Cycle show at the nec Birmingham

sigorman85

Has anyone been before? I won my tickets on the foska forum site on face book even tho I was going to buy some but now that's saved me a few pounds .... Just wondering what to look forward to

casatikid

Yes I went a couple of years ago with three mates.
Plenty of bikes on view that most people could never afford but very little to buy etc.
Not worth making the effort to go again in my opinion.
Would be nice to hear what you thought after you visit.?
Mick

sigorman85

Will do cheers mate I doubt il buy or consider a bike as purchased a de Rosa idol disc di2 in March so I doubt the Mrs would be happy with the idea of another bike ......

SoSimple

Agree with the above post. Been a couple of times to Birmingham and London and its OK for bike porn and buying the odd item but I wouldn't bother paying for tickets again - a freebie just about cuts it!

Interesting this year that Canyon and Planet X are exhibiting(and I recall Rose are usually there) so if you're after a bike from them you'll get a chance to see it in the flesh.

Despite us never having enough bikes, think your Mrs may have a valid point with that De Rosa!

Sutton_Rider

Not only the cost of the tickets, it's £12 just to park. Ripper.

lakesluddite

Went a couple of years ago (when it was a mere £10 to park!), and although I thought it was good, the two hour drive and the aforementioned parking (and the alternative train fare being extortionate), then I wouldn't go again. For a four hour+ round trip, I'd want something to keep me there for 4 or 5 hours, not something I can look round in 2 hours.
I would say it's probably well worthwhile if you are fairly local, but not really worth a lengthy journey, in my opinion, but then again it's not like I regret going that once (and I did manage to bag some bargain Oakleys in the 'market place' area).
If I need a Bike Show fix I can do the Manchester Tri show, which is far easier and quicker for me to get to (although it moving from central Mcr to the Trafford Centre is less convenient for rail users).

chris_bass

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19704208#p19704208]Sutton Rider[/url] wrote:

Not only the cost of the tickets, it's £12 just to park. Ripper.

park at birmingham international and it is £5 all day on the weekends, the station and NEC are joined up so you can walk straight across.

carbonclem

My wife got me tickets as a 'suprise' for the London Excel Show earlier this year. I used to work at NEC Bike Expos several years ago, so I kind of knew what to expect and wasn't too excited! In the end it was made by the guests there - I listened to Stephen Roche do a talk, and also a live Cycling Podcast chat with Greg LeMond and met both afterwards too. 8) We went off and did some other stuff for my daughter in Shoreditch afterwards so it was a good day. Just the bike show though? Not so much ...

sigorman85

I'm traveling from Weymouth Dorset (sw) il give it a chance to see what it's like ..also thanks for the heads up on the parking

johnny25

I've been for the last 3 years (live local) and am going again this year with my lad.

Perhaps my expectations are low, but I thoroughly enjoyed the shows. Plenty of people to talk to about bikes - Bought a bike shortly after last years show, after have some in depth talks with the girls/chaps on the bike stands.

Looking to buy a Rose later in the year, so going to have a look at their stand and hopefully get some indication if they're worth the outlay.

Obviously if you don't want to walk around a large indoor exhibition centre looking at bikes then I wouldn't bother going. Free bike show advice there.

sigorman85

Here are a few pics of the bikes at the cycle show






Yes I did touch it

johnny25

Nice photos!

I had a great time and had a go on a number of bikes. There was a buzz around the 'electric' bikes and that could be an indication of future manufacture direction.

The Rose looks the real deal - Di2 for £2k!