The weight for the complete machine comes in at 32 kg, which is not bad, the body alone being 16 kg. The velomobile is available, both as a kit to mount on a trike you already own, or as a complete ready-to-ride velomobile.
The Challenger itself is built on the ICE Sprint trike, also made in Cornwall. Ocean Cycle make some other recumbent specific products but the Challenger is very much their flagship. Marcin can be seen, in the rather fuzzy photo, of the black Challenger. He and a colleague Chris, were on the stand demonstrating the machines and answering questions, and while I was there, they seemed to be getting plenty of attention. Ocean Cycle is the work of Marcin Szewczyk. One designed to open sideways in the style of the Cab-Bike and the other tilting forwards in the style of the Leitra. The two models also illustrated different hood mounting options. Ocean Cycle were exhibiting two Challenger velomobiles one of which was equipped with a Sunstar electric assist system. After chatting with Peter, he directed us to the Ocean Cycle stand, which had been moved from hall 10 to the other side of the electric bike area in 11. Here Peter Eland was manning the Velovision/ Electric Bike stand, the link with Electric Bike magazine and the surrounding exhibitors was obvious. The main entrance was through hall 11 and it was in this hall where the first item of velomobile interest could be found. Hopefully this year’s figures will encourage the absent to make the effort to attend next year. It is still early days for the new venue, so comparisons may not be altogether fair, however the prospects for the future look good. Maybe the balance between sports and utility cycling was different, and not to my taste, I’m not sure.
Perhaps Earl’s Court had a slightly more intimate feel, but that was probably due to the cramped condition of a show, that had reached the venue’s capacity. There were a number of exhibitors missing, which I had seen in London, but these should have been made up by others who were new to the show.
From a personal point of view, there did seem to be something lacking, and I am hard-pressed to put my finger on it. The evident increase in this sector since 2010, is a reflection of the massive growth being seen, as the technology has begun to mature and become a much more practical option. However there was still plenty to see relating to more practical cycle use, and again one was impressed with a large area, in hall 11, given to electric bikes and systems. While attendance in 2011 was down it was up by 30% this year and surpassed the 2010 figures.Īs one would expect the show is dominated with sports cycling particularly road racing and BMX, two sports that have been much in the spotlight since the Olympics earlier this year. The Cycle Show occupied three of these halls (9, 10 and 11), and according to Cycle Show figures had an 11% increase in trade stand space over 2010. With it’s twenty-something halls, which can be opened up to create a multi-hall venue, the location is well able to accommodate future growth. This being my first ever visit to the NEC, I was impressed by the shear volume of exhibition space. None-the-less I, and a little helper, were able to make a day trip to Birmingham via the train, but it was something of an epic journey. For myself, a London based show was preferable, as it is always possible to stay with friends, and then use their home as a base from which to visit, without having to make a long commute. The NEC venue, with it’s central location in the British Midlands and good road and rail transport links, is well placed to provide this, and I think the figures from this year’s show, prove the decision to move, was a good thing. The move to the NEC was intended to broaden the appeal and hopefully attract a greater number of attendees than the previous venue at Earl’s Court in London. The previous occasion I attended was in 2010, the last time the Cycle Show was held in London. However, with the current growth in cycling, the Cycle Show is beginning to face some competition from other new trade shows, that are developing in other parts of the country. It is also the second time I was able to attend, what aspires to be, the premier cycle trade event in the UK. Here at last is the promised report on this year’s Cycle Show.Ģ012 is the second year the show has been held at the NEC in Birmingham.
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