Relocation of the event and a new date
The biggest change is the new location and date. After two decades of meeting in Friedrichshafen in the first week of September, bicycle industry key players will gather in Frankfurt am Main on July 13–17, 2022. According to organisers, the relocation symbolises an ongoing change in the entire bicycle industry.
So, what to expect? Eurobike promises many more active zones where visitors will get more opportunities to touch, try and test all the stuff. In the end, we’re likely to have more chances to try and ride.
Fewer big brands will turn up, that is granted. During the devastating Covid darkness, many have closed down and others have changed minds and opted for an individual form of presentation of their products, for example, in their own workshops or during media test days. The participation of many Asian brands is also endangered. Many of them are struggling with various problems and, at the same time, their representatives will face fierce bureaucratic obstructions to travel caused by the lockdown in China.
While we’ll miss many famous names of the industry, new brands founded during Covid times are eager to catch the first-ever opportunity to show what they have. Finally, we can get rid of boring online presentations and replace them with the chance to take everything into our hands and see it for real. The new brands are looking forward to coming to Frankfurt. In Friedrichshafen, there was a waiting period of up to three years before a new brand was accepted to get its own stand. No such thing is expected this year. Anyone willing to exhibit gets space in Frankfurt.
Everyone in the cycling industry is looking forward to the personal encounters that Zoom, Teams or Google Meet could hardly substitute. On the other hand, nobody knows what to expect from Frankfurt. Eurobike, with such a long tradition and a renowned name, set the benchmark quite high and nobody wants to see the new location turn into a disappointment. None of the organisers wants to hear visitors saying that the old Eurobike stays unrivalled. And so we wish Eurobike 2022 nothing but all the best.
What we picked from the programme
Seven exhibition halls
Up to 1,500 exhibitors will display their products in seven halls and a large outdoor area. As usual, visitors will get the opportunity to see new bikes, components, accessories and clothing. Especially Hall No. 8 will present the future of mobility where exhibitors are expected to emphasize green mobility, e-cargo bike issues, bike-sharing, infrastructure developments, connectivity, digitalisation and sustainability.
From green politics to the legendary party
A future-mobility congress will open the programme on July 13. With the claim “Designing the future of mobility”, the event will put together individuals ranging from municipal politics, administration and regional infrastructure planners to service providers. Every other day, different cycling-related topics will be discussed on programmes named Gravel Talk, Start-up & Innovation Day, and Travel Talk featuring bike holiday news. The Bike Biz Revolution conference will enable exhibitors to hear insights from the near future. On Thursday, there will be the legendary Eurobike Party where everybody hangs around and has a glass of beer or more.
Weekend festival
The Eurobike Weekend Festival Days will offer testing, action or racing occasions to everyone visiting. The FMB (Freeride Mountain Bike) Slopestyle Gold Event with its best trick contest, is going to create a spectacular and thrilling show as well as the Drop and Roll Show of iconic performer Danny McAskill.
Bikes will take the city
E-bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes will be on display during the whole week in the city, which will stay partly closed to the traffic. In the streets of Frankfurt, people will be encouraged to join bicycle flea markets, children’s circuits or bike workshops. A special cycle path will be launched between Frankfurt central station and each Eurobike location. Dedicated bike-parking spaces will be provided and over 2,000 DB Connect rental bikes will be available for visitors travelling to Frankfurt by train.
