To find out which bikes will dominate the market, we headed with the entire Antymateria team to the Kielce Bike Expo. The official name "Bike-Expo" may be justified by its international character – 244 exhibitors from 11 countries. According to the organizers, it's also the largest event of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. This is impossible to verify, though it sounds likely. After all, we are the largest economy in the region. Interestingly, in the context of bicycle companies, few people associate Romania or Bulgaria with such companies. However, some of the largest component manufacturers in the EU in this industry originate from these countries.
The last non-cycling digression concerns the venue itself. The exhibition pavilions and the entire surrounding infrastructure (roads, parking lots, etc.) look new, and indeed they are. The city's decision-makers (I assume so) should be congratulated on their initiative to build a large business from scratch. Events held here range from a massive defense industry trade fair to a wedding fashion show and a regional pigeon and rabbit exhibition. Such ventures must also generate a lot of additional activity – I'm thinking, for example, of hotels, transportation, etc. Further proof that in business, you can't afford to sleep (hello Poznań!)
What bikes dominate the Kielce Bike Expo?
We're not talking about another startup conference, but about business. This business has been around (nomen omen) for almost 100 years, based on technologies that haven't changed fundamentally for almost that long. Therefore, no one expected anything spectacularly groundbreaking to be discovered. But even in this context, the scale and scope of the event (a significantly larger area occupied by booths than last year) are surprising, compared to the meager representation of what's truly new in the industry. And electric bikes are, of course, new (at least relatively). Over the past few months, I've been to various similar events in Italy and Germany. What clearly distinguishes our fair is the still small (though admittedly growing) presence of battery-powered bikes. We don't intend to introduce them to Antymateria's offerings (as long as our muscles and joints are still functioning), but the fact is that across the entire continent, it's the only growing category. The meager innovative offerings in Poland are primarily explained by our nature. I may be wrong, but I don't recall seeing a single bike with a belt instead of a chain at the fair (the patented Carbon Drive solution from Gates: http://www.gatescarbondrive.com ), while in Germany there are companies whose ENTIRE offerings are based on this solution. In other words, tradition yes, innovation not necessarily. The second reason for the weak presence of representatives in the e-bike category is, I believe, the result of the state of affluence of our society.
What bikes will be in stores next year?
Due to a lack of interest and knowledge, it's difficult to offer informed comments on the cycling offerings in the MTB or road bike segments. The level of specialization in individual cycling activities is so intense that considerations about angles in MTB frame construction are understandable only to activists in the field. Last year, Kross recognized the pace of growth in this urban bike market and decided to launch its own brand (Le Grand). Polish exhibitors also included Creme (though they're clearly more interested in the Western European market), Cossack (who seem to be targeting women), and Polka Bikes. Other manufacturers also offered bikes for urban paths, but the ones mentioned above stood out in terms of their level of specialization, color schemes (more fashionable than sporty), and accessories (yes, wicker baskets and things hanging from handles, too). It's difficult to call it a clear trend encompassing city bikes . On the one hand, this seems to be related to the still-dominant market belief that one bike "does everything." Therefore, many manufacturers strive to deliver models that attempt to compromise aesthetically (slightly bolder colors, urban accessories) and technically (an inexpensive, heavy aluminum frame, standard gears, etc.). In terms of design, thoughtful construction, proprietary accessories, and so on, Creme Cycles' offerings definitely stand out. However, given their price points, it's no surprise that they're more successful in the slightly more affluent markets of the UK, Austria, and Germany.
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