    Last year we went to the show in docklands, it was just the same, nothing to buy and not that interesting. Only upside was we didn't pay to get in. Cant say anymore than that
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,715
    Er, that's what it's about...
  • That's trade shows for you. I went to a booring market research one last year - wasn't even a decent pen worth nicking...
  • Big Red S
    Big Red S Posts: 26,890
    Lukej wrote:
    Went to the Cycle Show on Friday 12th October. If you are planning to go and manage to read this first - don't bother.
    A more accurate piece of advice might be "if you are planning to go, check beforehand that it is what you want to go to".

    Personally, I like the idea that I can pick up and play with the products. I can ask the manufacturers the questions that _never_ get asked by the magazines, and I get to spend the day playing with incredibly expensive bike parts.

    It is not a marketplace, and has never been advertised as such.
  • lego
    lego Posts: 769
    Well I went today and really enjoyed myself. My daughter did a blagging run and we've now got loads of pens, stickers, catologs and even some cable to frame protectors.
    We watched the trails comp, I've never seen anything like that before. Those blokes have skill coming out of their ears. All in all I thought it was well put on.
    I did have a couple gripes, the stall that had the merlin stuff didn't even have one MTB
    and I kind of hoped that the bike radar stall would of had some the mag staff on it - it didn't so I nicked the pens.
  • Lukej
    Lukej Posts: 3
    To all those who found the Cycle Show not worth the cash to get in, do try the Outdoor Show next year at the NEC.

    Last years was great - new stuff to look and try, and shed loads of stuff to buy.

    In fact, last year there was far more bike stuff at the Outdoor show than at this year's Cycle Show, which plainly is wrong!
  • papasmurf.
    papasmurf. Posts: 2,382
    It needs to be a bit more of a mix, like the Ski show, with trade and also sales and discounts, more stuff like holiday companys, accessories etc. Defo more MTB, but some nice bikes around to look and and feel and chat to the people particulary on the small british brands. Chatted to Hans Rey and saw Abi greenaway so those are bonuses!
  • Pagem
    Pagem Posts: 244
    i went to this in 05' and man was it a pile of crap. you couldn't buy anything as they'd fucked up on the licensing! i think the highlight for me was a screening of 'overcoming'.

    i wouldn't go again.
    Only the meek get pinched. The bold survive.
  • Pagem
    Pagem Posts: 244
    ian swmb wrote:
    Well I went today and really enjoyed myself. My daughter did a blagging run and we've now got loads of pens, stickers, catologs and even some cable to frame protectors.

    i'm not being funny but i'd have been quite disappointed to come away with stuff that i had to blag which should always be free. i mean, it's promo/marketing stuff isn't it?
    Only the meek get pinched. The bold survive.
  • sam1234
    sam1234 Posts: 97
    Lukej wrote:
    To all those who found the Cycle Show not worth the cash to get in, do try the Outdoor Show next year at the NEC.

    Last years was great - new stuff to look and try, and shed loads of stuff to buy.

    In fact, last year there was far more bike stuff at the Outdoor show than at this year's Cycle Show, which plainly is wrong!

    Was there? I went to the outdoor show this year (I have been the past three years).

    Yes there was lot more stuff for sale but not on the bike front which is a very small part of the show. There are some good bargins to be had there (not on the bike front), I got a good deal on a new set of carbon kayak paddles. I was also at the outdoor show with a freind who was looking at buying her first MTB at the time and we didn't find anything really worth looking at there.

    However the Outdoor show might well end up having lots less stuff for sale as a lot of retail stands end up with stuff getting nicked. Some one I know who has always had a stand there has had stuff nicked from him.

    I belive they had MTB show at the NEC at the end of April this year, but I can't comment as I didn't go.

    There may be more bike stuff at the NEC next year as I don't think the kayaking and caneoing will be part of it.

    Went to the cycle show this year and I enjoyed (I knew there wouldnt be stuff for sale). However I was able to look at bikes (which are on my possible next bike list), with out being pressurised to buy that bike.
  • yeah, i went yesterday. I go every year and gives me a day away from the wife and kids. I used to really enjoy the bike show in the midlands and found it to have a better balance of stands / shops. Also, not being a Londoner makes it a pain in the bloody arse to get to Earls court. They parking was the typical London rip off bollox so i parked at one of the outer city tube stations and caught the train.I dont really go for the freebees but i think things are definately getting worse. Also when you consider that this is the main bike show in the UK the turn out by bike companies if very very poor. I hate to say this but where were the british companies, they have no excuses, no orange, no pace, no on-one, no whyte. I think we need a propper bike show for mountain bikers, an open air event in a field in the country......with girls in lycra.....there was no totty at all, except from a lovely young lady who gave me a t-shirt for a hotel in italy. Rant over
  • sam1234
    sam1234 Posts: 97
    I you want good deals use the net or become freindly with a good LBS thats were I have got my best deals for bike parts from.
  • Pagem
    Pagem Posts: 244
    plain lazy wrote:
    I think we need a propper bike show for mountain bikers, an open air event in a field in the country......with girls in lycra.....there was no totty at all, except from a lovely young lady who gave me a t-shirt for a hotel in italy. Rant over

    here, here!
    Only the meek get pinched. The bold survive.
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    plain lazy wrote:
    except from a lovely young lady who gave me a t-shirt for a hotel in italy. Rant over

    She must have been very nice if you swapped your hotel in Italy for a t-shirt... was she wearing it at the time :lol:
    London to Paris Forum
    http://cjwoods.com/london2paris

    Scott Scale 10
    Focus Izalco Team
  • steelo
    steelo Posts: 542
    I went yesterday and thought it was exactly what it was supposed to be - a show. An exhibition of all the latest and greatest bits and pieces. Some excellent exhibitor stands and some ropey ones too. All the information you could ask for was on hand.

    Its not a retail show, as long as you keep that in mind then you won't be disappointed.
    Specialized Rockhopper '07
    Trek Fuel EX8 '09
  • nice one CJW. On the subject of totty. i had an idea which i might persue if the interest is there. I am tempted to do a photo session where i can get a couple of models to pose with peoples bikes, in a pimp my ride kinda way like the old wade cycles brochure. any thoughts?