Bike Expo Manchester

cneifion

This is on from 18 to 20 March. If anyone went to last year's event would you recommend a visit?

The website looks a bit shambolic - about a quarter of the links on the exhibitors list just takes you back to the list and they haven't managed to put up a timetable of guest interviews yet.

nickbotfield

I went last year and it was OK, but then I'm fairly local. Rob Hayles was the interviewer on the big stage and he interviewed Phil Burt from British Cycling and Dani King and they were both interesting. In terms of manufacturers stands it was a bit disappointing because there were running and swimming booths as well, so they were competing for space. There wasn't much in the way of bargains and not much opportunity to try new gear.

If you're not far then it's probably worth a visit, but if you have to travel for more than an hour I'm not sure it's worth your time!

lakesluddite

nickbotfield wrote:

I went last year and it was OK, but then I'm fairly local. Rob Hayles was the interviewer on the big stage and he interviewed Phil Burt from British Cycling and Dani King and they were both interesting. In terms of manufacturers stands it was a bit disappointing because there were running and swimming booths as well, so they were competing for space. There wasn't much in the way of bargains and not much opportunity to try new gear.

If you're not far then it's probably worth a visit, but if you have to travel for more than an hour I'm not sure it's worth your time!

What he said. I'm in NW England so went down last year, but decided to do train/bus, which was a pain, especially the bus from Central Mcr - that Trafford Centre complex is basically designed for cars, it's pretty strange there was never a Metrolink station diverted there. Might go again this year, but I'd probably drive down as it's just off the M60.

There was enough to keep me occupied for a few hours, and as a runner and swimmer I did find the other stuff interesting as well. David Millar was good, but I missed the (ex-pro?) mechanic completing a full bike build in less than 30 minutes (IIRC), which I would have liked to have seen.

This expo moved from Manchester Central (formerly GMEX) last year, and had to expand really as the MC expo just wasn't big enough really - although the good thing about it being in MC was you could nip out into Mcr centre and back again with a 'pass out' system.

cneifion

LakesLuddite wrote:

nickbotfield wrote:

I went last year and it was OK, but then I'm fairly local. Rob Hayles was the interviewer on the big stage and he interviewed Phil Burt from British Cycling and Dani King and they were both interesting. In terms of manufacturers stands it was a bit disappointing because there were running and swimming booths as well, so they were competing for space. There wasn't much in the way of bargains and not much opportunity to try new gear.

If you're not far then it's probably worth a visit, but if you have to travel for more than an hour I'm not sure it's worth your time!

What he said. I'm in NW England so went down last year, but decided to do train/bus, which was a pain, especially the bus from Central Mcr - that Trafford Centre complex is basically designed for cars, it's pretty strange there was never a Metrolink station diverted there. Might go again this year, but I'd probably drive down as it's just off the M60.

There was enough to keep me occupied for a few hours, and as a runner and swimmer I did find the other stuff interesting as well. David Millar was good, but I missed the (ex-pro?) mechanic completing a full bike build in less than 30 minutes (IIRC), which I would have liked to have seen.

This expo moved from Manchester Central (formerly GMEX) last year, and had to expand really as the MC expo just wasn't big enough really - although the good thing about it being in MC was you could nip out into Mcr centre and back again with a 'pass out' system.

Thanks guys. I'm local too - less than 30 minutes by car if the M60 is clear, which it never is. Although there is a supposedly secure bike park I don't fancy the ride there - the roads around the Trafford Centre are not at all cycle friendly.

I'm particularly interested in talking to the guys on the Schwalbe stand to get some info on going tubeless direct from the horse's mouth. How easy was it to get to speak to the staff on the stands? I guess Friday is going to be the least busy day, but I'd like to see what's on the programme before booking.

bluemoon17

Cneifion wrote:

LakesLuddite wrote:

nickbotfield wrote:

I went last year and it was OK, but then I'm fairly local. Rob Hayles was the interviewer on the big stage and he interviewed Phil Burt from British Cycling and Dani King and they were both interesting. In terms of manufacturers stands it was a bit disappointing because there were running and swimming booths as well, so they were competing for space. There wasn't much in the way of bargains and not much opportunity to try new gear.

If you're not far then it's probably worth a visit, but if you have to travel for more than an hour I 'm not sure it's worth your time!

What he said. I'm in NW England so went down last year, but decided to do train/bus, which was a pain, especially the bus from Central Mcr - that Trafford Centre complex is basically designed for cars, it's pretty strange there was never a Metrolink station diverted there. Might go again this year, but I'd probably drive down as it's just off the M60.

There was enough to keep me occupied for a few hours, and as a runner and swimmer I did find the other stuff interesting as well. David Millar was good, but I missed the (ex-pro?) mechanic completing a full bike build in less than 30 minutes (IIRC), which I would have liked to have seen.

This expo moved from Manchester Central (formerly GMEX) last year, and had to expand really as the MC expo just wasn't big enough really - although the good thing about it being in MC was you could nip out into Mcr centre and back again with a 'pass out' system.

Thanks guys. I'm local too - less than 30 minutes by car if the M60 is clear, which it never is. Although there is a supposedly secure bike park I don't fancy the ride there - the roads around the Trafford Centre are not at all cycle friendly.

I'm particularly interested in talking to the guys on the Schwalbe stand to get some info on going tubeless direct from the horse's mouth. How easy was it to get to speak to the staff on the stands? I guess Friday is going to be the least busy day, but I'd like to see what's on the programme before booking.

There are brand new cycle paths running all the way round the Trafford centre from Event City to the opposite side where the Texaco garage is. I commute round it everyday and it's actually alright cycling it, either on the paths or on the road if you are in a hurry.

lakesluddite

Cneifion wrote:

I'm particularly interested in talking to the guys on the Schwalbe stand to get some info on going tubeless direct from the horse's mouth. How easy was it to get to speak to the staff on the stands? I guess Friday is going to be the least busy day, but I'd like to see what's on the programme before booking.

I think it was pretty easy to chat to anyone on the stands - after all they are there to flog things (if not on the day then plant the seed as it were), so they should be more than happy to speak to you.

cneifion

LakesLuddite wrote:

Cneifion wrote:

I'm particularly interested in talking to the guys on the Schwalbe stand to get some info on going tubeless direct from the horse's mouth. How easy was it to get to speak to the staff on the stands? I guess Friday is going to be the least busy day, but I'd like to see what's on the programme before booking.

I think it was pretty easy to chat to anyone on the stands - after all they are there to flog things (if not on the day then plant the seed as it were), so they should be more than happy to speak to you.

Well, I'll be popping down for a look as I've managed to get a free ticket. Looks like Friday will be a quiet day as they seem to be offering free tickets for Friday to people who buy tickets for Saturday or Sunday. Still no timetable of guest interviews though on the website

chorlton chimp

I work about 5 minutes from Event City. As stated above there is a cycle path all the way down the road to EC in both directions. You can also go down the Bridgewater canal if you want to totally avoid the traffic, in theory it's possible to go all the way from the City Centre or Altrincham on the canal and there are numerous hop on/off points. IIRC you can exit the canal directly behind EC.

lastly - I think the show is actually a Tri show rather than just a bike show.

cneifion

chorlton chimp wrote:

I work about 5 minutes from Event City. As stated above there is a cycle path all the way down the road to EC in both directions. You can also go down the Bridgewater canal if you want to totally avoid the traffic, in theory it's possible to go all the way from the City Centre or Altrincham on the canal and there are numerous hop on/off points. IIRC you can exit the canal directly behind EC.

lastly - I think the show is actually a Tri show rather than just a bike show.

Thanks for that. The Bridgewater Canal is a good idea but I think I'll go by car as cycling means carrying a change of clothing, or as a minimum a pair of shoes for walking around.

You are right - it is a Bike, Run, Swim, Tri show. Each has a separate website but I don't to what extent they will be separate at the venue.

lakesluddite

Cneifion wrote:

chorlton chimp wrote:

I work about 5 minutes from Event City. As stated above there is a cycle path all the way down the road to EC in both directions. You can also go down the Bridgewater canal if you want to totally avoid the traffic, in theory it's possible to go all the way from the City Centre or Altrincham on the canal and there are numerous hop on/off points. IIRC you can exit the canal directly behind EC.

lastly - I think the show is actually a Tri show rather than just a bike show.

Thanks for that. The Bridgewater Canal is a good idea but I think I'll go by car as cycling means carrying a change of clothing, or as a minimum a pair of shoes for walking around.

You are right - it is a Bike, Run, Swim, Tri show. Each has a separate website but I don't to what extent they will be separate at the venue.

From memory there is 'sort of' an area for running, swimming and cycling each, in that the related stalls are in the same area, but it's not a massive space - nothing like the bike show in Birmingham or even the one in East London, so you can stumble into one to another pretty easily, there's no real segregation. I am going too, more for the bike stuff, but will have a look at the other stuff too, so kind of worthwhile. There is another bike show in Mcr later in the year, it's on at a venue near Old Trafford...ah yes, this is it, Spin at the Victoria Warehouse on the weekend of the 7th May (Fred Whitton week, which means I probably won't be going!) :

http://manchester.spinldn.com/info/

Looks a bit 'trendy' to me.

cneifion

LakesLuddite wrote:

Cneifion wrote:

chorlton chimp wrote:

I work about 5 minutes from Event City. As stated above there is a cycle path all the way down the road to EC in both directions. You can also go down the Bridgewater canal if you want to totally avoid the traffic, in theory it's possible to go all the way from the City Centre or Altrincham on the canal and there are numerous hop on/off points. IIRC you can exit the canal directly behind EC.

lastly - I think the show is actually a Tri show rather than just a bike show.

Thanks for that. The Bridgewater Canal is a good idea but I think I'll go by car as cycling means carrying a change of clothing, or as a minimum a pair of shoes for walking around.

You are right - it is a Bike, Run, Swim, Tri show. Each has a separate website but I don't to what extent they will be separate at the venue.

From memory there is 'sort of' an area for running, swimming and cycling each, in that the related stalls are in the same area, but it's not a massive space - nothing like the bike show in Birmingham or even the one in East London, so you can stumble into one to another pretty easily, there's no real segregation. I am going too, more for the bike stuff, but will have a look at the other stuff too, so kind of worthwhile. There is another bike show in Mcr later in the year, it's on at a venue near Old Trafford...ah yes, this is it, Spin at the Victoria Warehouse on the weekend of the 7th May (Fred Whitton week, which means I probably won't be going!) :

http://manchester.spinldn.com/info/

Looks a bit 'trendy' to me.

The Victoria Warehouse - isn't that the place where they hold drug fuelled raves? Anyway, when the website for the Spin Show uses words like "eclectic" and "lifestyle" it makes me think that it is too trendy for me.