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Back from the Bike Show
Not my favourite event ever...
Just catching up - the train took a while to get me home last night. As usual, the Velo Vision stand arrived by Birdy folding bike :-) while the magazines were couriered in advance - thanks to the nice ICE people for bringing them along (and putting an 'eye-candy' trike on the stand).
It was a disappointing show in that apart from the stands from ourselves, ICE, Airnimal and debateably a couple of electric bike/scooter makers, there just weren't any utility, touring or family cycling products on display at all. I talked to one visitor who was looking for that basic accessory, a bike lock - but despite rows and rows of stands flogging cheap stuff for MTBing and BMXing, not one was to be found...
It was also rather horribly noisy - exhausting trying to hear and be heard all day. The jumping etc shows were impressive enough if you like that sort of thing... but not much consolation for anyone looking for e.g. family cycling stuff.
Thanks to all who showed up and helped on the stand. Not surprisingly it wasn't a very good show for sales - BMX kids are not our target audience. But we did pick up a few new subscribers, so I guess it was worth it. Next year the SPEZI in Germersheim in Germany will definitely take priority over this show if the dates clash again...
One high point was the launch of the KMX Kart child's recumbent trike (see www.kmxkarts.com) which we've mentioned in the magazine a couple of times. In the flesh it looked great - with well-thought-out details (including Ackermann and centre-point steering developed with the help of my steering design spreadsheets) and plenty (8 inches) of length adjustment - with the seat moving as well as the telescopic boom. Band brakes on the front wheels were unusual but effective. And at around £350 retail, it represents a real drop in price for recumbents.
With its BMX styling and image, it went down a storm at the show, and the manufacturers went away very optimistic. They're also working on an adult version - which should come in at around £500 or so. It'll retain the BMX style of the child's version, and won't be designed to compete with established touring models. But the availablility of trikes at this price point could be great for the trike market as a whole.
We'll have one in for test in Velo Vision very soon.
Posted on 28 April 2003
Your comments ...| From: sue ([email protected]) on 28 April 2003 |
Hmm, yes, I was at the NEC last year and the noise is my abiding memory. Don't worry Pete, your ears will stop bleeding soon...
Glad the KMXKarts have launched. I saw them in action last summer, and kids just adored them. In fact I think all those petrol Go-Kart tracks should get a fleet and have races - much more fun than sitting on a souped up lawnmower engine, and a good way to get kids fit!. |
| From: Tom ([email protected]) on 28 April 2003 |
| We'll have 2 Karts in the Roadshow fleets this year, too. Looking forward to the adult version - I tried out the prototype at Portsmouth and can report that it produces as good a 'recumbent grin' as any. |
| From: Alan ([email protected]) on 28 April 2003 |
| I would just like to say a big thankyou to everyone from Velovision, ICE and Airnimal for your suport, encouragement and friendly attitude at the Bike Show. Sorry i didnt get to say goodbye in person but i was stuck outside in a Vans version of the whacky Races as everyone tried to get sorted for the Show breakdown (as opposed to our Van breakdown sunday morning). It was a big shame that the Show wasn't as diverse as most of us had been promised, but for ourselves it worked well and great to see over 1,000 young people getting a chance to ride our trike and witness the big grins that they where left with. |
| From: Barry Smith ([email protected]) on 28 April 2003 |
Hi Peter,
It was great to actually meet you in the flesh at the show. I agree with your comments about the noise, my ears are still ringing!
Thank you for your comments about the karts. We estimate that over 1000 kids (some as old as 40!) tried the KMX out at the show. To those of you that have tried the pre-production samples I would just like to say that I think you will love the latest karts as they perform even better! This is a very exciting time for us and we have had some great responses from people at the show already.
regards
Barry
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| From: Sally ([email protected]) on 29 April 2003 |
| Agree 100% with your comments about the dreadful noise at the show, but especially the lack of touring/family bike options. It felt like a "boys shop" for the off-road/trick brigade and not worth the £15 entry fee. Was delighted to see recumbents at the show and will be going to York Rally hoping to try one out. |
| From: andy scaife ([email protected]) on 01 May 2003 |
| Sally's remarks are a timely reminder of the York Rally, or whatever it's called this year. Even if you camp for the weekend, it doesn't cost as much as entry to the Bike shows. Most of the trade people who would interest us are there, including folks like I.C.E.trice and Windcheetah (with road tests available for the serious). There are also stands like 'Hard-to-find' and tour organisers, and of course Velovision. There are always a series of rides into the countryside, and even childrens activities. It has been accused of being a bit 'fuddy-duddy' but the only way that would change is if the niches and non-mainstream like ourselves adopt the rally as a yearly date on our calendars. Why not arrange a VV readers ride throught this site? I'm sure a couple of us 'Yorkies' would be able to organise something, obviously involving a pub... |
| From: andy scaife ([email protected]) on 01 May 2003 |
| Just spoken to a couple of the cohort...Looks like a goer. If anyone's interested in a ride, meet, or camping together, let me know. |
| From: Tom ([email protected]) on 01 May 2003 |
| Sounds great. Pity half of the York cohort will be over the hills and far away on cycle promotion duty... Wish the Rally could be moved away from Bike Week! |
| From: Dave Warnock ([email protected]) on 03 May 2003 |
Wow, those KMX's look great, could but just the job for our middle son. Hopefully we can try them at the CompanyOfCyclists weeks holiday in the summer.
Dave |
| From: Ian ([email protected]) on 03 May 2003 |
| Really quite disappointing, with quite a few quid burning a hole in my pocket but the whole place full of "Bikes as toys" rather than "Bikes as lifestyle". Well done Peter for courage under extreme pressure as you had to cope with the wattage of Big Noise during your short and informative talk. I'm not sure many of us there weren't already converted - but hey, if you got one new one.... |
| From: Dave Warnock ([email protected]) on 05 May 2003 |
KMX: Seen, Tried and Buyed ;-)
We went down to portsmouth today and the 3 boys plus their Mum tried the KMX. All loved it and so we now have one on order.
Very cool, loads of fun.
Dave |
| From: sue ([email protected]) on 06 May 2003 |
| Well, if they are the taking turns sort of kids, they can build a ramp and one can try leaping over the others lying down. Or maybe not.... |
| From: Dave Warnock ([email protected]) on 07 May 2003 |
>> 3 boys + 1 KMX = Big trouble.
Maybe, but 11 year old nearly too long (tall for his age), 5 year old too short (short for his age). Also 11 year old has Kettwiesel, 5 year old has Trets (on order).
But if you are concerned about this and wish to buy us 2 more KMX's thats fine by me ;-)
Dave |
| From: Ian ([email protected]) on 07 May 2003 |
| The guys at KMX at the Bike Show said they were hoping to have an adult one out soon. |
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