Road riders huddle with dirt bikers, xc whippets collide with downhill warriors, trials artists nod at the fearless street and BMX stars, fierce fixies entice fashionable single speeders over to the dark side. London the loveable slut she is, being the wonderful canvass and diverse melting pot she represents, is the perfect venue for such a meeting as the tribes of cyclists collide and become one. This is the Cycle Show 2009.

To me the Cycle Show is less about the product and much more about people and friends. It feels like one big cycling hug where in one place you get to see and catch up with your buddies from all around the cycling world. It is a bit like your birthday party where people from so many different worlds and parts of your life converge. You get to introduce old friends with new and see new friendships take shape.
Differing worlds collide and it is fascinating to see the output. An example of this is seeing new members of the recently formed Trax meet the hard core of iBikeRide. The Trax is a new north London club I am recnetly involved with in (read like new lover in first month, exciting but where will it go) and iBikeRide (read.. she’s the wife, true love, till death do us part yet in need of the occasional exciting weekend away etc etc). The output was good.

Anyways you get to know a lot about someone from riding with them and even more if followed by an evening in the pub or a weekend on a camp site. I would not be so bold as to say you don't really know someone t'ill you have ridden with them. But I would go as far as to say once you have ridden with them a lot is shared and a bond formed that is likely to stand the test of time. Cycling friends are good friends and the Cycle Show a great place to meet.

So walking around the show a few things that really caught my attention.
1) The launch of B1KE a new mtb skills coaching school with instructors spread out across the UK to create a long overdue national network. I've had the priviledge to ride with two of these guys and they are folk I respect and admire.

2) The interview with the top female cyclists from across the UK. Nicole Cooke,  Victoria Pendleton and Rachel Atherton. Rachel was there arm in sling and being as true to the open spirit of mtb as you can. It is as if she is the personification of what riding is about (read.. treating life as an adventure, setting personal goals, humility, sharing, coaching, friends and staying real of course).

They discussed, training, motivation and goals. An average interview made wonderful when opened to the audience as when children ask questions we all sit up and listlen and for good reason. Best question of the day...

'Can you still eat chocolate when you train?... Just brill and how the audience warmed

3) Seeing the plans for the new cycling superhighways and the new London Cycle hire scheme to be launched imminently was an education. Wider routes, well signposted to encourage commuting and riding in London. All we need now is the 20 mile an hour speed limit, removing motorbikes from bus lanes and allowing left turns at red traffic lights. Rome was not built in a day and this is still a brill initiative..

4) Simon who saved the lake jump from closure at the recent Big Bike Bash event from Green Oil has launched some great solar bike lights for your bag. Frankly a legend (no this is not Simon modelling them)

5) Speaking of legends I met up with our very own Jedi who was there. He has just formed his UK Bike Skills company and although was not inadvertently plugging it I wanted to recommend it as some peoples reputation just proceed them gracefully so check it out. 
6) The Cycle show lets people ride. simple idea and I kinda like that. The indoor mountain bike track is something else (pictures say it all) and you can try out all sorts of wierd and wonderful street bikes (including the new cycle scheme bikes) around the other side of the exhibition.

7) OK there is a roadie in us all trying to get out.. Fixed and Single speeds actually stole the show as far as product is concerned in my mind and the coolest design trends are behind them especially with the Felt range..

8) A tyre was the next best product I saw..I know I'm boring. It is called (and seriously!!) ... THE KOJAK... who loves you baby..  It's a smooth slick wide commuter tyre for mountain bikes from Schwalbe. Simple but great. I think we are made to be together don't you?

9) The growing appearance of  Electric bikes which are a conundrum to me are but fascinating . I see a good market for the elderly, and those with disabilities. Also the lazy, they would love it ( I may order one soon)

10)...hmmmh!My fav has to be specialized ultimate Dirt Park Bike..if I only I had a clue what to do with it.

My advice though especially in these challenging economic times is advice given to me when I first started out.

"Please please spend your money on going biking and learning biking rather than on buying bikes and bike bits" The latest gear is brill but no substitute to riding greater trails and getting better skills in just a pair of jeans and trainers.
Alternatively beware... you could end up putting your dosh into one of these I guess.

Thanks to Phil for plastering his logo all over the photo's (thanks buddy was great spending the day with you and the photos are great). Thanks to Shaz and Lee for letting me steal photos without their permission and not taking me to court.