Cyclingworld, what a pheonomenon! The comparisons to Eurobike's pains and Cyclingworld's gains are unmissable.
Cycling consumers and industry colleagues alike have been yearning for more optimism annually since the post-Corona slumps since the pandemic and frankly we're more than half a decade down the road so we've gotta stop thinking like anyway.
And you can't tell me that big booths are the bad guys because Düsseldorf's expo stand restriction get more monolithic by the year. So what is it that fuels the Area Böhler expo to grow and warmly resemble Friedrichshafen's vibes of yore more and more?
Short of penning a long-form breakdown reserved for an industry analyst with a Substack more niche than this newsletter, I've got my 3 key theories:
- Logistical Proximity: Düsseldorf's airport may be smaller than Frankfurt's but nobody cares. From France, the Netherlands & Belgium by train & car, Cyclingworld is also not far. For consumers either, they love to make the trip. It's repurposed industrial location feels and looks great too. Like an old steel frame, it has character & style.
- Passion as a Priority: This may even beat the former and the latter in the list. Everyone from marketing managers to moms & dads are here because they think bikes are rad! (For the Germans reading here, that's a pun!) But really, the show vibe is smiles, sunshine and a shared love for cycling first and then business, somehow, seems to come second.
- Timing is everything: March is the season-opener month. Spring classics, freshly-shaved legs and, the first rays of sun in Northern Europe all point to enthusiasm both for visitors and exhibitors to come out and ride, race and relish in what Cyclingworld has to offer. It's a beautiful feeling to harness!
Sure there is more to it than that but no one can tell me that trade shows are dead. It's as easy as the collective Zeitgeist deciding one bike party is more fun and appealing than the other. That can be both for Eurobike a burn and for Cyclingworld well-earned.
What do you think?
thank you for reading,
Jon
p.s.
🎵 Some new releases last week that I've had on loop: released March 20, Poison The Well's new album 'Peace in Place' has me revisiting my metalcore emo teen roots & Antenna's new single 'Rolling By'. Fittingly, with a bike on the cover & a Ted Leo'esque croon of resilience in wild times. I'm all about it.
Twotone turns 12 in '26 & we're offering 12% off to paid subscribers! If this newsletter is a valuable part of your week, give this offer a peek:
March
- 🇳🇱 24 False Flat Tuesday After Work Ride (5pm)
- 🇳🇱 25 Wheelrunner Wednesday AM Ride (6:30am)
- 🇳🇱 26 Gregario Gossip Club Thursday AM Ride (7:15am) & Fridays 18:45!
- 🇳🇱 26 The Mechanic of Joy Nº54 w/ Isa-Jasmijn Hinloopen
April
- 🇳🇱 3-5 Order Tattoo, Music & Art Jam
- 🇳🇱 10 Bonanno at Echelon Cycle Sport in Amsterdam
- 🇬🇧 23 Bespoked Pre-Show Mixer hosted by Quirk Cycles
- 🇬🇧 24-26 BESPOKED London
- 🇳🇱 26 King of Amsterdam | Monster Cash-Up BMX Jam
May
- 🇳🇱 8 Bike Gear Swap | JOOP Schoorl (vintage MTB special)
- 🇳🇱 9 Bike Gear Swap | Vogelfrei Utrecht (The OG-party)
- 🇩🇪 15-17 Fenderfest
Bikes
Van Nicholas Bikes and Veloe at Cycling World Europe
Moustache SR Suntour Team Announces Kicks E-Enduro World Champion Adrien Dailly Joining Team
Felix Testet Bikes' Cyclingworld 2026 Highlights
Coverage from Cyclingworld will continue to be published in the coming days but Felix's recaps are always, frankly, the fastest and often most thorough. Props for that, Felix! Watch here.
Ideas
Ties Wijntjes' Tantalizing Tech: The Goodies at Cyclingworld Europe 2026
More Sleep = Higher Race Ranking?
Samuel Thompson
I think they're still dreaming but it's a strong argument with some pro sleeping facts that will really make you wanna take a nap, racing or not! ; ) Read here.
Parachord: new kind of music player that invites all your streams, local audio files, and playlists scattered across multiple services to the same party.
This immediately caught my eye as we use 'my' Spotify account for the office, though I'd like to step away from that platform. I use ITunes for my ripped CD & Apple Music MP3s but also YouTube Music frequently too. 🫨 Parachord could be cool but I haven't tried it yet.
Friends
Bengt Stiller's Räder Aus Stahl
Outpost Moved Its Servers to the E.U.
Angus Fraser Studio's Portfolio
Radness
Simon Firth Replaces The Top on Grant Petersen’s Spent B17
Thank you for reading!
Here's to more gains & less pains this week!