Friedrichshafen, Germany – After the success of the inaugural edition of the Eurobike Media Days last year, an expanded second edition is in planning for 2016. From June 28 to 30, up to 30 manufacturers of complete bikes for the athletic market segment will meet about 200 trade press representatives from all over the world. The scenery of Kirchberg, Austria, is to provide an authentic biker’s backdrop for this unique opportunity for the press to thoroughly test the many novelties in planning for the 2017 model year.
“Our idea – to offer the bicycle industry and the trade press a new platform for testing the latest innovations well before the date of the actual leading industry fair – fell on very fertile soil,” explained Eurobike department head Stefan Reisinger. Last year, 19 companies owning 25 different brands and more than 120 journalists took part in the pilot event. “This year, the format is being further encouraged by increased commitment from more big names in the industry.” Some of the most interesting new arrivals in 2016 are the manufacturers Rocky Mountain, Rose, Ritchey, Vivax Assist, Kross. Ridley, and BMC Switzerland.
David Heine, BMC’s manager for global marketing, values the event for its advertising power above all. “For us, the access to international journalists is very interesting. Especially at a point in the season when we’re all presenting our products.” The Eurobike Media Days meet with approval among journalists, as well. ”Last year, the bike editorial staff was thrilled by how effectively we could produce video material,” explained Moritz Cehak from the publishing house Delius Klasing in eager anticipation of this year’s edition. Johannes Haidn of WOM Medien added: “For us, the 2015 event was very good. We’ve decided to bring a larger team this year, so we’ll have six people on location for all three days of the event.” From the Hungarian Bikemag.hu, Takacs Tamas is also full of anticipation: “The Eurobike Media Days are custom-tailored to journalists’ purpose. The test tracks are wonderful. I hope they become a really great testing event.”
Aside from the festive atmosphere, the Eurobike Media Days also promises the participants ideal testing conditions in the heart of the Austrian Alps. There are trails, road loops and a gondola situated directly at the fairgrounds. So real-world conditions are guaranteed for extensive test rides and film and photo ops of MTB and roadbike innovations.
The basic idea of the Eurobike Media Days
Many companies in the athletic bike segment had already tried inviting the trade press to their own individual press events before Eurobike came along. Between April and July of years past, editorial departments received invitations to up to 30 different premiere presentations. Many trade journalists agree that it was just not affordable. For the bike manufacturers, as well, such events require great expense and personnel resources. The Eurobike Media Days are intended to consolidate the many individual presentations, to showcase the latest innovations and trends in the bicycle industry for an exclusive circle of international media representatives in a real-world environment – in advance of the actual Eurobike, which will take place this year from August 31 to September 4, 2016. The Eurobike team will once again be supported in organizing the Eurobike Media Days by the external project coordinator Christina Kulling.
Further information is available at: eurobike-mediadays.com and eurobike-show.com.