RATZENRIED, Germany (BRAIN)—Thousands of retailers, media people and suppliers came to this town Tuesday to test ride bikes under stunning blue skies.
With the Alps visible on the far horizon, riders enjoyed a variety of test terrain, ranging from singletrack to ramps to a wooden pump track to miles of roads through the countryside.
More than 130 exhibitors showed their 2013 models and made many of them available for a test.
BRAIN editors prowled the grounds, looking for a few hints of what we'll see inside the Messe Friedrichafen starting Wednesday.
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New German brand Pinion got people talking with its 18 speed gear box. It has been in development for four years and is spec'd on a handful of European brands in 2013. -
Riders demo bikes and put their skills to the test at the pump track in Ratzenried. -
The Conti foosball table was in use early at the demo. -
Italian bike and component brand Axevo displayed a 650B bike spec'd with Magura's new TS8 suspension fork made specifically for the wheel size. -
Swiss e-bike brand Stromer had a busy demo day, sending out a steady stream of 25, 33 and 45 kilometer per house pedal assist e-bikes -
Zipp introduced its new carbon clincher 202 Firecrest wheels -
Continental had the X-King 27.5-inch tire tucked away at its booth at the demo. Christian Wurmback said the company is only showing samples to OEs; no aftermarket sales. "There are nearly no 650b bikes in the market so perhaps next spring we'll consider launching it in the aftermarket." It will come in 2.2 and 2.4 casings and in lightweight RaceSport and heavy duty Protection versions. -
Rapha, which makes its first ever appearance at Eurobike this year, fired up its espresso machine at Demo Day. -
Eurobike's 6th annual Demo Day was held about 45 minutes from the show's fairgrounds at the foothills of the Alps on Tuesday under sunny skies and warm temperatures. -
Schwalbe had its new Hans Dampf Super Gravity tire in 27.5-inch size on display at the demo (27.5 x 2.35). -
Stevens' Sledge ES 137 offered 150 millimeters of rear travel and was one of several 650b rigs at Eurobike Demo Day. Other brands flaunting 650b bikes included Norco, which had its Range and Sight 650b models out for test rides, Focus, which offered its Raven in both 29-inch and 27.5-inch versions and Scott, which debuted its Genius in 650b. -
Worn out after a full day at demo.
