E-bikes and 29-inch trekking bikers are expected to generate much of the buzz at the 20th annual Eurobike Trade Show that kicked off Wednesday, Aug. 31 in Friedrichschafen, Germany. Roughly 1,180 exhibitors from 45 countries will be presenting at the show.
Show producer Messe Friedrichshafen reported today that a record 1,840 visitors from across the globe attended the fifth annual Eurobike Demo Day in Argenbühl, Germany on Tuesday. Products and innovations from 116 exhibitors and brands were avaialable for testing by buyers and 608 media representatives from 34 countries.
Five different bicycle test tracks were made available to the tradesmen and journalists to test the latest in racing, reclining folding and city bicycles, as well as mountain bikes and e-bikes.
“We couldn’t imagine a better start to the show,” said Klaus Wellman, Messe Friedrichshafen’s CEO. “The Eurobike Demo Day offers a unique combination of a trade show featuring the newest innovations in cycling and a bike festival and is always very well received by our customers.”
At a press conference last week, exhibitors highlighted some of the innovations that will debut at the show, including: an e-bike from Smart, a unit of Daimler; automatic transmissions, trekking bikes and multifunctional clothing.
At the press conference, Smart Chief Dr. Annette Winkler said the model is based on a survey of residents of major cities around the world by engineers from Daimler and from Grace, the bike specialists from just outside Berlin.
“The Smart e-bike is the logical result of these surveys”, said Dr. Winkler. For example, Smart’s e-bike includes refined features, such as an integrated USB connection for smartphones.
Other manufacturers who have been riding the wave of e-bike success for some time, are declaring war on quickly drained batteries with automatic transmissions. Many e-bike riders tend to shift rarely and use higher gears combined with lower pedaling rates. However, this practice quickly drains batteries. This is where an automatic transmission can help. Another novelty is brake lights, which warn following vehicles when the rider slows down or brakes (Busch & Müller).
Cycling is perfect for going to work and getting around the city in a quick, environmentally friendly way. This means that many bicycle producers have an interest in ensuring that their components are also environmentally friendly. Thanks to a French saddle (by Selle Royal) padded with cork, or a boot bag from the Netherlands (Basil) made with recycled materials, these products’ CO2 impact is minimized.
Trekking bikes exhibited at the show are showing a shift from 26- to 29-inch wheels. Their advantages: better traction, better rolling over obstacles, and sophisticated geometry for better handling and maneuverability.
Anyone who takes the bike to work usually takes along a backpack with a change of clothes. That’s no longer necessary, because many producers are now offering clothing suited for cycling as well as for everyday wear. For example, at the Eurobike, England’s Brompton is showing office clothing with hidden reflectors.
On the days in which the Eurobike is open to industry and media visitors Aug. 31 to Friday, Sept. 2, the show is open from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM. On Saturday, Sept. 3, the show is open to the general public and will be open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
