EUROBIKE 2009 was bigger and better than ever
39,152 trade visitors - a six percent increase - an additional 21,000 bicycle enthusiasts on Open House Day - 1,556 journalists from 36 countries
Bicycles are literally cruising everywhere in today's media. Pedal power continues to fascinate the experts and thrill bicycle fans - and the bicycle industry is delighted to see that its products are more in demand than ever before, with impressive sales of e-bikes, city bikes, mountain bikes and touring bikes. “We may not have re-invented the wheel,” said one manufacturer, “but we’re putting a whole new spin on bicycling!” The international bicycle trade show ended on Saturday with 39,152 trade visitors from 75 countries (an increase of six percent), 21,000 paying bicycle fans on one Open House Day (2008: 18.000), and 1,556 journalists from 36 countries.
For five days, EUROBIKE was the number one topic of the worldwide bicycle industry, topping the headlines with more than 300 world premieres and innovations from the fascinating world of bicycles. Thanks to its impressive range of high-quality products, the leading trade show of the bicycle industry put in nothing less than a stellar performance. Messe Friedrichshafen CEO Klaus Wellmann summed it up perfectly at the big finale: “This was the best EUROBIKE of all times.” Wellmann praised the excellent cooperation between police, city officials and trade show organizers on managing traffic and parking, calling it nothing short of “a quantum leap.”
There is no doubt about it: Right from the very beginning the 18th EUROBIKE was the “biggest show ever“. A total of 1,028 exhibitors from 42 countries (68 percent from abroad) helped set a new record and boosted growth by approximately 10 percent compared to EUROBIKE 2008. What's more, with over 100,000 square meters in 14 trade show halls and on the western and eastern open-air grounds, the amount of exhibitor space soared to a new dimension, making for an area increase of 15 percent. There were also more trade visitors on these expanded exhibition grounds. With 39,152 experts from around the world, the trade show posted a growth of six percent in this department as well. The new schedule for EUROBIKE, which for the first time was open from Wednesday through Saturday - and thus included three weekdays for industry professionals - provided an additional boost in quality, according to Project Manager Stefan Reisinger: “Thanks to this modification we've once again been able to significantly enhance the retail shop expertise.”
"The trade show venue in Friedrichshafen has won the loyalty of the bicycle industry because of the atmosphere at EUROBIKE, but also due to hard economic factors. This reaffirms its position as the only relevant trade show for daily mobility and sports bikes," said Rolf Lemberg, Secretary of the German Two-Wheeler Industry Association (ZIV).
Strong media interest
There was also a considerable increase in the number of media representatives. International trade and daily media, along with TV and radio networks, made sure that the topic of bicycles and EUROBIKE was conveyed to the entire world. A total of 1,556 journalists from 36 countries (2008: 1,430 from 32 countries) visited the international bicycle trade show and increased the media presence by eight percent. Half these journalists came from abroad. Most media representatives were from Europe, but there were also an increasingly large number from Asia, America and Australia who reported on EURBIKE.
Demo Day in Argenbühl
On a perfectly sunny day, the third edition of the EUROBIKE Demo Day once again offered trade visitors and media representatives ideal conditions to put to the test the innovations of the coming bicycle season. At this kick-off event for EUROBIKE, 92 exhibitors and 109 brands of the global bicycle industry presented their products to international experts in the town of Argenbühl, in the foothills of the Alps. On five different bicycle routes, 1,680 bicycle fans and 630 journalists tested the latest developments in racing bikes, e-bikes, recumbent bicycles, folding bikes and mountain bikes.