Excel-ing Themselves at The London Bike Show

A show about bicycles is always appealing to me. What's new, who's who, the test of do-I-really-need that are just some of the reasons why I pedalled out to London's Excel. Not convinced about the bicycle storage facilities, I took my single speed Cosmo and left my Brommie at home.(How wrong could I be?!)

The ride out had its moments - the signage is crucially missing just when you need it, the cycle path just ends for no good reason and I wasn't quite ready for the Lea Valley Flyover, never mind with one gear! 

 

However, outside the venue the police were on hand to give directions whilst providing their bike registration system and soon I was at the top of a flight of steps locking my bike inside a special area operated by  Cycle-Works. 

Before even entering the building I had discovered another new revelation in cycling initiatives. Cycle-works focuses on bike storage. From updated and more effective bike racks - not just taking the Sheffield stands to new levels, but they have a huge range of storage options from pods, to storage units, manned pop up areas, as this was, including storage units for children's scooters.

Their range and designs of storage solutions are already being implemented by various organisations across the country including local authorities, schools and businesses.  Clearly pushing the envelope and thinking out of the box this is an organisation well worth keeping an eye on.  I couldn't help thinking how great it would be to have pods available in supermarket carparks that you could use the same way as lockers at swimming pools, so that you can leave your bicycle and concentrate on shopping without having to deal with the distraction of is-my-bike-still-where-I-left-it.

As I was locking up my bicycle, a policeman was carrying out a survey on how well people were locking up their bikes. Armed with my D-lock and cable I thought I had done mine rather well. Apparently not! Although the cable was running through both wheels, my D-Lock and the Rounded A Rack (to give it its proper name), I should have put the D-lock through the top section of the stand rather than the bottom. Also, the closer the lock is to the ground, the easier it is for thieves to apply leverage to break the lock. I was also told that there was more air than bike through my D-lock which allowed ample space for bolt cutters. A learning curve indeed!

Once in the show I found Velorution who are my top shop for all things bicycle and accessories as they always find things that I never see anywhere else. They have included a new range of footwear, currently only for men at the moment - Quoc Pharm cycling shoes and I had the privilege of meeting the man behind the brand.

Definitely on my list for when they bring out a ladies range. Velorution stocks a large range of bicycles that I spent much time looking at. Rumour has it that on Sunday there may well be some very interesting price reductions...!

At the Velovixen stand I met up with two of the Directors, the third was apparently at home as had other matters to deal with (well, as she is two years old this is not surprising!) Being an online retailer for women's cycling Velovixen has recently set up a forum to organise rides across the country. 

I met two of their fellow customers, along with a friend of mine and we headed to The Go Ape coffee bar. Not everything is as it seems. 

Go Ape isn't a coffee stop, it's an outward bound/adventure organisation who had set up an abseiling track (zip wire) so that you could be harnessed to a rope and fly along the ceiling of the Excel Centre! One of us was so excited about this she signed up, queued up and was flung across the ceiling at 12mph. Apparently it was incredible, like flying. Yes, well I thought ....... I'll stick with cycling thank you!

I also caught a glimmer of my fellow team mate from last year's IG Nocturne which made my head spin as I remembered how hilarious that was that was! 

                                                  Team Velovixen 2013

                                        Maps - the perfect cycling accessory

As we made our way to the Awards Ceremony, we found  Splashmaps - who produce scarves (in the handkerchief shape) that have a map of various parts of the UK. Bye Bye Garmin (nearly!)  Maps of Brecon Beacons, The Surrey Hills, South Downs and they are working on The Tour. You can also have a bespoke map by selecting the area you want via their website. Very clever!

                                                      Ginger and French

Just next door (or so) was a stationery company Ginger and French. Great cards, posters, wallpaper, mugs and wrapping paper! Perfect birthday and Christmas and any other reason for presents.

                                                    Laura Trott's Mum!

The Total Women's Cycling Awards were a real joy to see. So many people doing great things to promote and encourage women to cycle. There were 14 awards all voted for by women across the country. The votes created a short list in each of the categories and a panel of judges made the final decision. The winners were announced by Anna Glowinski who is not only a cyclist, TV presenter and fabulous cycling clothes designer but was also a competitor in last years Nocturne!

                                          Breeze Champion Extraordinaire!

British Cycling's Breeze Network, Ana Nichoola, Manchester Velodrome, Rutland Cycles, Wiggle, Velovixen and Laura Trott were all winners. As indeed was London which gave the opportunity for Andrew Gilligan to collect the award on behalf of the city.  

Both the Awards nominee process and the ceremony was, to me, a really impressive event, particularly as it is UK wide and I very much hope it becomes an annual affair. Huge congrats to all the nominees, finalists and winners. A huge thanks to both Total Women's Cycling and Velovixen for creating and continuing to create such a positive and welcoming virtual arena for women to be powered by pedals.

The Awards were so absorbing that I didn't quite manage to see all the other exhibitors.  I did however find Shutt who really know how to make a good cycling jersey - and I succumbed to my first purchase. As a family run business, Shutt is right up my street in terms of design and product. 

Just around the corner were Hoy Bikes (via Evans) and although in my head the battle of the Chris's has been won by Mr Boardman - the range of Hoy bicycles is well worth consideration.  The range doesn't include fully carbon bikes as yet but who knows?! I have to add that given what both these human beings have done and are doing for cycling, yet all the while maintaining a total zero ego, they are now both heroes to me.

As I walked past the Cycling World Magazine stand, a Get Ready to Cycle Key Stage 1 booklet caught my eye. It is a book for children that explains (very!) basic bike maintenance, how to ride a bike and introduces the concept that there are rules on the road. I bought a copy along with Cycling World which has an article entitled Cycle the Alps. Ha! I thought, I wonder if that's the same as cycling one Alp (very slowly?!)

The end of the show arrived too soon and as I headed back to my bicycle I found a loop around the  handlebars so I may have to go back on Sunday.  This will also give me the perfect opportunity to see what offers are being offered by Velorution....... 

An interesting trip home - the atrocious anomalies of the cycle path (how it earned the word Super I have no idea) through Limehouse (on a raised pavement contraption, cyclists coming towards you, going across roads with badly shaped t-junctions giving really poor visibility) and that's from cycling it in daylight meant that DLRs new bike friendly policy allowed me to take a train to Tower Hill from where I could cycle home.   If it hadn't been for my fellow Velovixen cyclist I might still be at the station so I am extremely grateful for the help she gave.

The Breeze/Totalwomenscycling/Velovixen Rides are a really positive combination as they allow for women of all ages to achieve cycling levels they may have thought impossible.   Excel as a venue may be a bit of a trip but I really enjoyed The Bike Show 2014.  I particularly love all the new cycling accessories and businesses making cycling more and more accessible.  

As a Breeze Champion, I hope to be hosting a Breeze London Ride in the near future and if you know any females (aged 18 upwards) who are thinking about taking up cycling but are a bit deterred by the thought of not being fast enough or as fit as they would like then please do recommend Breeze as it is a perfect starting point - and obviously a lot of fun.  

 

Happy Cycling!