Anyone go to the Cycle show at the NEC?

fudgey

Walked around it in about 2 hours today, then went home.
Wasnt quite what i was expecting really, i thought there would be more trade/retail stands etc.
At least the Colnago stand looked good. Kept the credit card in my wallet tho.

kiteloopy

I was there Saturday.
Got there for about 10.30 and it was rammed. Got quiet at about 3pm and it was much nicer to walk around and spend time looking at things properly.

Your right about the Colnago stand. Always a good place to bike perv. That aero bike they have released was sooo light it was untrue. Same with the Rose bike; 6.2kg I think they were boasting.

Wilier and Ribble had my interest prior to Saturday but got my full attention when I saw the bikes they had on show.

I went last year too. Don't think i'll go next year as it was very similar stands showing the same things.

It's anything but a cheap day out though. £15 for the ticket, £12 for parking, £10 for a sandwich and coke. Negates the 10% saving you find on stalls to be honest. You really have to go there when looking for a something to spend money on; a new top of the range bike for example.

fudgey

Yes, there some awesome machines on show.

I had a complimentary ticket, but my mate paid on the day £17.50. as for car parking, i didnt know you were supposed to buy a ticket as when we got there we were both deperate for a pee, so legged it to the toilets and then got on the bus. We walked back and the barriers to the carpark were open, so i just drove out...

Got lunch on the way home so saved there too haha

aberdeenal

Yip - was there on Friday - flew down and back in the same day..........kept my credit card in my wallet too although managed to get my new bike shortlist down from 6 to 3 after seeing the bikes there :-)

redvee

Food prices at NEC have always been OTT. I went last year and caught the coach from Bristol then train to NEC, cause I got a cheap coach ticket travel came to £15 and bought a Subway before I caught the train from Birmingham so avoided the extortionate food prices.

CiB

I went on Friday, after not going last year but did the year before. It's ok, but in the end it's 15 quid to lurk about a glorified bike shop for the day plus another 20 sovs for the train ticket there and back. Did it, didn't fancy it last year then thought it might be worth it this year but realised after an hour or three that really it isn't. There's no need to buy food as the freebie samples of energy drinks & foods is enough to keep the energy levels up, and there's enough bike porn to keep interest levels up for a while and the chance to tool around for a while on numerous electic bikes wearing a helmet that doesnt fit. Ned's chat with Boardman was good, and I got to ask a question of them from the audience [full marks to the choice of attractive young ladies who pass the mic around], but in the end you find yourself waiting for the time the train home is due whilst looking at bikes you won't buy, kit you won't buy, food you won't buy, women you won't take for dinner and gadgets you really can't see the logic in. It's a day out, wasted. But quite enjoyable in its own way.

ugo.santalucia

The concept of having to pay to enter a retail show defeats me. I suppose the day they will charge to get into a shopping mall, people will find it normal

Giraffoto

Took my son there on Saturday and we were there about five hours. Lots of trying on stuff for Autumn and Winter (this is the time of year when I notice how much black stuff I've got), lots of selfies wearing aero helmets, lots of looking at interesting gadgets. And weren't there a lot of e-bikes? I'll go next year.

supermurph09

I went on Saturday with my non-cycling partner, we arrived about 11am and it was heaving, we walked around for an hour or so, had a coffee and then it seemed a bit quieter.

As for the show, I found it good to look at bikes that I'll potentially buy in the future that I'd be unlikely to see before purchasing, namely a Ridley, Canyon Aeroroad or CF CLX and the Ribble winter bike which I have to say looked great. The Colnago stand was very nice, some fine machinery on there but the bike of the show was the Condor. Also nice to see some of the wheels and having tried on some Salice glasses I'll be purchasing some of those soon.

2 hours is enough and I also think they would be better having it laid out a bit better.

wongataa

kiteloopy wrote:

I
It's anything but a cheap day out though. £15 for the ticket, £12 for parking, £10 for a sandwich and coke. Negates the 10% saving you find on stalls to be honest. You really have to go there when looking for a something to spend money on; a new top of the range bike for example.

Next time park in the railway station car park. It is cheaper and a short undercover walk from the station to the NEC.

keef66

wongataa wrote:

kiteloopy wrote:

I
It's anything but a cheap day out though. £15 for the ticket, £12 for parking, £10 for a sandwich and coke. Negates the 10% saving you find on stalls to be honest. You really have to go there when looking for a something to spend money on; a new top of the range bike for example.

Next time park in the railway station car park. It is cheaper and a short undercover walk from the station to the NEC.

I'll try to remember that next time I'm going to the NEC. Last time I remember feeling that I'd been mugged in the car park and then again when I paid for lunch for me and son.

supermurph09

wongataa wrote:

kiteloopy wrote:

I
It's anything but a cheap day out though. £15 for the ticket, £12 for parking, £10 for a sandwich and coke. Negates the 10% saving you find on stalls to be honest. You really have to go there when looking for a something to spend money on; a new top of the range bike for example.

Next time park in the railway station car park. It is cheaper and a short undercover walk from the station to the NEC.

On exiting the car park I said to the attendant in the booth,

Me: "can we a get a parking ticket from you as we didn't get one inside"
Car park man: "no problem"
Me: "can we pay by card"
Car park man: No, I'll just have to let you go.

Result

step83

Went Saturday, drove to a friends nearby rode over (free parking FTW) guys I went with were real miserys moaning about walking around an didn't want to go to half the stands which ruined it for me, paid £11 an didn't see half the stuff I wanted because they acted like spoilt kids. Next time, on my own!

johnny25

Went with son. Enjoyed the show, although a bit of a rush for us.

Spent a while wondering how a pair of Lightweight wheels can cost nearly £5k. Cannondale stand was probably the best. Like the 2017 Evo.

Narrowed the mtb FS down to 2 now. Don't need another road bike at the moment.

Shows always get you on the parking and food. I don't know why people complain so much.

keef66

johnny25 wrote:

Shows always get you on the parking and food. I don't know why people complain so much.

Because they don't like feeling exploited?

I thought the idea of places like the NEC was to avoid the need for thousands of people to have to fight their way into / out of a city centre, and the rail links and massive car parks supposed to attract visitors?
And as a Yorkshireman I'm hard-wired to object to paying a tenner for a sandwich and a cup of tea.

So I registered my disapproval by not going again

johnny25

keef66 wrote:

johnny25 wrote:

Shows always get you on the parking and food. I don't know why people complain so much.

Because they don't like feeling exploited?

I thought the idea of places like the NEC was to avoid the need for thousands of people to have to fight their way into / out of a city centre, and the rail links and massive car parks supposed to attract visitors?
And as a Yorkshireman I'm hard-wired to object to paying a tenner for a sandwich and a cup of tea.

So I registered my disapproval by not going again

Good for you!

slowmart

I thought about going but concluded there was little point. Over priced, over crowded and little interest bar a few trade stands.

I used to frequent the bike show but my interest wained after the costs went up and the smaller trade stands were priced out. The same happened with the print exhibitions.

chris_bass

Might be a bit late now but you can park at the train station for £5 for the day on the weekends

sigorman85

I went last year I didn't think much would change in a year to justify the costs of traveling from Dorset again .... il give it another few years until some new tech comes out ... its all discs and aero and di2 at the moment...... hopefully all will change....

Giraffoto

A bit of advice for next year for everyone complaining about paying £10 for a cup of tea and a sandwich - get your hand stamped and go the 100 metres or so to Subway, where we got two sandwiches and two chocolate chip cookies for £10. And then we went back in for the afternoon. Alternatively, take a packed lunch.

keef66

Another top tip!

carbonclem

Chris Bass wrote:

Might be a bit late now but you can park at the train station for £5 for the day on the weekends

£9 on Sunday, still a bit cheaper though.

I went, nice to have a good look at top end kit and a mooch about stuff. I bought a couple of small things (bike clean kit and a hi-viz jacket) and easily saved the entrance fee which was a bonus.

Listed to the Ned talks with Kelly, Roche and the ToB team so I'd say I easily had my moneys worth.

lakesluddite

Giraffoto wrote:

A bit of advice for next year for everyone complaining about paying £10 for a cup of tea and a sandwich - get your hand stamped and go the 100 metres or so to Subway, where we got two sandwiches and two chocolate chip cookies for £10. And then we went back in for the afternoon. Alternatively, take a packed lunch.

We were going to take a packed lunch, but on scrutinising the T&C it did say food and drink would not be allowed into the halls, so decided to take them anyway and eat outside before we went in. Turns out our bags weren't checked and we could have taken anything in!
It was very busy on Saturday, a bit too busy for me, but I'd go again, maybe in 2 or 3 years, not every year. Some really nice bikes to look at, so much so I felt a bit rushed, and we were there for over 4 hours.
We took the train down - which given my other half and I have a 'Two Together' card, worked out not too bad (from south Lakes). Definitely better than driving as I did last time we went.

thorny88

I go every year due to being local to the NEC. Could be better in so many ways, a hall for discounted retail bikes/clothing to name just one. Had a chat with Stephen Roche and whittled down my race bike choices for next year from 5 to 2. All in, a good day to peruse bike porn and have a play with the latest gadgets. I do feel the amount of road bike associated things on show is decreasing every year though, with e-bikes etc taking over. :?

CiB

thorny88 wrote:

I do feel the amount of road bike associated things on show is decreasing every year though, with e-bikes etc taking over. :?

Fewer road bikes reflects real life as it now is. For years Evans stashed their road bikes upstairs in the Milton Keynes branch then moved them downstairs when Sky started winning the TdF and Team GB was suddenly raking in the gold medals. I noticed recently that it's reverted to how it was; road bikes & clobber back upstairs, all the other stuff on the ground floor on show for passing footfall.

SpongeArtist

For parking at the NEC park in the multi story car park at Resorts World shopping center. It's free of charge 10am-3pm then £1 per 3 hours thereafter.

I parked there for the cycle show for £1 and again the next day for the Game Expo.

Once parked head to guest services and out the door and the NEC is a 5 minute walk to your right. easy.

https://www.resortsworldbirmingham.co.uk/getting-here

Richj

Haven't been to the cycle show for a few years, got free tickets for this years so thought it would be rude not to go.

Exactly what I expected, enjoyed trying out a lot of clothing and looking at various bikes and lots of freebies, really liked and Vaaru bikes and the paint job on it was amazing.

Got there early on Saturday and after an hour or so it was rammed.

Won't bother next year, but will go again in a few years.

carrock

I went on the trade day. Interesting seminar from Schwalbe tyres and a free hoodie and T shirt. Cant help but wonder where Specialized and Trek were though? As the 2 largest manufacturers couldn't they be bothered? They both used to exhibit up until 3 or 4 years ago

SpongeArtist

carrock wrote:

I went on the trade day. Interesting seminar from Schwalbe tyres and a free hoodie and T shirt. Cant help but wonder where Specialized and Trek were though? As the 2 largest manufacturers couldn't they be bothered? They both used to exhibit up until 3 or 4 years ago

I think companies are changing and rather than work towards a yearly release point for new bikes at a set couple of months a year they are releasing them through LBS and on their own social media avenues. Easier, cheaper and more efficient marketing to reach more viewers using social media.

Strange there wasn't more retailer stands there and nothing from the big wheel manufacturers. Mavic, Fulcrum nowhere to be seen (unless i missed them). Wheels are the first upgrade most riders do so would be a great place to show them off, again maybe they've decide to stick to the bigger EU shows and social media??

Giraffoto

carrock wrote:

I went on the trade day. Interesting seminar from Schwalbe tyres and a free hoodie and T shirt. Cant help but wonder where Specialized and Trek were though? As the 2 largest manufacturers couldn't they be bothered? They both used to exhibit up until 3 or 4 years ago

I was slightly disappointed that Specialized weren't there (only slightly, I've already got one). I'm pretty sure Trek were - there was a big stand full of Trek bikes which certainly looked like a Trek stand.