Sluggish sales in several European markets failed to dampen the atmosphere at Eurobike, which again increased its number of visitors this year. The score of more than 40,000 trade visitors last year was surpassed to reach 43,700 trade visitors over three days this year, as well as another 20,500 bicycle enthusiasts on the public day. While Trek decided to organize its own event this year, Eurobike still brought together nearly all the leading players in the market, drawing 1,250 exhibitors. The emphasis was again on electric bicycles, as well as folding bicycles that fit with the growing interest in mobility involving several different means of transport. Another topic was the aerodynamic trend in road bikes and the rise of 650B mountain bikes, a new wheel size that fits between the standard 26-inch and the more recent 29-inch size. Exhibitors said that economic uncertainties, anguish about the euro and the poor weather that affected bicycle sales in the spring were not sufficient to offset optimism about the prospects of the bicycle market. Apart from the excitement around performance bicycles after the Olympics, demand remained strong in some of the largest markets, and several exhibitors had also seen increased interest from countries with troubled economies such as Greece, where consumers are saving on fuel and cars by buying bicycles.

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