Having not been to the Cycle show in nearly ten years I was really looking forward to today, and my renewed interest wasn’t let down.
This year seems to have been that of the cyclo cross and gravel bike explosion. Cyclo cross being roadbike style geometry bikes with off road tyres, and gravel bikes being similar in geometry to 29er mountain bikes but with rigid forks and dropped bars. Runner up for next largest hype was the E-bike, with almost an electrical assist version available of any type of bike. Still staying strong were the fat bikes and with lots of variations of wheel size, 24″/26″/27″+/29″, it looks like they are here to stay as well.
There were the usual chunk of road bikes, and going by numbers on display here this must be the most popular form of hobby cycling in the UK.
Here are some pictures from the show.
Stunning road bikes as usual. F8 in almost any colour you could want!
The carbon layup on that rear wheel!
Gorgeous looking Italian machines.
Super subtle and super light. The alloy frames were a work of art.
Best value for money, with a bike for all budgets. New gravel and cyclo cross bikes on display.
They have done an amazing job of turning this brand around. Their gravel and cyclo cross bikes were stunning for the money and had some retro names back in business.
The fabled slate, still looked weird in the flesh, didn’t get to ride it unfortunately.
How can you resist a vintage zaskar? Gt had a lot to offer but this is the only one that caught my eye.
Some interesting spoke designs from these guys.
Very pretty knockabout bikes.
Taking me back to my childhood, they have re-released the Trailstar! with retro graphics and paint, but 27.5″ wheels and low and long geometry.
Cyclo Cross Racing
The cyclo cross circuit took in the run off of the Scott Pilgrim invitational dirt jumps.
On One / Planet X / Holdsworth
A really good line up, these guys have everything covered! Fat bikes, vintage steel, gravel, cyclocross, road, 27.5″+, 29″, fixies, titanium…… the list goes on and not a bad looking bike in any of them.
Trek for me had the bike of the show. The Madone 9 special project. No external cables fore of the seat tube, one piece bar and stem, aero front brake built into the head tube, and frame stowaway for Di2, It was gorgeous.
A huge stand with some great bikes perfect for UK use, shame I didn’t take any more photos.
Some of the most gorgeous bikes every made. The C60 limited editions are of incredible construction and the Arebesque/Master were stunning.
Great to see Il Pirata’s bike, plus the Oltre is an amazing looking road steed with Bianchi’s new vibration dampening carbon layup.
Very hip road bikes, expect to see the baby blue track bike in Shoreditch!
The UKs finest handmade.
Pair of his and hers round towners.
Nice fat bikes, and a lovely Pacer build.
You don’t see many of these.
Immaculately finished titanium.
if you like your bikes with more than a feel of vintage, get a Light Blue!
Great value for money bikes that have nice discipline crossover.
Brighton based Mason had a few nice bikes, they also had the best priced wheels in the show in the form of South Downs supplier Hunt. £459 for 1480g, 24mm wide, 31mm deep clincher wheels is amazing.
I could have spent a couple of days here and it would have been nice to have more of a chat to the guys and girls on stalls, there was just too much to see in one day. Some nice innovations like the Taunus solid tyres, some great shopping with some fair deals, and some great live action with the Cyclo cross and dirt jumping.
Cycle Show, see you next year!
