Every year in June, the Birmingham NEC hosts the National Cycling Show, a two-day event that brings together cycling enthusiasts from all over the country. This year, me and Elle decided to visit on the Sunday, eager to experience everything the show had to offer. The show take up one of the large exhibition halls with activities including talks, stunt displays, product samples, demonstrations, and a plethora of shops, the event truly offers something for everyone.
Having attended the show two years ago, I had mixed feelings about returning. While I enjoyed my previous visit, it felt somewhat repetitive, and I was particularly disappointed by the lack of representation from bike manufacturers. However, this year was a different story. The show had an increase of manufacturers, including well-known names like Kona, Marin, 3T, Atherton, Shand, and several smaller companies. This addition greatly enhanced the overall experience and provided a broader range of products and innovations to explore.
One of the highlights of my previous visit was the engaging speakers, and this year promised to be even better. With a packed schedule on Sunday, our plan was to start the day by attending some of the speaker sessions in the morning. Following the talks, we intended to dive into the exhibits to see what we could find.
Fireside Chat with Sir Bradley Wiggins and Matt Stevens at The National Cycling Show
As soon as we entered the exhibition hall, we made a beeline for the Inspirational Stage for the fireside chat with Sir Bradley Wiggins. Arriving just five minutes before the session started, we were met with a packed area and had to settle for standing room only. Despite the lack of seating, the chat proved to be a fantastic start to our day.
Hosted by Matt Stevens, the conversation was both engaging and relaxed, reflecting the long history between the two speakers. Their rapport brought a wealth of race and commentary stories to life, offering a fascinating glimpse into their shared experiences in the world of cycling.
One particularly touching moment was hearing Sir Bradley talk about his son, who is following in his footsteps to hopefully continue the family legacy in cycling. Additionally, it was inspiring to hear about his future plans, which include charitable work, continued involvement in race commentary, and an exciting new venture with Applied Nutrition.
Talk by Adventure Cyclist Naomi Johnson
After the engaging fireside chat with Sir Bradley Wiggins, we decided to stay for the next speaker: Naomi Johnson, an amateur adventure cyclist with a very inspiring story. Naomi has spent several years slowly exploring the world by bike, and her talk promised to be an exciting glimpse into her journey.
Although Naomi appeared new to public speaking and a bit nervous, her passion and enthusiasm for her adventures captivated the audience. Her talk was possibly the most motivational I have ever witnessed, as she demonstrated that anyone can embark on an epic adventure if they simply set their mind to it. Naomi's story was filled with challenges and various setbacks, but also featured heart warming moments and stunning photographs from her travels.
The 30-minute talk felt like it only scratched the surface of her extensive adventures. Despite the time constraints, Naomi managed to share numerous insights that left the audience eager for more. She has also released a book, which sounds like a must-read for any adventure cyclist looking for inspiration to get adventuring.
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Exhibition Highlights at the National Cycling Show
Beyond the engaging talks and fireside chats, the National Cycling Show offered a lot of exciting exhibits and interactive displays that kept us entertained throughout the day. Here are some of the standout highlights from this year's show:
MiRider Folding Ebike
Testing out the folding ebike by MiRider was a great experience. I was particularly impressed with its smooth power delivery and agile handling. A notable feature of this ebike, which may now be common across many models, was the thumb-activated boost button. This handy function provides an extra burst of power on demand, without the need to constantly adjust the power settings up and down.
Atherton Bike Stand
The Atherton Bike stand is always a favourite of mine. It’s fascinating to inspect their innovative modular frame designs up close and see the legendary MTB family interacting with fans.
Zwift Ride Stand
A major highlight for me was visiting the Zwift stand. I had the opportunity to see the new Zwift Ride bike just days after its release. Seeing it in person, I was struck by its impressive build quality and sleek design. As an avid Zwift user, it was thrilling to get an early look at this new piece of equipment.
Road and Gravel Bikes
This year’s show featured an amazing array of road and gravel bikes on display. From dream super bikes that left me drooling, to more reasonably priced models that looked both great and fun to ride, there was something for everyone.
Final Talk of the Day with TT Cyclist Christina Murray
The final highlight of our day at the National Cycling Show was listening to the inspiring talk by Christina (Chris) Murray. Chris, a serving Lieutenant Colonel with a remarkable passion for time trial (TT) racing and record-breaking.
What made Chris's journey particularly fascinating was her late entry into the world of cycling at the age of 38. Her story was a testament to the idea that it’s never too late to pursue new passions and achieve great things. I was hooked from the start, as she shared the ups and downs of her pursuit of the national 24-hour TT record. Her tales of both failures and successes were really motivating.
Chris also spoke about her next big challenge: competing in the European 24-hour TT championships. Given her track record and the depth of her dedication, she is certainly someone I will be following closely in the future. This talk was my favourite of the day. Chris’s meticulous planning and analysis, combined with the inevitable little stories that come from such intense challenges, made for a really engaging presentation.
Our trip to the National Cycling Show this year was significantly more enjoyable than our visit two years ago. This improvement was probably because we had more realistic expectations. In our previous visit, we anticipated an abundance of fancy bikes and exclusives from numerous manufacturers, which led to some disappointment. This time, our primary goal was to enjoy the inspirational speakers, and everything else was considered a bonus. The speakers exceeded our expectations. In addition to the outstanding talks, the exhibits were also notably better, with a broader range of products and innovations on display.
Overall, this year's National Cycling Show provided a more fulfilling and inspiring experience, making it a memorable event.
